ESPN's College Football 2012 TV Schedule: 19 Best Prime-Time Matchups

ESPN has just released its TV schedule for the 2012 college-football season, and there are a ton of great matchups that should be circled on your calendar. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, college football is right around the corner. It is about that time once again.

With the schedule being released, it is often the games that are being played on prime time that are the most interesting. These games are normally the best matchups, and the outcomes usually shake up the college-football polls.

With games such as the Michigan Wolverines taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nebraska Cornhuskers taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida State Seminoles traveling to Blacksburg to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies, college football is right around the corner.

Here are some of the best prime-time games of the 2012 college-football season.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt 8/30

It is not often that you get a solid game on a Thursday night, but that is exactly what you get with South Carolina taking on Vanderbilt. The Commodores return 16 starters from a club that made some strides last season, while the Gamecocks are one of the top teams in the SEC and have an outside shot of winning the conference.

How healthy is running back Marcus Lattimore? This game should give us a much better idea.

Washington State at BYU 8/30

I have no idea what to expect with this Washington State team heading into the season. BYU should have a very successful season, returning the majority of its starters from a team that won 10 games last season. It will also be nice to see Mike Leach back on the sidelines coaching again.

This could end up being a great game, or turn into a huge bust. Regardless, football is back.

Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech 8/30

Texas A&M is out to prove it can hang with the big boys of the SEC, but will first have to get its hands dirty against Louisiana Tech—a team that won the WAC last season. The Bulldogs return a majority of their starters, and getting a home game against an SEC team will have the crowd pumped up and ready to go.

Not saying that Louisiana Tech will win this game, but things could get interesting if the Aggies let the Bulldogs hang around long enough.

NC State at Tennessee (Neutral Site) 8/31

Tennessee is a surprise team that can turn some heads in the SEC this season, returning 18 starters from a year ago and getting a few injured players back. North Carolina State is also a team that returns the majority of its starters from a year ago and could take that next step in the ACC.

This is a solid matchup between two up-and-coming teams on a Friday night. You shouldn't sleep on this early-season showdown.

Boise State at Michigan State 8/31

Everybody is so quick to write off Boise State because it nearly lost its entire team in just one season. But the Broncos still have a great head coach and a few pieces in place to where they can continue to surprise the college-football world. Michigan State lost a majority of its offense, but does return eight starters from a defense that was one of the best in the country a year ago.

What would prove that Boise State isn't going anywhere? An early victory over the Spartans in their house.

Clemson at Auburn (Neutral Site) 9/1

This game will take place on a fast track also known as the Georgia Dome. Clemson has tons of offensive weapons, and it will be interesting to see if that Auburn defense has improved enough to slow them down. Auburn has won 14 of the last 15 meetings against Clemson, but it appears that this matchup is no longer as lopsided as it once was.

I would love to see a quarterback battle between Kiehl Frazier and Tajh Boyd.

Michigan at Alabama (Neutral Site) 9/1

Both of these teams will be ranked highly heading into the season. Both will also return a good portion of last year's teams and have national championship on their minds. To add to the drama, this game will take place at Cowboys Stadium.

This is the Week 1 game that every college-football fan is drooling to see. Let's just hope that it actually lives up to the hype, unlike last year's game between the LSU Tigers and Oregon Ducks.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech 9/3

We know what to expect from Virginia Tech, as it returns nine starters from a defense that ranked 10th in the country a season ago. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, wasn't too shabby, either, with its second-best rushing attack in college-football land returning 13 starters.

The outcome of this game will be huge early on in the ACC. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by single digits.

Rutgers at South Florida 9/13

We know that the Big East is by far the worst BCS conference in college football, but don't sleep on this matchup.

South Florida returns a veteran team of 15 starters, including a decent dual-threat quarterback in B.J. Daniels. Rutgers also returns the majority of its team and was ranked eighth in the country last season in points allowed. The last two meetings between these teams have been decided by three points or less.

Besides, this contest takes place on a Thursday night. What else would you possibly have to do other than watch a college-football game?

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 9/6

Another Big East showdown that includes two teams that have a lot of potential. Pittsburgh returns eight starters on offense and has a great running back in Ray Graham. Cincinnati will rely on its defense that ranked 20th in the country last season and returns eight starters.

Four of the last five meetings between these two teams have been decided by single digits.

Notre Dame at Michigan State 9/15

I'm not sure anybody knows what to expect from this Notre Dame team anymore, after playing so sloppy over the past two seasons. But it is still the Irish, and they are taking on a respectable Michigan State team. In last year's meeting, the Spartans played their worst game of the season, losing by a score of 31-13. I'm sure that Michigan State has not forgotten that game and will have revenge on its mind.

The Irish will look for their first consecutive wins over the Spartans since 1993-94.

BYU at Boise State 9/20

This is another respectable game taking place on a Thursday night. Boise State will be out to prove it can still hang with some of the top teams in the country, while the Cougars, with their balanced team, will try to take that next step after winning 10 games last season.

Besides enjoying a good game on a Thursday night, you also get to see that wonderful blue field that the Broncos play on. Seriously, what is better than that? 

Wisconsin at Nebraska 9/29

Wisconsin absolutely mopped the floor with Nebraska last season, but it should be a closer affair this time around. The Badgers lost a lot of offensive production, while the Cornhuskers return 15 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. Not to mention, this game is being played in Lincoln, which isn't the easiest place to win.

Getting to see running backs Rex Burkhead and Montee Ball duke it out should be fun as well.

Nebraska at Ohio State 10/6

Last year's meeting was great between these two teams until Ohio State felt the need to no longer play defense and the offense couldn't move the football. Regardless, both of these teams stay the same for the most part, except for the small detail that the Buckeyes landed some coach named Urban Meyer.

Ohio State may not be eligible to play in the postseason, but it will have a huge say in who does. This will be one of those games that will help shake up the Big Ten standings.

Clemson at Wake Forest 10/25

I have no idea what to expect from this game, as both teams were very inconsistent last season. Wake Forest won five of its first seven games and then lost five of the last six. Meanwhile, Clemson won the first eight games of the season, but ended up losing four of the last six, including a bowl-game drubbing courtesy of West Virginia.

The Demon Deacons are a solid team when they want to be, and the Tigers are fun to watch when that offense gets going. Hopefully, both teams decide to show up for this Thursday-night game and provide us with some quality action. 

Michigan at Nebraska 10/27

ESPN really loves this Nebraska team a bit, huh?

Last season when these two teams met, the Wolverines stomped on the Cornhuskers by a score of 45-17. This matchup should be a little bit closer this time around, with both teams returning the majority of their key players. Although, Nebraska must find a way to slow down that Michigan running game that ran for 238 yards last year.

Virginia Tech at Miami 11/1

The Hurricanes only return four starters on offense, but do have six starters coming back from a respectable defense. Virginia Tech is in pretty much the same boat, losing the majority of its offense, but returning nine on defense.

If this year's meeting is anything like the last several, this is a must-watch on a Thursday night. In the last 11 meetings between these two teams, 10 of those games have been decided by single digits.

Florida State at Virginia Tech 11/8

With this game taking place at the end of the season, the outcome of this game will not only shake up the BCS polls, but it will also play a huge factor in the ACC. Both teams are extremely defensive-minded, so expect to see a lot of big hits, and scoring will be very tough to come by.

In the last 13 meetings, there have only been two games with at least 30 combined points scored. Basically, if you like defense, this is the game for you to tune into.

Louisville at Rutgers 11/29

This game may very well determine who comes out of the Big East and reaches a BCS bowl game. Rutgers is very strong defensively and returns most of last year's team, while the Louisville Cardinals are making huge strides under head coach Charlie Strong and return 18 total starters.

Last year's meeting was decided by two points, and with so much on the line in this matchup, don't be surprised if this is another close contest.