Praise the Gridiron Gods — it’s almost football season.

Although I consider myself a moderate sports fan, I can’t help but count the days until the 2015 football season kicks off.

Ask me if I’m excited for high school, college or professional football and my answer is a resounding ‘Yes, yes and yes’.

Football is king around here, as you already knew, and it also holds the same title where I grew up in central Ohio.

Much like here in Lower Alabama, Friday’s back home revolved around the local high school football schedule and Saturdays were spent watching college football.

Being positioned geographically between Cleveland and Cincinnati, Sundays were filled with football, as well.

But being a lifelong Bengals fan, I wouldn’t really call what they do in Cleveland ‘football’.

Aren’t rivalries great?

Gridiron rivalries divide houses,

While baseball will always have a special place in my heart, football has taken the top spot there in the last couple years.

No matter which level of football you are talking about — high school, college or professional — the storylines this year are endless.

Here in Lower Alabama, dynastic high school programs will try to continue their dominance, while other programs try and attain some success.

At the college level, all eyes will focus on Ohio State, teams from the Southeastern Conference and other national powers, there are plenty of teams looking to shock the world.

My favorite college team, the Michigan Wolverines, are back in the headlines with a new coach and renewed sense of urgency.

Here’s hoping the Maize and Blue can live up to the hype and attention and get some wins — most importantly at the end of the season against Ohio State in Ann Arbor.

In the National Football League, every team is once again gunning for the New England Patriots.

For me, this is a make-or-break year for Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis, the longtime starting quarterback and head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

If they can’t win a Super Bowl, or at least a playoff game, this season, I’d be fine with other people stepping into their roles in the Queen City.

Whoever your favorite teams are, I’m wishing them nothing from the best this season — unless they play in Columbus or Cleveland, of course.

Jay Sowers is the photo editor for Gulf Coast Media. To reach him, please email jay@gulfcoastmedia.com