ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Those delicious football weekends never seem farther away from me than in May. The weather is warm and inviting and reminds me of another time later in the season when the weekend is made for college football games.

Other than that, Happy Friday. Here are some links that remind us we're only 3 1/2 months -- and counting, thankfully  -- until the start of the season in early September.

• Brandon Vogel of Bigrednetwork.com isn't buying the notion that three Sun Belt teams in nonconference play will necessarily be easy for Nebraska. 
• Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel writes about why it's so important for Oklahoma State to seize momentum generated from its recent football success and build on it.
• Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Mike Hlas was impressed with the enthusiasm that Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads brings to a visit to a shopping mall to meet with Cyclone fans.
• The Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson looks into the Cyclones' football future by glimpsing at new offensive coordinator Tom Herman's past.
• Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution boosts Kansas into his post-spring national top 25. Among other Big 12 teams ranked by Barnhart are Texas at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3, Oklahoma State at No. 7 and Texas Tech at No. 20.
• Me and the guys from College Football Insider had a fantasy draft last night of Big 12 players for the upcoming season. I like my team, especially some of my later picks.
• New Kansas State athletic director John Currie arrives at his new job with glowing praise from his former boss at Tennessee, the Topeka Capital-Journal's Austin Meek reports.
• Even with a rise in ticket prices and the declining economy, Nebraska's football ticket renewals are at about 97 percent and 100 percent for skybox rentals, Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald reports.
• Athlon Sports has Nebraska ranked as the No. 16 team nationally in its preseason poll. The Cornhuskers are the first Big 12 team revealed so far by Athlon.