It’s that time in the year: October. Fall is in full swing, and leaves are finally starting to change. Summer is long gone. For most people, they’re more concerned about Halloween and Pumpkin-Spice-everything to care about anything else; for me, I only have one thing on my mind: Football.

Technically, football season started a month ago, and for some fans, it started that first kickoff during the first game of preseason. Monday and Thursday nights have meaning again, and we have something else to be grateful for on Sundays. While most people get excited for that first game of the season, I think October is the best time to watch football.

Preseason is great because you start to get back into the football state of mind. However, you can’t enjoy the games. It’s all second-string players, so you won’t be seeing your favorite veterans out there on the field. The rookies are trying to prove that they earned their spot. You can start predicting how your team will favor, but preseason is only a small highlight of how the season will go. The worst thing about preseason, though, is that you’re sitting there in those stands with the sun beating down on you and all those other sweaty people. I really hope this guy next to me is holding a chili dog and doesn't just smell like one.

September games are still fun because that’s when the season officially starts. You’re starting to get back into your regular routine. There are a few rookies in the starting line. Fresh meat is exciting, but at the same time, they remind you of the person who gave up that spot for the newbie to be there. Maybe it was your favorite player who got traded or retired. Either way, you start to miss them. You can still start making assumptions about how your team will favor in the long run, but you won’t be able to prove anything until late November.

Watching football in November is fine, because by then, you have a decent idea of how your team will favor. However, if your team has been doing pretty bad, you don’t feel very optimistic about the future. Also, if your team plays in a stadium that is anywhere other than the South, it’ll be cold enough to make your toes numb.

October has the perfect weather— not too hot and not too cold, so tailgating and watching the game at the stadium is perfect. Games can get intense because there’s a chance that an undefeated team could finally meet its match. By now, you’ve (hopefully) learned the names of all the new rookie starters, so you can follow what’s going on. Every team dons the pink cleats to show support for Breast Cancer Research (even if they aren't the most generous donors to the cause, but that's another story).

The best thing about watching football in October, however, has nothing to do with adding pink accessories to uniforms or enjoying a cool fall breeze with your burger and beer. Football in October is less stressful than any other month. We’re not struggling to understand new penalty rules and learning new players' names in September. We’re not freezing our fingers off in November, praying for a chance at a Wild Card slot in December or crying because our team got knocked out during post season in January. In October, we have this short span of time where we don’t have to worry about a chance at the playoffs. We can simply enjoy the game. If you ask me, that’s the best part.

October is here. Move over pumpkins, and pass the pigskin.