At last! Football season is here! The conference schedule for this week is as follows:
GAME OF THE WEEK
Oregon vs. LSU (Arlington, TX), Saturday, 8:00 pm ET, ABC
The Will Lyles Bowl kicks off with a shorthanded LSU taking on a team with a pair of rebuilt lines.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Mississippi State at Memphis, 8:00 pm ET
The West division Bulldogs get to open the season by hammering the team from Tennessee's most Mississippi-like city.
Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky (Nashville), 9:15 pm ET, ESPNU
A battle royale among Bluegrass State teams not actually played inside the Bluegrass State.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Utah State at Auburn, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
The defending national champs start a new season with precious few players who started on that team.
Kent State at Alabama, 12:20 pm ET, SEC Network
Tuscaloosa finally gets its release as Nick Saban faces, and waxes, his alma mater.
BYU at Ole Miss, 4:45 pm ET, ESPN
The Rebels get a tough test from an up-and-coming independent football program that might be the Big 12's best and most realistic target.
Montana at Tennessee, 6:00 pm ET
The revamped Volunteeers get a tune up against the team that appropriately has Joe Montana's son.
East Carolina vs. South Carolina (Charlotte), 7:00 pm ET, Fox Sports Net
The East division favorites play a dangerous game against one of CUSA's better teams.
Missouri State at Arkansas, 7:00 pm ET
Tyler Wilson's first start couldn't be a cushier one for the West division's dark horse.
FAU at Florida, 7:00 pm ET, ESPNU
A new era begins at Florida while an era for college football comes to a close with FAU's coach.
Elon at Vanderbilt, 7:00 pm ET, CSS
Tune in for the Commodores' only sure win of 2011.
Boise State vs. Georgia (Atlanta), 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
Can the Bulldogs party like its 2005, or will Boise turn the Georgia Dome turf blue?