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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
ESPN.com | ||||||
The upcoming college football season will have a number of important games. Picking the best regular-season games is difficult. There are so many great rivalries and conference confrontations that dot the schedule; you know the Michigan-Ohio State game will be an intense battle. In pinpointing games to watch, let's look at a baker's dozen, 13 non-league games that will stand out this season:
Two of the top four teams in the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll square off. Is this a Rose Bowl preview? If the Wildcats can win at Happy Valley, watch out as we're talking about an NCAA championship contender. Then again, Arizona will have a tough time against a defense led by LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short. The winner really gets a leg up on the competition for the national title.
Aug. 28 -- BCA Classic, N.C. State at Texas We get to see what Ohio State has after losing so many talented players (Katzenmoyer, Winfield, Boston, Germaine to name a few). Miami may rank among the top five in talent, but the schedule is brutal, starting with this test. Sept. 4 -- Notre Dame at Michigan Do you think the Wolverines will be fired up after losing to the Irish last season, 36-20? Plus, Lloyd Carr was unhappy to see Notre Dame schedule a game prior to this one (Kansas in the Eddie Robinson Classic). Having a game under its belt is a definite advantage for Bob Davie's squad. This is also noteworthy to see whether Tom Brady or Drew Henson starts at quarterback for the maize and blue. Sept. 4 -- South Carolina at NC State It's welcome back to the sidelines for Lou Holtz. Ironically, the new Gamecocks coach visits a former employer in the Wolfpack. Tickets were in such demand in South Carolina that fans actually bought NC State season ticket packages to get into this contest! Sept. 11 -- UCLA at Ohio State Just make sure the Bruins park in legal spots in Columbus! The last time the Bruins faced a Big Ten team, it was the disappointing Rose Bowl loss to Wisconsin. No Cade McNown vs. Joe Germaine, or this would really be a marquee matchup! Sept.11 -- Notre Dame at Purdue This could be a game which boosts Drew Brees' Heisman hopes. It will be interesting to see what the Irish have left after the Michigan game. The Irish won last season's showdown, 31-30, rallying from a nine-point deficit with less than eight minutes left. Sept. 18 -- Penn State at Miami If the Hurricanes get past the Buckeyes, this has Game of the Year potential. There is no love lost between these schools (ask Vinny Testaverde about a 14-10 loss to the Nittany Lions in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl). Sept. 25 -- Colorado at Washington Talk about no love lost! Rick Neuheisel departed Boulder and became Ralphie the Buffalo's biggest enemy. Then there were questions regarding Neuheisel trying to get a few of his prospects to switch allegiances and come to Seattle. This would have been a good match-up without the added drama of Neuheisel's farewell. Oct. 2 -- Oklahoma at Notre Dame Simply because these are two of the most storied programs in college football history. The Irish ended the Sooners' record 47-game win streak in 1957, 7-0. This is their first meeting in over three decades (1968 was the last one). October 9, Miami at Florida State The Seminoles have won the last four meetings, though that won't lessen the intensity of this Sunshine State showdown. Nov. 6 --Notre Dame at Tennessee If the Vols enter this contest unbeaten (Florida will have a say in that), the sea of orange fans will be even wilder than usual. The road team has won both meetings in the '90s. Nov. 20 -- Florida State at Florida The Seminoles were No. 11 when they visited Gainesville in 1997. Bobby Bowden's team fell to defeat. This matchup is arguably the best in college football during the '90s.
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