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A potential Texas-Texas A&M bidding war for Tom Herman could be college football's top storyline

The college football season is 100 days away and it really can't get here soon enough.

For those who immediately Googled countdowns on the Internet, that's 100 days until the first big college football weekend on Saturday, Sept. 3. Yes, Cal opens the season in Australia against Hawaii on Aug. 26, a game that at one point looked like it might involve Baylor. And 14 FBS games dot the Thursday, Sept. 1 landscape.

It's still hard to ignore the Best Opening Weekend. Ever. If you don't believe it now, you probably will after ESPN, Fox and CBS have bombarded you with endless promos between now and then.

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In all seriousness, the lineup is remarkably impressive. Recently in Las Colinas, College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock suggested that one benefit of the playoff has been much better nonconference schedules, something manifested in force on opening weekend.

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Just consider the marquee games of Lone Star interest:

Oklahoma vs. Houston at NRG Stadium, with the defending Big 12 champion taking on the hottest team outside of the "power five.''

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Notre Dame at Texas, which will feature the Sunday debut of a new Texas offense (the power spread), a new mascot (Bevo XV) and maybe a fresh-faced new quarterback (Arlington Lamar freshman Shane Buechele).

UCLA at Texas A&M. So far, Trevor Knight has done everything right since arriving in College Station. If he can deliver at quarterback, Kevin Sumlin's life becomes much easier.

Alabama vs. Southern California at AT&T Stadium. Not saying that Alabama feels at home in Arlington, but the Crimson Tide is 3-0 in Jerry Jones' pad since it opened, including two victories last season en route to another national title.

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So as we wait, let's consider a nice round number of reasons to anticipate the start of the 2016 season.

10. Seth Littrell, Year 1

North Texas head coach Seth Littrell talks to players after the 2016 Green-White Spring...
North Texas head coach Seth Littrell talks to players after the 2016 Green-White Spring Football Game, Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas. David Minton/DRC ORG XMIT: txder(David Minton / DRC)

Give the new UNT coach credit for being prepared. About a nanosecond after satellite camps were reinstated, he tweeted his list. Maybe that enthusiasm can be contagious. The Mean Green are in prime recruiting territory, have an excellent facility and should be at least competitive in Conference USA.

Find more North Texas coverage here

Follow Brett Vito on Twitter at @brettvito for more on the Mean Green

9. Barry J. Sanders

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 1: Defensive back Troy Hill #13 of the Oregon Ducks tackles running...
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 1: Defensive back Troy Hill #13 of the Oregon Ducks tackles running back Barry Sanders #26 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)(Steve Dykes / Getty Images)
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You know the name, kind of. He's the son of you-know-who, and he's got one season as a grad transfer from Stanford to make his mark at Oklahoma State. Sanders may not be his dad, but he's shown enough big-play ability to revitalize the Cowboys' running game and provide more than a few highlights.

8. Quarterback redemption

Kenny Hill (left) and Trevor Knight. (Photos by Scott Halleran/Getty Images and Brett...
Kenny Hill (left) and Trevor Knight. (Photos by Scott Halleran/Getty Images and Brett Deering/Getty Images)(Scott Halleran / Getty Images and Brett Deering/Getty Images)

Knight, the new A&M quarterback, and former Aggies QB Kenny Hill each have a chance to write new stories. Knight also has all the intangible qualities you want in a quarterback but never really put it together at Oklahoma outside of that Sugar Bowl performance against Alabama. Hill possesses the skill set and just needs to keep his focus as he tries to win the starting job to run TCU's spread.

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Find more Texas A&M coverage here | Find more TCU coverage here

Follow Carter Karels on Twitter at @CarterKarels for more on the Aggies

Follow Adam Grosbard on Twitter at @AdamGrosbard for more on the Frogs

7. A bowl (maybe) for SMU

SMU head coach Chad Morris watches his players scrimmage during the team's spring football...
SMU head coach Chad Morris watches his players scrimmage during the team's spring football game at Ford Stadium on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
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Sure, Houston coach Tom Herman took a veiled shot at SMU for simply trying to get to seven wins. After going 3-21 the last two seasons, improvement is relative. Chad Morris is making progress. It's just a question of when it translates to the record.

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Follow E.J. Holland on Twitter at @EJHolland247 for more on the Mustangs

6. Can Oklahoma repeat? 

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The offense should be even better in Lincoln Riley's scheme for the second season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield seems determined to have more fun in college than anyone since Van Wilder. The running game, led by Samaje Perine, keyed the offense late. In a league where everyone has question marks, OU might have fewer than most.

Find more Oklahoma coverage here

Follow Joe Buettner on Twitter at @Joe_Buettner for more on the Sooners

5. Texas Tech's offense and defense endangers scoreboards

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 31: Patrick Mahomes #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks to pass...
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 31: Patrick Mahomes #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks to pass during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 31, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma State defeated Texas Tech 70-53. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
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With Patrick Mahomes, a dark horse Heisman candidate at quarterback, returning after throwing for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns, Tech should average close to the 45.1 points it did last season. Will a defense that allowed 43.6 points be any better, especially after the dismissal of second-leading tackler Dakota Allen?

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Follow Michael DuPont on Twitter at @MikeDuPont_ for more on the Red Raiders

4. Seth Russell's comeback

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 24: Seth Russell #17 of the Baylor Bears reacts after Baylor scored a...
WACO, TX - OCTOBER 24: Seth Russell #17 of the Baylor Bears reacts after Baylor scored a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second at McLane Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Frankly, any buzz about the upcoming Baylor season has been overwhelmed by the sexual assaults and allegations that have tarnished the program. But the return of Russell from a broken bone in his neck and subsequent surgery could be a remarkable comeback. He was playing like a Heisman contender before the injury last October.

Find more Baylor coverage here

Follow Shehan Jeyarajah on Twitter at @ShehanJeyarajah for more on the Bears

3. Texas' great experiment

Texas head coach Charlie Strong talks to his players during a spring NCAA college football...
Texas head coach Charlie Strong talks to his players during a spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)(Eric Gay / AP)
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Unlike 2015, the Longhorns appear committed to a real up-tempo spread under new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. A nationally televised game against Notre Dame provides a big stage. Plenty is riding on Gilbert's offense succeeding, as you will notice at No. 1.

Find more Texas coverage here

Follow Nick Castillo on Twitter at @Nick_Castillo74 for more on the Longhorns

2. The College Football Playoff

BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 17:  College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy...
BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 17: College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy presented by Dr Pepper is seen at Tiger Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)(Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
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Hopefully, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt is ready for his close-up as the new chairman of the selection committee. His words will be scrutinized even more this fall than those from Hillary or the Donald. And can the Big 12 -- minus a conference title game -- make it two for three in reaching the playoff?

1. The Tom Herman Sweepstakes

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Tom Herman of the Houston Cougars raises the AAC...
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Tom Herman of the Houston Cougars raises the AAC Championship Trophy after defeating the Temple Owls at TDECU Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 24-13. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

It's a very good bet that Houston's rising star will be coaching in a power conference come 2017. If you're either Sumlin or Charlie Strong, you can be excused for looking over your shoulder. If either A&M or Texas underperforms, well. ...

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And if both do, we could have an unprecedented Aggie-Longhorn bidding war.

Twitter: @ChuckCarltonDMN