Joey Johnston

If the summer months have been interminable, if that favorite fight song has been thump-thump-thumping in your head, if you are clamoring for kickoff like never before, there’s no need for concern.

You are not alone.

College football is almost here (there's games Thursday and a full slate on Saturday). Not only is this the most-anticipated year in recent memory, but we think it could be the greatest season in history.

First, a brief disclaimer.

There are no bad college football seasons. They simply don’t exist. With the rivalries, the influx of new players, the never-fail-to-deliver drama of each regular season, it’s a can’t-miss formula.

But 2009? It could be the gold standard.

Let us count the ways — and we have 10 different ways for your consideration.

Greatest team ever?
The Florida Gators, defending national champions, not only return every starter on defense, their entire two-deep defensive roster is back.

There is too-good-to-be-true senior quarterback Tim Tebow, already a legend in his time. There is an obscene amount of speed at the skill positions. And not to be overlooked, there is a generally forgiving SEC schedule (which doesn’t include Alabama or Ole Miss).

Special feature Best of the best Take a look at NBCSports.com's preseason All-Americans NBCSports.com

So is it time to make room in the Gainesville trophy case for another crystal football (the third in the last four seasons)?

Well, not exactly.

Let’s remember the bad karma associated with assigning the “greatest era’’ tag to any college team. The track record is, to say the least, a bit shaky.

• 1983 Nebraska: An unstoppable machine, yes, with the likes of Turner Gill, Mike Rozier and Irving Fryar on offense. Until the Orange Bowl, that is, when the unlikely Miami Hurricanes prevailed 31-30.
• 1986 Miami: Led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Vinny Testaverde, the Hurricanes seemingly had the perfect team. But they played perfectly awful at the Fiesta Bowl and Penn State took advantage, stealing the national title with a 14-10 victory.
• 2005 USC: With two Heisman Trophy winners in the backfield (quarterback Matt Leinart passed the baton to running back Reggie Bush), the Trojans had everything. Except, of course, a way to shut down Texas quarterback Vince Young, who had his night of nights in a 41-38 victory at the Rose Bowl.

Florida might be the greatest team ever.

Or it might be victimized by an unexpected bump in the road.

Either way, who can resist seeing it all unfold?

Greatest player ever?
Way back in 2006, there was considerable buzz about the arrival of a Florida freshman quarterback.

There also was considerable skepticism.

Before arriving on campus, he was the subject of an hour-long ESPN documentary. Before fall practice, he was featured on the cover of national magazines.

Special feature Tebow time Take a look at Florida's star quarterback on and off the field. NBCSports.com

Come on, this guy couldn’t be that good.

Actually, Tim Tebow has been even better.

Now imagine the possibilities.

Tebow could leave Florida with three national championships and two Heisman Trophies. What’s more, he has the superhero persona of Herschel Walker, the squeaky-clean image of Roger Staubach and the long-lasting speaking presence of George Gipp.

Greatest player ever?

Mr. Tebow is in the hunt.

Greatest Heisman race?
For the first time since 1946, the top three vote-getters in the Heisman Trophy race — Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Tebow — have returned.

Special feature Heisman special section In-depth look at Mark Ingram's victory for college football's top individual prize in the closest vote ever NBCSports.com

Bradford won last year.

Tebow won in 2007.

McCoy, entering his fourth year as starter, will go down as one of the era’s best quarterbacks.

Not a bad field — again — for the Downtown Athletic Club’s annual soiree, huh?

And that doesn’t even account for the Heisman candidate that comes from nowhere. And it doesn’t even mention the others who should receive mention, guys like California running back Jahvid Best, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant and Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark.

Greatest rivalry game?
Oklahoma-Texas, Oct. 17.

It features the 1-2 finishers in last season’s Heisman voting (Bradford, McCoy).

Special feature Best rivalry? Which is the most intense matchup? Vote now! NBCSports.com

The winner could realistically punch its ticket to the BCS Championship Game.

It will be the rematch for last season’s wild affair — Texas 45, Oklahoma 35 — which became a rallying cry after the one-loss Sooners won the tiebreaker over the one-loss Longhorns for the Big 12 South title (and, essentially, a spot in the national title game).

And, as usual, it will be contested amid the backdrop of the Texas State Fair — in a stadium that is half-burnt orange, half-crimson and cream.

Greatest venue ever?
The double-hosting format of the BCS swings through Pasadena, Calif., this season, meaning we will have two Rose Bowls (well, sort of).

There will be the game actually called the Rose Bowl — and even when the traditional Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup falls through, it’s still a wonderful setting that calls to mind a time when New Year’s Day decided everything.

Then there’s the BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl stadium — Florida vs. USC, anyone? — and it’s difficult to not get excited about that.

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