FanHouse RandyWalker

FanHouse is counting down the 10 best, 10 worst, and 10 weirdest moments in Big Ten football history.

Howard Stern could take over for Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News. Your cat could win the Nobel Prize in physics. Guns 'N Roses could actually release Chinese Democracy. Those are three things which seem as unlikely now as Northwestern's 1995 Rose Bowl run seemed at the time.

Northwestern had occupied a certain niche in the Big Ten's ecosystem, that of the perennial homecoming date. The Wildcats could be counted on to show up sometime between late September and late October to provide an all but guaranteed W for the returning alumni. And as long as they still played football in Evanston, every Big Ten team knew that no matter what other outrageous fortune befell them, they wouldn't go winless in the conference unless it was one of those years Northwestern just wasn't on the schedule.

A lot of coaches sacrificed large parts of their careers coaching in Evanston, trying to face up to the challenge of turning around a football team that hadn't won a conference title since 1949. But not even legitimately good coaches like Lou Saban, Ara Parseghian, and Dennis Green could accomplish anything with the Wildcats. So how did Gary Barnett do it?

That sound you hear (suspend disbelief for a moment, please)---it's the 2006 college football season quickly approaching. We are now a mere six days and a few hours from Aug. 31, the new season's genesis. The slate of games' for that Thursday hold only modest promise, but as a true college football nut I'll find a way to delight in them just the same.

Looking over that day's schedule, a few games stand out.

Northwestern at Miami (Ohio)---Emotions will run high at this one as Northwestern plays its first game since the death of coach Randy Walker. Adding further to the mood, Walker was an Ohio-born coach who led a revival of sorts as Miami's coach before taking over at Northwestern.

Minnesota at Kent State---The running backs are dropping like flies for the run-happy Golden Gophers, which may spell early-season doom. Or maybe not, as Kent State is coming off a 1-10 season. Either way this has the potential to be another interesting Big Ten/MAC battle.

South Carolina at Mississippi State---I'm surprised this game is this early in the year, as most conference matchups do not begin until several weeks into the season. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's back, and it's just not college football without the Ol' Ball Coach throwing visors around.

Toledo at Iowa State---Coach Tom Amstutz runs an offensive power in the MAC, but will be without departed senior Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. Iowa State should have an incredible offense as well, returning Bret Meyer at quarterback, Stevie Hicks at tailback and the dynamic duo of Austin Flynn and Todd Blythe at receiver. This is the third matchup of the day between a MAC team and a midlevel BCS conference foe.

Northern Arizona at Arizona State---This won't be much of a game, but we'll get our first look at the suddenly shaky Arizona State Sun Devils.

UTEP at San Diego State---This is the final hurrah for UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer. The program is now in its third year under coach Mike Price and should be set for a pretty big season. The Aztecs begin their first campaign under new coach Chuck Long, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.