AUBURN-WEST VIRGINIA AMONG TOP OUT-OF-CONFERENCE GAMES
BACK-IN-TIME: Bill Stewart: New Coach for West Virginia.
From Southern Pigskin:
There are a plethora of exciting non-conference games ahead on the fall slate for 2008. A number of teams from both the ACC and SEC will be involved in both some classic and unique pairings. We spotlight the top inter-conference games months in advance.
NON-ANNUAL RIVALRIES
1. Alabama vs. Clemson, Aug. 30, Georgia Dome in Atlanta: Talk about starting the season off with a bang, these two Southern stalwarts will meet with ACC and SEC pride at stake. Both programs have high expectations for 2008, especially the Tigers. Coach Tommy Bowden's bunch have been spotted in the top 10 in various pre-season polls recently released.
Series Record: Alabama leads 11-3 Last Meeting: ALABAMA 56, Clemson 0 (1975)
2. Auburn at West Virginia, Oct. 23: Perhaps an elimination game in the national championship race as the two national powers meet on a Thursday night ESPN game. Watching the speedy offense of the Mountaineers meet a Tiger defensive unit that finished 2007 ranked sixth in the nation in scoring and total defense will be one of the biggest non-conference home games in Morgantown in years. This will be the first meeting ever between these two proud programs.
Series Record: First Meeting Last Meeting: N/A
3. Virginia Tech at Nebraska, Sept. 27: Frank Beamer and the Hokies will head to famous Memorial Stadium to face first-year coach Bo Pelini and the Cornhuskers. With Pelini back in town, Lincoln should be in prime form for this heavyweight bout. The winner here will get a big boost of confidence heading into their conference schedule.
Series Record: Nebraska leads 1-0 Last Meeting: NEBRASKA, 41, Virginia Tech 21 (1996)
4. Georgia at Arizona State, Sept. 20: It's rare that the Bulldogs make a trip west for an out-of-conference game. This one has the makings of a dandy. Georgia is being mentioned as one of the leading national championship contenders for 2008. A meeting with QB Rudy Carpenter and Coach Dennis Erickson's Sun Devils will be serve as a great measuring stick for the Bulldogs.
Series Record: First Meeting Last Meeting: N/A
5. Southern Cal at Virginia, Aug. 30: A once-in-a-lifetime showcase game for Coach Al Groh and the Cavaliers. The mighty Trojans will bring a lofty pre-season ranking and a boatload of history and tradition, not to mention talent, to Charlottesville. One could make the case that this will be the most high-profile home game in school history.
Series Record: First Meeting Last Meeting: N/A
6. Arkansas at Texas, Sept. 13: Revisiting what was once one of the premier rivalries in all of college football. The Razorbacks and Longhorns long battled in the old Southwest Conference. The last meeting (2004) was an absolute classic in Fayetteville. Will be the first big game for first-year Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino.
Series Record: Texas leads 55-21 Last Meeting: TEXAS 22, Arkansas 20 (2004)
7. Miami at Florida, Sept. 6: These two traditional rivals took the 1990s off and haven't met since 2004. This is a heated, emotional game as many of these players played against each other in high school and the two rosters are filled with players from the same area. The Hurricanes have won six games in a row.
Series Record: Miami leads 28-25 Last Meeting: MIAMI 27, Florida 10 (2004)
8. Tennessee at UCLA, Sept. 6: Another SEC/Pac 10 clash. There may a little more intrigue surrounding this game with infamous coach Rick Neuheisel coaching the Bruins. The Volunteers lost on their trip west last season, falling 45-31 to California. This meeting will be a good barometer for both programs.
Series Record: Tennessee leads 7-4-2 Last Meeting: TENNESSEE 20, UCLA 24 (1997)
9. Notre Dame at North Carolina, Oct. 11: Though the Irish struggled last season, they still are the Irish. Anytime Notre Dame comes to town it's a big deal. This game will give Coach Butch Davis and UNC a chance to show off their impressive home venue and an opportunity to show the nation the improvement they are making on the field.
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 16-1 Last Meeting: NOTRE DAME 46, North Carolina 25 (2006)
10. Miami at Texas A&M, Sept. 20: Two power programs playing in one of the game's premier venues. Both of these programs will be in need of a signature victory early next season. Former Green Bay coach Mike Sherman takes over for the Aggies.
Series Record: Tied 1-1 Last Meeting: MIAMI 34, Texas A&M 17 (2007)
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TEN MORE GAMES OF NOTE:
California at Maryland, Sept. 13 Florida State vs. Colorado, Sept. 20 (Jacksonville, Fla.) Mississippi State at Georgia Tech, Sept. 20 Virginia at Connecticut, Sept. 13 N.C. State at South Carolina, Aug. 28 South Florida at N.C. State, Sept. 27 Connecticut at North Carolina, Oct. 4 Ole Miss at Wake Forest, Sept. 6 North Carolina at Rutgers, Sept. 27 Vanderbilt at Wake Forest, Nov. 29
