14 Weeks Of Heaven
Fourteen weeks of heaven, that’s what the college football season amounts to for sports junkies. From the beginning of September through the first week of December, every Saturday is jam-packed with NCAA Division I action. To help you plan your couch/sports bar rotation, here’s a week-by-week rundown of the hottest games.
- Weekend of September 2
Action officially kicks off this weekend, and the games don’t get much bigger than No. 11 Florida State vs. No. 12 Miami. Both teams feel they have a lot to prove, especially as this year marks the first since 1985 that neither team has started in the season in the Top 10. Monday, September 4, 8 p.m.*, ESPN.
- Weekend of September 9
There are few college football programs as storied as Penn State and Notre Dame. The No. 19 Nittany Lions roll into South Bend this weekend looking to assure fans that last year’s 11-win season was no fluke. The No. 2 Irish, under the direction of second-year head coach Charlie Weis and Heisman-frontrunner Brady Quinn, are looking to stop them and prove that their own resurgence last year has staying power. There’s not likely to be any snow this time, but this game could be one for the ages. 3:30 p.m., NBC.
- Weekend of September 16
The Irish don’t get much rest. No. 14 Michigan comes calling on the 16th, looking to avenge an embarrassing loss last year in the Big House. The Wolverines were soundly spanked last year as Weis and Quinn debuted ND’s new aerial attack. Look for Lloyd Carr’s troops to rebound this year in a hotly contested battle in the House that Rockne Built. 3:30 p.m., NBC. Also worth watching this weekend, Miami takes on No. 13 Louisville at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
- Weekend of September 23
Conference action heats up this weekend. The big game in the Big 10 this week is Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State. On the West Coast, the Sun Devils of No. 24 Arizona State take on the Bears of No. 9 California. Times and stations to be announced.
- Weekend of September 30
Not a lot of ranked action this weekend, but a few good old interstate rivalries. No. 25 Texas Tech will take on Texas A&M under the lights at 7 p.m. (station to be announced), while No. 23 Tennessee meets cross-state rival Memphis on ESPN (time to be announced). In other top 25 games, Ohio State will meet No. 16 Iowa at 8 p.m. on ABC.
- Weekend of October 7
The big story this weekend is whether defending champ Texas (ranked No. 3 preseason) can overcome rival Oklahoma. This summer, the No. 10 Sooners appeared ready to overcome last year’s embarrassing season and reassert themselves as a BCS contender behind super tailback Adrian Peterson and QB Rhett Bomar. Instead, they will face an uphill battle after Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn were dismissed form the team for violating NCAA rules. Time and station to be announced.
- Weekend of October 14
Old-school conference rivalries take the stage this weekend. In the SEC, No. 7 Florida and No. 4 Auburn clash (time and station to be announced), while in the Big 10 Michigan and Penn State do battle once again in prime time (8 p.m., ABC).
- Weekend of October 21
This weekend, No. 20 Nebraska tries to remind the college football world that it was once a powerhouse by taking on Texas in a Big-12 match-up (time and station to be announced). The Huskers, several years removed from their glory days, have been distracted by several off-field problems, including the departure of highly touted quarterback Harrison Beck. But coach Bill Callahan looks to have to offense, which ranked a shocking 107th last year, on the right track to reassert Nebraska’s place in the Top 25.
- Weekend of October 28
On Thursday, October 26, in a primetime showcase, No. 18 Clemson and No. 17 Virginia Tech look to show the country that the ACC knows more than just basketball (7:45 p.m., ESPN). In other conference match-ups, Texas meets Texas Tech on the 28th at 2 p.m. (station to be announced), while the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party kicks off in Jacksonville, FL, where the Gators will take on the No. 15 Georgia Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. (station to be announced).
- Weekend of November 4
No. 5 West Virginia gets to show the country what it’s made of in primetime on Thursday, November 2, when it takes on Louisville (7:45 p.m., ESPN). The Mountaineers, coming out of depleted Big East, may very well be this year’s sleeper No. 1. If they can make it to November 2 undefeated, they won’t be off the radar for long.
- Weekend of November 11
The best games this weekend come out of the south as Georgia faces Auburn and Oklahoma takes on Texas Tech (times and stations to be announced). Spots in both the SEC and Big 12 title games could very well be on the line.
- Weekend of November 18
Two huge conference match-ups with potential BCS implications this weekend. First, Michigan, who always seems to play spoil sport when the Buckeyes are in title contention, visits Ohio State (3:30 p.m., ABC). Then, California takes on No. 6 USC in Los Angeles (8 p.m., ABC).
- Weekend of November 25
Be sure to fortify yourself with turkey and mashed potatoes on Thursday because there is a ton of football this weekend. As you nurse your Thanksgiving hangover on Friday, November 24, watch the annual Texas/Texas A&M battle on ABC at noon. On Saturday afternoon, Florida and Florida State play out their annual drama (time and station to be announced. Then, on Saturday night, the Irish of Notre Dame take the field at the LA Coliseum looking to avenge last year’s last-second loss to USC (8 p.m., ABC).
- Weekend of December 2
All good things must come to an end, and so must the 2006 NCAA football regular season. This weekend, there aren’t a lot of top teams in action. Instead, remind yourself what it’s all about and check out the annual Army/Navy game at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. No scholarships and little hope of NFL stardom, just two teams of young men giving their all for their country and playing the game they love.
You can reach Heather @ hdrevna@featurepresentationonline.com.
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