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Notre Dame Knocks Off Penn State
Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis conducted a coaching clinic. He said he had watched all 11 Penn State tapes from last season (did he forget Game 12 against Florida State?) and decided to keep the defense on the field long, force turnovers and pick on the secondary, as Faust, who sat in the press box, had done in 1984.

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The Buckeyes of Texas Are Upon No. 1
Paul Smith | You could forgive the always cocky Longhorns fans if they were thinking they were watching an optical illusion unfold before them Saturday night in Darrell K. Royal Stadium, a football sanctuary that reeks of similar tradition to the Bucks’ “Big Horseshoe.”

Penn State at Notre Dame: A Clash of Hype and Tradition
Paul Smith | So here we are, two days removed from the first head-knocker between the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions in South Bend since the 1992 early-evening, snow-backdropped finish that produced a last minute 17-16 Irish victory on a touchdown and two-point conversion.

Also: Buckeyes Warm Up For Texas With N. Illinois

West Coast: Hope For An End to Westwood Blues
West Coast Watcher | USC will introduce its version of the Four Freshmen, UCLA hopes a new attitude and coaching staff will put an end to the blues in Westwood and pollsters could be singing "California, Here I Come" when the Pacific 10's marquee teams open the 2006 college football season Saturday.

Ohio State is No. 1, Texas Is In Pursuit
Paul Smith | The Texas game Sept. 9 is circled on calendars throughout the states of Ohio and Texas with good reason. The Longhorns are defending national champion, and despite the massive defensive rebuilding job, the Buckeyes are pre-season No. 1 this year with Texas right on their tailpipe. » Full Story: Ohio State Preview

• Maurice Clarett’s Cry For Help

High Expectations For Irish In Weis’ 2nd Season
Knowing the Irish will score points in bunches in most games, it is how the defense rounds into form that determines whether the Irish achieve a possible chance to go up against their Fiesta Bowl tormentor, Ohio State. » Full Story: Notre Dame Preview

• Iowa: The Team Nobody Really Likes to Play

• Northwestern: Walker’s Spirit Lingers With Wildcats

• Indiana: Hoeppner Counters Hoosier’s Cycle of Despair

• Michigan State: Spartans’ Smith Finds His Seat Warm

Fate, Faith and Four Strangers
Paul Smith | This is a very short tale about four very lucky people -- Janet, Shirley, Ronnie and Paul. Four folks from four very different backgrounds, four people whose fates were brought together earlier this week when they discovered just how unforgiving Mother Nature can be. » Full Story

• Last Year’s Coverage

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