Some of the good football games for 2009

 Some of the good football games for 2009

 

 

Sept. 5: Oklahoma vs. Brigham Young (at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas). See "Oregon at Boise State." Another prove-it game between a BCS power-conference program and one from a league Hatch has described, for the congressional record, as "underprivileged."

Also: Nevada at Notre Dame: the first game in what could be Charlie Weis' last season if he loses to something called the "Wolf Pack" in South Bend. Last year, remember, a San Diego State team coming off a loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo came inches short of ruining the Irish's home opener.

Also: Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (at Atlanta's Georgia Dome). The winner stakes an early claim in the national title race; with the loser having some explaining to do back on campus.

Sept. 12: USC at Ohio State. The Buckeyes, 35-3 losers last year at the Coliseum, won't have Beanie Wells in the lineup again this year, either. This is a huge, early-season tangle, although both programs have gaps to fill and seem more likely to meet again in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl.

Sept. 19: Texas Tech at Texas/Tennessee at Florida. Two roadside accident games -- you shouldn't look, but you can't help it. Texas is going to payback-clobber Texas Tech for costing the Longhorns a possible national title last year, while first-year Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin is going to feel scorching Swamp scoreboard pain for calling Florida Coach Urban Meyer a cheater.

Oct. 3: USC at California. Six years after Cal pulled off that triple-overtime win over USC in Berkeley, the Bears seek another win over the Trojans while praying star tailback Jahvid Best doesn't pull a groin.

Oct. 10: Alabama at Mississippi. Ole Miss is coming off a nine-win season and a trip to the Cotton Bowl. This game, though, for the Rebels, is more about avoiding cotton mouth.

Also: Florida at Louisiana State. These schools have each won two BCS national titles since 2003, meaning this showdown in Baton Rouge could decide team of the decade.

Oct. 17: Texas vs. Oklahoma. Given the way last year's Big 12 race ended (poorly, with a lot of yelling), it seems appropriate these schools ended up tied for first in preseason balloting for the South Division.

Oct. 31: Texas at Oklahoma State. Here's hoping this is as wildly thrilling and season-defining as Texas' trip last year to Texas Tech.

Nov. 7: Ohio State at Penn State. If you liked the Nittany Lions' 13-6 victory last year in Columbus, you may love the rematch in Joe Paterno's backyard.

Nov. 28: Florida State at Florida. Hmmm . . . Bobby Bowden's last game?

Also: UCLA at USC. Never mind, it's not even the Pac-10 conference closer for USC this year. (Trojans finish up with Arizona on Dec. 5.)

Jan. 1: Rose Bowl. Looking forward to Nevada vs. West Virginia.

Jan. 7: BCS title game at the Rose Bowl. The bar is set very, very high. Last time Pasadena hosted, we got Texas 41, USC 38.