Ellington

The wait is finally over. Football is back. This is the time of year I tell my wife and daughter that I love them but I won't see them on weekends again until after the Superbowl.

Thursday, Aug 28

College football (5-8 p.m., SEC Network): The season opens with a JFP Top 25 matchup between Texas A&M and South Carolina. ... NFL (7-10 p.m., WLOO): The New Orleans Saints close the preseason against the Baltimore Ravens. ... College football (7-10 p.m., ESPN): Boise State hopes to score an upset against the University of Mississippi.

Friday, Aug 29

College football (8-11 p.m., Fox Sports 1): It is the earliest in-state rivalry game of the season and the game is known as the Rocky Mountain Showdown as Colorado clashes with Colorado State.

Saturday, Aug 30

College football (4:30-7:30 p.m., ESPN): Another big early Top 25 matchup, as Georgia tries to avenge last season's loss to Clemson. ... College football (6:30-10 p.m., SEC Network): Mississippi State looks to start the season off with a win against Southern Miss, who is rebuilding. ... College football (8-11 p.m., ESPN): End the day with another Top 25 battle between Wisconsin and LSU.

Sunday, Aug 31

College football (6-9 p.m., SEC Network): Tennessee, who wants return to the SEC elite, begins the 2014 season with an easy game against Utah State.

Monday, Sept 1

College football (7-10 p.m., ESPN): Miami (FL) travels to Kentucky to welcome Louisville to the ACC.

Tuesday, Sept 2

Tennis (6-10 p.m., ESPN): The stars of the tennis world are still in New York as they try to win the final major of the year at the 2014 U.S. Open.

Wednesday, Sept 3

Basketball (2:30-5 p.m., ESPN2): The United States plays their third game of group play against the Dominican Republic in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

This opening week of college football might be one of the best opening weeks of the last 10 years. There are plenty of top matchups to start the season.