The 2012 college football season gets underway this weekend, and the opening week of the campaign features several Thursday night contests. The Pac-12 has four of its 12 teams opening play Thursday night, including two games on the brand new Pac-12 Network. Here is a look at the Pac-12 schedule for Thursday:
4:15 p.m. PDT - Northern Colorado at Utah (Pac-12 Network)
The Utes opened the year ranked No. 30 by the Associated Press, and look for their third win in three attempts against Northern Colorado. The two schools last met in 1937.
4:30 p.m. PDT - UCLA at Rice (CBS Sports Network)
The Jim Mora era opens in Houston, with redshirt freshman Brett Hundley leading a Bruins offense into Rice Stadium, where UCLA is favored by more than two touchdowns.
7:15 p.m. PDT - Washington State at BYU (ESPN)
Washington State and new coach Mike Leach head to LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo for a tough road contest. BYU leads the all-time series 2-1, but the schools haven't met since a 50-36 win by BYU in 1990.
7:30 p.m. PDT - Northern Arizona at Arizona State (Pac-12 Network)
New head coach Todd Graham and the Sun Devils host an in-state rival in Tempe. Arizona State is 20-14-4 all-time against NAU, winning their last meeting 41-20 in 2010.
For more news and notes on UCLA football, be sure to read Bruins Nation. For all things Pac-12, be sure to read Pacific Takes.