Now that signing day and the Super Bowl have passed, football hits the deadest month of the year. Spring practice doesn't start until March, the draft doesn't happen until late April, and finally, the home stretch in the summer serves as light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, here is a sneak peak at that light.
Because I refuse to pontificate on a bunch of high school kids I have never seen play and no one has seen play on a level playing field of comparable talent, I will instead take a look at the most important non-conference matchups awaiting college football fans of the first four weekends. You know, just to wet the appetite. Because there are some nice items on the menu. And I get sadistic pleasure from teasing you with something you can't have for quite some time.
August 28
North Carolina State at South Carolina
Not a spectacular one to kick it all off. But after fasting for six months, a half-eaten burger pulled from a dumpster can taste like filet mignon. A little border rivalry adds a little spice to this rare matchup.
August 30
Alabama at Clemson
All right, now some real fun begins. Clemson returns C.J. Spiller and possibly James Davis as a two-headed monster at running back. But the Tigers constantly find ways to turn good starts into three-to-five loss seasons, remaining deeply entrenched in good-not-great land. Alabama, meanwhile, struggled in the second half of Nick Saban's first year. After a stellar (I'm told) recruiting class, the Tide needs the early momentum as badly if not more so than Clemson.
Illinois vs. Missouri
Last year, Missouri won a great 40-34 game in St. Louis with few people paying attention. That was because no one thought that the two teams would go on to lose a total of five games after that, with one going to the Rose Bowl and the other getting hosed by the BCS. Now people will go in knowing that the football extension of the "Braggin' Rights" game is the biggest game of the week. Quarterback Chase Daniels returns as a Heisman candidate for Missouri, and the dynamic Juice Williams is still the signal-caller for Illinois as both teams try to maintain momentum from surprisingly successful seasons.
USC at Virginia
USC gets its annual run at the BCS underway with an early road test for whichever new quarterback emerges between Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain. But while Mustain got the attention, fellow Arkansas transfer Damian Williams may have a bigger effect at wideout. The return of Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing for senior years is huge for a defense that loses a fair amount on the D-line. But either way, Virginia might not want to look at USC's record the last five years against regular season non-conference opponents. (Hint: one of the numbers in the record is zero.)
Michigan State at Cal
Not a blockbuster, but the beginning of a number of BCS conference visitors to Pac-10 stadiums.
September 6
Tennessee at UCLA
Speaking of which, Tennessee apparently didn't get enough last year when Cal stomped out the Vols in Strawberry Canyon. The chants of "Pac-10 football" are still echoing in Berkley (mostly because there hasn't been any canceling noise since the Bears' collapse from No. 2 in the country into the Armed Forces Bowl by losing six of their last seven). Now the Vols return looking for UC blood, providing new UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel with a huge first challenge.
Miami at Florida
Yes, Randy Shannon is in the process of trying to drag Miami out of the gutter. But like Alabama, the Hurricanes landed an elite recruiting class (reportedly). And while Florida will likely stomp the 'Canes, the matchup has been the missing link between the three major Florida schools.
September 13
Ohio State at USC
This might be the highest profile game of the month. The traditional Rose Bowl foes haven't played since 1985, but their seven Rose Bowls meetings (USC has won four) make this a historic matchup. That they both happen to be regulars in the BCS certainly doesn't hurt the profile of this one.
Kansas at South Florida
This matchup, meanwhile, does not have much tradition. Or, any. Historically speaking, USC/Ohio State is to Kansas/South Florida is what a Van Goh is to a Charlie Brown comic. When USC and Ohio State last played, South Florida didn't have a football program, and Kansas barely has any more experience with winning than South Florida. But the two programs broke through with big seasons last year.
Arkansas at Texas
The old Southwest Conference rivals get re-acquainted in Austin, and these two schools don't like each other. The game may be more venomous than competitive, though, with Arkansas spiraling out of control and Texas remaining a Big 12 power.
Michigan at Notre Dame
Haha, just kidding. This one will be a blowout. Notre Dame will be better this year. But just good enough not to be as embarrassing as last year. Certainly not good enough to challenge even a rebuilding Michigan.
West Virginia at Colorado
Steve Slaton may have announced that he is entering the draft, but Bill Stewart will not be the only thing bringing continuity to the Mountaineers in the post Rich Rodriguez era. Pat White is most likely returning. Noel Devine might be more dynamic at running back than Slaton ... already. There will still be plenty of speed. Colorado makes this an intriguing pairing, as Dan Hawkins has the Buffaloes heading in the right direction. After all, they knocked off Oklahoma in last year, why not West Virginia? What, West Virginia pasted the Sooners? Aw, never mind. But Colorado is better, and also plays Florida State two weeks later in a game that would be an epic battle ... about a decade ago.
September 20
Georgia at Arizona State
One last early out-of-conference matchup puts a team that is looking for a national title at a school looking to build itself into a power and a challenger to USC for a Pac-10 title under Dennis Erickson. Arizona State made strides last year, but needs a signature win to establish itself as worthy of national attention. That might be a bit much to ask against the Bulldogs, but a good showing even in a close loss might go a long way. Remember, this was where LSU needed a miracle turnaround to win just a few years ago, and that was in the midst of the Dirk Koetter choke-a-holic era.
And with that, we are still over six months away from any of this from happening. On second thought, writing this is actually kind of painful for myself. Like Ron Burgundy, I immediately regret this decision.
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