NCAA -- Week 4

Every week during the college football season I end up asking myself why I do it.

Whether it's spending the time and money to travel to my favorite stadium or simply spending your Saturday watching from your easy chair, there is a certain investment you make in doing it.

I found myself asking the same question last weekend and by the end of the day, I had my answers.

Notre Dame, Miami, Boston College, and Bowling Green helped confirm my suspicions that every second and every penny I spend on this grand game is worth it.

How many of you found yourself yawning in the third quarter of the Florida/Miami game when the Gators were in their comfort zone 33-10?

The Hurricanes opened our eyes in a hurry with a rally that rivaled the best comebacks in college football history.

They scored 28 unanswered points in the last 19 minutes and retained its home and regular season winning streak.

Rewind to around noon on Saturday when you starting asking yourself how long those funny looking helmets from San Diego State would last in Columbus.

It was one of those games you just couldn't turn off. Survival was the word of the day for the Buckeyes in holding off a scrappy Aztec team 16-13.

Oh yeah, there was also the mystique of the Irish in South Bend falling behind Washington State and turning on the juice to survive in overtime.

If you had any doubts that emotion was part of the game, you need to look no further than these three games for your proof.

How could you match the excitement of last weekend? Oh well, let's try anyway and see what's in store for this weekend.

Games to Watch

1. Notre Dame at Michigan: Every year, regardless of the records, it seems as if this one lives up to all the hype. This year, there is much more at stake with the Wolverines in the top 10 and the Irish looking to prove that they're here to stay under Tyrone Willingham. Add 105,000 people to the mix at the Big House in Ann Arbor and you have yourself a fun little football game.

2. NC State at Ohio State This one may have been a bit more interesting if the Pack could have beaten a scrappy Wake Forest team in Winston Salem on Saturday. Regardless, since Ohio State struggled with San Diego State, you can bet they'll be fired up to show their dominance again. For NC State, it's an opportunity to showcase Phillip Rivers and to get back on the map after that devastating loss to the Demon Deacons.

3. Georgia Tech at Florida State: Is Florida State ever going to play a non-conference game? This is the third ACC game in a row for the Seminoles to start the season and they're looking to get a huge leg up in the ACC race. The Jackets are looking to build off the dominant victory over Auburn.

Great Story Lines

Iowa at Iowa State: Why is this one so big? Just ask any Hawkeye player or fan what losing to Iowa State five years in a row feels like? Last year's debacle in Iowa City coupled with the Cyclone dominance in the series will equal high marks on the electricity scale. Both teams are 2-0 and are eager to show that they've turned the corner for good.

Purdue at Wake Forest: Who isn't cheering for the Demon Deacons? I'm sure the folks in West Lafayette aren't, but it's hard not to cheer for these lovable losers who have beaten Boston College and NC State in successive weekends. Purdue was shocked at home by Bowling Green and if they don't patch the holes, they're going to start 0-2.

Penn State at Nebraska: This one could be titled tradition gone bad. Penn State has struggled the last several years for Penn State standards and their loss to BC at home was embarrassing to the faithful. Nebraska has changed everything up for the first time in decades with new coaches, schemes, and players.

It just keeps getting better.

Let's hope the excitement continues for us fans, though I'm sure the coaches would think differently.

Regardless, there's no doubt that we're in for some exciting football.