College Football News
March 10, 2006

Below are 75 of the biggest, most important, most
interesting games going into the 2006 season. Some are
obvious rivalry games that everyone looks forward to each
season, and some are new matchups with good storylines. In
any event, these are the games you'll circle on you
calendar and the ones that should get the juices flowing.

75. Virginia Tech at Boston College, Oct. 12
This interdivision battle will be a nationally televised
Thursday night game. It's Tech's only road game in a six
game stretch, while the Eagles need this with a road trip
to Florida State coming up the following week.

74. Colorado vs. Colorado State (in Denver), Sept. 9
Always one of the most fun, and most heated, early season
rivalry games, the last four have been decided by a
touchdown or less.

73. USC at Washington State, Sept. 30
USC has to be very, very careful. The Cougars won this game
30-27 in Pullman in 2002 and have just as much firepower
this year.

72. Florida State at NC State, Oct. 5
The Noles have had a nightmare of a time with the Wolfpack
over the last five years winning once by a touchdown, once
by six points, and losing the other three. It'll be a
nationally televised Thursday night game.

71. Virginia at Virginia Tech, Nov. 25
The Hokies have won six of the last seven between the two
destroying the Cavs last year 52-14.

70. Southern Miss at UCF, Sept. 26
This is as big as it gets for Conference USA when the
Golden Eagles looking to take back the East Division.

69. Boise State at Nevada, Nov. 25
While the Boise State-Fresno State game might get more
national attention, this might even be bigger. It should
have a say in the championship.

68. BYU at Utah, Nov. 25
The under-the-radar rivalry will likely mean more than ever
with BYU getting better and better. This could be for the
Mountain West title.

67. Texas Tech at TCU, Sept. 16
TCU made plenty of national noise by beating Oklahoma last
year. Beating Texas Tech wouldn't be as big, but it could
launch a possible BCS season.

66. Arizona State at Colorado, Sept. 16
A good interconference battle between the two former Boise
State coaches.

65. Oregon at Fresno State, Sept. 9
The WAC has to take advantage of every time its gets a BCS
conference team at home.

64. Toledo at Northern Illinois, Nov. 14
This should be the MAC game of the year with the two
battling for the West title. NIU finally got the Rocket
monkey off its back last year and will be looking for two
straight over its new rival.

63. Colorado at Georgia, Sept. 23
After the Sugar Bowl performance, Georgia needs to make a
national splash again. A win over Colorado would do it.

62. Washington State at Auburn, Sept. 2
A more dangerous game for Auburn than it looks, the Cougars
have the offensive firepower to make this close.

61. Oklahoma at Missouri, Oct. 28
This begins a brutal stretch of four road games in five
weeks for the Sooners. Mizzou needs this win with at road
trip to Nebraska to follow.

60. Minnesota at Ohio State, Oct. 28
Minnesota always has a habit of pulling off a big road win
here and there when no one’s expecting it. This game comes
in the heart of the easy part of the Buckeye schedule.

59. Nevada at Fresno State, Sept. 1
It’s not a stretch to say the WAC title could be decided on
the first day of September. Hopefully this will be almost
as entertaining as last year’s 38-31 Wolf Pack win.

58. USC at Arkansas, Sept. 2
USC will be favored, but this is a dangerous road trip for
the season opener. The Hogs will look to avenge last year’s
70-17 pasting.

57. Texas A&M at Texas, Nov. 24
This might be a big rivalry game, but the Aggies have lost
six straight by an average of 38 to 18.

56. Utah at UCLA, Sept. 2
UCLA will need time to jell, but it won't get it facing a
Utah team that should be far better than last year.

55. Boston College at Florida State, Oct. 21
While this might not be for the Atlantic title, it’ll still
be a big battle in the race.

54. Missouri at Nebraska, Nov. 4
Missouri hasn't won at Nebraska since 1978.

53. Louisville at Pitt, Nov. 25
If Pitt wants to win the Big East, it'll get its chance in
back-to-back weeks playing West Virginia and Louisville at
home to close out the year.

52. Auburn at South Carolina, Sept. 28
Auburn obliterated the Gamecocks 48-7 last year. If South
Carolina wins this game, it'll likely be no worse than 6-1
going into the home date with Tennessee.

51. West Virginia at Pitt, Nov. 16
The Backyard Brawl needs to be when Dave Wannstedt begins
to put his stamp on the Pitt program. This is the only road
game in the final four weeks for the Mountaineers.

50. Oregon at California, Oct. 7
This might not be for the Pac 10 title, but it certainly
could be an elimination game between two of the league's
top four teams

49. UCLA at Notre Dame, Oct. 21
The last time these two played was 1964 with the Irish
winning 24-0. This will only be the third meeting between
the two (Notre Dame won the other game in 1963).

48. USC at UCLA, Dec. 2
UCLA is still in therapy over what Reggie Bush and the boys
did last year.

47. Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, Sept. 2
The Yellow Jackets showed what they could do in openers
shocking Auburn last year. Now they'll try to ruin Notre
Dame's national title hopes before they can begin.

46. Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 23
This could be a sneaky-tough sandwich game for the
Wolverines between road trips to Notre Dame and Minnesota.
If the Badgers win this, they might be 10-0 going into the
Iowa game.

45. Tennessee at Alabama, Oct. 21
Always a nasty rivalry game, this might be a must win for
each team to survive in the SEC race.

44. Penn State at Wisconsin, Nov. 4
Wisconsin was right in the thick of the Big Ten title hunt
before getting crushed 35-14. The Badgers need this win
before going to Iowa the following week.

43. Clemson at Florida State, Sept. 16
It's become more than just the Bowden Bowl. This might be
the Atlantic's game of the year.

42. Minnesota at California, Sept. 9
While it might fly under the radar on a national scale,
this is a huge game when it comes to respect for the two
schools and two conferences. The two teams might combine
for 600 rushing yards.

41. Oregon at USC, Nov. 11
The Trojans tagged the Ducks with a 45-13 loss for the only
blemish up until the Holiday Bowl defeat to Oklahoma.

40. Tennessee at South Carolina, Nov. 28
The Gamecocks won a 16-15 thriller in Knoxville last year.
This is the first road test in a stretch of three road
games in the next four for the Volunteers.

39. Alabama at Florida, Sept. 30
Bama's 31-3 destruction of the Gators got its season
rolling last year. Florida needs this win before facing
LSU.

38. Georgia at South Carolina, Sept. 9
If Steve Spurrier really has the program turned around, his
team will come up with this big win.

37. Colorado at Nebraska, Nov. 24
This always seems to play a big role in the battle for the
North title. Colorado will look to avenge last year’s 30-3
pasting.

36. Oklahoma at Texas A&M, Nov. 4
A&M has a light and breezy schedule up until the Sooners
show up. After this, the Aggies play Nebraska and at Texas.

35. Florida at Auburn, Oct. 14
The two haven't played in a few years, but they could end
up facing each other twice. This could be a preview of the
SEC title game.

34. TCU at Utah, Oct. 5
It’s the Mountain West game of the year with a likely
improved Utah team looking to take back the conference
reins. TCU won 23-20 last year to kickstart a championship
season. With the new rules for getting in the BCS, the
winner might end up getting to a big money game.

33. Georgia at Auburn, Nov. 11
This is what many thought last year's SEC title game
should've been. The Tigers beat the Dawgs in Athens 31-30
in one of the year's best games.

32. Texas at Texas Tech, Oct. 28
Defense has been an issue for the Red Raiders in the last
three games to Texas allowing an average of 48.7 points per
loss.

31. Iowa at Michigan, Oct. 21
Considering it plays Ohio State and Wisconsin at home, this
could be the biggest hurdle between Iowa and a Big Ten
title.

30. California at Tennessee, Sept. 2
One of the most interesting non-conference battles of the
first few weeks, Cal can make a big splash with a win,
while Tennessee can show things have rebounded from last
year.

29. Penn State at Notre Dame, Sept. 9
These two giants haven't played since the classic 17-16
Irish win in 1992. Notre Dame has to follow this up with a
battle with Michigan.

28. LSU at Tennessee, Nov. 4
The Vols stunned the Tigers last year thanks to a second
half LSU collapse. LSU will look for payback to be in the
mix for the SEC title.

27. Texas Tech at Oklahoma, Nov. 11
This is the oasis in a middle of back-to-back two game road
trips for the Sooners. You can bet there'll be plenty of
talk about last year's controversial Red Raider win.

26. Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 16
Always one of the most anticipated games of the year,
Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr needs this non-conference
road win to keep the heat off.

25. Oklahoma at Oregon, Sept. 16
Oregon was talking about this matchup even before the
Sooners won the Holiday Bowl. It'll be one of wildest
settings for any game this year.

24. Michigan at Penn State, Oct. 14
Penn State will look to avenge its only blemish last year.
This is a brutal sandwich game for the Wolverines between
home dates with rival Michigan State and Iowa.

23. The Ohio State at Iowa, Sept. 30
Iowa crushed the Buckeyes 33-7 the last time these two met
in Iowa City (2004). The Ohio State will be coming off the
Penn State game and will have to find more in the tank.

22. Tennessee at Georgia, Oct. 7
It doesn't have the hype of Tennessee-Florida or
Georgia-Florida, but it's always just as important in the
SEC race.

21. Miami at Louisville, Sept. 16
If Louisville wants to be a player in the national title
race, it has to come up with a big-time non-conference win.

20. Florida vs. Georgia, Oct. 28
Yeah, Urban Meyer won his first Cocktail Party, but the
Dawgs didn't have D.J. Shockley. That won't have him this
year either.

19. California at USC, Nov. 18
Cal has usually been a thorn in USC's side. It's possible
this could determine the Pac 10 title, and even more if Cal
starts the season hot.

18. Florida at Florida State, Nov. 25
The Gators pummeled the Noles last year, but that was a
young, banged up FSU team. Both teams should be better this
season.

17. Alabama at LSU, Nov. 11
The loser will likely be out of the SEC West title hunt.
LSU has won the last three meetings.

16. South Carolina at Florida, Nov. 11
Get the hype started now for Steve Spurrier's first game
back in the Swamp; Urban Meyer had better win it. South
Carolina beat the Gators 30-22 for its final win of the
season.

15. Arizona State at USC, Oct. 14
Shootout, shootout, shootout. Expect lots of fireworks as
the Sun Devils try to take the next step up in the Pac 10.

14. Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 18
Always a classic, at least one of the two will be in a
position to win the SEC West title.

13. LSU at Florida, Oct. 7
Is this round one of the SEC championship? If both teams
are unbeaten, this will be a battle of top five teams
looking to stay in the national title chase.

12. Penn State at The Ohio State, Sept. 23
The two teams are likely still beaten up from last season's
war. The Buckeyes had better win this with a road trip to
Iowa the following week.

11. Texas at Nebraska, Oct. 21
This could be a preview of the Big 12 championship. The
Huskers will be looking to win its only home game in a four
game stretch, while Texas is kicking off a stretch of three
road games in four.

10. Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 16
Always the first big SEC game of the year, this is when
either Urban Meyer's Gators take a first step to a huge
season or when Tennessee officially announces that 2005 was
an aberration.

9. Virginia Tech at Miami, Nov. 4
The home team hasn't had much luck in this series over the
last two years. In any event, it'll be a shock if this
doesn't represent the Coastal Division champion.

8. West Virginia at Louisville, Nov. 2
This is the one Big Easters are drooling over. If all goes
according to form, this might be for more than just the
conference title.

7. Florida State at Miami, Sept. 4
It's a shame this isn't played after the two superpowers
get a few tuneups. Hopefully it won't be the ugly slopfest
of last year.

6. Nebraska at USC, Sept. 16
It's the first time these two have played since a 21-21 tie
in 1970. A win for the Huskers would be a jump-start to
national title hopes, while a USC win would show that it
hasn't slipped.

5. Michigan at The Ohio State, Nov. 18
Former Buckeye head man John Cooper was fired partly
because he couldn't beat Michigan. Wolverine head man Lloyd
Carr has lost four of his last five battles with the
Buckeyes.

4. LSU at Auburn, Sept. 16
Alabama will have something to say in the matter, but this
will likely be for the SEC West title. The last two games
between the two have been decided by a total of four
points.

3. Oklahoma vs. Texas (in Dallas), Oct. 7
Oklahoma should be back to being Oklahoma, while Texas fans
hope their team doesn't go back to being Texas in this
series. A loss by OU would get people talking about how the
series made a dramatic turn.

2. Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 25
Notre Dame has lost its last two games at USC by a combined
score of 85-23. Just imagine the hype if both teams are
unbeaten. It might be better than the national
championship.

1. The Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 9
The classic between these two last year got overlooked as
the season wore on because of the great USC-Notre Dame
game, the amazing national title race, and the all-timer
bowl season. Can this game do for The Ohio State what it
did last year for Texas? If not, this should launch the
Longhorns to another huge year.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2006/Features/75_top_games.htm



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