By Brian Hardy

CSTV.com

The Weekly Planner: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

	BRIAN HARDY Brian is an assistant editor for CSTV.com and contributes on a regular basis. E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- FOOTBALL 9/8: Raising the Next Generation 9/1: Spurrier Aiming High in Columbia 8/25: Gators Hope To Regain Their Bite 8/22: Penn State Not Letting Up 8/21: Previewing the Big Ten 8/21: Buckeyes Primed for Title Run 8/18: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 14 8/16: Akron Looks To Repeat Behind QB 8/16: Previewing the MAC 8/16: Top RB May Hail From MAC 8/11: Vols Look to Rekindle Tradition 8/08: Life After Jay Cutler 8/07: Previewing the SEC 8/04: No Fluke at Rutgers 8/04: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 12 7/21: Cal May Be Golden Behind Lynch 7/21: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 10 7/13: Two Is Better Than One 7/07: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 8 7/06: Can The Cyclones Step Up? 6/23: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 6 6/22: D-IAA Opponents Hear To Stay 6/15: Challenges Adds New Dynamic 6/09: 2006 Schedule Planner - Week 4 6/08: Can The Houston Bowl Be Saved? 6/01: Another Bowl On The Move? 5/04: Bowl Season Gets A New Look 1/07: Penn State Gets Commitment From Duo At U.S. Army All-American Game 1/07: Jai Eugene Commits To Michigan BASKETBALL 3/10: Bucknell Captures Second
Straight Patriot League Title 2/04: No. 9 Rutgers Shows No. 13
DePaul What The Big East Is Made Of 1/19: Temple Continues Shining 1/12: 'Nova Gets By Rutgers at the RAC

Over the summer, CSTV.com will be taking a look at the college football schedule, highlighting the top matchups, the can't-miss games and the storylines that make certain contests so intriguing. Check in every Friday for the heads-up on what games are shaping up to be the best each week, the worst each week and a few others that have piqued our interest.

As we go into the fourth week of the college football season, conference play starts to pick up in both the Pac-10 and the Big Ten. However, there are some out-of-conference matchups as well that intrigue, such as Colorado making the trip to Athens to meet Georgia. There are also some quality matchups in the ACC, as Georgia Tech hosts Virginia for a Thursday night game and Boston College visits N.C. State on Saturday.

Game of the Week

Sat. Sept 23 - Penn State at Ohio State

It's a matchup between the two teams that shared the Big Ten title last season, as Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions head into Columbus for a showdown against the Buckeyes. Ohio State will be looking to avenge last season's 17-10 loss to Penn State in State College, which gave the Buckeyes their second loss of the season, just five games into the year. The difference in this year's matchup is while Troy Smith returns at quarterback for Ohio State, the Nittany Lions will be without the services of QB Michael Robinson, who ran for a touchdown and rushed for 52 yards in PSU's victory last season.

Games to Watch

Sat. Sept 23 - Arizona State at California

If you want to see an offensive shootout, then this may just be the game to watch. We saw what Arizona State's offense was capable of last year, and we can expect more of the same from the Sun Devils in 2006. Meanwhile, expectations are high for the Cal Bears. Finishing with an 8-4 record last season and a No. 25 ranking, the Bears return 18 starters from last season. This includes the return of the nation's most productive running back duo in Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. While Lynch ran for 1,246 yards last season, Forsett recorded 999 rushing yards.

Sat. Sept 23 - Wisconsin at Michigan

The Wolverines could be entering this game with either a lot of momentum, or a lot of disappointment, as the Wolverines are in South Bend to face Notre Dame the week before this contest. Last year's contest in Madison saw Badgers' quarterback John Stocco run the ball in with just 24 seconds left to give UW a 23-20 victory and hand Michigan its first loss in a Big Ten conference opener since 1981. Also, new Badger coach Bret Bielema will be making his conference debut in the "Big House."

Sat. Sept 23 - Tulane at LSU

One week before the Green Wave return home to New Orleans to play in their first "true" home game since Hurricane Katrina, Tulane makes the short trip to Baton Rouge to face the Tigers. Tulane and LSU will be renewing their long in-state rivalry, as the teams announced last summer that they will play a ten-year home-and-home series beginning in '06. An interesting fact about this rivalry is Tulane has played LSU more than any other team in its history.

Rivalry of the Week

Sat. Sept. 23 - Notre Dame at Michigan State

Who can forget the classic matchup these two had last season, when the Spartans' Jason Teague ran it in from 19 yards out in overtime to score the game-winning touchdown for MSU in a thrilling 44-41 Spartan upset in South Bend. While the Irish lead the overall series 43-25-1, the Spartans have won seven of the last nine meetings. What makes this one even more special is it will be a prime-time matchup.

Mismatch of the Week

Sat.  Sept. 23 - Rice at Florida State

What a horrendous stretch of the schedule for the Rice Owls - a team that finished 1-10 last season. After visiting UCLA and then hosting defending champion Texas in the prior two weeks, the Owls must to go to Tallahassee to visit defending ACC champ Florida State. Meanwhile, the `Noles can use this game to get ready for their next game in two weeks, when they visit N.C. State in hopes of avenging a stunning five point loss to the Wolfpack last season.