Iowa, Tennessee Open College Football Season Today

The 119th season of college football gets under way today when 16th-ranked Iowa and No. 17 Tennessee meet in the fifth annual Kickoff game (Channels 7 and 10, 10 a.m., PDT).

Both teams expect to be potent offensively, with defenses that need some rebuilding. That’s OK with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which conducts the game and loves offensive fireworks, especially after Alabama’s boring 16-10 victory over Ohio State a year ago.

Iowa is led by 6-foot 8-inch sophomore Dan McGwire, who may be the tallest quarterback in college football history. He is the younger brother of Oakland Athletics rookie slugger Mark McGwire.

Tennessee is led by junior Jeff Francis, the nation’s seventh-ranked passer a year ago.

Wednesday night, Pittsburgh plays Brigham Young at Provo, Utah. The season gets into full swing next Saturday with most of the Associated Press preseason Top 20 in action. No. 19 USC plays at Michigan State a week from Monday night.