Don't blame the Big 12. It's merely following everyone else's lead.
The strength of schedule factor in college football has taken a serious nosedive over the last 10 to 15 years and, as a result, the month of September has seen fewer and fewer marquee matchups across the country. It's just college football's trend of programs playing lower echelon teams in the early part of the season to help ensure bowl eligibility at the end of the year.
But don't blame Texas. The Longhorns will hit the road and open their season this weekend in South Bend, Ind., against the most storied program in college football history. That takes guts.
TCU's trip to Minnesota, their best non-conference game, is a marginal challenge.
Outside of those two, there are few "can’t-miss" games this week in the Big 12. Baring a major upset or two, this opening weekend won’t tell us too much about the season ahead. But these three games will be a little bit of an appetizer.
Texas at No. 11 Notre Dame
Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
Most years this would be the marquee non-conference matchup of the season. But with the Longhorns' recent struggles and the Irish coming off a pedestrian 8-5 season, this one will merely be one of the better opening weekend matchups instead. But it does not lack intrigue.
The eyes of Texas will be upon the Longhorns to see what happens in Year 2 of the Charlie Strong era, because another six-win season isn’t going to curry much favor. The Irish are coming off a confidence-boosting bowl win over LSU and a No. 11 preseason ranking to buoy their hopes, along with 17 returning starters from an injury-plagued unit a year ago.
The Longhorns haven’t had an O-line to bark about in years. The last time a big ugly from the front five was drafted into the NFL was in 2008. Last year, injuries meant UT had six different starting combinations in 13 games on the line, but four starters return up front this season, three of which are seniors. They will be the key to whether Tyrone Swoopes throws touchdowns or interceptions, and he’s fully capable of either. The Irish managed 26 sacks last season and All-American defensive tackle Sheldon Day and linebacker Jaylon Smith are bent on getting more.
No. 2 TCU at Minnesota
Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Don’t be mistaken, the Horned Frogs are national title contenders and should win this game, but there is something intriguing about a team that had its struggles on the road a year ago (lost at Baylor, big time escapes at West Virginia and Kansas) and has a defense that returns just five starters going into its first game of the season. As will be the case all season, Trevone Boykin and the offense will have to carry a little bit of the load early on. But worry not, this offense and all its weapons could score on the '85 Chicago Bears.
Gopher quarterback Mitch Leidner is a dangerous two-way threat that will test TCU's back seven. The Frogs' defensive line could be one of the nation's best with eight of its top nine players back. Returning ends James McFarland and Terrell Lathan and tackle Davion Pierson are returning starters. Throw in Nebraska transfer Aaron Curry and you've got four legitimate All-Big 12 performers along the front. Good luck, Gophers.
Sam Houston State at Texas Tech
Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest
The Red Raiders' coaching staff knows this is a tough draw for their charges who are coming off just their second losing season in the last 22 years. It's imperative that coach Kliff Kingsbury's team doesn’t overlook the Bearkats, who finished last season as the national runners-up in the FCS and return nearly everyone from that squad. The offense will score with anyone, but will the defense show up?
Tech had trouble stopping anyone last season, giving up an average of 512.7 yards and a staggering 41.3 points per game, which is why David Gibbs, a defensive secondary whiz, was brought in as the new defensive coordinator in Lubbock. All four starters return in the Double-T secondary, spearheaded by cornerback Justis Nelson, who led the Big 12 in pass breakups last season. But Sam Houston quarterback Jared Johnson accounted for 4,053 total yards last year and won't be intimidated here.
