Earlier this week, the University of Massachusetts announced that they were forming a special taskforce to explore whether to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. For those of you out there, like me, that may not be so familiar with “the Football Bowl Subdivision,” it is what was previously known as Division 1-A. UMass previously examined the move to D1-A in 2003 before deciding to remain at D1-AA.

The University of Massachusetts system is comprised of five different campus locations with roughly 60,000 students. UMass Amherst is the flagship and largest within the system and the home of the current UMass football team. The 2006 Minutemen were 13-2 and lost to Appalachian State in the national championship game.

Western Kentucky University is the most recent program to attempt to make the move from D1-AA to D1-A. In November of 2006, their Board of Regents voted to make the move and, provided that they meet the minimum requirements, they will begin D1-A play in 2009.

Special Spectators, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, creates magical days for seriously ill children and their families at college sporting events across the country.

Over 40 Division-1 schools have partnered with Special Spectators since 2002. Schools like the University of Oklahoma, the University of Illinois, the University of Miami (FL), and dozens more have helped to create the quintessentail gameday experience for seriously ill children across the country. Children are able to get special access to gameday activities, tickets provided by the partner universities, tailgates, access to the locker rooms, and more!

Their 2nd Annual Fundraiser takes place this year in downtown Chicago. Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats will be the keynote speaker for the evening. The gala starts at 5:30 and will last until 9. Included is a silent auction, cocktail hour, sit down dinner, and also a great raffle prize to the wine country of France for a one week stay in a French country home. The raffle prize winner does not need to be present to win.

Special Spectators has operated on the slimmest of budgets since 2002, raising only $40,000 in cash but sending 3,800 seriously ill children to sporting events. Please visit their website at: www.specialspectators.org and our blog at: http://specialspectators.blogspot.com. If you have the time please check them out for details about this organization and for information about their fundraising events.

(all times Eastern)
** GamePlan DirectTV Channels in parentheses

08-30 Thu. Tulsa @ UL-Monroe 7:00 p.m. ESPN2
08-30 Thu. Murray State @ Louisville 7:30 p.m. ESPNU
08-30 Thu. LSU @ Mississippi State 8:00 p.m. ESPN
08-30 Thu. Utah @ Oregon State 10:00 p.m. FSN Regional
08-31 Fri. Navy @ Temple 7:30 p.m. ESPNU
08-31 Fri. Washington @ Syracuse 8:00 p.m. ESPN
09-01 Sat. East Carolina @ Virginia Tech Noon ESPN
09-01 Sat. UAB @ Michigan State Noon ESPN2
09-01 Sat. Marshall @ Miami, Fla. Noon ESPNU
09-01 Sat. Colorado State vs. Colorado (Denver) Noon FSN
09-01 Sat. Virginia @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. Versus
09-01 Sat. South Carolina State @ Air Force 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-01 Sat. Southern vs. Florida A&M (Birmingham) 3:00 p.m. ESPN Classic
09-01 Sat. Wake Forest @ Boston College 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP
09-01 Sat. Nevada @ Nebraska 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP
09-01 Sat. Washington State @ Wisconsin 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP
09-01 Sat. Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame 3:30 p.m. NBC
09-01 Sat. Missouri vs. Illinois (St. Louis) 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
09-01 Sat. UCLA @ Stanford 3:30 p.m. FSN
09-01 Sat. Iowa @ Northern Illinois 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
09-01 Sat. Arizona @ BYU 5:30 p.m. Versus
09-01 Sat. Baylor @ TCU 6:00 p.m. CSTV
09-01 Sat. Oklahoma State @ Georgia 6:45 p.m. ESPN2
09-01 Sat. North Texas @ Oklahoma 7:00 p.m. FSN
09-01 Sat. Purdue @ Toledo 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
09-01 Sat. Kansas State @ Auburn 7:45 p.m. ESPN
09-01 Sat. Tennessee @ Cal 8:00 p.m. ABC
09-01 Sat. Indiana State @ Indiana 8:00 p.m. BigTen
09-01 Sat. New Mexico @ UTEP 10:00 p.m. CSTV
09-01 Sat. Idaho @ Southern California 10:15 p.m. FSN
09-03 Mon. Texas Tech @ SMU 4:00 p.m. ESPN
09-03 Mon. Florida State @ Clemson 8:00 p.m. ESPN

09-06 Thu. Middle Tennessee @ Louisville 7:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-06 Thu. Oregon State @ Cincinnati 7:30 p.m. ESPN
09-07 Fri. Navy @ Rutgers 7:00 p.m. ESPN
09-08 Sat. West Virginia @ Marshall 11:00 a.m. ESPN2
09-08 Sat. Miami, Fla. @ Oklahoma Noon ABC
09-08 Sat. Nebraska @ Wake Forest Noon ESPN
09-08 Sat. Duke @ Virginia Noon LFS/GP
09-08 Sat. Alabama @ Vanderbilt 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP
09-08 Sat. Rhode Island @ Army 1:00 p.m. ESPN Classic
09-08 Sat. Samford @ Georgia Tech 1:30 p.m. ESPNU
09-08 Sat. California @ Colorado State 2:00 p.m. CSTV
09-08 Sat. Utah State @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-08 Sat. N.C. State @ Boston College 2:30 p.m. ESPN2
09-08 Sat. Fresno State @ Texas A&M 3:30 p.m. FSN
09-08 Sat. Boise State @ Washington 3:30 p.m. FSN Regional
09-08 Sat. UAB @ Florida State 5:00 p.m. ESPNU
09-08 Sat. South Carolina @ Georgia 5:45 p.m. ESPN2
09-08 Sat. Notre Dame @ Penn State 6:00 p.m. ESPN
09-08 Sat. North Carolina @ East Carolina 6:00 p.m. CSTV
09-08 Sat. Air Force @ Utah 6:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-08 Sat. BYU @ UCLA 6:30 p.m. Versus
09-08 Sat. TCU @ Texas 7:00 p.m. FSN
09-08 Sat. Indiana @ Western Michigan 8:00 p.m. ESPNU
09-08 Sat. Syracuse @ Iowa 8:00 p.m. BigTen
09-08 Sat. USF @ Auburn 9:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-08 Sat. Virginia Tech @ LSU 9:15 p.m. ESPN
09-08 Sat. New Mexico State @ New Mexico 9:30 p.m. The Mtn
09-08 Sat. Wisconsin @ UNLV 10:00 p.m. Versus
09-08 Sat. Colorado @ Arizona State 10:15 p.m. FSN

09-13 Thu. West Virginia @ Maryland 7:30 p.m. ESPN
09-13 Thu. TCU @ Air Force 8:00 p.m. CSTV
09-14 Fri. Oklahoma State @ Troy 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-15 Sat. Pittsburgh @ Michigan State Noon ESPN
09-15 Sat. Central Michigan @ Purdue Noon ESPN2
09-15 Sat. Illinois @ Syracuse Noon ESPNU
09-15 Sat. Virginia @ North Carolina Noon LFS/GP
09-15 Sat. Mississippi State @ Auburn 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP
09-15 Sat. Iowa @ Iowa State 1:30 p.m. Versus
09-15 Sat. Notre Dame @ Michigan 3:30 p.m. ABC
09-15 Sat. Tennessee @ Florida 3:30 p.m. CBS
09-15 Sat. Ohio State @ Washington 3:30 p.m. ESPN
09-15 Sat. Texas @ UCF 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
09-15 Sat. FIU @ Miami, Fla. 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
09-15 Sat. UCLA @ Utah 5:00 p.m. Versus
09-15 Sat. Ball State @ Navy 5:00 p.m. CSTV
09-15 Sat. Idaho State @ Oregon State 6:30 p.m. FSN Regional
09-15 Sat. Arkansas @ Alabama 6:45 p.m. ESPN
09-15 Sat. Southern California @ Nebraska 8:00 p.m. ABC
09-15 Sat. Boston College @ Georgia Tech 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-15 Sat. Duke @ Northwestern 8:00 p.m. BigTen
09-15 Sat. BYU @ Tulsa 9:00 p.m. CSTV
09-15 Sat. Hawaii @ UNLV 9:30 p.m. The Mtn
09-15 Sat. Florida State @ COlorado 10:00 p.m. ESPN

09-20 Thu. Texas A&M @ Miami, Fla. 7:30 p.m. ESPN
09-21 Fri. Oklahoma @ Tulsa 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-22 Sat. Duke @ Navy 1:00 p.m. CSTV
09-22 Sat. Air Force @ BYU 3:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-22 Sat. Michigan State @ Notre Dame 3:30 p.m. NBC
09-22 Sat. Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State 3:30 p.m. FSN
09-22 Sat. Colorado State @ Houston 4:30 p.m. CSTV
09-22 Sat. Portland State @ San Diego State 6:30 p.m. The Mtn
09-22 Sat. Rice @ Texas 7:00 p.m. FSN
09-22 Sat. Washington State @ USC 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP
09-22 Sat. Iowa @ Wisconsin 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP
09-22 Sat. SMU @ TCU 8:30 p.m. CSTV
09-22 Sat. Purdue @ Minnesota 9:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-22 Sat. Utah @ UNLV 10:00 p.m. The Mtn

09-27 Thu. Southern Miss @ Boise State 7:30 p.m. ESPN
09-28 Fri. West Virginia @ USF 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
09-29 Sat. Air Force @ Navy 1:00 p.m. CSTV
09-29 Sat. Utah State @ Utah 3:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-29 Sat. UTEP @ SMU 4:30 p.m. CSTV
09-29 Sat. Colorado State @ TCU 7:00 p.m. The Mtn
09-29 Sat. USC @ Washington 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
09-29 Sat. Ohio State @ Minnesota 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
09-29 Sat. BYU @ New Mexico 8:30 p.m. CSTV
09-29 Sat. Cincinnati @ San Diego State 10:00 p.m. Versus
09-29 Sat. LSU @ Tulane TBD ESPN/ESPN2
09-29 Sat. Temple @ Army TBD ESPNU/ESPN Classic

10-02 Tue. Marshall @ Memphis 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
10-03 Wed. Rice @ Southern Miss 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
10-04 Thu. Kentucky @ South Carolina 7:30 p.m. ESPN
10-05 Fri. Utah @ Louisville 8:00 p.m. ESPN
10-06 Sat. TCU @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
10-06 Sat. Colorado State @ San Diego State 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-06 Sat. Southern California @ Stanford 7:00 p.m. Versus
10-06 Sat. UCF @ East Carolina 7:30 p.m. CSTV
10-06 Sat. Notre Dame @ UCLA 8:00 p.m. ABC
10-06 Sat. Ohio State @ Purdue 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
10-06 Sat. UNLV @ Air Force 9:00 p.m. The Mtn
10-06 Sat. Tulane @ Army TBA ESPNU/ESPN Classic
10-07 Sun. New Mexico State @ Boise State 8:00 p.m. ESPN

10-10 Wed. Navy @ Pittsburgh 8:00 p.m. ESPN
10-11 Thu. Florida State @ Wake Forest 7:30 p.m. ESPN
10-12 Fri. Hawaii @ San Jose State 8:00 p.m. ESPN
10-13 Sat. New Mexico @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
10-13 Sat. Wisconsin @ Penn State 3:30 p.m. ABC
10-13 Sat. Boston College @ Notre Dame 3:30 p.m. NBC
10-13 Sat. Rice @ Houston 3:30 p.m. CSTV
10-13 Sat. Air Force @ Colorado State 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-13 Sat. Indiana @ Michigan State 7:00 p.m. BigTen
10-13 Sat. SMU @ Southern Miss 7:30 p.m. CSTV
10-13 Sat. BYU @ UNLV 9:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-14 Sun. Nevada @ Boise State 8:00 p.m. ESPN

10-18 Thu. USF @ Rutgers 7:30 p.m. ESPN
10-18 Thu. Utah @ TCU 8:00 p.m. Versus
10-19 Fri. Northwestern @ Eastern Michigan 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
10-19 Fri. Louisville @ UConn 8:00 p.m. ESPN
10-20 Sat. Wake Forest @ Navy 1:00 p.m. CSTV
10-20 Sat. Wyoming @ New Mexico 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
10-20 Sat. Michigan State @ Ohio State 3:30 p.m. ABC
10-20 Sat. Southern California @ Notre Dame 3:30 p.m. NBC
10-20 Sat. N.C. State @ East Carolina 4:30 p.m. CSTV
10-20 Sat. Eastern Washington @ BYU 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-20 Sat. Michigan @ Illinois 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
10-20 Sat. New Mexico @ San Diego State 11:00 p.m. CSTV
10-21 Sun. Southern Miss @ Marshall 8:00 p.m. ESPN

10-25 Thu. Boston COllege @ Virginia Tech 7:30 p.m. ESPN
10-25 Thu. Air Force @ New Mexico 9:00 p.m. Versus
10-26 Fri. Cornell @ Princeton 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
10-26 Fri. Boise State @ Fresno State 9:00 p.m. ESPN2
10-27 Sat. Delaware @ Navy 1:00 p.m. CSTV
10-27 Sat. UNLV @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
10-27 Sat. Southern California @ Oregon 3:00 p.m. FSN
10-27 Sat. Rice @ Marshall 4:30 p.m. CSTV
10-27 Sat. Utah @ Colorado State 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-27 Sat. UCLA @ Washington State 6:30 p.m. FSN
10-27 Sat. Ohio State @ Penn State 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
10-27 Sat. BYU @ San Diego State 9:30 p.m. The Mtn
10-27 Sat. Cal @ Arizona State 10:00 p.m. FSN
10-28 Sun. UCF @ Southern Miss 8:00 p.m. ESPN

11-01 Thu. Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech 7:30 p.m. ESPN
11-02 Fri. Akron @ Bowling Green 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
11-02 Fri. Nevada @ New Mexico State 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
11-03 Sat. Colorado State @ BYU 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
11-03 Sat. Navy @ Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC
11-03 Sat. UCLA @ Arizona 3:30 p.m. ABC
11-03 Sat. Army @ Air Force 3:30 p.m. CSTV
11-03 Sat. New Mexico @ TCU 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
11-03 Sat. Tulsa @ Tulane 7:30 p.m. CSTV
11-03 Sat. Oregon State @ USC 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
11-03 Sat. Illinois @ Minnesota 8:00 p.m. BigTen
11-03 Sat. Wyoming @ San Diego State 9:00 p.m. The Mtn
11-03 Sat. Washington State @ Cal 10:00 p.m. FSN
11-04 Sun. SMU @ Houston 8:00 p.m. ESPN

11-06 Tue. Central Mich. @ Western Mich. 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
11-07 Wed. Ohio @ Akron 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
11-08 Thu. Louisville @ West Virginia 7:30 p.m. ESPN
11-08 Thu. TCU @ BYU 9:00 p.m. Versus
11-09 Fri. Bowling Green @ Eastern Michigan 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
11-09 Fri. Rutgers @ Army 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
11-10 Sat. Air Force @ Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC
11-10 Sat. Colorado State @ New Mexico 3:00 p.m. The Mtn
11-10 Sat. Wyoming @ Utah 3:30 p.m. CSTV
11-10 Sat. UCF @ UAB 7:30 p.m. CSTV
11-10 Sat. USC @ California 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
11-10 Sat. Washington @ Oregon State 10:15 p.m. FSN
11-10 Sat. San Diego State @ UNLV 11:00 p.m. CSTV

11-13 Tue. Toledo @ Ball State 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
11-14 Wed. Akron @ Miami (OH) 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
11-15 Thu. Oregon @ Arizona 9:00 p.m. ESPN
11-16 Fri. Hawaii @ Nevada 11:00 p.m. ESPN2
11-17 Sat. BYU @ Wyoming 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
11-17 Sat. Duke @ Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC
11-17 Sat. Northern Illinois @ Navy 3:30 p.m. CSTV
11-17 Sat. New Mexico @ Utah 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
11-17 Sat. Southern Miss @ UTEP TBD CSTV
11-17 Sat. Tulsa @ Army TBD ESPNU/ESPN Classic

11-20 Tue. Middle Tennessee State @ Troy 7:00 p.m. ESPN2
11-22 Thu. Southern California @ Arizona State 8:00 p.m. ESPN
11-23 Fri. Central Michigan @ Akron 11:00 a.m. ESPNU
11-23 Fri. Ole Miss @ Mississippi State 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP
11-23 Fri. Wyoming @ Colorado State 2:00 p.m. The Mtn
11-23 Fri. Toledo @ Bowling Green 2:30 p.m. ESPNU
11-23 Fri. Nebraska @ Colorado Noon ABC
11-23 Fri. Arkansas @ LSU 2:30 p.m. CBS
11-23 Fri. Texas @ Texas A&M 3:30 p.m. ABC
11-23 Fri. Boise State @ Hawaii 9:00 p.m. ESPN2
11-24 Sat. Utah @ BYU 2:00 p.m. CSTV
11-24 Sat. UNLV @ New Mexico 5:30 p.m. The Mtn
11-24 Sat. UTEP @ UCF 7:30 p.m. CSTV
11-24 Sat. Kansas State @ Fresno State TBD ESPN/ESPN2

11-29 Thu. Rutgers @ Louisville 7:30 p.m. ESPN
11-30 Fri. Fresno State @ New Mexico State 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
12-01 Sat. Army vs. Navy Noon CBS
12-01 Sat. C-USA Championship TBD ESPN/ESPN2
12-01 Sat. MAC Championship TBD ESPN/ESPN2
12-01 Sat. ACC Championship 1:00 p.m. ABC
12-01 Sat. SEC Championship 4:00 p.m. CBS
12-01 Sat. UCLA @ Southern California 4:30 p.m. ABC
12-01 Sat. Oregon State @ oregon 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
12-01 Sat. California @ Stanford 7:00 p.m. Versus
12-01 Sat. Big 12 Championship 8:00 p.m. ABC
12-01 Sat. Arizona @ Arizona State 8:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
12-01 Sat. Pittsburgh @ West Virginia TBD ESPN/ESPN2
12-01 Sat. Washington @ Hawaii TBD ESPN/ESPN2

#1 Virginia Tech at LSU

This, my friends will be the best and most important out of conference game of the 2007 football season when the Hokies and the Tigers face-off on September 8th. From the preseason magazines I have read, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that both teams will be ranked in the Top 15, maybe even Top 10 by this game in the second week. With that ranking hype, National Title implications for the game will be brought forth.

Most importantly LSU lost its leader and QB when JaMarcus Russell bolted for the NFL, but I don’t think it will be as big of a drop off when Matt Flynn takes center stage. Remember it was Flynn that led the Tigers over Miami in the Peach Bowl two seasons ago. He looked impressive doing so. Behind him will be two running backs Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy, but don’t count out last year’s leading rusher Jacob Hester.

At WR, the Tigers lost Bowe and Craig Davis so Early Doucet will have to pick up the slack along with someone else. On defense LSU looks tough as they return 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, and 3 defensive linemen. They are going to be tough to score on.

The Hokies need to find a way to erase the memories of their collapse in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Many questions arose around their starting quarterback but it looks as if Sean Glennon will still be the man for the Hokies. Fortunately for him, he still has Branden Ore, who ran for 1,137 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, to hand the ball to. The Hokies are also deep at receiver with Josh Morgan, Justin Harper, Eddie Royal and Josh Hyman all returning.

On defense once again Virginia Tech will be good. Like LSU they have a lot returning on the defensive line and in the secondary, but they have to sure up their linebackers a little bit. Finally, the one thing that I cannot forget to mention is the play of the special teams for the Hokies. That play has won them a lot of games over the years.

Looking at these teams on paper I think that this is going to be a low scoring slugfest with the winning team only scoring around 17 points. Overall I think that the play of Matt Flynn will be much better than Sean Glennon and that could prove to be the difference in the game. Also I believe that defensively the Tigers are a little better off. So I will go with the Tigers right now by a few.

In this 1991 matchup between Michigan and Ohio State, receiver (and current ESPN college football analyst) Desmond Howard clinches the Heisman Trophy by returning a kickoff 93-yards for the touchdown. While the run was somewhat memorable, Howard immortalized the play by striking the familiar Heisman pose while celebrating in the endzone. As an added bonus, enjoy the Michigan and Ohio State posters recollections of the play–neither side appears to have forgotten it!

#2 USC at Nebraska

I will say one thing about USC, they are not afraid to play anyone. In 2007 they have out of conference games against Notre Dame and Nebraska, which is 2 more quality teams than most schools. It will be a huge surprise if they are not ranked #1 in both preseason polls, but this game on September 15 should give them a nice test early in the season. Last year remember, USC won 28-10. I’ve talked about USC in my previous posts about them, so I’ll give Nebraska’s rundown.

The Cornhuskers will be breaking in a new quarterback for this season. The two options, Arizona State transfer Sam Keller or junior Joe Ganz, will have two games to get their jitters out before this big game in Lincoln. Whoever starts will have some experience at the WR position as seniors Maurice Purify (pending a DUI Investigation) and Terrence Nunn combined for 10 touchdowns and 1225 yards last season. At running back Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn should battle for the job with Kenny Wilson recovering from a broken leg moving his TV. The question the Huskers do have on offense is their offensive line.

On defense, the Blackshirts have an abundance of experience at linebacker with four seniors coming back. Bo Ruud and Steve Octavien are the most athletic linebackers ,and senior Corey McKeon will man the middle of the field. In the defensive backfield senior Tierre Green will move to the free safety position making room for senior Bryan Wilson at the strong safety position. This is a very senior laden defense.

Nebraska has been looking for that one signature win to get them back in the National Spotlight. Each year under Bill Callahan the Huskers get better and better, but it is time they knock off someone in the Top 10. I don’t think this will be the game that they do it, but they certainly have the squad to put a big scare into the Trojans. When it is all said and done, USC will win this game by 9.

#3 Tennessee at California

For the second time in as many years the Bears and the Vols will open up the season playing against each other. Last season Tennessee handed one of Cal’s 3 losses for the season 35-18. They held Cal’s Heisman caliber back, Marshawn Lynch, to under 100 yards while Erik Ainge had a field day with the Cal secondary. It was a big blow to Cal’s national perception as many so called experts couldn’t get this loss out of their heads when talking about the Bears later in the season.

This year Tennessee travels to Berkley, and they do it having to replace 3 of 4 starters in their secondary. Why is that so important you ask? Well not only is Cal’s starting quarterback Nate Longshore returning, but one of the most electrifying players in all of college football DeSean Jackson, will be spilt out for the Bears. Containing him would go a long way towards another Vols victory. Lynch will be replaced by Justin Forsett, who is no slouch himself having posted six 100 yard games in his career. The Bears lost three first-team All-Pac-10 performers on defense as well as three other starters. So if you like offense, this will be the game for you.

Tennessee has Ainge and running back Coker coming back, but have to replace two really good receivers in Smith and Meachem. Ainge’s development depends on Fulmer finding him someone to throw the ball to. Ainge did get hit by the injury bug last season, plus missed the second half of spring drills after undergoing surgery to remove torn meniscus cartilage from his right knee. He’s back, but still a little fragile under center. Defensively the Vols have to replace most of their defensive line and secondary.

Like I said earlier, if you like offense tune into this game on September 1st at 8pm on ABC. You will see a lot of offensive fireworks, but in the end I think you will see Cal coming out on top due to the home field advantage and the explosiveness of DeSean Jackson.

#4 Oregon at Michigan

Both the Ducks and Wolverines have warm-up games their first game of the year before meeting on September 8th in the Big House. This game starts a tough three game stretch for Michigan as they play Oregon, Notre Dame, and Penn State all in consecutive weeks. Good thing for Wolverine fans is that all those games are in Michigan.

Oregon’s quarterback Dennis Dixon is one of the most interesting players in the country. He has both the arm and the feet to cause a lot of problems for opposing defenses, but lacks the confidence needed to pull it off. Dixon had a good start to the 2006 season before falling off and eventually losing his job by the end of the season. After his spring performance, there is no doubt that he is the #1 guy for the Ducks. In the backfield is Jonathan Stewart, and if he can stay healthy, and consistent he could be poised for an All American season.

On defense they have starters returning at both corners and at linebacker, but where they lack is their special teams. As close as this game will be, Special Teams could become a key part of the game.

I talked about Michigan earlier in this series. They have a lot returning on the offense (Chad Henne, Michael Hart) but they also have a lot to prove after losing their last two games of 2006. Their Rose Bowl debacle against USC had many experts questioning not only Michigan’s skill, but the whole skill level of the Big Ten. A win against Oregon would help heal a little of that wound.

Oregon did beat Michigan a few years ago in a thrilling victory, and if Dixon can mix it up in the air and on the ground the Ducks can definitely pull it off again. I expect this one to be a nail biter the entire time with the Wolverines holding the edge by a field goal due to home field advantage. This game is a definite don’t miss game.

Before he became an NFL Hall of Famer, the player that I consider the greatest quarterback ever, Joe Montana, was a youngster that suited up for the Fighting Irish. Check out this 1975 footage of Montana coming off the bench, down 30-10, against Air Force.

Indiana Hoosiers’ officials have announced that Head Coach Terry Hoeppner has died at the age of 59 after a long battle with brain cancer. Hoeppner has been battling cancer on and off for the past few years. He’s been an inspiration to many around the country during the past 18 months as he battled cancer while trying to continue to coach.

“Terry’s fight was courageous and will serve as an inspiration to those who have known him,” Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan said in a statement released by the university. “This is a truly sad day for our community, and all of our thoughts and prayers are with the Hoeppner family and to those whose lives he has touched.”

Hoeppner is survived by his wife, three children: Amy, Allison and Drew; and four grandchildren. God bless and may you Rest in Peace Mr. Hoeppner.