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The 2008 college football season officially kicks off tonight when teams like Miami and South Carolina take to the field.

The Hurricanes, Florida's opponent next week, opens its season with a game against Charleston Southern. The Hurricanes, a very young team, will play the game tonight with several players serving suspensions for various transgressions, including quarterback Robert Marve who is expected as a true freshman to play a lot of football for Miami.

Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks play host to North Carolina State tonight as well. Spurrier is hoping to improve on a disappointing 6-6 season of a year ago when the team lost its last five games and did not qualify for a bowl game.

Vanderbilt also opens its season tonight with a game at Miami of Ohio. The Commodores are looking to go to a bowl game for the first time since 1982.

Georgia Tech hosts Jacksonville State and Cincinnati will host Eastern Kentucky in some of the other games tonight.