The Hawaii-Arizona football game in Week Zero of the college season is a mere 200 days away, as George Schroeder noted Monday, doing the math on the Big 12's SiriusXM channel.
Doesn't seem so far away now, does it? Should fly right by. Plus, college basketball will distract us next month and then there's a certain golf tournament in April and _ OK, it's going to be a long wait.
Yes, there will be football before it. The Alliance of American Football begins its maiden voyage later this month. Spring football is not far away, doing its best to satisfy our cravings. The NFL exhibition, uh, preseason comes in July.
It's still not the same as real honest-to-goodness college football _ said with the caveats about the physical dangers of playing football and misplaced priorities and everything else that's wrong about something we love.
And as Super Bowl (checks Roman numbers) LIII proved emphatically, the college game is better than the pro version. Yes, the Super Bowl is must-see TV, at least to see that big Game of Thrones dragon torch a multi-year Bud Light ad campaign. (But it doesn't have corn syrup, thankfully).
But as someone whose regular-season NFL viewing is limited to whatever game during the season that Jason Garrett has to win to keep his job, let's count the ways the college game is better:
_College offenses are better. Even the NFL has kind of conceded the point, borrowing the best from the college games. The Rams, considered the cutting edge in the NFL, managed all of three points in its biggest game. Oklahoma might get outscored, but Lincoln Riley will put points on the board.
_College quarterbacks are better (small sample size). No, don't immediately dismiss this. At this stage in their careers and factoring in age and upside, who do you take in a draft between Tom Brady, Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence? It's not hard.
_College free agency is better. The NFL used to have the draft and free agency to college football's national signing day. Now, the NCAA has added ... a transfer portal. Top that, Roger Goodell.
_College's worst games are better. The Super Bowl was by accounts a snooze fest, a tribute to bad offense. But in no way does it match the so-bad-it's-good Cheez-Its Bowl with its nine interceptions, imploding gadget plays and sideline interference penalty on an SID.
_College advertisers are better. In the Super Bowl, companies use millions on market research to prove ... robots are a thing now? Yes, the NFL reminded us of past greatness and nobody can tackle Barry Sanders still. Microsoft showed us the positive side of tech with an uplifting spot. But college gives us Cheez-Its and Bad Boy Mowers and Elk Grove Village as title sponsors, a lineage that includes Poulan Weed Eater. Quick, name a memorable connection from any College Football Playoff championship game.
_College overtimes are better. Both teams have a chance regardless of who scores first. End of discussion.
