Indiana College Football: A Game for Each Week
The college football season is just around the corner.
With so many colleges in-state with exciting schedules, Ink on Indy compiled a list of the best games to see each week of the football season, starting with Week 1 on September 5.
September 5: Notre Dame v. Texas
Following a 20 year break of home-and-home meetings between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Texas Longhorns, the two meet again in the first week of the college season in Notre Dame, Indiana in what promises to be an exciting opening weekend.
Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Malik Zaire (8) passes during the second half against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Notre Dame won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Irish hold the all-time series record at 8-2 and beat the Longhorns the last four times they have played, most recently in 1996 in Austin, Texas where Lou Holtz’s Irish brought home a 27-24 victory en route to an 8-3 season, the last season Holtz was in charge. The times are different, and now both teams will be looking for a win as they look for a coveted spot in the still-new college football playoff system.
Notre Dame will be relying on the young arm of Malik Zaire after it was announced that QB Everett Golson was on his way out of South Bend, but Irish fans are still familiar with Zaire thanks to the performance he put on in their 31-28 win over LSU in the Music City Bowl last December.
September 12: Valparaiso v. Sacred Heart
Valparaiso football didn’t exactly impress too many folks last year, and after a 4-8 season (2-6 conf.) will be looking to change some things this year.
The Crusaders did end their year with a home win over Davidson, which provides a little bit of confidence going forward, but face a full slate of difficult opponents relative to their team this season. The game against Sacred Heart is the first of the year at home and second overall, their season opener being away to Eastern Kentucky just one week earlier.