College Football Week 10: Top Players Step Up in Big Games

Every game of the season is important if you are trying to make it to the BCS Championship or a BCS Bowl Game. But the importance of games later in the season increases exponentially. A loss in September isn't like a loss in November.

Here are some players that need to come up BIG today if their teams are going to stay on track.

LaMichael James: Washington at No. 1 Oregon

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks carries the ball against the USC Trojans during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Whether its on the ground (1270 yards, 7.1 ypc, 14 TDs) or by coming out of the backfield to catch passes (averaging 24 yds per catch), James is THE MAN that make the Ducks fly.

If Washington can't contain him, it will be a long day in Eugene for the Huskies.

Cam Newton: Chattanooga at No. 2 Auburn

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AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers drops back to throw a practice pass before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Imag

Chattanooga picked the wrong week to play Auburn...Cam Newton on the field with frustration to get rid of is not a good thing.

Whether or not Auburn paid money for Newton may not be decided for weeks. But today would be a good day for the Tigers big QB to have another historic day. He already has topped 1100 yds in rushing and 1500 yds in passing on the season.

This one could get ridiculous in a hurry!

Andy Dalton: No. 3 TCU at No. 5 Utah

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs scrambles with the ball against the BYU Cougars at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU beat BYU 31-3. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Today may be the Nation's introduction to one of the Best Kept Secrets in college football...Andy Dalton is the REAL DEAL.

The Horned Frogs QB has the chance to show everyone in Salt Lake City what he can do. Always known for their defense, TCU is in the top 10 in rushing offense and scoring offense. And Dalton, an underrated dual threat can get it done with his arm (16 TDs and almost 1900 yds passing) or with his feet (five TDs and over 400 yds rushing). 

A tough game against a good team, but Dalton will help Gary Patterson's team come away with a big victory.

Kellen Moore: Hawaii at No. 4 Boise State

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BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 25: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos looks for a receiver against the Oregon State Beaversat Bronco Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images)

With leading the No. 2 scoring offense in the country, Kellen Moore isn't going to sneak up on the Warriors today. He is the TOP QB in the nation in Passing Efficiency (188.3). He has an unbelievable TD/Int ratio (18:2).

It will take Hawaii playing their best defensive game of the season (or maybe ever) to stay in this one!

Mark Ingram: No. 6 Alabama at No. 10 LSU

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Call it what you want...but this is a survival game.

The winner remains in contention for the SEC West championship and the BCS national championship. The loser can start making plans to go to some lesser bowl game that they really don't want to be playing.

Ingram, the reigning Heisman trophy winner, is the key to this matchup. If he gets rolling, then it's "Roll, Tide, Roll."

Having a BIG DAY today will help his team and himself. Ingram has had a good but not great year, after starting the season recovering from injuries.

Unfortunately for Les Miles and the Bayou Bengals...today is his day!

Roy Helu Jr: No. 7 Nebraska at Iowa State

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Running back Roy Helu Jr. #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers slipped through the grasp of Andrew Wilson #48 Missouri Tigers Defense during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska

Roy Helu Jr. may not have been a household name before last weekend. But after torching the Tigers from Missouri for 307 yds (school record) and three TDs, everyone knows what an impact the senior from Danville, California can do.

Iowa State will have to reproduce some of the same magic that helped them shut down the Longhorns in Austin.

My guess is that Helu Jr. will peel off another big run or six today...maybe another record?

DeMarco Murray: No. 8 Oklahoma at Texas A&M

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Running back Demarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Earlier this season, DeMarco Murray passed Steve Owens as the all-time touchdown leader at the University of Oklahoma.

No reason to believe that he won't add a few to his record in College Station.

Almost two years to the day, Murray helped lead the Sooners to an embarrassing domination of the Aggies at Kyle Field (66-28). He had nearly 300 all-purpose yards then...another Big Day today!

No. 9 Wisconsin at Purdue

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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

John Clay is a BIG REASON why Wisconsin leads the conference with 27 rushing touchdowns and is second with 221.4 rushing yards per game.

As he pounds the Boilermakers today at Purdue, the Badgers will continue to fly under the radar.

Any Big Upsets?

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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 23: Missouri Tigers fans swarm the field after upsetting the Oklahoma Sooners at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers beat the Sooners 36-27. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Ima

If there is any big upsets today in any of these games, it will start by shutting down the previously mentioned players.

I have all the big players stepping up in all off these key contests!