Ready for Some Football? Miami Hurricanes Are, Minus Nine Players

College football kicks off in earnest this holiday weekend, with all of Florida's top teams in action.

The Miami Hurricanes' tilt at Maryland on Labor Day (8 p.m., ESPN) could be the most intriguing. Initially a 5-point favorite over its ACC rival, the "U" ran afoul of NCAA rules and declared eight players ineligible for accepting illegal benefits from ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro (now residing in federal prison).

The eight disqualified players are quarterback Jacory Harris; linebacker Sean Spence; defensive end Olivier Vernon; defensive linemen Marcus Forston and Adewale Ojomo; safety Ray Ray Armstrong; tight end Dyron Dye; and wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Also sidelined is WR Aldarius Johnson, who was suspended indefinitely for unspecified violations of team rules.

Harris, Spence, Benjamin, Forston and Ojomo will sit out the season's first game but are scheduled to return in time for the Sept. 14 home opener against another scandal-plagued program, Ohio State. Armstrong and Dye will miss Miami's first four games; Vernon will be benched for six.

All except for Dye have been starters.

In Saturday action, South Florida travels to Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., NBC); Louisiana-Monroe will be at Florida State (3:30 p.m., ESPNU); FAU will visit Florida at the Swamp (7 p.m., ESPNU); and Charleston Southern comes to UCF (7 p.m., BHSN).