The countdown to the college football season is at just 25 days. Let’s take a look at some important dates on this year’s schedule.

Of course some of these times and channels may change. View the full schedule here.

Regular Season:

Thursday August 29th

North Carolina @ South Carolina 6:00pm ESPN

Kicking things off is a battle of the Carolina’s. We will be treated to the beast known as Jadeveon Clowney in the first game of the season. A great way to kick things off.

Saturday August 31st

Alabama @ Virginia Tech 5:30pm ESPN (Atlanta)

A nice test for the Crimson Tide to start their year. It’s not easy to go into Blacksburg and come out victorious even if you are the heavy favorites to win the national championship.

Georgia @ Clemson 8:00pm ABC

This is a nice battle for week 1. Both teams are favored to win their respective divisions and both have national title hopes.

TCU vs LSU 9:00pm ESPN (Arlington)

#13 LSU and #20 TCU cap off week 1 with their matchup in Arlington. Whoever wins this one could build some momentum and make a run at a BCS bowl.

Saturday September 7th

Florida @ The U 12:00pm ESPN

Florida has the potential to be one hell of a dangerous sleeper. I can’t remember the last time a team this good was the third favorite in their division nevermind the fact that they are 5th favorite to win the SEC. Miami on the other hand is the favorite to win their division but the SEC and ACC are obviously apples and oranges. Regardless the inner state rivalry should provide one hell of a football game.

South Carolina @ Georgia 4:30pm ESPN

Despite this being only week 2 this game will be one of the most important on the schedule. Whoever loses will quickly find themselves behind the eight ball chasing the other for the division lead, and they still have to worry about Florida.

Notre Dame @ Michigan 8:00pm ABC

What a great week 2. Big games early on.

Saturday September 14th

UCLA @ Nebraska 12:00pm ABC

Both of these teams are ranked and are potential long shots to reach the national championship game. Both are fun to watch with mobile quarterbacks capable of lighting up the field.

Alabama @ Texas A&M 3:30pm CBS

Don’t make any plans at this time. This is as big as it gets. Nick Saban has now had a full year to plan an attack against Johnny Manziel whom will be trying to prove last year was no fluke.

Saturday September 21st

Auburn @ LSU TBA

The Tiger Bowl always provides a hell of a game even when one team isn’t quite on the same level.

Michigan State @ Notre Dame 3:30pm NBC

Both of these teams could be ranked by this point. These teams are on about the same level and should provide some nice entertainment even if it’s a bit sloppy.

Thursday September 26th

Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech 7:30pm ESPN

These two teams will be competing with Miami for a spot in the ACC title game. This game could end up determining who gets the nod.

Sunday September 28th

LSU @ Georgia TBA

One of many SEC matchups that is a must watch. The winner of this will give them a nice opportunity to be playing in the final game of the year.

Oklahoma @ Notre Dame 3:30pm NBC

Another big game for a Notre Dame team that might struggle this season. Either way people love them and will be tuned in to this one.

Wisconsin @ Ohio State 8:00pm ABC

Man does Ohio State have an easy schedule. Wisconsin is probably the team with the best chance to unseat them from the top of the Leaders Division of the Big 10 and OSU draws them at home.

Saturday October 12th

Florida @ LSU TBA

One of these teams will walk out of this game with a legit chance at winning the SEC the other will struggle to make up ground on the other stud teams in this loaded conference.

Oklahoma vs Texas TBA (Red River Rivalry)

Arguably the best rivalry game in the sport. Half of the stadium will be red the other half orange and one will end up with the upper hand in the Big 12.

Saturday October 19th

UCLA @ Stanford TBA

This could very well be a sneak peek at the Pac-12 title game.

TCU @ Oklahoma State TBA

This is TCU’s chance to make a run at the Big 12 title.

Florida State @ Clemson TBA

Another possible title game sneak peek, not bad getting two of these in the same week.

USC @ Notre Dame 7:30pm NBC

Plus we get the USC/ND rivalry, what a great week.

Saturday October 26th

UCLA @ Oregon TBA

Another possible Pac-12 title game preview. Man did UCLA get screwed by the scheduling committee. It’s going to be rather tough to win @ Stanford and then @ Oregon in back to back weeks.

Stanford @ Oregon State TBA

This could end up determining who will play for the Pac-12 title out of the North division, though Oregon will have something to say about that before it’s all done.

Penn State @ Ohio State 8:00pm ABC

I felt obligated to put this one on the board simply because OSU is going to be near the top of the rankings all year and because Bill O’Brien could go into Columbus and shock Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.

Saturday November 2nd

The U @ Florida State TBA

Two of the favorites to win the ACC square off in a game that could have BCS bowl implications.

Michigan @ Michigan State TBA

Two of the favorites in the Legends Division of the Big 10 will play to possibly determine who will get their chance to knock off Ohio State in the Big 10 title game.

Georgia vs Florida 3:30pm CBS (Jacksonville)

One of the better rivalry games in college football with certainly play a big role in this season. One of these teams could earn the right to play in the SEC title game and possibly the BCS National Championship game.

Thursday November 7th

Oregon @ Stanford 9:00pm ESPN

A thursday night college football game that will probably determine who plays in the Pac 12 title game... yes please.

Saturday November 9th

LSU @ Alabama TBA

This has been the most important rivalry in this run of seven straight national championships from the SEC. It won’t disappoint this year either.

Nebraska @ Michigan TBA

The Legends Division might be a bit of a mess this year but this is one of the bigger games for that division and will be worth watching.

Virginia Tech @ The U TBA

The two favorites to capture the ACC Coastal Division. While the winner of this division likely won’t be undefeated this is a huge game especially this late in the season.

Thursday November 14th

Georgia Tech @ Clemson 7:30pm ESPN

A nice thursday night game and a good test to see if Clemson is actually legit. Call it a gut feeling but it feels like a game Clemson could choke away. If they really want to make a run at the national title game they need to take care of business at home in this one.

Saturday November 16th

Georgia @ Auburn TBA (Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry)

1892 was the first time these teams played. Auburn might not be on the same level as Georgia but they could ruin the Bulldogs season with this home game.

Florida @ South Carolina TBA

An absolute beast of a game and a must win for both of these teams if they want to have a shot at the bigger picture.

Stanford @ USC TBA

USC might struggle this year but if they can capitalize on home field advantage here they could be in the running to win their division.

Michigan State @ Nebraska TBA

Back to back big games for Nebraska. They absolutely could win this division but will probably need to go 2-0 over this stretch.

Oklahoma State @ Texas TBA

The two favorites to win the Big 12. This game will be rather important in determining who wins it this year.

Saturday November 23rd

Texas A&M @ LSU TBA

If one of these teams can knock off Alabama we could be looking at a game that decides the SEC’s West Division. If not it’s simply one hell of a football game with a possible BCS at-large bid on the line.

Friday November 29th

Oregon State @ Oregon 7:00pm FS1

Friday night rivalry football that should have a lot on the line.

Saturday November 30th

Alabama @ Auburn TBA (Iron Bowl)

Florida State @ Florida TBA

Georgia @ Georgia Tech TBA

Clemson @ South Carolina TBA

Notre Dame @ Stanford TBA

UCLA @ USC TBA

Ohio State @ Michigan TBA

Rivalry week should provide some fireworks and should determine who will be playing to make the national championship game in their next game.

Thursday December 5th

Louisville @ Cincinnati 7:30pm ESPN

Thursday night football between the two favorites in the new/weird American Athletic Conference. Louisville certainly seems better at this point in time but that is a weak conference in which anything can happen and this could be the one that decides who will be playing in a BCS bowl.

Saturday December 7th

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State 3:30pm Fox/FS1

SEC Championship 4:00pm CBS

Pac 12 Championship 7:45pm ESPN/ABC

ACC Championship 7:45pm ESPN/ABC

Big Ten Championship 8:00pm Fox/FS1

Conference championship week plus a nice Oklahoma/Oklahoma State rivalry game that could also double as a conference title game if Texas falls out of the picture.

Saturday December 14th

Army vs Navy 3:00pm CBS (Philadelphia)

Always a fun game worth watching. Lot’s of rushing yards and big hits. And of course a nice salute to the troops.

Bowl Season:

Rose Bowl January 1st 5pm ESPN (Rose Bowl)

Fiesta Bowl January 1st 8:30pm ESPN (Arizona)

Sugar Bowl January 2nd 8:30pm ESPN (New Orleans)

Orange Bowl January 3rd 8:00pm ESPN (Miami)

National Championship January 6th 8:30pm ESPN (Rose Bowl)

Bowl season starts on December 21st and runs through January 6th. In that stretch there will only be three days in which a bowl game won’t be on television. Football basically every night, can’t wait.

mlz

Sunday, August, 4, 2013