I know the 2015 college football season just ended, and we are looking forward to National Signing Day on Wednesday, spring practices and anything else that can keep us busy until next fall.

But when the 2016 football season finally begins on Sept. 3, there are more than a handful of great games that will highlight the schedule that weekend - especially in the SEC.

National champion Alabama is opening defense of its title with a matchup against USC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Crimson Tide are used to winning in Dallas, but they figure to face a tough test against the Trojans.

Clemson, the team that lost to Bama in the title game, travels to Alabama to take on Auburn to open the 2016 season. Deshaun Watson and Co. will try to do to the Tigers what they couldn't accomplish against the Tide.

In the Chick fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta, the Georgia Bulldogs will be playing a home game at a "neutral" site against North Carolina. New UGA coach Kirby Smart's first game as coach of the Dawgs will be in Atlanta, not Athens. But the Red and Black will have a big home-field advantage.

LSU is set to take on Wisconsin in Green Bay, Wisc., at historic Lambeau Field - home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. The teams previously met in Houston to start the 2014 season.

Ole Miss is heading to Orlando to face Florida State in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. The Rebels-Seminoles matchup is an interesting one, and one that should be near the top of the must-see TV list on Sept. 5.

UCLA travels Texas to take on the Aggies of the Texas A&M. Kevin Sumlin's team won't be able to ease into the 2016 season with Josh Rosen and the Bruins coming to town.

Outside the SEC, upstart Houston is set to open its second season under Tom Herman against Bob Stoops' Oklahoma Sooners. Houston is definitely a program on the rise, and the Cougars have nothing to lose by taking on OU.

Notre Dame and Texas face of again next season after playing in 2015. The Irish dominated the Longhorns 38-3 to open last season, so Texas has all offseason to prepare for some payback.

The scheduled is arguably the best opening weekend slate in history. If Tennessee's matchup with Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway were the same week instead of Sept. 10 it would be a no-brainer.

Get your DVRs ready and mark the dates on your calendar.