College Football 2011: Power Ranking the 50 Best Games on Paper
One glance at the upcoming slate of games for the fall is all it takes to figure out that the 2011 college football season has the potential to be the most exciting one in years.
From non-conference thrillers featuring BCS contenders like Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State and Oregon, to regional rivalries like The Red River Shootout and the Backyard Brawl, there will be no shortage of fantastic games to whet the appetite of just about every college football fan across the land.
And the timing couldn't be any better, with the specter of a lockout in the NFL leaving so many perennial pigskin proponents with half as much to watch on weekends.
It can be quite difficult to figure which games to tune into and which to ignore, so let's have a look at the 50-best games on the schedule.
Note: This list is not perfect, so please feel free to chime in with opinions, thoughts, comments, questions, etc., but please keep them appropriate and respectful, especially to each other.
50. Arizona at Oklahoma State, Thursday September 8th
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It just so happens that the first game on this list will likely make for a terrific Saturday afternoon of football in and of itself.
This early September tilt between Arizona and Oklahoma State will serve as a rematch of last year's Alamo Bowl, in which the Cowboys routed the Wildcats by a score of 36-10.
Brandon Weeden and Biletnikoff-winner Justin Blackmon shredded Arizona's defense, while Nick Foles and the Wildcat offense struggled to get much of anything done against a normally-porous Pokes D.
Don't expect this shootout to be so one-sided again, even though it's slated to go down in Stillwater.
49. UCLA at USC, Saturday November 26th
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OK, so it's tough to say that the gauntlet game between UCLA and USC will be much of a game. The rivalry has pretty much sputtered over the last decade and a half, save for the Bruins' 13-9 upset in 2006.
This year's edition, however, could make for some interesting theater at the Coliseum. The Trojans will once again be ineligible for the bowl season, making this season finale their biggest game.
As for the Bruins, they'll be playing to help Rick Neuheisel keep his job...or not.
Either way, there will be plenty of motivation for both teams, even if neither one ends up in a bowl game afterward.
48. Penn State at Wisconsin, Saturday November 26th
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That very same day, Joe Paterno will lead Penn State into Camp Randall Stadium to take on Wisconsin in what could ostensibly be his final Big Ten game, if not his last game overall, should the Nittany Lions fail to qualify for the postseason in 2011.
The Badgers might still be facing some challenges of their own after losing half their offense to graduation and early defection after last season's loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl.
All in all, that should make for an interesting contest as these two venerable Big Ten programs go head-to-head in a season-ending showdown that could spell doom for the bowl hopes of either team.
47. LSU at West Virginia, Saturday September 24th
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Everyone is expecting LSU to be a championship contender this year, while few seem to pay much attention to the prospects of West Virginia, perhaps because the Mountaineers play in the woebegone Big East.
Nonetheless, West Virginia has quarterback Geno Smith and new offensive coordinator/head-coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen around to keep the Mountaineers atop their muddled conference.
LSU, on the other hand, will be tuning up for a brutal run through the SEC on the way to a potential spot in a BCS bowl. Will Les Miles and the Tigers find their title hopes turned upside-down in Morgantown?
46. USC at Oregon, Saturday November 19th
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USC won't be jockeying for any sort of BCS positioning this coming season, both because the Trojans are still on probation and because, well, there's a very good chance they'll take a significant step back this season after losing so many experienced players to graduation after a middling season in 2010.
That doesn't mean Lane Kiffin and company won't have the opportunity to impact the national title race.
Matt Barkley and the Trojans will look to play spoiler when they ride into Autzen Stadium to take on the Oregon Ducks in the second-to-last week of the Pac-12 season.
Chip Kelly's team, led by quarterback Darron Thomas and Heisman Trophy runner-up LaMichael James, will be aiming for a return trip to the BCS national championship game, with a date against Tommy Trojan's boys as one of the final hurdles standing between the Ducks and the crystal football.
45. Utah at BYU, Saturday September 17th
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Utah will barely have set foot in the Pac-12 before returning to the Beehive State to reignite their long-running rivalry against BYU.
The Utes will make the trip to Provo just one week after playing their first conference game at USC, making for an interesting start to their season.
The Cougars, on the other hand, will still be adjusting to life as a college football independent, though having an older, more experienced Jake Heaps under center should help Bronco Mendenhall's team in what figures to be a rough-and-tumble trip down Mountain West memory lane.
44. USC at Notre Dame, Saturday October 22nd
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Speaking of Pac-12 teams playing independents, no rivalry of the sort carries as much weight in the world of college football as the annual tilt between USC and Notre Dame.
The Trojans will be taking their show on the road to South Bend this year after giving up the Jeweled Shillelagh last year for the first time since 2001.
The 20-16 decision gave the Irish their seventh win in their first season under Brian Kelly and, chances are, the Golden Domers will be gunning for an even better finish in 2011 as they play host to their long-time, cardinal-clad adversaries.
43. Michigan State at Nebraska, Saturday October 29th
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The month of October could be one long, rude awakening for Nebraska amidst its first season in the Big Ten.
The Cornhuskers will play all three of the conference's 2010 co-champions that month, finishing up at home against Michigan State.
The Spartans may be the best of that aforementioned trio next season, with quarterback Kirk Cousins set to steward a strong offense that also returns leading rusher Edwin Baker.
As such, Big Red coach Bo Pelini will have a much better idea of where his team stands among its new digs by the end of this game.
42. Notre Dame at Michigan, Saturday September 10th
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It may be strange to think that Notre Dame's game against Michigan will be more interesting than its duel with USC later in the season, but this particular contest has some interesting implications for both sides.
For the Wolverines, it serves as an opportunity for new head coach Brady Hoke to prove that he really is a "Michigan man"—by beating the snot out of the Irish.
For the Irish, it's an early-season test against a familiar foe amidst a schedule loaded with bowl teams that fans in South Bend hope—no, expect—will yield an improvement on last season's eight-win tally.
41. Alabama at Mississippi State, Saturday November 12th
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It took long enough, but here it is at last—an SEC conference game on the list of the 50-best games of the 2011 season.
Granted, there will be plenty more as the rankings run on, but this matchup between Alabama and Mississippi State should make for some interesting fireworks.
The Bulldogs shocked the world when they demolished Michigan in the Gator Bowl, 52-14, to put the finishing touches on an outstanding 9-4 season.
Much will be expected of MSU in Dan Mullen's third season, and a mid-November meeting with BCS-contender Alabama will go a long way toward determining whether folks in Starkville can expect an SEC title coming their way sooner rather than later.
40. Southern Methodist at Texas Christian, Friday September 30th
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The Friday night lights will be shining bright in the state of Texas at the close of September when Southern Methodist makes the short trip from Dallas to Fort Worth to take on Texas Christian in a matchup of old Southwest Conference rivals.
The Horned Frogs are coming off an undefeated season capped by what amounted to an upset over Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl, and will be looking to boost their resume before jumping to the Big East in 2012.
The visiting Mustangs are coming off another solid season in which they won their division in Conference USA. A win over TCU would go a long way toward boosting the profile of June Jones' team as one to be reckoned with in the conference once again.
39. Pittsburgh at Utah, Saturday October 15th
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It's been more than six years since Pitt and Utah met for what amounted to the "Lame Duck Bowl" that saw the Utes come away with a big win in the Fiesta Bowl.
Following that game, Urban Meyer left for an incredibly successful tenure at Florida while Walt Harris bolted for Stanford, where he was promptly fired after two miserable seasons in Palo Alto.
The two schools rekindled that old BCS flame in a thrilling season-opener last season, from which the Utes emerged victorious in overtime, 27-24.
The Panthers and the Utes will meet under different circumstances this time around, with coach Todd Graham just starting out in Pittsburgh.
38. Missouri at Arizona State, Friday September 9th
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Missouri and Arizona State will meet in Tempe in a game featuring teams expected to contend for the top spots in their respectively reshaped conferences.
The Tigers will be without Tyler Gabbert, the younger brother of star quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who is set to transfer from Mizzou and leaves Gary Pinkel one fewer option under center.
Meanwhile, the Sun Devils will be returning 19 starters in all from a team that endured a string of harrowing heartbreaks last season, but appears poised for big things in 2011, lest Dennis Erickson prefer to pack up his belongings and move on to yet another coaching position.
37. Miami at Virginia Tech, Saturday October 8th
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Virginia Tech ran away with the ACC's Coastal Division in 2010, with Miami bringing up the Hokies' coattails in second place.
New Hurricanes head coach Al Golden will be gunning for Frank Beamer's bunch in 2011, with an early October tilt on the schedule to find out what his new team is made of.
Not that anyone should expect the Hokies to just lay down and let the 'Canes walk over them, even with Tyrod Taylor off to the NFL.
36. Nebraska at Wisconsin, Saturday October 1st
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Nebraska's introduction to the Big Ten figures to be a rude one, as it will come courtesy of perennial powerhouse Wisconsin.
The Badgers will be missing a slew of key players from last year's Rose Bowl team, making returning running backs James White and Montee Ball that much more important to the success of Bret Bielema's boys.
They and the rest of the Badgers will put on-again-off-again quarterback Taylor Martinez and Big Red to the test on a fateful Saturday evening at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
35. Pittsburgh at West Virginia, Friday November 25th
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As previously mentioned, the Big East is not a strong conference by any stretch of the imagination, though that should do little to diminish the quality of play in the Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia.
The Mountaineers took the bragging rights by a wide margin last year in a decisive 35-10 victory, though it wasn't quite enough for Bill Stewart's squad to claim the Big East title over mighty UConn.
These two teams figure to be at each other's throats again while gunning for the top spot in the conference, with Stewart on his way out of Morgantown and Todd Graham just getting settled down in Pittsburgh.
34. Arizona at Arizona State, Saturday November 19th
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The Territorial Cup may not decide the Pac-12 title like the Backyard Brawl might in the Big East, but the matchup between Arizona and Arizona State should be quite a contest nonetheless.
The two teams took it to overtime for the first time in 2010, with the Sun Devils coming out on top after blocking two, separate extra-point attempts to preserve a 30-29 margin at the end of the second extra period.
And with both schools expected to compete for the Pac-12 South's spot in the conference-championship game in 2011, look for everyone on the field to go all out with so much at stake.
33. Michigan at Michigan State, Saturday October 15th
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Speaking of exciting intrastate rivalries, possession of the Paul Bunyan Trophy won't easily be decided in 2011, though Michigan State's 34-17 victory in Ann Arbor last season would suggest otherwise.
The Spartans will be good again, to be sure, though the Wolverines figure to be more fired up this time around with the defensive-minded Brady Hoke at the helm.
And considering the fact that this game falls smack dab in the middle of the Big Ten schedule, Sparty's hopes for another shot at the conference crown may hinge on what happens in East Lansing on the third Saturday in October.
32. Washington at Nebraska, Saturday September 17th
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Turnabout is fair play in college football, which makes predicting the outcome of this season's Nebraska-Washington game that much more difficult to predict.
The Cornhuskers hacked the Huskies in Seattle at the beginning of the 2010 season by a score of 56-21 before getting shut down by the U-Dub defense in the Holiday Bowl, 19-7, in Jake Locker's last stand.
As such, it's anybody's guess how things will turn out when the fight comes to Lincoln in mid-September.
31. BYU at Texas, Saturday September 10th
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BYU is doing plenty to explore its newfound status as an FBS independent, including playing twice in the state of Texas.
The Cougars' first visit is set for September 10th, when they travel to Austin to take on Texas in one of the more intriguing, if seemingly meaningless, nonconference games of the early season.
The Longhorns will be looking to bounce back from a miserable 5-7 season in 2010 with the hope that young Garrett Gilbert will sustain for an entire season the promise he showed in his surprising stint in the BCS national championship game in 2010.
30. Nebraska at Penn State, Saturday November 12th
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Nebraska is all over this list, and for good reason: Big Red's announced move to the Big Ten was a big deal in the college football world this past summer and figures to make for some interesting story lines as the season progresses.
The two programs have crossed paths on the field 13 times before and even saw their destinies intertwined when, following the 1994 season during which both teams went undefeated, the Huskers beat out the Nittany Lions in both polls to be crowned national champions.
Whether their rivalry as Big Ten foes kicks off with anywhere near as much controversy remains to be seen, though it would seem highly unlikely at this point.
29. Oregon State at Oregon, Saturday November 26th
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The Civil War Game between Oregon and Oregon State has long been one of college football's most underappreciated treasures, though last year's edition attracted plenty of attention for a number of reasons.
Aside from the fact that the Ducks came into that game with a spot in the BCS national championship game on the line and came out ahead, 37-20, fans of both schools might most readily remember the game for what happened afterward.
Following the conclusion of the contest, a group of Ducks fans set fire to a rivalry-themed T-shirt on top of the Beavers logo on the field at Reser Stadium. The resulting flame did considerable damage to the artificial turf.
And though the culprits have since been caught and the field repaired, there's still plenty of anger to fuel the Beavers when they seek payback at Autzen Stadium in late November.
28. Florida State at Florida, Saturday November 26th
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Everyone and their mother has Florida State pegged for BCS title contention just over a year into Jimbo Fisher's tenure as the head coach in Tallahassee, which is where Will Muschamp hopes to find his Gators as soon as possible.
Much will be known about the progress of both storied programs when they meet in Gainesville to close out the regular season at the end of November.
Which makes this year's edition of the rivalry worth much more than just bragging rights.
27. Arizona State at Oregon, Saturday October 15th
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Folks in Tempe will know by mid-October at the latest if their beloved Sun Devils are fit for a Pac-12 crown, especially after a visit to Eugene to play Oregon.
The Ducks held on for a 42-31 victory against a game Arizona State squad last year and may very well find their margin for error even slimmer this time around, with the Devils returning all but three starters from that team and Oregon having to replace a number of significant contributors on both sides of the ball.
26. Notre Dame at Stanford, Saturday November 26th
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While the rest of the Pac-12 is busy busting each other's heads in heated regional rivalries in late November, Stanford will be hosting Notre Dame in a Senior Day showdown for the ages.
The edge naturally falls to the Cardinal, which will likely have the services of Andrew Luck to lean on, in what figures to be his last game on the Farm, no less.
However, if Brian Kelly's Irish proved anything last year, it's that they're fully capable of beating red-hued, West Coast opponents on their home turf (see last season's 20-16 victory at USC).
25. Ohio State at Miami, Saturday September 17th
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It's been a while since Ohio State and Miami met to decide the BCS national championship back in 2003. The two schools rekindled that short-lived rivalry last season, with the Buckeyes coming away with a 36-24 victory over the Hurricanes at the Horseshoe in Columbus.
This game should be mighty interesting for both sides, as new Miami coach Al Golden will be playing host in the biggest game of his coaching career to a Buckeyes team that will be without their head coach, Jim Tressel, as well as the services of Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron and DeVier Posey.
As such, the 'Canes have a shot to knock the Buckeyes out of the national title picture before the season really gets revved up in October.
24. South Carolina at Arkansas, Saturday November 5th
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East meets West in the SEC when South Carolina trips to Fayetteville for a football fight with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Bobby Petrino's team will be sans Ryan Mallett for this one, though likely incumbent Tyler Wilson will likely have his act together by then, lest the Hogs find themselves well outside the conference title picture by early November.
The Gamecocks still have their own quarterback issues to sort out before they can lay claim to another SEC East crown now that Steve Spurrier has slapped Stephen Garcia with an indefinite suspension...again.
Hence, this one could potentially degenerate into a meaningless-yet-entertaining tiff by the time it takes place, or just as easily hold up as one of the games of the year in the SEC.
23. Oklahoma State at Texas A&M, Saturday September 24th
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Little has been said about Texas A&M and Oklahoma State on this list thus far, though that figures to change rather significantly going forward.
Both teams are arguably top-10 worthy heading into the 2011 season and could reasonably contend for the title in the slimmer, trimmer, 10-team Big 12.
This game, in particular, will feature some offensive tandems well worth watching—Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon for the Pokes, and Ryan Tannehill and Cyrus Gray for the Aggies.
22. Michigan State at Ohio State, Saturday October 1st
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Crazy as it may seem, Michigan State's visit to Columbus on the first of October may be the most important game of the 2011 Big Ten season.
If Ohio State can hold on for a victory without Jim Tressel on the sidelines and Terrelle Pryor under center, the Buckeyes may still find themselves in good position to reach the inaugural Big Ten championship game.
However, if the Spartans come out swinging, they will be primed to push their way to the top of conference and prove that their 11-2 season in 2010 was no fluke.
21. Boise State vs. Georgia at the Georgia Dome, Saturday September 3rd
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Boise State will once again head South to open the season, this time stopping off in Atlanta to face Georgia at the Georgia Dome.
The Broncos will be gunning for another strong season with Heisman-finalist Kellen Moore under center, while the Bulldogs will begin the year fighting for coach Mark Richt's job.
Could the stakes be any higher for a nonconference game so early in the season?
Keep scrolling through this list to find out...
20. Wisconsin at Ohio State, Saturday October 29th
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Should Wisconsin and Ohio State work their way through their respective early-season challenges—mass defections for the Badgers and NCAA sanctions for the Buckeyes—their meeting in late October could have major implications with regard to who makes it to the Big Ten championship game.
The Badgers came away with a 31-18 victory at Camp Randall Stadium in 2010 thanks to the steady running of John Clay and James White and a 97-yard kickoff return by David Gilreath.
Without Clay and the majority of their starting offensive line from last year, Wisconsin may have some trouble running the ball down the Buckeyes' throat in Columbus, which should make this game just a bit more interesting.
19. TCU at BYU, Friday October 28th
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TCU and BYU may no longer share a conference, but that shouldn't do much to diminish the quality of play between these two former Mountain West foes.
There's a solid chance that both teams will be undefeated by this point in the season and, as such, will be playing in this one to keep their BCS at-large hopes alive.
The Horned Frogs stomped all over the Cougars last time around in a 31-3 decision in Fort Worth, though a change of scenery and personnel since then will make for a much more even matchup.
18. Miami at Florida State, Saturday November 12th
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Thankfully for college football fans, the Miami-Florida State rivalry game has moved, slowly but surely, from the ACC season opener to one of the league's crucial late-season games in 2011.
The Hurricanes will head north to Tallahassee seeking revenge for last season's 45-17 shellacking in Coral Gables, during which Christian Ponder and company absolutely shredded the U's D.
Now, no one is suggesting that this game will have any national-title implications for the 'Canes in Al Golden's first season, though they will have an excellent chance to play spoiler against an FSU team with BCS aspirations and a new quarterback in the person of E.J. Manuel.
17. Missouri at Oklahoma, Saturday September 24th
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The Oklahoma Sooners won't have to wait long to put up a serious defense of their Big 12 title from 2010.
In fact, they need not even turn the calendar to October, as they'll be hosting fellow conference contender Missouri on the last Saturday in September in what should be an interesting contest, to say the least.
The Tigers upset top-ranked Oklahoma in October last season, riding the arm of Blaine Gabbert and a steady running game all the way to a 36-27 victory in Columbia.
Gary Pinkel better hope he's found a sound replacement for his star quarterback by the time this game rolls around, lest he prefer the Sooners stomping all over his team's Big 12 championship dreams.
16. Texas A&M at Oklahoma, Saturday November 5th
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Now, assuming the Sooners sneak past Mizzou in September, they should be sailing on some fairly smooth waters until they host Texas A&M in Norman.
The Aggies are everyone's dark-horse pick to win the Big 12 in its new 10-team, round-robin format, making this early November matchup against a conference powerhouse like Oklahoma a crucial test for Mike Sherman's up-and-coming team.
15. Ohio State at Michigan, Saturday November 26th
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Big Ten fans, fire away!
Is it blasphemous to leave college football's greatest rivalry game out of the top 10 contests of the 2011 season? Sure, to folks in Ann Arbor and Columbus, at the very least.
But given the fact that "The Game" hasn't really been much of a game in years, with Ohio State winning the last seven in a row, placing it even this high in the power rankings might instead be viewed as a favor of sorts.
And it is certainly deserved. The rival schools seem to be on opposite trajectories, with the Buckeyes reeling from a rash of NCAA investigations and suspensions and the Wolverines looking to re-establish solid footing with new head coach Brady Hoke at the helm.
By the time these two clash at the Big House in late November, we'll have an even better idea of where these two programs are headed.
14. Arkansas at Texas A&M, October 1st
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The Aggies and Razorbacks find themselves in very similar situations in their respective conferences heading into the 2011 season.
The former Southwest Conference foes will be fighting to establish themselves as perennial powerhouse programs after strong showings in 2010, though both fell in their respective bowl games.
Of course, this game won't have any direct effect on the title races in the Big 12 or the SEC, but a victory in this game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington will likely serve as a springboard to success for whichever team emerges with a "W."
13. Arkansas at Alabama, Saturday September 24th
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Of course, Arkansas will also have plenty of big games to handle in conference if the Razorbacks are to assert themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.
That quest begins nice and early for Bobby Petrino's boys, with a visit to Tuscaloosa to kick off their conference schedule in late September.
Both teams will be looking to replace some hugely important players—Ryan Mallett for Arkansas, Marcell Dareus, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Greg McElroy for Alabama—though the Crimson Tide's serious reshuffling should grant the Hogs a window of opportunity to jump out to a lead on 'Bama in the race for the SEC West title.
12. Texas A&M vs. Texas, Thursday November 24th.
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As for the Aggies, they'll have plenty of tough conference games of their own to get through after matching wits with Arkansas in Arlington.
Texas A&M must endure a rather brutal schedule before finishing off the season with a home game against longtime in-state rival Texas on a Thanksgiving night.
Don't expect the Longhorns to just lay down if A&M is already on its way to the Big 12 title; Mack Brown's boys won't soon forget last-season's home loss to Aggies, particularly now in a season during which Garrett Gilbert and his fellow 'Horns will be seeking redemption after posting a disappointing 5-7 record in 2010.
11. Ohio State at Nebraska, Saturday October 8th
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If the Cornhuskers are to contend for a Big Ten title in their first year in the league, they'll have to go through Ohio State first.
The Huskers will place host to the Buckeyes in Terrelle Pryor's first game back from NCAA suspension, which should get the already-raucous crowd in Lincoln rocking even harder for their introduction to Big Ten football.
Expect an exciting, smash-mouth affair as Big Red looks to wrest the baton of conference leadership from the weakening grasp of the Buckeyes.
10. Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Saturday October 29th
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Seeking some good ol' fashioned SEC football? Then look no further than this year's edition of "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."
Also known as the Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic, this game finally got interesting in 2010 after years of one-sided victories by the Gators.
Even though Florida came away with a win once again, the Bulldogs still put up quite a fight, forcing overtime with a 21-point fourth quarter before losing in the extra period, 34-31.
These teams should both be better in 2011 than they were last time they met, which should result in an even more exciting and more meaningful matchup in Jacksonville this time around.
9. Alabama at Penn State, Saturday September 10th
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Even with Mark Ingram sidelined by a knee injury, top-ranked Alabama managed to march over Penn State in their meeting in Tuscaloosa last season by a score of 24-3.
The Crimson Tide will once again be without Ingram, along with several other stars who took off for the NFL, though they'll still have Trent Richardson, who ran roughshod over the Nittany Lions defense last time around.
Joe Paterno will have folks in Happy Valley ready to "white out" the Crimson Tide, though he'd do even better to have a clear starter at quarterback between Robert Bolden and Matthew McGloin by the time this game goes down on the second weekend of the college football season.
8. LSU vs. Oregon at Cowboys Stadium, Saturday September 3rd
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It seems as though, at the very outset of every college football season, there's at least one game that pits national title contenders against each other, with the winner catapulted toward the BCS and the loser left to pick up the pieces.
The "Cowboys Classic" between LSU and Oregon at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington is just that game for the 2011 season.
Both teams have their eyes fixed firmly on the 2012 BCS national championship game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
However, chances are only one of them will have a shot at reaching the pinnacle of college football, just one year after the Tigers and Ducks nearly met in Arizona for the national title in 2011.
All in all, this one will be among the most highly anticipated games of the entire season...and it's happening on the very first Saturday!
7. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, Saturday December 3rd
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The term "Bedlam" won't quite do justice to just how manic this year's game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will be.
The Sooners will stop off in Stillwater in early December, presumably with the Big 12 title and a spot in the BCS national championship game on the line.
The Sooners escaped from T. Boone Pickens Stadium last season with a 47-41 win in a wild game that saw the two teams put up nearly 1,000 yards of total offense combined.
And with the principles of both offenses returning, save for DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma and Kendall Hunter of Oklahoma State, look for Heisman contenders Landry Jones and Brandon Weeden to set the score sheet on fire in yet another display of offensive fireworks between these intrastate enemies.
6. TCU at Boise State, Saturday November 12th
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For the first-and -time, Boise State and Texas Christian will meet this season as conference combatants vying for the Mountain West title.
The Broncos and Horned Frogs met in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, with Chris Petersen's Smurf Turfers coming out on top. TCU got the best of Boise this past season, though indirectly, as the Frogs returned to the BCS and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl while the Broncos were left out of college football's Big Dance.
Unfortunately for this budding rivalry, Gary Patterson and the rest of the TCU program will be packing up and ditching the MWC for the Big East in 2012, making this year's matchup between the two rising programs that much more intriguing, especially as Boise State looks to move into the spot atop the conference that will be vacated by the Horned Frogs in due time.
5. Oklahoma vs. Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday September 8th
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There will be plenty on the line when Oklahoma and Texas meet at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the latest edition of the "Red River Rivalry."
The Longhorns will be working hard to keep longtime head coach Mack Brown off the hot seat after the program's first losing season on his watch.
The Sooners, on the other hand, will have slightly higher goals in mind—namely the BCS national championship.
Don't expect Bob Stoops' squad to simply stomp all over the Longhorns, especially after last year's 28-20 decision, which saw the Sooners sneak by on the way to yet another Big 12 championship.
4. Oregon at Stanford, Saturday November 12th
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Those few folks who actually pay close attention to Pac-12 football have already pegged Oregon and Stanford as the best teams in the newly-expanded conference.
However, those two will only be able to duke it out for the North Division's berth in the conference championship game, leaving the Arizona schools, along with Utah and Colorado, to figure out the South.
As such, the Ducks' flight to Palo Alto to play the Cardinal will be a particularly important one, with the winner likely destined to compete for the Pac-12's automatic BCS bid.
And with both teams looking to paper over their losses with important returnees—Andrew Luck for Stanford, Darron Thomas and LaMichael James for Oregon—this meeting of regional powers should finish with a narrower margin than the 52-31 final that the Ducks won by in 2010.
3. Alabama at Auburn, Saturday November 26th
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No football fan in the state of Alabama, from those who roll with the Tide to those who chant "War Eagle", will soon forget the 2010 edition of the Iron Bowl, which saw Cam Newton lead Auburn all the way back from a 24-point deficit to win the game and preserve a perfect record that resulted in the crystal ball being delivered in orange and blue.
The Tigers figure to be down significantly in 2011 without Newton and Nick Fairley, both of whom went in the first round of the most recent NFL draft, along with a number of other important contributors, particularly along the offensive line.
As such, Auburn coach Gene Chizik will lean on sophomore-to-be Michael Dyer to carry the offense against what will undoubtedly be a loaded Alabama team, even without its own slew of top draft picks.
Auburn would be quite lucky to find themselves back in national championship contention this season, making this year's Iron Bowl more of a spoiler's affair against Bama, which has been picked by many as a preseason top-five-caliber team.
This game might also feature a duel between Heisman-contending running backs—Dyer for Auburn and Trent Richardson for Alabama.
Oh, and don't forget about the senseless actions of an Alabama fan who poisoned the famous oak trees at Auburn. That incident should provide some fuel to the fire between the fans of rival schools, at the very least, if not between the players on the field.
Need any more reason to tune in to this SEC slugfest?
2. Oklahoma at Florida State, Saturday September 17th
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It's tough to say whether the early-season matchup between Oklahoma and Florida State will be the best game of the season, but it still figures to be among the most important.
Both teams have big dreams for the 2011 season, namely a spot in the BCS national championship game in New Orleans.
However, only one team in this game figures to emerge with such aspirations still realistically intact.
The Sooners return a ton of talent and experience, including quarterback Landry Jones and all-time leading receiver Ryan Broyles. The Seminoles, on the other hand, must replace quarterback Christian Ponder—E.J. Manuel seems up to the task—but still has more than enough on defense to keep down their opponents while their offense gets back up to speed.
It's something of a shame that either of these powerhouse programs should have their dreams of crystal footballs dashed so early, though increased parity across the college football landscape may leave room enough for a rematch of this game at the Louisiana Superdome in January.
1. LSU at Alabama, Saturday November 5th
50 of 50
Two preseason top five teams. One division. One conference.
One winner.
Epic enough of an intro for you?
That's exactly the stage that will (likely) be set when LSU and Alabama meet in Tuscaloosa on the first Saturday in November.
If all goes "according to plan," both teams will still be in line for a shot at the BCS national championship, thereby raising the stakes of this game that much more.
Which, in theory at least, should either get the players that much more pumped and playing with even greater passion, or cause the young men involved to tighten up in the biggest game of their lives.
Either way, fans of both schools will recall the film V for Vendetta when they remember, remember this fifth of November.
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