Week 0’s done, we’re on to Week 1. Drink in this beautiful full slate of football spanning multiple days as a proper celebration of the sport’s grand return. But what should you watch, and why? We’ve got you covered with our watchability tiers.
All times Eastern and on Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Definitely good
• Florida vs. No. 14 Utah (Thursday, 8 p.m.)
The Utes are playing coy with the availability of tight end Brant Kuithe and quarterback Cam Rising. But whether they play or not, this rematch of last year’s one-score Florida win in Gainesville will be one to watch as the anchor of the Thursday night schedule.
• UTSA vs. Houston (7 p.m.)
There may not be much better potential on the list for a legitimate game of the weekend. They played an absolute belter of a game to open last season, with the Cougars edging the Roadrunners in three overtimes after UTSA sent it to the extra frames as time expired in regulation. Houston will want to get its season off to a good start as Big 12 play finally beckons, but UTSA is no pushover.
• South Carolina vs. No. 21 North Carolina (7:30 p.m.)
There’s a chance for a track meet with two quarterbacks of considerable skill in Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler. But is this South Carolina team built to win such a contest? We know North Carolina is.
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• No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 5 LSU (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.)
Obviously the biggest game of the weekend and a compelling rematch to last year’s incredible ending. Both teams feel much different from last season, where uncertainty seemed to be the overarching theme of each team’s offseason, especially with coach Brian Kelly entering his first season with the Tigers. Now, we know what these teams are, and both have a ceiling as playoff dark horses. The result in this game doesn’t define either team, but we can’t wait to watch a great game.
Sneaky good (or at least with something of notable intrigue)
• Colorado vs. No. 17 TCU (Noon)
No team comes into this season with greater intrigue than Colorado, with Deion Sanders making his FBS debut as head coach. For all of the offseason hype around the program, much of it rests squarely on who Sanders is rather than what this transfer-heavy team will actually look like. But TCU isn’t here to be a passenger. Last year’s national title game participants are going to want to spoil a party many seem to forget they’re even set to attend.
• Utah State vs. No. 25 Iowa (Noon)
So begins one of the strangest subplots in the recent history of college football. Iowa has to score 25 points per game and make a bowl in order for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to keep his job after he signed a revised contract that includes a pay cut and performance incentives. Utah State is low-hanging fruit to help get to the number … or is it?
• Boise State vs. No. 10 Washington (3:30 p.m.)
The Broncos have a retooled secondary and that might not be the best thing to go up against a high-powered Washington offense. There could be heavy fireworks in this one.
• West Virginia vs. No. 7 Penn State (7:30 p.m.)
Helmet stripe crowd scene that constitutes a mini-whiteout? Sign us up for the visuals alone, but the Nittany Lions will look to get their campaign off to a good start with a win by a wide margin as they look at a potential playoff run.
• South Alabama vs. No. 24 Tulane (8 p.m.)
One of the Group of 5’s best teams, particularly on offense, is going up against a South Alabama defense that is deeply intriguing. The unit brings tons of simulated pressures from all sorts of directions and has one of the G5’s best DBs in Yam Banks on the back end.
Well, you may not realize how much of a revenge game this is, but Old Dominion embarrassed in-state foe Virginia Tech to start the season last year. Can the Monarchs spring another upset and wage a massive blow to Brent Pry’s continued rebuilding effort in Blacksburg?
