Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field, the home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. (College Football America and RoadTripSports photo by Matthew Postins)

By Chuck Cox

Director of Editorial Content, College Football America Yearbook

I’ve got a really exciting first few weeks of the football season on tap. I’m getting things started early with a trip down south to Brenham, Texas, for some juco ball. Host Blinn is battling ASA-Miami, a first-year program, on Aug. 22 to open the season.

The following week, I’ll get to see two of the elite high school programs in the nation when De La Salle (California) and Euless Trinity (Texas) square off in Mansfield, Texas. The Spartans, whose program was the subject of the movie When the Game Stands Tall, are ranked No. 12 in MaxPreps’ preseason Freeman Rankings.

After that, things get a little crazy.

On Sept. 3, I’m heading to Commerce, Texas, to see Adams State take on Texas A&M-Commerce in a Division II clash. The next night, I’ll be home in Dallas to see Baylor take on SMU.

On that Saturday, I’m going to hit three games. First, Southwest Assemblies of God is playing Westminster (Mo.) in a battle of NAIA and Division III teams at a neutral site (Midlothian, Texas) at 11 a.m. Then, it’s back to the high school ranks to see the No. 1-ranked IMG Academy, out of Bradenton, Fla., take on DeSoto (Texas), which is ranked No. 15. Finally, I’ll head over to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to see Alabama take on Wisconsin.

The next week, I’m heading to Atlanta for a couple of games. I’m going to catch the first half of Jacksonville State at Auburn before heading back for Tulane at Georgia Tech. As a side note, I’m going to a Braves game on Sunday and the College Football Hall of Fame on Monday.

I’m still looking for a game the following week, but it will probably be something close to home. I can’t believe football season is finally upon us. Thank God.