Now its time to get down to serious business for Carnegie Mellon. The Tartans have an opportunity to make this a season worth remembering.

Carnegie Mellon (7-0, 2-0) can clinch its first outright University Athletic Association championship and take another step closer to the NCAA Division III playoffs with a victory at Washington, Mo. (5-3, 2-0) today. CMU most likely will have to win its final three games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

"We can't let ourselves think about those things," coach Rich Lackner said. "For us, each game is like a one-game season."

CMU will be without starting quarterback Kevin Mulkern, who was injured and didn't play in last week's 27-0 victory against the University of Chicago and could be lost for the season. Sophomore Doug Facemyer completed 12 of 19 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Chicago.

The Tartans will continue to rely on a punishing ground game that averages 282.1 yards per game to rank fifth in Division III. Travis Sivek (111.1 yards per game) and Robert Gimson (106 a game) lead the running attack. They will be challenged by a Washington defense that allows just 47.4 yards rushing per game.

CMU has committed only five turnovers this season -- two interceptions and three fumbles.

"We value each possession," Lackner said. "I know it's a cliche, but the teams that commit the fewest turnovers usually are the winning teams."

In other key games:

Iona (2-5, 1-0) at Duquesne (6-2, 2-0), 1 p.m. -- Duquesne, ranked sixth in The Sports Network NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major poll, has won 39 consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games dating to a 62-50 defeat at Iona in 1999. The 39 in a row is tied with Nebraska for the second-longest all-time in Division I-A and I-AA, behind Oklahoma's 44 set from 1952-59 in the Big Eight. During the streak, only three of Duquesne's conference wins have been by fewer than 10 points. ... Duquesne leads series, 10-1, and averages 40.8 points per game. ... Duquesne sophomore quarterback Scott Knapp has completed 62.9 percent of his passes and leads I-AA with 2,362 yards and 22 touchdown passes. San Diego's Josh Johnson has 21 in seven games. ... Duquesne's Bruce Hocker leads Division I-AA with 13 touchdown receptions and is three shy of Reggie Harris' school record set in 2000. ... Dukes are coming off a 40-10 victory against Marist -- their third consecutive win.

Robert Morris (5-3, 3-1) at Stony Brook (4-4, 4-0), 1 p.m. -- Stony Brook, the only undefeated team in the Northeast Conference, is seventh and Robert Morris eighth in the I-AA Mid-Major poll. ... Robert Morris had it five-game win streak ended with a 16-7 loss against Monmouth last week. ... Robert Morris senior defensive end Ray Gensler (Keystone Oaks) is second in Division I-AA with 1.19 sacks per game and is the school's career leader with 17.5. ... Robert Morris, led by cornerbacks Mike Niklos and Jacky Candy, allows 126.1 yards passing per game to lead the NEC and rank fifth in Division I-AA.

Youngstown State (6-3, 3-1) at Illinois State (6-1, 3-0), 2:30 p.m. -- A Gateway Football Conference showdown between No. 3 Illinois State and No. 10 Youngstown State in I-AA scholarship. ... Illinois State has won six in a row after a one-point defeat against I-A Kansas State in the opener. ...Youngstown State is 0-10 on the road against ranked teams since 1999. ... Youngstown State's Marcus Mason is second in I-AA in rushing with 153.0 yards per game and Illinois State's Pierre Rembert is third at 148.9. ... Youngstown State's Tom Zetts was intercepted four times in a 31-23 defeat against Northern Iowa last week. ... Youngstown State cornerback Jason Perry is the first player in school history to return a punt and an interception for a touchdown in the same season.

Waynesburg (4-3, 4-0) at W&J (6-1, 3-0), 1:30 p.m. -- At stake is first place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. ... W&J leads the series, 30-3, and has won 15 of the past 16 since the schools started to play yearly in 1990. Waynesburg's most recent win was a 27-7 victory en route to the league title in 2003. ... W&J senior Ryan Mendel (Brentwood), who rushed for 130 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-18 victory against Grove City, is PAC offensive player of the week. ... Waynesburg cornerback Anthony Taylor, who had two interceptions in a 34-24 victory against Thiel, is PAC defensive player of the week. ... W&J averages 33.3 points and allows 14.7; Waynesburg 23.0 and 23.6.

California (6-2, 3-0) at Shippensburg (4-4, 2-1), 1 p.m. -- California, sixth in the Northeast Region poll, has won four in a row and must win its remaining three games to qualify for the NCAA Division II playoffs. The top six teams in the region receive an automatic bid. ... California averages 425.8 yards and 31 points per game, led by Joe Ruggiero (1,501 yards passing, 12 touchdowns, 68 percent completion rate), Brandon Lombardy (1,058 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns) and Marc Huddleston (42 catches, 463 yards, 6 touchdowns).