Biggest Early Season College Football Matchups

Biggest Early Season College Football Matchups
By Dan the Man
Posted: 2:30 pm PDT 2006-07-03

It is never to early to start thinking about college football: the pageantry, the passion, the brilliance. Over the next couple of months, I will countdown the top 10 stories of the college football offseason and look to the season ahead. Up first, an early look at some of the biggest games in the opening months:

Sept. 2 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech: The new ABC weekly prime-time college football series kicks off in a grand way. Tech will be looking to make the best of QB Reggie Ball's final season in Atlanta, and Notre Dame will be thinking national championship with Heisman hopeful QB Brady Quinn. Irish coach Charlie Weis has them believing again in South Bend, and this could be the start of their run at the title.

Sept. 4 Florida State at Miami: One of the best rivalries in college football continues as the Seminoles look for a way to beat the 'Canes for a second straight season. If Miami falls, the calls for Larry Coker's job could intensify. Florida State is looking to build on a surprise BCS bid from last season and has QB Drew Weatherford returning after a good freshman campaign.

Sept. 9 Ohio State at Texas: In a rematch of one of last year's best games, the Buckeyes travel to Austin and hope to do what the Longhorns did last year: win a game on the road at a national power on their way to the national championship. Of course, this year's Texas squad won't have all-everything QB Vince Young, but the Horns do return several players and have a ton of young talent to take over for departed starters. The Buckeyes have the type of team that can win it all with quarterback/Heisman hopeful Troy Smith and wide receiver/Heisman hopeful Ted Ginn Jr.

Sept. 16 Nebraska at Southern Cal: The Cornhuskers came close to several big wins last year, but ended on a high note with the huge win over Michigan in an exciting Alamo Bowl. They will look to continue their move back toward national relevancy as Coach Bill Callahan's offense is taking shape in Lincoln. We will also get to know a Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart-less Trojans squad that remains stacked with talent and could pick up right where last year's team left off with QB John David Booty, WR Dwayne Jarrett (assuming he's reinstated) and one of the best coaches in Pete Carroll.

Sept. 30 Michigan at Minnesota: The Wolverines had all the talent to make a run at the national title last year, but once again let mistakes kill them. They will look to build on the things they did right last season and are once again loaded. Led by QB/Heisman hopeful Chad Henne and RB/Heisman hopeful Mike Hart, the sky could be the limit for Michigan, if Lloyd Carr doesn?t get in the way as he always seems to do . The Gophers had big wins in 2005, none more so than beating Michigan for the first time since 1986. Glen Mason?s bunch will be scrappy and gutty again as he looks for a breakthrough season and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

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