Can you feel it?

The tension? The apprehension, the hope, the hype? All of it is palpable as we approach Saturday's matchup with USC. This doesn't feel like non-conference game in mid-September. Husker Nation wants a win like this is a late November matchup against OU back in the 70's, or some balmy January night in the Orange Bowl in the late 80's and early 90's. While this may be just another game in the standings, the implications go much deeper than can be properly articulated. There is no way to truly understand the feelings every Husker fan has right now unless you are one. It's only Tuesday, and the hype machine is churning out story lines like there is no tomorrow. The revitalization of a program, a nomad quarterback's potential redemption, a nation rooting for the defeat of a media-made juggernaut. All of it comes to a head Saturday night among the cornfields and small towns of eastern Nebraska. In Lincoln, a city whose population is smaller than many Los Angeles suburbs, there lays the field where all these sagas will played out before a curious country's eyes. Can Nebraska do it? Can the once-proud Cornhusker team solve it's maddening inconsistencies and rise above and beyond their abilities to beat the media darling whose roster is chock-full of All-American talent destined for the NFL?

While I will touch on that and more in my Friday preview, right now I just want to take a brief look around the country and discuss some of last week's games.

- Lost in the hectic first couple of weeks of the season is the continuing struggle taking place in Tallahassee thus far. Despite the hiring of Jimbo Fisher as offensive coordinator (a move that many thought would revitalize a stagnant offense), Florida State continues to struggle. A preseason top 25 ranking was proven unwarranted after getting beat easily by Clemson in week 1 and then struggling against UAB for the first half last week. While Drew Weatherford's performance against Alabama-Birmingham provides a little bit of optimism, the fact of the matter is that this program no longer pulls in the recruits like they did in their stellar run of the 1990's. Those kids are going to Gainesville and USC now, and it is showing in the product on the field. What remains to be seen is what Bobby Bowden does if there isn't significant improvement throughout this season. I don't think he has any intention of stepping down, but does he continue to shake up the staff? Does he hit the recruiting circuit like he's 45 again? Only time will tell.
What is obvious is that with the rise of USF and the resurgence of the Gators, along with Randy Shannon attempting to rebuild down in Coral Gables, there is only so much talent to go around, and the Seminoles had better right the ship quickly, or they will find themselves stranded in the middle of the pack and facing an uphill fight back to the sport's elite. Ask Bill Callahan, he'll tell you it's not an easy climb.

- Speaking of USF, what a great win for them AT Auburn. It's one thing to beat a program like that at home, but to go into a hostile environment and take home a W is a testament to the strides that program has made since it's inception just 11 years ago. The Bulls have been on everyone's radar for some time now as a program on the rise, and the administration there is going to have to ensure that coach Jim Leavitt, who has built the program from it's infancy, doesn't take off if a higher bidder comes calling. I don't think he'd leave a team he has labored so hard to make successful, but you never know. If Nick Saban is any indicator, money is a big enticement.

- I'm thinking that LSU has a legitimate claim to #1 over USC. The Tigers dismantled the #9 Va Tech Hokies this past Saturday, dominating them on both sides of the ball en route to a 48-7 victory. What the Trojans do on Saturday against NU will go a long way in determining who is in position for the Sears Trophy in January. LSU, known for it's Bo Pelini-coordinated defense, is showing it has the offensive firepower to play with anyone. The Hokies pride themselves on their defense, yet were shredded for nearly 600 yards of total offense. The interesting thing will be whether or not the Tigers can make it through the SEC unscathed. It's the right year to go for a national title in that conference, with Florida undermanned on D and Georgia still struggling somewhat on offense.

-The Pac-10 just keeps looking better while the Big 10 continues it's downward spiral. Michigan was spanked by Oregon, putting UM in a 0-2 hole. Good thing they play in their conference, if they were anywhere else they'd be in real trouble. In the Big 10, they'll still probably manage to get 9 wins and maybe a conference title. Wisconsin and Ohio State have both played uninspired ball thus far, leaving Penn State as the team many will emerge from the mediocrity and claim the conference crown. Personally, I don't even care, it's been a blast for me just watching how terrible all the teams are playing thus far. On the other side of the spectrum, the Pac-10 can do no wrong in the opening weeks of the season. Cal beats Tennessee handily, Oregon whips Michigan, and Washington ends Boise State's unbeaten streak, all the while USC is the #1 ranked team in the land. This makes Saturday's little game in Lincoln all the more important for conference supremacy.

I'll look around the Big 12 tomorrow, then take Thursday and Friday to write the preview for Saturday's game.

While I'm at it, I want to remind anyone who reads this to look at the calendar today and remember what happened six years ago. Don't ever forget that day and those who lost their lives to an act of cowardice and terrorism. And remember to pray for those who continue to fight the wars that resulted from it. God Bless America.