We’re less than two months away from kick-off – thank Goodness! – of the new, and highly anticipated college football season. It’s never too early to take a look ahead at some of the interesting opening weekend games that we’re going to be treated to over four days (Friday through Monday). Here are what I believe are the most intriguing:
10. South Carolina vs North Carolina (Charlotte)
The very first FBS game between schools from neighbouring states playing in Charlotte at the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. When that ball sails through the air, it means football is finally back – need we say any more than that?
Well, maybe that South Carolina would want to turn up to play this year, as opposed to last year, when they opened on a Thursday night and were smacked about by Texas A&M 52-28, somewhat setting the tone for a disappointing year. In that vein, 2015 shapes as being a pretty big year for irascible head coach Steve Spurrier.
9. #24 Louisville at #22 Auburn
This shapes as being a great battle between two ranked teams who project to have pretty solid seasons in 2015. The Tigers lose their star quarterback Nick Marshall to graduation, and the Cardinals, who had real pep in their step last season with Bobby Petrino returning as head coach, are without their own star signal-caller, Teddy Bridgewater, for the same reason.
Recently, one Las Vegas sportsbook released a market that Auburn’s new quarterback, Jeremy Johnson, as a 10-1 shot to win the Heisman Trophy, so he’s a guy to keep an eye on early this year. The big interest will be watching Auburn’s dazzling offence try to move the football against a Louisville defensive unit that was pretty good all last year, before getting destroyed by Georgia at the Belk Bowl. Here’s an immediate chance to make amends.
Aside from that, this will be Bobby Petrino’s return to Georgia Dome. You know, the NFL stadium where he was the Atlanta Falcons head coach for all of thirteen games back in 2007.
8. BYU vs. Nebraska
Coach Mike Riley left Oregon State for Nebraska – a head scratcher, for mine – and gets an early test of his skills with Brigham Young coming into Memorial Stadium. Key for the Cougars is the return from injury of QB Taysom Hill, who was lighting up the college football world in the early part of last year before a season-ending leg fracture against Utah, and from there the Cougars season imploded. His return will be a huge boost to the Cougars as they begin their toughest schedule as an independent school, including no less than four games against Power 4 conferences, all away from Provo.
Nebraska fired their controversial head coach Bo Pelini, but retain 15-5 starting quarterback Tommy Armstrong. He’s the most experienced of all Cornhusker signal callers, but has sketchy numbers – 31-20 touchdown to interception and a completion percentage of just 52.9% - and has been known to make mistakes under pressure. Riley has had some success working with quarterbacks at Oregon State, and will need to progress Armstrong in a big way, especially having lost veteran receiver Kenny Bell and star running back Ameer Abdullah.
If Hill turns it on, watch out, and he may, with Nebraska’s defence missing some key personnel from last year, including defensive end Randy Gregory.
7. #12 Arizona State vs Texas A&M (NRG Stadium, Houston)
The Aggies and Sun Devils will square off at the home of the NFL’s Texans in a nationally-televised game, a chance for Todd Graham’s Arizona State squad to show the east coast how good they’re going to be this season. Pac-12 teams are often undervalued because most pundits are asleep before west coast kick-off, so playing in primetime is a huge boost for ASU. A Pac-12 vs SEC match-up is something to get excited about, too.
Winners of ten games last year (and in 2013, too), the Sun Devils lose receiver Jalen Strong and quarterback Taylor Kelly, but their strong defence – remember it monstering a hapless Notre Dame in the desert? – is pretty much completely intact. Watch out for QB Mike Bercovici who has the task of replacing Kelly under centre after seeing limited action last year. There’s whispers that he might even be better than his predecessor. Time will tell on that.
Overall, you get the feeling that this is an important season for Kevin Sumlin, He needs some defence and he needs some wins against quality opposition, not to mention SEC-calibre opposition. A statement win over the Sun Devils would be a nice start, following up a good showing in their bowl game against West Virginia, where a young quarterback, Kyle Allen, was unearthed. It was the best performance of their entire 8-5 season.
At least there’s some hope at College Station, with former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis joining Sumlin’s staff. Let’s be honest, they needed defensive help like I need to win the lottery!
6. #3 TCU at Minnesota
Texas Christian have QB Trevone Boykin, one of the guys around whom there is plenty of early Heisman buzz, but their 2015 season opener in the Twin Cities against a Minnesota squad who were vastly improved last year won’t be a gimme, not by any stretch of the imagination.
All things being equal, the Horned Frogs should be there or thereabouts in both Big XII and national competition, and I’m curious to see whether the Gophers, under inspirational head coach Jerry Kill, can keep improving, and become serious contenders in what looks like being a stacked Big Ten.
Minnesota will be out for revenge after being slaughtered in Fort Worth, and if TCU lose, given the relative weakness of the Big XII, will it come back to haunt them in December when the playoff field is announced?
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