Oh yeah! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not really, but College Football is, in my humble opinion, of the best times of the year. Sure there was some of that last year, but for obvious reasons, not the way people are used to seeing it.
Anyway, after a year of a watered-down product due to the pandemic, College Football returns (in about three & four weeks) to a resemblance of what we last saw in 2019. The fans return, the conferences including the Pac 12 return, and the band is back! Really the bands are back, and that is an underrated part of the games on Saturdays. Tailgating and the total atmosphere return I believe. However, I would proceed with caution as we still have a rather long way to go. Still better than last year, but I’m guessing the pregame stuff and attendance will depend on the guidelines in one’s area/state. That aside, there may be full capacity (in some places), but there will be games played. Cancellations are still a possibility, but I think we’ll get more in this season than last year.
As is the custom each year (except last season of course), things get rolling during Labor Day Weekend. Yeah, there are about a half dozen games the weekend before, but the glorified slate starts next month prior to and including Labor Day.
You have the old non-Power 5 team and the newer non-Power 5 team facing off on 09/02 (Boise State vs Central Florida). After that Thursday game, we’re treated to a nice Saturday (09/04) full of great games from great teams: Alabama vs Miami in the afternoon, and Clemson vs Georgia in primetime. Sunday night has Notre Dame against Florida State (09/05), and Louisville vs Mississippi on Monday (09/06).
The Crimson Tide begins its title defense as the Top Ranked team. They’re followed by Oklahoma, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Oregon, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. That list, which will become meaningless as the season progresses, comes courtesy of ESPN. Finally, the season is slated to conclude on Monday, January 10th, 2022, with the National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. That College Football Playoff Final wraps up the year’s Bowl Season, which starts on Saturday, December 18th, 2021. Included in those postseason games are the New Year’s Six games featuring the Peach, Cotton, Orange, Fiesta, Rose, and Sugar Bowl Games. Whatever happens, it should be a great 2021 College Football Season!