August is finally here, and that means the college football season is sprinting closer by the day.

Nebraska won't open the season this month, but there is still plenty to get done before that Sept. 5 date with Ohio. Here are five important dates for the program in August.

Players meet with the media

No, we don't get the head coach just before the start of preseason camp. Yes, he, Justin Evans, Luke Lindenmeyer, and Andrew Marshall all spoke at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. That was less than a week ago.

Instead, here come nearly a dozen Husker players. How do they feel after summer workouts followed an earlier spring slate? Who is showing up ready to take the next step? How are the coaching and player changes meshing 32 days before the season kicks off?

Preseason camp begins

Now the coaches get to see who really handled business in the offseason.

There won't be any media availability for the first couple days of practices, but that will also mean the coaches can focus solely on the task at hand. Which players stepping into bigger leadership roles? Which underclassmen are showing they can handle this level of football? And how is that pecking order across the roster beginning to shape itself?

Matt Rhule speaks and Fan Day

Multiple practices will have taken place by the time Rhule meets with the media again. This will be a good time to get another injury update, see who is taking charge over the first few days, and get a solid baseline for where camp is just four weeks out from the season opener.

This is also the annual Nebraska Football Fan Day. The free event will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CT at the Hawks Championship Center. Get there early and pick your line quickly, but once you get to the players, it is a fun time to engage and interact, especially and primarily for the kids who get to meet the heroes they watch on Saturdays.

Fall semester begins

After two-and-a-half weeks of practices with only football to worry about, now comes the school part. As classes begin, players and coaches must now navigate the academic side for the final week of preseason camp.

Are classes typically scheduled around practice times? Sure. And most of the freshman class was already here in the spring as well. But for those who weren't, including new running back addition Tikey Hayes, this is the first time navigating practices and where classes are in Lincoln.

Game week begins

The end of the month brings the first game week of the season. Preseason camp is officially over, and now the days turn to a normal schedule for each week.

The 31st also brings with it a depth chart, which is normally shared on the Monday of a game week. How will the running back order shake out? Who will be the four guys up front on defense? What will the secondary look like? A number of questions will get answered with that one item ahead of the season opener against Ohio.