just something for all of us CFB junkies to look forward to while we wait 7 months for the season to start.
Sept. 2
California at Tennessee
The Golden Bears (or, for those Davy Crockett fans in the Volunteer State, "b'ars") invade Knoxville with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Erik Ainge of the Vols should at last have the quarterback job to himself.
Sept. 9
Penn State at Notre Dame
The Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish played some memorable games in the late 1980s and early '90s, but have not met since '92. Will Butkus Award winner Paul Posluszny, who may have suffered a serious knee injury in the Orange Bowl win, be back to anchor a defense that will face likely the nation's most prolific passing offense? Irish skill position starters Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker return, as does their leading receiver of '04, Rhema McKnight. Tight end Anthony Fasano will have graduated and likely go pro, but he does have a season of eligibility remaining.
Ohio State at Texas
Quarterbacks Troy Smith and Vince Young duel in Austin in an early Heisman showdown, while Billy (WR, Longhorns) and Antonio (TB, Buckeyes) contend for the MVP (Most Valuable Pittman) award. The Buckeye linebacker corps will need to grow up in a hurry to replace the likes of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel
Sept. 16
Nebraska at Southern Cal
Two of college football's old-money programs meet for the first time since '70. Will redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez be taking snaps for the Trojans and will a true freshman be starting at tailback? Have the Cornhuskers, behind impressive season-ending victories against Colorado and Michigan, finally turned the corner under Bill Callahan? Will Nebraska QB Zac Taylor continue the nouveau tradition of Big 12 passers lighting up the Trojans' secondary?
Oklahoma at Oregon
The Sooners and Ducks play for the third time in 24 months. Who do they think they are, Florida State and Miami? Oklahoma won the first two meetings. How much has Sooners' quarterback Rhett Bomar matured in a year? And, might it really be true that Ducks' All-America defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will return for his senior season?
Texas Tech at Texas Christian
The battle for second place in the Lone Star State. The Red Raiders are not known for scheduling non-conference heavies, but then they might not have figured that Horned Frog coach Gary Patterson would produce a five-year record of 43-17.
Sept. 23
Colorado at Georgia
No one ever had to book a second voyage on the Titanic, but poor Dan Hawkins must visit Athens for the second time in as many Septembers. Last year, the erstwhile Boise State coach had his Broncos open the season between the hedges, and the result was a 48-13 spanking. Now, as the new head coach in Boulder, he returns with a Buffaloes' outfit that looked sorely in need of talent in scoring just 16 points in its final three games of '05.
Oct. 21
UCLA at Notre Dame
Including bowl games, the Irish have played every Pac-10 school at least once in the past 20 years with two exceptions: Cal and UCLA. The Bruins and Irish, who are better known for their hardwood rivalry, play for the first time since '64. UCLA will still have an Olson at quarterback, but this time it will be Brigham Young transfer Ben Olson, as opposed to Drew. This one could exceed the 90-pass limit.
Other Intriguing Games:
Sept. 2: Hawaii at Alabama: The North Shore meets the Tide. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan led the nation in total offense in '05. Brennan's two favorite receivers, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen, were just freshmen, but both averaged seven-plus catches per game. After all the bowl games were played, Alabama finished '05 with the nation's top scoring D (10.67 points per game).
Sept. 9: Arizona at LSU: The Tigers, as usual, are loaded with talent. Wildcats coach Mike Stoops was the Oklahoma defensive coordinator when the Tigers beat the Sooners in the '04 BCS Championship Game, the Sugar Bowl.
Sept. 16: Texas A&M vs. Army (in San Antonio): The Corps of Cadets (A&M) versus the Cadets. Texas A&M began as an all-male military college and those Aggies who comprise the Corps of Cadets (they must take ROTC courses their first two years but are not obligated to serve in the military) remain the largest uniformed body of students outside the actual service academies. Besides, aren't you curious to see what's become of A&M quarterback Stephen McGee since his auspicious debut against Texas last Thanksgiving weekend?
Sept. 2
California at Tennessee
The Golden Bears (or, for those Davy Crockett fans in the Volunteer State, "b'ars") invade Knoxville with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Erik Ainge of the Vols should at last have the quarterback job to himself.
Sept. 9
Penn State at Notre Dame
The Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish played some memorable games in the late 1980s and early '90s, but have not met since '92. Will Butkus Award winner Paul Posluszny, who may have suffered a serious knee injury in the Orange Bowl win, be back to anchor a defense that will face likely the nation's most prolific passing offense? Irish skill position starters Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker return, as does their leading receiver of '04, Rhema McKnight. Tight end Anthony Fasano will have graduated and likely go pro, but he does have a season of eligibility remaining.
Ohio State at Texas
Quarterbacks Troy Smith and Vince Young duel in Austin in an early Heisman showdown, while Billy (WR, Longhorns) and Antonio (TB, Buckeyes) contend for the MVP (Most Valuable Pittman) award. The Buckeye linebacker corps will need to grow up in a hurry to replace the likes of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel
Sept. 16
Nebraska at Southern Cal
Two of college football's old-money programs meet for the first time since '70. Will redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez be taking snaps for the Trojans and will a true freshman be starting at tailback? Have the Cornhuskers, behind impressive season-ending victories against Colorado and Michigan, finally turned the corner under Bill Callahan? Will Nebraska QB Zac Taylor continue the nouveau tradition of Big 12 passers lighting up the Trojans' secondary?
Oklahoma at Oregon
The Sooners and Ducks play for the third time in 24 months. Who do they think they are, Florida State and Miami? Oklahoma won the first two meetings. How much has Sooners' quarterback Rhett Bomar matured in a year? And, might it really be true that Ducks' All-America defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will return for his senior season?
Texas Tech at Texas Christian
The battle for second place in the Lone Star State. The Red Raiders are not known for scheduling non-conference heavies, but then they might not have figured that Horned Frog coach Gary Patterson would produce a five-year record of 43-17.
Sept. 23
Colorado at Georgia
No one ever had to book a second voyage on the Titanic, but poor Dan Hawkins must visit Athens for the second time in as many Septembers. Last year, the erstwhile Boise State coach had his Broncos open the season between the hedges, and the result was a 48-13 spanking. Now, as the new head coach in Boulder, he returns with a Buffaloes' outfit that looked sorely in need of talent in scoring just 16 points in its final three games of '05.
Oct. 21
UCLA at Notre Dame
Including bowl games, the Irish have played every Pac-10 school at least once in the past 20 years with two exceptions: Cal and UCLA. The Bruins and Irish, who are better known for their hardwood rivalry, play for the first time since '64. UCLA will still have an Olson at quarterback, but this time it will be Brigham Young transfer Ben Olson, as opposed to Drew. This one could exceed the 90-pass limit.
Other Intriguing Games:
Sept. 2: Hawaii at Alabama: The North Shore meets the Tide. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan led the nation in total offense in '05. Brennan's two favorite receivers, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen, were just freshmen, but both averaged seven-plus catches per game. After all the bowl games were played, Alabama finished '05 with the nation's top scoring D (10.67 points per game).
Sept. 9: Arizona at LSU: The Tigers, as usual, are loaded with talent. Wildcats coach Mike Stoops was the Oklahoma defensive coordinator when the Tigers beat the Sooners in the '04 BCS Championship Game, the Sugar Bowl.
Sept. 16: Texas A&M vs. Army (in San Antonio): The Corps of Cadets (A&M) versus the Cadets. Texas A&M began as an all-male military college and those Aggies who comprise the Corps of Cadets (they must take ROTC courses their first two years but are not obligated to serve in the military) remain the largest uniformed body of students outside the actual service academies. Besides, aren't you curious to see what's become of A&M quarterback Stephen McGee since his auspicious debut against Texas last Thanksgiving weekend?
