SATURDAY
Tennessee at California
Does the “S” in Southeastern Conference stand for superiority complex? OK, SEC lovers deserve to crow after Florida shined its shoes with Ohio State sweat in the BCS title game. But this is a new season. And Cal — and the Pac-10 — want revenge for the Vols’ 35-18 drubbing of the Bears last year in Knoxville.
SEPT. 8
Virginia Tech at LSU
A victory here, and LSU creates an early path to the BCS title game. Virginia Tech will be on its own mission, hoping to bring cheer to a community recovering from the campus shootings in April that claimed 33 lives.
SEPT. 15
USC at Nebraska
Every time you think USC is susceptible to losing an early-season game away from home, the Trojans rise up (see: Virginia Tech, 2004; Hawaii, 2005; Arkansas, 2006) and say: I don’t think so.
Notre Dame at Michigan
Quick suggestion to Notre Dame’s defensive backs: Watch out for No. 86. His name: Mario Manningham. He caught three touchdown passes against you last year.
SEPT. 22
Iowa at Wisconsin
A perfect early-season test for a Badgers team looking to show it’s the class of the Big Ten.
OCT. 6
Florida at LSU
Tim Tebow, the run-first QB who is more popular in Florida than sunscreen, will add to his legend if he wins in Baton Rouge.
Texas vs. Oklahoma
This game is about way more than Big 12 bragging rights. The winner has advanced to the BCS title game three times in the last four years.
OCT. 13
Wisconsin at Penn State
The film of the Nittany Lions’ 2006 showdown with the Badgers is a horror flick for Joe Paterno: His team lost 13-3, he broke his left leg in a sideline collision and he got hoodwinked on a clock issue by Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema.
OCT. 20
USC at Notre Dame
No way this one will equal the 2005 “Bush Push” game, right? The only similarity figures to be the height of the grass at Notre Dame Stadium.
OCT. 27
West Virginia at Rutgers
Expect proud Rutgers alum James Gandolfini to prowl the sidelines. If the Scarlet Knights are down, maybe Tony Soprano can mouth the words to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
NOV. 3
Wisconsin at Ohio State
Maybe that Buckeyes red (OK, scarlet) makes Wisconsin feel right at home: The Badgers have won three straight in Columbus.
NOV. 8
Louisville at West Virginia
Big East football returns to “Thursday Night Lights.” New Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe will want to return to Tulsa if his team doesn’t show up for this one.
NOV. 10
Michigan at Wisconsin
Who says the Big Ten doesn’t have an official championship game? Oh, wait. Ohio State might have something to say about that.
Arkansas at Tennessee
A national stage — and a tough test — for Darren McFadden (above), Arkansas’ comically versatile Heisman Trophy candidate.
USC at California
Cal receiver DeSean Jackson grew up a Trojans fan but left Long Beach after high school for Berkeley. Why? One of the reasons: USC wouldn’t promise him uniform No. 1.
NOV. 17
Ohio State at Michigan
Last year Michigan tried to win it for Bo. This season it’ll be for the seniors, who are 0-3 against the Buckeyes.
NOV. 23
Boise State at Hawaii
Oddly enough, Boise State needs to win to become this year’s Boise State. Hawaii wants to bust the BCS bowl picture, as the Broncos did last year.
DEC. 1
SEC championship game
Among the memorable plays in last year’s game, this one stands out: Florida’s Urban Meyer called a fake punt from his own 15. Yeah, it worked.
JAN. 1
Rose Bowl
Michigan has played in three of the last four. Michigan has lost three of the last four. Well, it beats losing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
JAN. 7
BCS championship game
The Disney version has USC quarterback and Louisiana native John David Booty (left) returning to the title game in the Sugar Bowl to re-establish the Trojans’ dynasty.
