Auburn's big win, Ash's decision and the weekend preview

1. The final margin of No. 5 Auburn's 20-14 victory at No. 20 Kansas State is the only part of the Tigers' performance that is not impressive. Auburn had a physical advantage in size and speed, but the Tigers won, as great teams do, because they made fewer mistakes. Auburn won the turnover battle, 3-to-1, including an interception that bounced off the hands of Wildcats receiver Tyler Lockett in the Auburn end zone. And Kansas State kicker Jack Cantele, like Alabama's Cade Foster a year ago, missed three field goals against the Tigers. Sometimes, good teams win because they allow their opponents to lose.

2. Now that we've all had a chance to take a breath, I thought Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher made a lot of sense Thursday when he spoke with Jack Arute and Rick Neuheisel on SirusXM about suspended quarterback Jameis Winston. Fisher said Winston still thinks he is a regular student and can do what other students do, such as scream a vulgar Internet meme in public. That's a stupid college trick, and Winston no longer has the luxury to do stupid college things. "I told him you just can't do what they do," Fisher said. Why Winston hasn't the maturity to figure that out on his own remains an unsolved mystery.

3. Is it time for the Big Ten to hit the panic button? The league has lost its past 10 games against the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC combined. Five of the losses came last week. I'll say Nebraska, playing at home, will restore the league's honor Saturday against Miami. If the Huskers don't win, it's hard to feel confident that there's a Big Ten winner among Maryland at Syracuse, Indiana at Missouri, Iowa at Pittsburgh, and Michigan at home against Utah. If there's not a sure winner among them, fetch me that panic button.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher dismissed any criticism that Jameis Winston's half-game suspension for his profane and sexually charged outburst was too light.

"We're in charge. It's our team. That's our thought. We went with the consequences and we're ready to move on," Fisher said Thursday.

Florida State interim president Garnett S. Stokes and athletic director Stan Wilcox announced they had suspended the No. 1 Seminoles' star quarterback for the first half of Saturday's game against No. 22 Clemson in a joint statement Wednesday. They denounced Winston's behavior Tuesday, calling it "offensive and vulgar."

Fisher's name was not on the statement regarding the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, which raised eyebrows and questions as to whether this was a decision that came down from the administration rather than Fisher.

"They're always involved in university policies," Fisher said. "That's things at Florida State, the way we do it."

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Biggest upset threat
Oklahoma at West Virginia: The Mountaineers' Clint Trickett might be the most improved quarterback in the nation. He ranks third in the FBS with 1,224 passing yards and has raised his Total QBR rank from 85th in 2013 to 15th in 2014.

Cupcake alert
Texas A&M at SMU: The Aggies are taking on a program that's in disarray after June Jones abruptly quit last week.

Most to prove
FSU quarterback Jameis Winston: His character has been questioned off the field, and he hasn't been spectacular on it. Can he quiet his critics with a big second half against Clemson?

Can't-miss game
Clemson at Florida State: The winner has gone on to win the ACC in each of the past three seasons and has won the Atlantic Division for the past five seasons.

Stat to know
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims has been excellent on third down, leading all FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage (91.7 percent), conversion percentage (75 percent) and Total QBR (99.9).