The last week of college football’s regular season might be the most enjoyable and intense, and not just because teams are vying for conference championships and last-minute bowl bids.

Zuvanich

It’s in-state rivalry week for several squads across the country, so bragging and recruiting rights also are on the line. There’s the Border War and the Holy War, Bedlam and the Iron Bowl, and a Thanksgiving night tussle between Texas and Texas A&M.

Another game this week, between Texas Tech and Baylor, could eventually evolve into a similar showdown. The Red Raiders and Bears have always been rivals to an extent, having just about split their previous 67 meetings, and there’s potential for their annual matchups to become more heated.

Mike Leach has turned Tech into a major player during his decade on the South Plains, and one of his former assistants, West Texas native Art Briles, appears to have Baylor headed in that direction. The Bears’ growth has been stunted by a season-ending knee injury to talented young quarterback Robert Griffin, of course, but last year’s nail biter in Lubbock could be an indication that the programs are more on par than Tech’s 13-game winning streak in the series would suggest.

“They are going to be a tough team to contend with in the coming years,” said Tech deep snapper Austin Burns, whose father is a Baylor graduate. “Even right now, they pose a threat.”

And for this year and next anyway, the stage for a marquee matchup is set. The Raiders and Bears will play their next two games at neutral sites – on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington and next year at the Cotton Bowl – which is a great way to foster some angst among fan bases.

Tech and Baylor supporters from all over the state will converge on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and spend all weekend arguing with each other, and they’ll be equally represented in the stands. Speaking of the stands, they’ll be filled to the brim as standing-room-only tickets are all that’s left for Saturday’s game.

And while Tech doesn’t have much riding on the outcome – aside from its bowl destination – the nationally televised game is awfully important to the Bears.

“To us, this is our bowl game,” said Briles, whose program will miss out on the bowl party for the 15th consecutive season. “We are playing at a neutral site, and it is going to be a great atmosphere with a chance for our seniors to go out with a good taste in their mouth.”

For both teams, and many of their fans, it will be their first taste of the Dallas Cowboys’ sparkling new venue. The $1 billion piece of architecture with the giant video board might even be more of an attraction than the game itself.

Leach said the trip to Jerry World sure beats a visit to Waco.

“I think it’ll be fun,” he said. “… I think everybody’s kind of curious about the place.”

I’ve been excited all season about my maiden voyage to the “starship-looking stadium,” as Briles called it on Monday, and most Tech and Baylor fans feel the same way judging by the ticket sales.

As for the game being played there, it just might be the start of something special.

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