Can't get down to a Buckeyes' game this fall?

Do the Browns already have you down?

Is high school football not your game?

There's good news. The John Carroll and Notre Dame College football teams might ready for breakout seasons in Division III and II, respectively.

The Blue Streaks opened the season with an impressive 40-3 win over St. Norbert in Dublin, Ireland. The Falcons were dominant as well, rolling a solid D-II program in Mercyhurst, 59-42.

NDC did nearly everything right on Thursday night, forcing eight turnovers, amassing over 500 yards of offense and scoring eight touchdowns. South grad Ray Russ is fun to watch at quarterback He threw five TD passes in his first career college start. The Falcons run a no-huddle offense from the shotgun, and Russ looks so comfortable it's difficult to believe he's just a sophomore. Two years from now when Russ is a senior, we might be talking about the best Division II quarterback in the country.

At John Carroll, the team is loaded with area athletes. Offensively, receiver Lane Robilotto (Riverside), all-purpose player Randy Greenwood (Fairport) and tight end Ben Madden (Kirtland) should benefit greatly from the addition of Pitt transfer Mark Myers, who threw for 457 yards and five TDs in the win over St. Norbert. On defense, there's linebacker Jimmy King (Lake Catholic) and defensive backs Marty Gibbons (Lake Catholic) and Ryan Winchell (South).

If you can't make it out to multiple games at either school, here's one game for each you shouldn't miss: Sept. 15, when John Carroll hosts crosstown rival Baldwin-Wallace, and Oct. 6 when Notre Dame College hosts Lake Erie at Brush High School.

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo