vs. 
2. Penn State at Notre Dame
Saturday, September 9 - 2:30 p.m.
NBC
It is almost unfathomable that a meeting between these two teams isn't the #1 game of the week, but that's the way the ball bounces sometimes. PSU saw a great resurgence last year and Methuselah silenced his critics by winning coach of the year honors. Some have picked the Irish to win it all and the ND faithful are expecting a lot out of head coach Dewey Oxberger this year. Anytime two storied programs like these clash, it's going to be worth watching.
vs. 
1. Ohio State at Texas
Saturday, September 9 - 7:00 p.m.
ABC
Was there ever any doubt that this would not be #1? This was the regular season game I enjoyed most last year. Yes, even more so than USC-ND and the "Bush push." There's something special about a game under the lights and last year's meeting was simply fantastic.
From a personal standpoint, I'm happy this game doesn't conflict with an Alabama game this year like it did last year. I think my incessant flipping back and forth between the Ohio State/Texas game and the Alabama/Southern Miss game last year was enough to make my tOSU fan friend want to jump off of my third story balcony in frustration. He should've realized what a gift it was that I didn't just settle into Alabama/Southern Miss and only flip over to that game during commercials.
Anyway, tOSU only lost two games last year, to the #1 and #3 teams and still finished #4. Not too shabby. Texas is on a 20 game win streak. Expect another epic.
Ohio State is #1 in this year's preseason coaches poll and Texas is #2 so unless something goes horrifically wrong for one of them in week 1, we'll be treated to a rare #1 vs. #2 game in the regular season.