Time to Set Your College Football Viewing Schedule

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

It's never too soon to start looking at the upcoming college football season. 

So with less than two months to go until the first game kicks off in the 2009 season, let's take a look at some of the big games around the country.

A good number of games for the first few weeks of the season have already been slotted by the networks and the viewing landscape is beginning to take shape. 

In the last few seasons, the trend has been towards most of the big games starting in the 3:30 or 8:00 p.m. time slots. It seems that universities and networks are shying away from the noon kickoffs in the eastern time zone, making it harder to fill a full day with quality matchups.

If you're anything like me, you take a good look at the schedule each week and get upset when two intriguing games are being played at the same time, or even worse, on the same network. 

All of the times and networks listed are subject to change, but this has been the information handed out by the networks and universities thus far. 

Break out your calendar and let's start setting our viewing guide.

Sept. 3

The season kicks off on a Thursday night, which will most likely be a little anti-climatic.  Sure, it's a great way to start off Labor Day Weekend, but most people won't make it through a good Oregon/Boise State matchup. 

North Texas at Ball State kicks off first, but I'm holding out for South Carolina and NC State. 

South Carolina at NC State: 7 p.m., ESPN

Oregon at Boise State: 10:15 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 5

Saturday gives us our first full slate of games topped by Georgia visiting Oklahoma State. This will be a great road test for Mark Richt, taking on Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant. 

My advice is to start the day with a local game of interest and then settle in for Georgia/Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m. Keep the remote handy with an interesting Illinois/Missouri game on at the same time. 

Then, catch a little of BYU at Oklahoma before switching over to watch Alabama take on Virginia Tech. If this game becomes a blowout, switch over early to see Maryland visit Cal which starts just before another interesting night game of LSU at Washington.

Georgia at Oklahoma State:  3:30 p.m., ABC

Illinois vs. Missouri (in St. Louis):  3:30, ESPN

BYU vs. Oklahoma:  7 p.m., ESPN

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta):  8 p.m., ABC

Maryland at California:  10 p.m., ESPN2

LSU at Washington:  10:30 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 7

Labor Day gives us two interesting matchups that might be worth putting on while you're outside at a pool, or enjoying the air conditioning inside. Both should prove worthy of your time.

Cincinnati at Rutgers:  4 p.m., ESPN

Miami at Florida State:  8 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 10

The second weekend kicks off with a good ACC matchup. I don't know about you, but I'm extremely curious to see year two of the Tech offense and the triple option.

Clemson at Georgia Tech:  7:30 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 12

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