Big Noon Saturday: Top storylines to watch for in four must-see matchups

You know college football season is just around the corner when kickoff dates are set.

On Thursday, FOX Sports announced a couple of high-profile matchups that will appear in the "Big Noon Saturday" slot this season.

Week 1 begins with the ultimate opening-weekend showdown between Texas and OhioState, which will likely be a preseason top-five matchup at The Horseshoe. In Week 2, Iowa visits Iowa State in the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy rivalry on Sept. 6. In Week 3, defending Big Ten champion Oregon visits Northwestern on Sept. 13. And then, the final week of the regular season, "Big Noon Saturday" will be live from Ann Arbor for "The Game" between Michigan and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the reigning national champions, but can they end the Wolverines' winning streak in this rivalry?

Here is a look at what to watch for in those matchups:

Week 1: Texas at Ohio State (Aug. 30 on FOX)

After waiting patiently on the bench for two years, it’s finally Arch Manning’s turn to be the starting quarterback at Texas. He offers a different skill set from his predecessor, Quinn Ewers, which will inevitably open up the playbook for coach Steve Sarkisian. But while the Longhorns are set at QB, Ohio State is not. There’s a battle brewing in Columbus between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz, while true freshman Tavien St. Clair is waiting in the wings. Don’t be surprised if we don’t know who comes out on top until these teams are running out of their respective tunnels on Aug. 30.

Of course, there’s plenty more intrigue surrounding this game. It’s a Cotton Bowl rematch – the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff semifinal in January to book their trip to the national championship, which they won. And while plenty