ARLINGTON, Texas — The showcase matchup of college football’s opening weekend — No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU — offers some of the best things college football has to offer: a high-stakes battle of teams loaded with speedy players from marquee conferences, distinctive mascots and whatever you might think of Oregon’s latest uniform color scheme.
There are juicy subplots like the grudge Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas holds against LSU coach Les Miles, and his teammate LaMichael James looking to kick off his Heisman Trophy campaign by become the school’s career rushing leader.
There’s even a little history, with tonight’s game from Cowboys Stadium being the first opener between top-five teams since 1984, when Jimmy Johnson won his debut as coach of Miami against an Auburn squad featuring Bo Jackson a year before he won the Heisman Trophy.
Unfortunately, broken laws and NCAA rules violations have led to suspensions of key players on both teams, there are questions of more violations involving a man linked to both schools and the inevitable talk of the BCS ramifications for whichever potential power goes home 0-1.
“I think for everybody outside the Oregon football team and the LSU football team, it’s gonna be huge,” said Oregon running back Kenjon Barner. “But for both teams, our focus is football. They’re focused on us, and we’re focused on them.”
The scandals are impossible to ignore because of the big-time players left in their wake — quarterback Jordan Jefferson and receiver Russell Shepard for LSU, cornerback-punt returner Cliff Harris for Oregon.
“We’re definitely going to miss those guys,” LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu said. “Those guys are a big part of our team. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
While this is technically a neutral site, expect plenty of purple and gold. About 50,000 seats were bought by LSU fans. The Tigers should feel comfortable here after a lopsided win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
