LSU vs. Oregon: 10 Reasons Why It's Already the Game of the Year

This year's college football season will start off with a bang when LSU and Oregon square off in a Week 1 matchup on Sept. 3 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Both teams are ranked in the top five in the preseason Associated Press poll, but this game is more than just an early season showdown that catches everyone's eye on the schedule. This game has the makings to be historic in a number of ways, which makes it beyond appealing to college football fans across the nation.

Let's break down 10 reasons why this game is already considered the game of the year in college football.

10. The Numbers Tell the Story

Everyone knows that both Oregon and LSU should be two of the top teams in college football this year. But just how dominant have these two programs been over the past couple of years?

Over the past two seasons, LSU and Oregon have a combined record of 41-7. Just last season, Oregon finished the regular season undefeated while LSU's only losses came against SEC powers Arkansas and Auburn.

In Les Miles' six seasons as LSU's head coach, he has a combined record of 62-17 and has won nine or more games in all but one of them. In Chip Kelly's two seasons as Oregon's head coach, he has a combined record of 22-4.

The numbers don't lie.

9. College GameDay

You know that when College GameDay shows up, it's a big game. 

But when Lee Corso, Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard chose to travel to Cowboys Stadium for Week 1 of the college football season, you know this has to be a special game ahead.

In a week that also features a Boise State vs. Georgia matchup, the crew choose this game from the moment they knew about it.

8. Offense vs. Defense

When looking over every team in this year's AP Top 25 list, it can be argued this game features the best offense in the country versus the top defense.

The Oregon Ducks featured the most explosive offense in college football last season, scoring 40-plus points in 10 of their 12 games. In fact, other than Oregon's 15-13 win over Cal, the Ducks next lowest scoring outing came in a 37-20 victory over Oregon State.

Oregon returns the majority of the skill players on that offense, including Heisman Trophy hopefuls LaMichael James and Darron Thomas.

On the other side, LSU features one of, if not the top defensive unit in the country. The Tigers surrendered 20-plus points in just five of their 12 games last season. They return eight starters from last year's 10-2 team.

7. Record of Number of Seats Sold

Reports have already began to surface that close to 80,000 tickets have been sold for the game being played at Cowboys Stadium.

LSU was able to get 37,000 tickets for students and fans, which breaks a school record for a regular-season road game. 

Both of these schools have huge fan bases, and both of these schools are known for traveling in packs to see their teams play.

Just to get an idea of how big this game is expected to be: Last year's game between Oregon State and TCU, which was also played at Cowboys Stadium, sold fewer than 50,000 tickets.

6. Two Top Five Teams

It's not all that common to open the college football season with a game that could also end the season, but both of these teams are that good.

Looking back in time, it is believed this is only the third time in history that two top five teams have opened the season against each other on a neutral field. The last time was in 1984 when Miami topped Auburn in a 20-18 season opener.

While the chances aren't in their favor, wouldn't it be something if we saw these two teams go at it again in the national championship to close out the college football season?

Hey, it's possible.

5. The Biggest National Stage

Not only are these two teams playing in what is the most hyped-up game of the season, but they are doing so in the most popular state-of-the-art NFL stadium.

It has been reported that Cowboys Stadium suites were gobbled up in 1.5 days and that ticket prices have ranged from $70 to $250.

The game sold out extremely fast, and at this point even standing room seats are difficult to come by for this Week 1 showdown.

4. Conference Bragging Rights

The SEC has been a dominant force in college football over the past decade. In fact, the conference has produced college football's national champion in each of the past five seasons.

But, the Pac-10, now known as the Pac-12, is looking to put an end of that streak. If there is one year that could happen, this year looks awfully favorable.

Both Oregon and Stanford are ranked in the top 10 according to this year's preseason AP poll.

This game serves as a huge bragging point for both conferences, and both of these teams should be well aware of that heading into the game.

3. Talent, Talent and More Talent

You just aren't going to find a single game in college football this season with this much talent on the field.

Between names like LaMichael James and Darron Thomas and Cliff Harris* for Oregon, and Morris Claiborne, Ryan Baker and Rueben Randle for LSU, this could could feature as many as six All-Americans when this year's 2011 season is all said and done.

Both of these teams are loaded from top to bottom with talent, which should make for an instant classic and plenty of points on the scoreboard.

*Harris will miss the LSU game because of a suspension.

2. Major BCS Implications

Once this game has come to a close, there will be winner and there will be a loser.

The winning team will likely be looked at as the new favorite to make a trip to this year's BCS National Championship game. The loser will be have to prove itself as it spends the majority of the season on the outside looking up.

While it is possible, it's not likely that the loser of the this game will make it to BCS Championship. That would be a huge blow for whatever team loses this game, because both of these schools rightfully believe they should be in that title game.

1. College Football Needs This

This has been a tumultuous offseason for the college football world.

And in the midst of everything, both of these teams had their own off-field issues as well. 

Oregon has been involved in an NCAA investigation where it reportedly used a Houston-based scouting service to lure recruits to the university.

LSU, on the other hand, had four players involved in a fight outside a bar near campus, which sent four non-players to the hospital.

This is just an example of multiple off-field stories that have affected the integrity of college football this season. Therefore, this type of game is good for the sport.

This game is just what college football needs to make fans forget what has been such a roller coaster of an offseason.