STATE COLLEGE - Penn State coach Joe Paterno has to pay attention to a lot of things to get himself and his team ready for game day. So far this season, apparently, his pant cuffs aren't at the top of the list.

Paterno's pant cuffs haven't been rolled up this year during games, at least at home in Beaver Stadium, and that's unusual. It's such a trademark look for the man who has led Penn State for 40 years that the cuffs are rolled up on the pants of the bronzed statute erected in his honor outside the stadium.

So Joe, with the No. 8 Nittany Lions at 6-0, is this a new tradition?

"Didn't I roll them up?" he asked at his weekly news conference Tuesday. "I haven't got the slightest idea whether I roll them up or don't roll them up or what. I'll roll them up Saturday."

This Saturday is when Penn State, which is 3-0 against Big Ten teams, travels to Michigan (3-3, 1-2) for its toughest road game of the year so far. That is something that Paterno is very much aware of.

"Anybody who would take Michigan lightly has got to be out of their mind," Paterno said. "I don't care if Michigan was 0-6, much less 3-3."

The Wolverines and Nittany Lions have seemingly changed roles in the topsy-turvy Big Ten. Michigan, the two-time defending conference champion, is struggling. Penn State, which limped to losing records the last two seasons, is on a roll after its statement-making win last Saturday over Ohio State.

Michael Robinson and Derrick Williams each scored second-quarter touchdowns, while the defense put together its finest performance of the year in shooing the Buckeyes out of the national title picture.

Paterno is relying on Robinson and fellow captains and defensive standouts, Paul Posluszny and Alan Zemaitis, to keep the team focused and erase any thoughts of having too much confidence. After all, Penn State hasn't beaten the Wolverines since 1996.

"Our big problem this week is not to say, 'Hey, we beat Ohio State.' Well, Ohio State is gone," Paterno said. "You play Ohio State and then you play Michigan away. That is not exactly a soft spot."

A win over Wolverines would add to an impressive string of victories that has seen Penn State advance to its highest ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 since appearing at No. 6 on Nov. 13, 1999. On that day, Michigan beat Penn State at Beaver Stadium.

On this year's Michigan team, Paterno said he is impressed with sophomore running back Mike Hart, who has missed two games this year because of a hamstring injury but is averaging 112 yards a game.

Plus, two other key Michigan players were plucked out of Paterno's back yard: quarterback Chad Henne is from Wyomissing, Pa., and wide receiver/returner Steve Breaston is from North Braddock, Pa.

Paterno on Tuesday also took another swipe at the Bowl Championship Series, which he has criticized in the past.

"To me, the BCS is a joke. I can't buy all these different polls. I just think we should figure out a way that we can play 12, 13 or 14 games and have a playoff," he said.

"Having said that, do I have the answer? No, I don't have the answer, but I sure would like to see it and I talk about it all the time."