A surprise coach firing and a thrilling upset already? COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK

Illinois fired its head football coach, Tim Beckman. This wouldn't be a shock, especially since he's been accused of mishandling player injuries, except the season is starting, uh, now. Rodger Sherman piled up the seven most bizarre things Beckman ever Beckman'd. Champaign Room says the reason for this firing shows football is changing and presents eight potential Illini replacements, plus three other names to know.

Stitt happens. Did you know there's already been one Division I game this season? Montana – led by maybe-offensive mastermind head coach Bob Stitt – took down FCS No. 1 North Dakota State. It all culminated with a game-winning score on fourth-and-goal. Also, ESPN's mics picked up this screaming Montana fan, meaning the season is officially here.

Speaking of, get ready for Thursday's kickoff of the FBS season by digging through the best and least expensive* season preview anywhere.

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"Amateurism." Spencer Hall wrote on the backwardness of an apparent Virginia Tech ploy to fine players money for stuff like taking penalties and missing breakfast.

The automated coach rumor gadget probably tells you your school is interested in Houston Nutt, but you can just click it again to start over.

Sumlin deletes joke about Sarkisian. Texas A&M's joke has the same thoughts about USC's as you do, except he can't post them on the Internet.

Talent wins games, except when it doesn't. Florida and Texas have wasted gobs of it.

Brutal news for Miami's presumed starting running back Gus Edwards. He's reportedly out for the year.

Honoring Charleston. South Carolina helmets will feature decal artwork remembering the victims of this summer's massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

Youth movements. Gary Pinkel could rely on freshmen more than ever before at Missouri.

A valley gets happier. Four-star safety Andrew Pryts picked Penn State over Ohio State, Alabama and others.

Ohio State is loaded, and Darron Lee and Ezekiel Elliott are the two biggest non-QB reasons why.

Hills climbing. The Terps named Perry Hills their starting quarterback. The pick came as a surprise, but it shouldn't have.

The most interesting QB in the world. UCLA's Josh Rosen is has earned the nickname "J-Chosen" and admits to overconfidence, among other signs that he's gonna be really entertaining.

Fifth-year receiver David Richards is a breakout candidate for Arizona.

Seeing a game at Texas? Expect a drastically different game day experience, from beer sales to a craft beer area to non-beer stuff.

In the Cards? The staff at Card Chronicle mulls over five questions about Bobby Petrino's team.

All aboard the Iowa State Hype Train, say undeterred-by-a-2-10-season Cyclones fans.

Remember RoboDuck? Oregon's long-ago mascot science experiment was spotted doing birthday parties.