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Over the last couple of days, we've considered the Southeastern Conference's most interesting game and the most interesting game in the nation. By now you should know that we think that our game at Auburn is by far the most compelling contest of the weekend. Really, what more could you ask for? You have the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry being played by two ranked teams, one of which is lead by a signal caller who spent time on the other's roster. And the game itself figures to be another instant classic.
It stands in stark contrast to this week's National Game of DISinterest. That game is the contest marked by not one iota of intrigue and an utter absence of antiquity. That is utterly uninvolving. That game is Cincinnati (-2) at Rutgers.
Why do we dole out such disdain for this particular contest? Let's start with the fact that it is an American Athletic Conference game. The AAC's history goes back a full four months. In fairness, it is merely a rebranding of the remnants of the Big East, but that conference was only 34 when it died. At least one older Georgia alumni still plays professional ball.
To make matters worse, Rutgers will only be in this conference for this season. It moves to the Big Integer next season. So, to be clear, this will be the first and last meeting of these two teams as conference coevals.
And, worse still, this game will probably have no impact whatsoever on the conference race. Rutgers is already 2-2 and fifth in the standings. Cincinnati is currently third with a 4-1 conference record, but that loss was to USF (2-7). There's virtually no chance that either of these teams will surpass conference front-runners UCF and Louisville, who, unlike both Cincinnati and Rutgers, are both ranked in the top 25.
But beyond the lack of historical, intra-conference, or national significance, perhaps most damning of all is the following: I write for a college football blog, regularly supplement my Saturday viewing by watching mid-week contests, and listen to more than one college football podcast each and every week. But I can't name a single player off of either of these teams' rosters. Not one. Can you?
Go Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!