It’s the third weekend in September. The leaves haven’t turned, and freshmen are still trying to find the library. An athletic director hasn’t even given a dreaded vote of confidence yet.
But look at Saturday’s college football lineup and you’re tempted to break out the chips and dip and tell all your friends BYOB. You’d swear it’s New Year’s Day. It’s a bowl lineup screaming for a bowl party.
But it’s not. It’s better. Seven games pit 14 ranked teams, 13 in the top 20. That’s the most games involving ranked teams since The Associated Press poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989.
If they were bowl games, they’d have more pageantry, but Saturday’s games have more meaning. They all have national implications.
“Absolutely,” said Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, whose 18th-ranked Ducks host No. 15 Oklahoma. “There are no practice games. There is no preseason. If you have aspirations to play for the national championship, every game counts and games against other top 20 teams are the way you gauge yourself.”
In the Bowl Championship Series format, one loss can knock you out of the title game picture. Southern California coach Pete Carroll said the national scene takes shape about Week 8, but even he admits teams losing early need help.
“Obviously there will be shuffling around after this week,” said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, whose third-ranked Tigers host No. 6 Louisiana State in the marquee matchup. “We’ll all have a better idea of our football teams.”
So will we. Enjoy feasting on the matchups below and pass the guacamole.
No. 11 Michigan (2-0) at No. 2 Notre Dame (2-0)
1:30 p.m. (MDT), KUSA-9
What to watch: Michigan needs to beat the Irish to keep fans off Lloyd Carr’s back. Mike Hart is a better back than anything Notre Dame has faced, but the Irish secondary stopped Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson and Penn State’s Derrick Williams. Michigan has no receiver to match either.
What to know: Robert Bell, the tomato can Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski knocked out in 49 seconds at Madison Square Garden, was 32 with a 2-2 record.
No. 6 Louisiana State at No. 3 Auburn
1:30 p.m., KCNC-4
What to watch: This could be for the SEC West title, and Auburn’s new uber-blitzing defense is ready after nine sacks in two games. But so is LSU, where JaMarcus Russell has everyone wondering why there was a quarterback competition.
What to know: Auburn’s all-SEC tailback, Kenny Irons, transferred from South Carolina because of playing time.
No. 19 Nebraska (2-0) at No. 4 USC (1-0)
6 p.m., KMGH-7
What to watch: If Nebraska is back, this is the night to show it. John David Booty looked great in his starting debut at Arkansas, and USC’s tailback by committee was led by freshman Emmanuel Moody’s 8.3 yards per carry. Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor will face a young secondary, including true freshman safety Taylor Mays.
What to know: The last time USC lost at home, in 2001, Pete Carroll had a career mark of 1-3. The 29-game home win streak is a Pac-10 record.
No. 7 Florida (2-0) at No. 13 Tennessee (2-0)
6 p.m., KCNC-4
What to watch: Florida’s offense is taking off in Urban Meyer’s second year. Quarterback Chris Leak (600 yards, 68 percent completions) has been unstoppable. But the nation’s best combo is the Vols’ Erik Ainge to Robert Meachem (13 catches, 297 yards, four TDs).
What to know: Florida WR Percy Harvin’s 58-yard TD reception against Central Florida showed what last year’s No. 1 receiver prospect can do.
No. 17 Miami (1-1) at No. 12 Louisville (2-0)
1:30 p.m., no TV
What to watch: Miami’s moribund offense flopped at home against Florida State and now goes on the road to play a Louisville team that blew a lead in Miami two years ago. Kolby Smith, Sergio Spencer and George Stripling are trying to replace injured Michael Bush, but QB Brian Brohm is better than ever.
What to know: Miami’s seven losses in its past 20 games are as many as it had in its previous 60.
No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0) at No. 18 Oregon (2-0)
1:30 p.m., KMGH-7
What to watch: Oregon gets star tailback Jonathan Stewart back and finally settled on Dennis Dixon at quarterback. But the Ducks couldn’t stop Fresno State’s Dwayne Wright, and he’s no Adrian Peterson. Also, the Sooners are 50-50 run to pass and Paul Thompson has made people forget Rhett Bomar.
What to know: Oklahoma is 6-0 all-time against Oregon and has given up only 31 points to the Ducks.
No. 24 Texas Tech (2-0) at No. 20 TCU (2-0)
3:30 p.m., OLN
What to watch: The only chance for a non-BCS school to crack a BCS bowl is for TCU to win here. It can. QB Jeff Ballard is more experienced than Tech’s Graham Harrell, and UTEP ran up nearly 500 yards on Tech. But good luck covering the Red Raiders’ receivers.
What to know: Texas Tech has led the nation in passing the past three years and in total offense the past two.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
