Six NCAA Football Games That Ought to Be Played Opening Weekend

The opening weekend of the college football season is one of the biggest sports weekends of the year. Fans of every team have high hopes for the coming season. 

Like other sports, opening weekend in college football has a few marquee matchups, but there can never be too many big games. 

I mean, what's better than a battle of the top teams in the country to begin the college football season? Big name programs playing each other opening weekend: it doesn't get any better than that.

Here are a few games that should be played every year on opening weekend and exactly what time to play them. 

Texas-TCU: Friday, 9:00 PM on ABC

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head Coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns stands on the sidelines during the Citi BCS National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork

Located in the same state, it is nothing short of a travesty that these two teams don't play each other to begin every college football season.

While a team like Texas may think they have nothing to gain, the truth is a win over TCU would be as big a win as any. 

TCU would love the chance to knock off a national power like the Longhorns, and why not play this game at a neutral site, like say Cowboy Stadium?

I'm sure Jerry Jones would accommodate. Think of the hype and publicity this game would get if it was played on a Friday night in Dallas every year. 

Who wouldn't love to see that? 

Georgia Tech-Auburn: Saturday, 1:00 PM on ABC

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 3: The Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets players gather for a prayer for hurricane Katrina victims before the game on September 3, 2005 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

For decades, this was one of the best rivalries college football had to offer. 

Separated by just over 100 miles, these two teams have a distinct hatred for one another that dates back to the late 1800s. 

Allegedly, Auburn students greased the railroad track so the train carrying the Georgia Tech players was unable to stop upon arrival, going five miles past and forcing the Georgia players to walk back. 

That hatred has carried on for over a century and what better time for these two teams to renew that rivalry than opening weekend?

Clemson-Georgia: Saturday, 4:30 PM on ABC

These two rivals used to square off every year in the 1980s and it was one of the most heated games of the year. 

Clemson and Georgia are separated by less than 70 miles and for years these two teams were near the top of the college football world. Now the only battling they do is for recruits and what fun is that for college football fans?

Rumors are swirling that  these two teams might meet up again in the next few years. 

What better way to start the college football season than to have these two teams take out eight months of built-up anger and aggression on each other?

Ohio State-Notre Dame: Saturday, 8:00 PM on NBC

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TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 02: Running back Darius Walker #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores his third touchdown of the game on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter as Marcus Green #94 of the Ohio State Buckeyes grabs him in the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl

When it comes to college football, the Midwest certainly has some big time programs; none bigger than the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

What better way to kick off the season than to have these two powers square off? Heck, it could even be played on NBC. 

Without question, these are two of the most storied programs in the history of college football. They are located on bordering states and for one reason or another never play. 

With Brian Kelly now at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish are certainly going to be a force for years to come. Not to mention the recruiting battles that are certain to go on inside the state of Ohio.

Separated by only a few hours, a home and home with these two schools to kick off the college football season would be one for the ages.  

Pittsburgh-Penn State: Sunday, 8:00 PM on ABC

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19 Sep 1998: Tailback Cordell Mitchell #32 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions defeated the Panthers 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stew

Two more teams that are located in the same state and can't seem to find a way to schedule each other. 

Penn State vs. Pittsburgh would be the perfect way to start the college football season. These two schools are separated by only a few hours and have had some intense matchups in the past during the Dan Marino years. 

These two schools hate each other so much they just can't seem to agree on a way to play. It would be great to see this game get started up again before Joe Pa departs, but that seems unlikely.

Either way, this would be a great game for potential recruits of these two schools, as Pennsylvania is rich in high school football tradition.

Alabama-Miami: Monday, 8:00 PM on ABC

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1 JAN 1993: THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SQUARE OFF IN THE 1993 SUGAR BOWL IN THE SUPERDOME IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. THE CRIMSON TIDE DEFEATED THE HURRICANES 34-13. MandatoryCredit: Tim Defrisco/ALLSPORT

These two giants of the college football world are located in bordering states and have had a history of intense battles. 

These teams met in national championships in 1989 and 1992 with each team pulling out a victory. They also played during the Bear Bryant era on a regular basis, with the Crimson Tide dominating those matchups. 

A reunion of what used to be one of college football's best rivalries would be the perfect way to kickoff the college football season. 

With 'The U' now back in full force, and Alabama one of the best programs in the nation, it is time for these college football giants to duke it out once again.

What a monumental game to start the season that would be.