It’s back. College football season is finally here and you can spend the entire weekend on your couch feasting on 14 games involving SEC teams.

The fact that you’ve waited months for any kind of college football to come on your TV screen means you’re probably up for watching any and all of the games, but there are only so many hours in a day and presumably a limited number of screens in your home. So we’ve rated all 14 games on watchability.

These rankings are subjective, but factor in league and national impact, how exciting and how close the games will be.

Games are ranked on a 1-5 Georgia Dome scale (the site of the SEC Championship Game), with 5 being the most watchable game and 1 being the least.

5 GEORGIA DOMES

No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 20 Wisconsin (8 p.m. ET, ABC): A pair of traditional powers who have become regulars in playoff-level bowls meet up in primetime in Arlington, Texas. Two powerful running games are going head to head and you know fans of the Big Ten and SEC are going to point to the final score of this one as evidence of conference superiority when arguments for the College Football Playoff selection begin. The only thing that would make it better is a home-and-home at two of the best venues in college football, but we’ll settle for this one at Jerry Jones’ palace.


4 GEORGIA DOMES

Texas A&M vs. No. 15 Arizona State (7 p.m. ET, ESPN): This one was nearly a five-domer when considering the potential entertainment value. Both teams like to throw it all over the field and there’s potential for it to become a shootout. But A&M was just outside the preseason AP Top 25, so it drops the level of interest down just a bit. Playing a “neutral” site game just down the road in Houston gives the Aggies a shot to play their way into a ranking right off the bat. It’s also a Pac-12 vs. SEC showdown people will be talking about in November when trying to rank the conferences.

No. 6 Auburn vs. Louisville (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS): It’s another interesting inter-conference matchup in one regard, but Louisville looks like a middle-of-the-pack ACC team while Auburn is working on SEC and national championship contention. The Tigers should have their way with a shaky Cardinals offensive line, but perhaps Bobby Petrino can figure out a way to surprise. He’s certainly not a coach to ever be counted out.


3 GEORGIA DOMES

North Carolina vs. South Carolina (6 p.m. ET Thursday, ESPN): This game is more of regional interest with neither team expected to make a huge impact on either the ACC or SEC conference races, but there are certainly worse things to watch on a Thursday night. It’s rivalry with a little bit of bitterness (ever listen to an argument about which school should be known simply as Carolina?) and the stadium in Charlotte should be split pretty evenly, making for a fun atmosphere.

Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt: (8 p.m. ET Thursday, SECN): Put the SEC on upset alert for this one, even though a victory for Western Kentucky shouldn’t really be considered that much of an upset (WKU is favored in the game). The Hilltoppers have one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country in Brandon Doughty and the Conference USA favorites will test the Vandy secondary all night long. It helps the Commodores have four starters returning in the defensive backfield, but they were picked last in the SEC for a reason.

Bowling Green at No. 25 Tennessee (4 p.m. ET, SECN): There’s a renewed sense of optimism and excitement at Tennessee, but the Volunteers better not take Bowling Green lightly. The Falcons are among the favorites to win the MAC and quarterback Matt Johnson was conference player of the year candidate before missing most of 2014 with a hip injury. The Vols should win, especially at home, but it could be more of a challenge than many expect.


2 GEORGIA DOMES

Mississippi State at Southern Miss (10 p.m. ET, FS1): The Bulldogs should have their way with a Southern Miss program that is still in rebuilding mode, but you can bet there will be a lot of excitement in Hattiesburg to get one of the in-state SEC schools into The Rock. Even if it’s lopsided Mississippi quarterback Dak Prescott is worth watching.

Louisiana Lafayette at Kentucky (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU): The Ragin’ Cajuns have been remarkably consistent under coach Mark Hudspeth, but even one of the best teams in the Sun Belt will have trouble winning on the road in the SEC. Yet it might be worth checking in on just as a way to gauge how much the Wildcats are improving under Mark Stoops.

UTEP at No. 18 Arkansas (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU): UTEP is a program on the rise, posting a winning record last year for the first time since 2005, but the Miners are a long ways away from posing a serious threat to a decent SEC team. Watch this one to see if what could be an outstanding Razorbacks offense is already clicking.


1 GEORGIA DOME

Southeast Missouri State at No. 24 Missouri (4 p.m. ET, SECN): If this one is even remotely close the Tigers have more issues than we imagined. It should be an opportunity for QB Maty Mauk to develop rhythm with his inexperienced wide receivers.

Louisiana Monroe at No. 9 Georgia (Noon ET, SECN): The Bulldogs will roll past the overmatched Warhawks. Tune in if you want to see Greyson Lambert’s debut at quarterback for Georgia.

Tennessee-Martin at No. 17 Ole Miss (Noon ET, SECN): Chad Kelly’s long, tumultuous road to becoming the Rebels’ starting quarterback ends here when he leads Ole Miss against an overmatched Tennessee-Martin team.

New Mexico State at Florida (7:30 p.m. ET, SECN): It’s been a rough couple years for the Gators, but their first game of the Jim McElwain era could be a confidence booster. New Mexico State was one of the worst FBS teams in the country last year.

McNeese State at No. 14 LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, SECN): At least McNeese only has to travel about 130 miles to Death Valley where it can collect a check as the Tigers’ sacrificial lamb on opening night.