Notre Dame vs. Navy, 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, @ Dublin, Ireland
This game is intriguing in that it’s going to be played in Dublin, the heart of Irish country. However, Notre Dame has had an offseason full of suspensions that have weakened the team quite a bit. First off, starting quarterback Tommy Rees, who threw for 2,871 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, was suspended earlier this summer for violating team rules. Then, earlier this week, news broke that starting running back Cierre Wood, who rushed for 1,042 yards and nine touchdowns, and defensive end Justin Utopo, who played mostly on special teams, were also suspended for violating team rules. Add on the season-ending injury to starting cornerback Lo Wood and the departure of wide receiver Malcolm Floyd to the NFL, and the Irish are struggling to find playmakers. Navy enters the game with its triplea-option offense that was fourth in the nation last year in rushing yards with 312 yards per game. The team lost the services of quarterback Kriss Proctor, who ran for 14 touchdowns and passed for seven more last season. In last year’s game between the two teams, Notre Dame demolished Navy 56-14 while holding the Midshipmen to 196 yards rushing.
Northwestern vs. Syracuse Saturday, Sept. 1, noon, ESPN2
Both of these teams come off sub-par seasons from last year, but Syracuse had the more disappointing campaign, as it was in position to earn a bowl bid before a five-game losing streak at the end of the season ended those hopes. Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib is back to lead the Orange after passing for 2,685 yards, 22 touchdowns and just nine interceptions last season. However, halfback Antwon Bailey is gone after rushing more than 1,000 yards in 2011. Northwestern had a rather different end to the 2011 season, winning four of its last five games in 2011 to earn a bowl bid. Quarterback Dan Persa is gone after leading the Wildcats to only their ninth bowl appearance in the last 52 years. Junior Kain Colter takes over for Persa after throwing for 673 yards and six touchdowns in mop-up duty last season. Southern Cal transfer Kyle Prater will likely help out the receiving corps for the Wildcats after the loss of Jeremy Ebert, who had 1,025 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. Northwestern had a respectable 3-3 record on the road last season.
Georgia Tech @ No. 16 Virginia Tech, Monday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m. ESPN
These two teams kick off their regular season and conference schedules on a Monday night in Blacksburg, Va., a place where the Hokies have lost just three times in the last four years. While Virginia Tech lost the services of halfback David Wilson, who rushed for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns last season, to the NFL, one of the best offensive players in the ACC returns for the Hokies in quarterback Logan Thomas. Thomas passed for 2,799 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing just 10 interceptions. The Virginia native also rushed for 416 yards and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets are poised to build on their eight-win season from a year ago after returning most of their offense, with the exception of wide receiver Stephen Hill, who is now playing for the New York Jets. Quarterback Tevin Washington is back to run the triple-option offense after passing for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 890 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. In 2011, Georgia Tech was second in the country with 317 yards rushing per game, but the always-tough Hokie defense will hope to limit the rushing attack, as it did in its 37-26 victory over the Yellow Jackets last year.
Miami (FL) @ Boston College, Saturday, Sept. 1, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
The Hurricanes are coming into this game after a mediocre and turnover-prone 2011 season that saw the prominent program go just 6-6. Things aren’t expected to get much easier for the Hurricanes this year after they lost their top three offensive playmakers from a year ago in quarterback Jacoby Harris, halfback Lamar Miller and wide receiver Tommy Streeter. However, Miami has some talent on defense after last season’s unit finished in the top 20 in the nation in points against. In addition, it has a favorable matchup against the Eagles, who went 4-8 in 2011 and averaged just 18 points per game, which was 112th in the nation. Boston College is returning quarterback Chase Rettig, who threw for 1,960 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2011. Also returning is halfback Rolandan Finch, after a 705-yard, three-touchdown performance in 2011. With that said, if you’re into offensive shootouts, you may want to stay away from this game.