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Must-see TV for 2000

By Marc Lancaster, CNNSI.com

Let's get something straight right up top, OK? If you've got no love for your remote control, this isn't for you.

Isn't it nice, the way that cold, plastic cover of the remote can warm to the temperature of your hand so quickly? It's a symbiotic relationship, a shark-and-remora kind of thing. You need each other, and there is no better time to solidify the affair than the average Saturday afternoon in the fall.

Sure, you've got your favorite team, the one whose replica helmet coozie is holding your $3-a-six-pack beer on Saturdays. But if that's the only game you're interested in watching, you're not a true college football fan -- and may your remote's batteries go dead just as that annoying commercial of the moment comes on for the 18th time this half.

Go ahead, flip around, see how many great plays you catch while jumping from one game to another. If you've got picture-in-picture, you're a higher being (treat your remote with special care).

It's best to wing it, but you don't want to miss the key games. What follows is a list of must-see matchups for the 2000 season for you to follow or ignore.

Whatever you decide, write this down on a stickie-note and put it on your refrigerator: "Go to store on Friday, Aug. 25. Buy batteries."

ALL TIMES EASTERN | 2000 TV schedule

Aug. 26-27: Opening weekend?! What a letdown In a perfect world, college football would kick down your door at the end of August, barging in to cure the tedium that is a planet without pigskin. College basketball does it, consistently coming through with a matchup or two of the nation's best teams right out of the gate, but that just doesn't happen on the gridiron. Of course, no one could have anticipated Arizona's implosion at Penn State in last year's marquee date, so it's hard to predict what will happen this time around, but a potential thriller doesn't exactly jump out at you from the opening weekend of games. The best bet might be the Pac-10's chance for revenge from last year's embarrassment, with a reborn USC taking on Penn State (Sunday, 2:30 p.m., ABC). If not that, you're left with a shootout between Florida State and BYU (Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC) or the first chance to watch Michael Vick run wild when Virginia Tech hosts defense-challenged Georgia Tech (Sunday, 8 p.m., espn2).

Sept. 2: Irish worth watching ... for now Now this weekend is more like it! All by themselves, a few schools have put together matchups that any fan can get excited about, led by a spectacular duel of Top 25 teams with Alabama at UCLA (3:30 p.m., ABC). Running a close second to -- and only slightly overlapping that contest -- is one of the few (OK, two) Notre Dame games worth watching this year, with Texas A&M visiting the Irish (1 p.m, NBC). In one of those unstoppable force/immovable object quandaries, Louisiana Tech's wide-open offense will travel to Manhattan to face Kansas State's dirt-tough defense (7 p.m., Fox Sports Net) in another intersectional matchup. Another one to keep an eye on is the Colorado-Colorado State showdown in Denver (6 p.m., ESPN2), with everyone hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's ugliness in this intrastate game.

Sept. 9: Something for everyone Whether you're a fan of football in the nation's midsection or not, it'll be tough to avoid tuning in to the marquee game on this Saturday - Nebraska at Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC). Two of the most celebrated programs in the country knocking heads in South Bend should be enough to get everyone excited -- as long as the Irish don't get blown off the field before halftime. Aside from that contest, three interesting cross-country matchups should also bring in fans from around the country, starting with Miami (Fla.) traveling to Washington (3:30 p.m., ABC). Follow that up with a pair of Big Ten vs. Pac-10 showdowns, Oregon at Wisconsin (3:30 p.m., ABC) and Ohio State at Arizona (10:15 p.m. FOXSN), and most of the country should have something to watch.

Sept. 16: What's a person to do? Get your remote warmed up early this weekend. There are a handful of strong and appealing matchups nationwide, but they all seem to be kicking off at 3:30, so you'll probably miss out on something big. The biggest regular-season game in the SEC leads the pack of mid-afternoon games, with Florida traveling to Tennessee (CBS) in the latest installment of this series. The winner of this game has gone on to the SEC Championship Game in six of the last seven seasons. Also checking in at that time is Michigan at UCLA (ABC), a classic run-in of traditional powers in the Rose Bowl. Other ABC affiliates will carry Rick Neuheisel's return to Boulder, with Washington at Colorado at the same time.

Sept. 23: Chance to catch your breath After a couple of strong weeks, this might be the best time to mow your lawn. No enormous games jump off the schedule, though Penn State at Ohio State (Noon or 3:30 p.m., ABC) has potential. Aside from that one, a couple of teams face potentially dangerous games on the road. Miami is at West Virginia (3:30 p.m., CBS), and later in the evening Alabama travels to Arkansas (9 p.m., ESPN2).

Sept. 30: Live from the Big House Barring upsets during the first few weeks of the season, this weekend should provide the first duel of top-five teams this season. Wisconsin heads to Michigan (Noon or 3:30 p.m., ABC) for an enormously important game at the Big House. Both teams have national championship aspirations, and one of them could be out of the running before October hits. A few other conference games bear watching today as well. Virginia Tech visits Boston College (3:30 p.m., CBS), and Colorado hosts Kansas State (TBA).

Oct. 7: Rivalry weekend I The much-anticipated rivalry weekends don't come until later in the season, but this particular week is sort of a kiddie-sized version, with not much love lost between the participants. Florida State takes its show south to Miami to meet the Hurricanes (Noon, CBS). Miami hasn't won this game since 1994, but still holds a 23-20 edge in the overall series. The evening is highlighted by a key SEC game. Georgia hosts Tennessee (7 p.m., ESPN) in a game that will allow the Bulldogs to demonstrate what they have been asserting for months -- this really is their year to step up in the SEC East. And, in what figures to be one of the more competitive recent meetings between these two, Texas and much-improved Oklahoma hook up in Dallas (TBA).

Oct. 12-14: Big East gets day in the sun Miami has a bye, but you can bet the Hurricanes will have their remotes handy. On Thursday night, Big East rival West Virginia is at Virginia Tech (8 p.m., ESPN), while Saturday, Syracuse visits Boston College (3:30 p.m., CBS) in another intriguing game. Another conference contest worth watching will take place in the Big Ten, where Michigan State hosts Wisconsin (Noon, ESPN). Finally, if you're in the mood for some old-school offensive play, check out the natural pairing of Notre Dame and Navy in an odd setting -- Orlando (Noon, CBS).

Oct. 21: Tide roll to Knoxville An intriguing East-West showdown in the SEC tops the list today, as Alabama visits Tennessee (3:30 p.m., CBS). The Tide doesn't play Florida or Georgia this year, so this will be Bama's chance to measure itself against an East Division power before the SEC championship game. Up north, Michigan State at Michigan (TBA) and Purdue at Wisconsin (Noon, ESPN) will provide tough environments for the underdog visitors. In the Big East, Virginia Tech goes to Syracuse (probably Noon, CBS) in another key game. The Orange would like a little revenge after last year's appalling 62-0 implosion in Blacksburg.

Oct. 28: Big 12, SEC favorites collide Nebraska avoids Texas and Texas A&M on the conference schedule, so the Huskers' biggest game against a Big 12 South team will take place today, when they visit Oklahoma (probably 3:30, ABC). It will be fun to see what the Sooners' air attack can do against Carlos Polk and friends. On the East Coast, Florida and Georgia will meet in their annual Cocktail Party in Jacksonville (3:30 p.m., CBS), with the SEC East title likely on the line. Florida has won nine of the last 10 meetings. Other than those two, the pickings are pretty slim.

Nov. 4: Be nice to your daddy Remember that Georgia Tech-Florida State game last year, with Joe Hamilton throwing a huge scare into the eventual national champions? That was the toughest challenge Florida State had in the ACC. It's time for that game again, but the opponent is different this year. Yes, it's Father vs. Son again, Clemson at Florida State (TBA). This is a very dangerous game for the 'Noles, who are fortunate to be at home. Speaking of last year's Sugar Bowl participants, Virginia Tech travels to this year's Big East favorite, Miami, (Noon, CBS) in a contest that could decide who wins the conference.

Nov. 11: For all the marbles This is where the home stretch of conference races really begins to heat up. In the Big Ten, Penn State goes to Michigan (TBA), while in the Big 12, Nebraska heads to Kansas State (TBA). The Pac-10 has its marquee regular-season game of the year, as Washington hosts UCLA (7 p.m., ABC). Also, in the SEC, Arkansas visits Tennessee (7:30 p.m., ESPN) in a game that doesn't have the interest level of the last couple of years, but should be intense.

Nov. 18: Rivalry weekend II Finally, it's here. You want Big Ten tradition? Try Michigan at Ohio State (noon, ABC). Crave some good-as-Dreamland-ribs SEC brawlin'? Try Auburn at Alabama (3:30 p.m., CBS). Need a little humidity-blanketed love-fest? Try Florida at Florida State (8 p.m., ABC). In the mood for some defenseless West Coast fun? Try USC at UCLA (TBA). Let's put it this way: If you need a warm-up for your New Year's Day football-watching frenzy, this is a nice time for it. Enjoy.

Nov. 23-25: Rivalry Weekend III .. .with turkey Had your turkey? Wonderful. Now watch one game that not enough people around the country take in -- the Egg Bowl, Mississippi State at Mississippi (8 p.m., ESPN). Last year's was a classic. On Friday, check out three more in-state battles: Texas A&M at Texas (3:30 p.m., ABC), Arizona State at Arizona (5 p.m., FOXSN) and BYU at Utah (6 p.m., ESPN). The trend continues Saturday with Georgia Tech at Georgia (Noon, CBS), Virginia Tech at Virginia (Noon, CBS), and Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (2:30 p.m., FOXSN). The one cross-country matchup is equally steeped in tradition. Notre Dame goes to USC (3:30 p.m., ABC) for the battle of the fight songs.

Dec. 2: Championships galore It's made-for-TV Saturday, when the mega-conferences will slug it out in their championship games, possibly eliminating national title contenders while the Florida States of the world sit at home and smile. The best thing about this day is, we get to start with the non-corporate game, Army vs. Navy (Noon, CBS), a timeless tradition. After that, strap yourself in for the Mid-American Conference championship game (1 p.m., ABC), the Big 12 championship game (4:30 p.m., ABC) and the SEC championship game (8 p.m., ABC).

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