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Some Oregon State players have never heard of coach Mike Riley's childhood hero, Joe Namath — and that makes the coach feel old.

But he is sure the Beavers know all about the coach at No. 19 Penn State, Saturday's opponent in Happy Valley.

"I do think they have a sense, for sure, about Joe Paterno," he said.

They better. Saturday, Paterno tied Florida State's Bobby Bowden with 373 wins, the most ever in Division I-A.

Bowden first passed Paterno on Oct. 26, 2003, before he caught up Saturday.

Riley said Paterno "makes all of us very, very proud to be in the profession." In the few times he has spoken to Paterno — usually at Nike functions — Riley said he has found the coach to be well-rounded and well-read.

"Through his work and the work of many others with him there, they've established one of those programs everybody looks at in college football as one of the greatest traditions and most successful," Riley said.

Paterno is in his 43rd season at Penn State — the longest run at any one major college ever by a head coach — but has never played Oregon State.

The Nittany Lions have played everyone else in the Pac-10, but haven't faced a Pac-10 team since battling USC in 2000. Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State is 5-1 against Pac-10 teams — including a season-opening rout of the 1999 Arizona squad.

Riley said he will be honored to face the traditional power.

"I think that that's kinda the model for all of us," he said.

A look at the other Saturday Pac-10 games, all with a valley feel:

● Two Days in the Valley: After being blown out by Oregon, Washington hosts No. 15 BYU for the second step in its torturous schedule that includes a game with Oklahoma next week. Tyrone Willingham already senses his fans' frustration.

"I am aware of it," he said. "I am as disappointed as they are."

● Paradise Valley: After walloping Washington, No. 18 Oregon gets an easy one this week. How bad is Utah State? Last week, it fell 27-17 to UNLV, which went 2-10 last year.

● Down in the Valley: Washington State coach Paul Wulff said "a little bit of everything" went wrong with his offense against Oklahoma State. It won't change against Cal.

● Valley Fever: The 1-0 Stanford Cardinal — which has traction for the first time since coach Jim Harbaugh's arrival last year — travels to No. 15 Arizona State.

"Everybody's been on board and really believing that we are a better football team," Harbaugh said. "You just felt it all spring ball, summer and then through training camp.

"You hope that translates into more wins. To get a win in the opener was very significant to our ballclub, to see the rewards for their hard work."