A frequently asked question recently has been “what is your favorite sport to cover/watch?”

The standard, vague answer is “whichever sport is being played now,” for every contest has the potential for drama and excitement in the competition.

But this week, the answer is easy. It’s football ... pro, college and high school.

The National Football League is easily the most-popular professional sport, aided of course by fantasy football and gambling. The nature of the weekly schedule allows for enough anticipation, only to be soothed by the proper amount of action.

The majority of Minnesota TVs will be tuned to the Monday night opener against Green Bay, though the excitement and anticipation of that evening has already begun.

College football is the perfect mix of the professional and prep games, with talented athletes still possessing the high-school enthusiasm. At Minnesota State, the usual optimism is even more so this season, as the move to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference presents the program with its most realistic chance of a league championship in the last 25 years.

With 49 letterwinners and 16 starters returning, there’s no reason not to be optimistic. The schedule, though tough early with road games at Central Missouri and Bemidji State, presents more than a few cupcakes, which should mean more home victories for eager fans.

While there are plenty of reasons to enjoy professional and college games, nothing quite compares to a small-town Friday night, where you don’t need directions to the field, just follow the stadium lights. The high-school game is less-skilled but more fun, the athletes just learning and honing skills that someday might be refined.

The fumbles and interceptions sometimes come at an alarming rate, but so do the breakaway runs and long passes. These weekly contests bring out large numbers of townspeople, relatives and classmates, many cheering loudly for players who are always just a few seconds from euphoria or disappointment.

At Mankato West, expectations are high, coming off a runner-up finish in the Big Nine Conference. With several offensive stars returning, led by all-state quarterback Ray Teachout and receiver Aaron Richter, the Scarlets will be tough to stop, and if the defense can do its part, as it did last season, there’s no reason the Scarlets can’t compete for the conference and section championship.

Mankato East lost a lot of talent from last season’s team, but quarterback Jordan Benesh and running back Kenthen King gained invaluable experience as sophomores and provide a dangerous offensive tandem.

Mankato Loyola is always going to be tough in the Gopher Valley 1A Conference, as well as the section. With quarterback D.J. Wesley and running back Joe Fink returning, the Crusaders will be favored almost every week, with the conference race again coming down to games against Le Center and Blooming Prairie.

For now, it’s all about football, with professional, college and high-school games all starting within the next two weeks. It’s a great time of year.

Maybe when it gets too cold to roam sidelines, basketball will be the favorite sport.