June 12, 2009

By Adam Caparell
NCAA.com

Over the summer, NCAA.com will look at the FBS schedule, highlighting the top matchups, the can't-miss games and the best storylines for each of the 15 weeks of the regular season. Check in every week to find out which games you simply have to see.

FBS Calendars: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11
Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 & 15

Once again, the 2009 FBS season starts with a slew of games Thursday night before the Labor Weekend kicks off with some tantalizing non-conference showdowns and ends with an ACC showdown in Tallahassee.

Week 1's Can't Miss Games

Thursday, Sept. 3 - Oregon at Boise State
The season's first big matchup will feature the Ducks and the Broncos, owners of two of the more colorful sets of uniforms in the country. Usually Boise State has to travel to face a BCS-affiliated school, but the Broncos welcome in the highly regarded Ducks and that potent offense. Last year, Boise visited Eugene where they defeated Oregon 37-32 to earn the program's first victory on the road over a BCS team. Boise is 3-11 all-time vs. the Pac-10.

Saturday, Sept. 5 - Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (Atlanta, Ga.)
These two probably well find themselves in the Top 10 when they meet in the Georgia Dome in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff. This is the second straight season the Crimson Tide has been featured in the season's first big showdown after they beat Clemson in this same game last year. Alabama used that 34-10 win over the Tigers to eventually propel themselves to the No. 1 ranking. Both Tech and `Bama have BCS title aspirations so this - even in Week 1 - is huge.

Saturday, Sept. 5 - BYU vs. Oklahoma (Arlington, Tex.)
The Cougars and Sooners will have the honor of playing the first college game in the new $1 billion-plus Cowboys Stadium. The Sooners will be loaded on both sides of the ball with Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford back under center and nine starters expected to return on defense. BYU will have its star QB back for his senior season. Max Hall, an All-American honorable mention last year, will find his name on many Heisman watch lists this summer.

Saturday, Sept. 5 - Georgia at Oklahoma State
Georgia has itself a very challenging first month of the season and opening with the high powered Cowboy offense on the road will be no easy task, especially considering Georgia will be featuring new faces at all three skill positions on offense. These two met in 2007 with Georgia winning 35-14 in Athens.

Monday, Sept. 7 - Miami (Fla.) at Florida State
If you think Georgia has a rough first four games, take a look at the Hurricanes schedule. Miami opens with rival Florida State then meets Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech before a showdown at Dolphin Stadium with Oklahoma. Could we see another high scoring affair this year? In last year's Seminoles win, the two teams combined for 80 points, the highest point total in the history of the 54-game series. The Seminoles have won three of the last four meetings.

Other Games To Keep An Eye On

Saturday, Sept. 5 - LSU at Washington
The Tigers open the season on the road and across the country against the new-look Huskies under first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian. 

Saturday, Sept. 5 - Maryland at California
Remember how the Terps upset the Bears at College Park last season, holding the No. 23 team in the nation to just six points through three quarters? Chances are Cal hasn't forgotten.

Monday, Sept. 7 - Cincinnati at Rutgers
Two potential contenders for the Big East title meet right off the bat in Piscataway.