Saturday, Sept. 3 marks the first weekend of college football and in my mind, returns the world to a state of normalcy.
I am a huge football fan, and although I love the NFL, college football might just be my favorite sport.
If you're a fan of the NFL, and have never really watched college football, you might want to give it a try. And why not start this weekend?
Here's five reasons to spend your Saturdays with the NCAA.
1. Every game matters.
On Friday night, I watched the unranked Baylor Bears play the No. 14 team in the country, the Texas Christian (TCU) Horned Frogs on ESPN, and it ended up being one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. I have no rooting interest in either team, however, I usually end up picking one team that I want to win, and that's usually the underdog.
Baylor was unranked and was completely destroyed last year by a TCU team that went undefeated and defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Last year, TCU was a team many people rooted for because they come from a smaller conference and everybody wants to see if the little guy can beat the big guy. I'll admit that I wanted to see them do well last year.
However, now that they have had so much success, and are expected to win, I found myself rooting against them and cheering for Baylor.
It was a thrilling game and Baylor ended up winning 50-48, therefore putting an end to any chance TCU had of making a major BCS (Bowl Championship Series) game this winter. There's a chance Baylor will now be ranked after winning this game, and they will try to use this momentum to carry them into a difficult season in the Big 12.
This shows how important it is to win every week, as a team's season can be made or broken that quickly.
2. The pageantry is unlike any other sport.
College football fans are passionate and they are usually fueled by their love for their alma mater and a tremendous amount of Keystone Light. It translates to raucous cheering sections and a true home field advantage for teams.
In no other sport is a home field advantage so important, because of how loud the home team's stadium can get. It can be so loud that it can disrupt or rattle an opposing team's entire gameplan.
3. College rivalries are amazing.
The rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox cannot hold a candle to the hatred between Ohio State and Michigan fans. Believe me, I easily survived four years as a Yankee fan at a college dominated by fans of David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon.
College rivalries are so huge, because teams usually play their rivals once a year, and the game usually means so much. When Texas lines it up against Oklahoma every year, it usually defines each team's season, as both schools expect to win a National Championship every year.
Whether it's Florida State vs. Miami, Oregon vs. Oregon State or Army vs. Navy, no sport has as many great rivalries as college football.
4. You get to see future NFL players in their athletic prime.
While guys like Reggie Bush are solid NFL players, it's nothing compared to what they looked like during their college days. I remember watching Bush at USC and just being wowed by every play he made.
When you watch college football, you are seeing future NFL players, and the best of the best will hear their names called in April during the NFL Draft.
Last year, Auburn's Cam Newton was the best player in college football and won the Heisman Trophy. Now, he is the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers and is expected to lead that team back to respectability. It will be fun to see what Newton can do in the NFL, but I will always feel good knowing that I got to see him when he was shattering the record books as a junior in college.
5. It's an extra day of football!
As if men needed an extra reason to sit home and watch sports. College football is on from noon to about midnight on Saturday, so you can spend an entire day watching the NCAA.
Most of the best games are reserved for Saturday night, but there's a good chance you can catch a great game no matter what time you tune in.
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