College Football Season Preview

The college football season is kicking off this weekend with some off-the-field news. The University of Southern California has suspended starting cornerback Josh Shaw, after admitted he lied to school officials when he told them he sprained both ankles while rescuing a nephew from a pool.

The indefinite suspension is a blow for what the Trojans can do on the field this year. They're projected to be a top 20 team and good bet to earn a bowl berth.

But big time college football teams will be looking for more than bowl berths this year. They want to be among the top four teams in the nation, because this season — for the first time — there will be a real playoff for the championship.

The Bowl Championship series has been replaced by a new committee that will pick the four teams that will fight it out for the championship in January.

John Bacon, author of "Fourth And Long: The Fight For The Soul Of College Football" (read an excerpt here), joins Here & Now's Sacha Pfeiffer to preview the college football season.