Gameday

Erin Andrews begins her stint as early host on ESPN U, and looked great doing it as always. Just wanted to put that out there. (She also does fine work and is good at her job). Interview with Gilbert didn't include anything we hadn't already heard before, and it will be nice to begin the season just so we can graduate from ugly highlights from the Alabama game (the next time I see Marcel Darius' pick-six will be too soon).

Corso managed to get through the two hours without saying anything cringe-worthy or offensive, though he did say that as a former coach at Indiana he would "pick Iraq before he picks Purdue." So Corso likes Notre Dame today.

Herbstreit was right on the money with his assessment of Texas: first time without an ultra-mobile QB and use of a primarily spread offense since 2003. Can Texas be physical enough up front and run the ball successfully with Cody Johnson and Tre Newton?

I say it often, but it bears repeating: Chris Fowler has the dream job. Host of college football's marquee show, host of all four tennis majors for ESPN, and got to host the World Cup this summer in South Africa. This week is a busy one for Fowler, who is in the middle of hosting ESPN's US Open coverage but still found time to make it to Atlanta to host Gameday. Now he is asking Big Boi of Outkast for the day's picks. Erin got to talk to him as well.

Washington State has FOUR flags in the crowd today. The gimmick has never bothered me, and it is in fact quite impressive that they've been able to consistently get some shleb to show up and wave the flag of an irrelevant college football program. But four flags is ridiculous. Know your place Wazzu!

Be back later today with thoughts on the Texas opener vs. Rice. Then in the studio tonight to record the first official recap podcast. We will post the link to the podcast here and on facebook and twitter when its ready. Off to watch the 11am kickoffs of the first Saturday of the 2010 season!