I’ve been thinking for the past few weeks and months about the things I’m really going to enjoy about this College Football season.  With the kickoff starting tonight, I wanted to take a few moments to share it with you – and hear your thoughts as well.

1. Tim Tebow’s last stand.  Love the Gators or hate the Gators, you have to respect Tim Tebow and what he has brought to the game, on and off the field.  In covering football for more than 15 seasons, Tebow is the most impressive athlete I can recall.  He clearly elevates the players around him and looks to raise up individuals through his personal ministry.  Whether at the ESPY awards, SEC Media Days or other events, Tebow is often the subject of criticism and cynicism.  As for me, I’m going to enjoy getting the opportunity to watch potentially the most decorated college football player of all time – for his final season.

2. Best Heisman Race ever.  Never has there been so much talent returning in a Heisman campaign, with two previous winners vying to become only the second player to win multiple Heisman trophies (Ohio State’s Archie Griffin was the first).  Meanwhile, Texas QB Colt McCoy will look to seize the trophy from previous winners Tim Tebow (2007) and Sam Bradford (2008).  There are other Heisman trophy candidates, but they are all playing catch up to the Big 3.

3. Dominance of the Big XII South: The Big XII South is reminiscent of the SEC East during the 1990s when Florida, Tennessee and Georgia were the perennial top three with the Gators and Volunteers battling it out on and off the field to determine who would play for the SEC Championship in Atlanta.  This almost appears neighborly based on what has been happening in the Big XII South as of late.  Close games, routs, recruiting wars, Texas and Oklahoma lobbying in the national media last season for a spot in the Big XII and BCS National Championship game.  Meanwhile, just like Georgia in the SEC East, Oklahoma State’s program is on the rise and they will compete heavily to make this something more than a two horse race.  The best part of all?  It doesn’t look like the intensity of the Big XII South will be slowing down anytime soon.

4. Legitimate threat to USC’s reign.  Without question, USC is one of the best college football jobs in America and Pete Carroll has taken advantage of that, winning the Pac-10 conference championship each of the last eight seasons.  2009 could be a different story, though.  With the early departure of Mark Sanchez, freshman Matt Barkley takes over for the Trojans at quarterback while the offseason brought the departures of both coordinators.  Meanwhile Oregon and Cal appear to have the teams needed to challenge for supremacy on the West Coast..  USC has an NCAA record seven straight 11+ win seasons and they haven’t lost a game outside of their conference since they played Texas in the Rose Bowl in 2005.    Is their reign over, or will they continue to “fight on”?

5. Lee Corso.  I’ve enjoyed Lee Corso for years as a commentator on ESPN’s College Gameday and always found him to be gracious whenever I’ve interviewed or stopped to chat with him.  It’s been a challenging offseason for Lee, who at 77 years old suffered a stroke following the 2008 season.  He’s been working hard to recover and will be back in the booth to kick off the 2009 college football campaign.  Now more than ever, I’m going to enjoy hearing Lee’s analysis, perspectives and his “not so fast, my friend” phrase.

How about you?  What’s the storyline you’re following and going to savor during this college football season?