August is the cruelest month for football fans. Heat, humidity and sweat sweep over the dead land in two-a-days, catching us between memory and desire, mingling historical ghosts and anticipatory future greatness with the specters of past failed expectations lingering over our shoulders.

We can begin to see the sprouts that summer rain, perspiration and summer workouts and conditioning programs bring to our favorite teams.We are less than two weeks away. We are all delusional in anticipation—without the brakes of retrospection.

The 12th Game

So, for now, let’s look back on how the college football landscape has changed over three years with the introduction of the 12th game.