June 25, 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

Some of 2008's most memorable games were late season conference contests with big BCS implications. Penn State-Iowa and Oregon State-Arizona were both November games that gave great endings. In Week 4 of the 2009 season, we'll hopefully see another pair of classics along with another huge September matchup in the Pac-10.

Week 4's Can't Miss Games

Thursday, Sept. 24 - Ole Miss at South Carolina
If you haven't heard already, Ole Miss is expected to be pretty good this year. And the Rebels get a chance to put their skills on display in primetime. QB Jevan Snead and the rest of the Rebels make their way to Columbia, where they haven't played since 2004, but the biggest question heading into the season for Houston Nutt and his squad is whether they'll be able to handle all the hype and huge expectations surrounding the program this year.

Saturday, Sept. 26 - Iowa at Penn State
Penn State was riding high last year heading into its meeting with the Hawkeyes. At 9-0, there was plenty of talk of a BCS Championship berth. But some costly mistakes cost the Nittany Lions a title shot in their surprising 24-23 defeat on a cold afternoon/evening in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are shaping up to be an improved team after last year's 9-4, Outback Bowl-winning performance. The second-best rushing defense in the Big Ten last year returns eight starters and could present a big challenge for a Penn State offensive line that will replace three starters.

Saturday, Sept. 26 - North Carolina at Georgia Tech
It hasn't taken very long for Butch Davis to turn North Carolina into a contender in the ACC. Many believe this is the year the Tar Heels not only become a legitimate threat in the conference, but maybe win it outright. If UNC wants to find its way to Tampa for the ACC championship game later in December, it's going to have to go through Georgia Tech. These two Coastal Division rivals met last year in November and UNC blew Tech right out of Chapel Hill, 28-7, in the second-worst loss of the season for the Yellow Jackets. That Saturday, UNC was able to keep Tech's triple-option offense in relative check and capitalize on some turnovers, unlike so many others before them. Does North Carolina have the secret formula to stop Tech?

Saturday, Sept. 26 - Cal at Oregon
In the Pac-10 it's almost always about USC. And while the Trojans will once again have a big bulls-eye on their back as the team to beat in the conference, Cal and Oregon are nipping at the heels of USC. Both the Bears and the Ducks will feature strong running attacks, and one of the nation's best backs - a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate - will be on display in Cal's Jahvid Best. Oregon will counter with LeGarrette Blount. He may not be a household name amongst college football fans, but he very well could be by the end of the season, if not this game.

Other Games To Keep An Eye On

Saturday, Sept. 26 - South Florida at Florida State
Can the Bulls finally break through in the Big East? There doesn't seem to be a consensus favorite in the conference and many believe USF has what it takes to reach its first BCS game in program history this year. FSU, on the other hand, is hopeful it can return to a BCS game for the first time in four years.

Saturday, Sept. 26 - Illinois at Ohio State 
Two of the most athletic quarterbacks in the Big Ten face off when Illinois' Juice Williams looks to pull off another upset in Columbus, this time against Terrelle Pryor.

Saturday, Sept. 26 - Arizona at Oregon State
These two played a pretty memorable game last season that saw the Beavers miss what was a potential game-tying extra point by Justin Kahut, only to then have Kahut kick the game-winning field goal to keep OSU's Rose Bowl hopes alive.