FBS Calendar: Week 7 Oklahoma-Texas and USC-Notre Dame headline big week

July 6, 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.

While Week 6 featured relatively few marquee matchups, Week 7 doesn't disappoint. We'll see two of the most storied rivalries in the game kick off their latest installments with games in South Bend and Dallas. Plus we have a pair of crucial Big East meetings between four of the conference's contenders. And let's not forget about the two great games from the non-BCS contingent.

Week 7's Can't Miss Games

Wednesday, Oct. 14 - Boise State at Tulsa
Two of the best non-BCS programs over the last several seasons square off in Oklahoma. Wednesday matchups are usually reserved for the MAC, but we're treated to the rather unusual WAC-C-USA showdown this time out. The high-powered Tulsa offense will meet a Broncos defense that was third in the nation last year, allowing just 12.6 points per game. But Boise only returns five starters on defense. Will the Broncos have the manpower to hold Tulsa under 30 points? That was the magic number for the Golden Hurricane last year. All three of their losses saw them score 30 or less.

Thursday, Oct. 15 - Cincinnati at South Florida
The Big East seems to be wide open this year, but Cincinnati and South Florida are two legitimate contenders for the conference's BCS berth. South Florida has been on the verge of breaking out the past several years to grab the league title, but has come up short, most recently to Cincy last fall. The Bearcats were the easy upset winner last year thanks to QB Tony Pike, who played that game with a soft cast on his broken left forearm. It didn't stop him from throwing for 281 yards and two scores. Matt Grothe will be looking to redeem himself after throwing three picks in that game.

Saturday, Oct. 17 - USC at Notre Dame
Two of the most celebrated programs in college football meet in South Bend in one of the nation's most famous rivalries. Most of the talk surrounding Notre Dame this summer is about that schedule that is supposed to be so easy. But the Fighting Irish have a huge task at hand with the Trojans. USC has won the last seven meetings between the two teams and the Irish haven't really been close to topping the Trojans since the infamous "Bush Push" game in 2005. But maybe that changes this year with a much more mature Irish offense facing a USC defense that has to replace eight starters.

Saturday, Oct. 10 - Oklahoma at Texas (Dallas, Texas)
The Red River Rivalry or Red River Shootout. Whatever moniker you use to refer to one of college football's top annual matchups, it's a showcase when the Sooners and Longhorns meet - especially when the game has huge BCS ramifications, like this one figures to. These two are going to be top-5 teams heading into the season opener and should they remain undefeated heading into this, the reverberations from the outcome won't be restricted to the Big 12. Oklahoma was the favorite in last year's game before Colt McCoy and Texas pulled away in the fourth quarter. McCoy will be hard-pressed to repeat last year's performance (28-of-35 for 277 yards, TD) and so will the defense that shut down Sam Bradford when it mattered most.

Other Games To Keep An Eye On

Friday, Oct. 16 - Pittsburgh at Rutgers
The Cincinnati-South Florida game might grab most of the headlines in the Big East this week, but don't overlook this one. Figures to be just as important in the standings.

Saturday, Oct. 17 - Iowa at Wisconsin
If the Hawkeyes are the Big Ten contender many believe they are then winning in Madison would put a stamp on their chances for a conference crown.

Saturday, Oct. 17 - Central Michigan at Western Michigan
Two contenders for the MAC West meet in Waldo Stadium. Central Michigan was a 38-28 winner last year.