Looking forward to the 2012 College Football season?

On Thursday night, we will see the 2012 College Football season kickoff as ESPN, CBS Sports Network and other networks that you will likely find on your sports package help kickoff the first Week of College Football.  Sadly, some games will have to be rescheduled, due to Hurricane Issac.  Other schools are seeing practices disrupted, as we get ready to kickoff the season Thursday through Labor Day!

Thursday, August 30th - TOP GAME

Times listed are Central Time

• #8 South Carolina at Vanderbilt 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3 - the Gamecocks are on a three game winning streak and own a 17-4 mark in this series dating back to 1961.  The Gamecocks should take care of business on the road to open SEC and 2012 play as Junior Marcus Lattimore returns from last year's knee injury ...

ESPN Goal Line ... Live look-ins on espn3 games @ 6:30 p.m.

I began following College Football in 1974.  The 2012 season welcomes more new head coaches, since 1974.  Plenty of story lines will likely unfold in 2012.

Other Games on Thursday

• UCLA at Rice 6:30 p.m. CBSSN (HD) - The Bruins square off against the Owls for the fifth time in the series.  UCLA leads 4-0 and this is only the second game in Houston.  UCLA only won that game 27-24 in 1966, so will the Jim Mora era in Westwood begin on a bright note?
• UMass at Connecticut 6:30 p.m. SNY / ERTV (cable) / espn3 - UConn will host UMass, who is one of the four new members moving up to FBS in '12, joining the MAC this season.  UConn
• Sacramento State at New Mexico State 7:00 p.m. ALT (HD) / AggieVision / espn3 - Do the Aggies get it done in the 2012 opener?
• Washington State at BYU 9:15 p.m. ESPN (HD) - Only the fourth meeting between these two schools with the same nickname, Cougars.  Washington State begins the Mike Leach era as they travel to Provo to face BYU.  BYU is favored, while WSU leads the series 2-1. with the first in the Holiday Bowl in '81.  High scoring and close games in the past ...
• Minnesota at UNLV 10:00 p.m. CBSSN (HD) - The Jerry Kill era at Minnesota begins Season 2, as the Gophers and Running Rebels square off in football for the first time.  Senior Marquis Gray leads the Gophers and an outstanding dual-threat quarterback.
• Eastern Michigan at Ball State 6:00 p.m. espn3 - Two MAC teams square off in the 2012 season opener and Eastern Michigan leads the series 25-12 and has won 6 of last 7 games, including '08, when Michigan coach Brady Hoke lead Ball State to 12-2.  May regret this pick ...
• Eastern Washington at Idaho 8:00 p.m. espn3 - Neighbors battle in this FCS vs. FBS showdown!
• McNeese State at Middle Tennessee 6:30 p.m. espn3 -
• Northern Arizona at Arizona State 9:30 p.m. PAC-12 Network (HD) - the Sun Devils open 2012 with one of the four new coaches in the Pac 12, as coach Todd Graham takes the helm in Tempe ...
• Northern Colorado at Utah 6:15 p.m. PAC-12 Network (HD) - a good start in 2012 for coach Kyle Whittingham could lead the Utah Utes to a Top 25 position, as they open year two in the Pac 12 with a non-conference game ...
• Southeast Missouri State at Central Michigan 6:00 p.m. espn3 - Week 4 Central Michigan will travel to Iowa City ...
• Southern Utah at Utah State 7:00 p.m. KMYU (cable) / espn3 - A FCS-FBS battle in Utah ...
• Towson at Kent State 6:00 p.m. CSMA (cable) / espn3 - Coach David Hanzell opens second season at helm for Golden Flashes ...
• UCF at Akron 6:00 p.m. espn3 - C-USA vs. MAC - Central Florida travels to Akron to face a team that ranks #124 by many among the 124 teams in FBS in '12. A Zips win would be a major surprise of the first weekend, but they lead series 3-2 ...

Weekend Watch - Top Game:

• Sept. 1, #13 Michigan vs. #1 Alabama at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas. "The annual opener at Jerry Jones' funhouse has had some great matchups in the past. This one could be the best of the bunch." - the AP's John Marshall is likely right on this one.

A look at other games in 2012 ...