College football is back! For real this time!
Following a slate of Thursday appetizers, Week 1’s main course brings some early-season fireworks. With the inaugural 12-team playoff kicking off just over three months from now, here are the five Week 1 college football games you need to watch.
(All times are Eastern and on Saturday unless otherwise noted.)
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia, Noon, ABC
Week 1 opens with a bang as the Clemson Tigers and Bulldogs meet up in Atlanta to kick off their seasons. Georgia enters the season atop the AP Poll for the second year in a row. However, it feels like the Dawgs’ grip on the #1 spot is significantly weaker this time around.
The Tigers have almost nothing to lose going into this game. With Cade Klubnik at the helm for his second year as a starter, we will likely get a good idea as to where exactly the Clemson offense stands this season as he goes up against one of the top defensive units in the country.
It won’t be a total cakewalk for Georgia’s Carson Beck. The Clemson defense has some big cats on the line in the DE tandem of Peter Woods and TJ Parker. With All-American candidate Barret Carter patrolling the middle of the field and Trevor Etienne likely out for Week 1, the Tigers will look to force the Bulldogs to throw… not like that’s much of a problem for them. Beck had one of the best passing seasons in program history last year. With the addition of Miami (FL) transfer Colbie Young, the passing attack should be a safe route to a Georgia victory.
Prediction: Georgia 34-24 Clemson
No. 19 Miami at Florida, 3:30 p.m., ABC
To put it as simply as possible, whoever loses this game is likely to fall into a tailspin for the rest of the season. Both teams finished with underwhelming 3-5 conference records last season. With the lack of recent successes, the pressure on head coaches Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier continues to rise.
While any team would struggle against the gauntlet that Florida faces, the Gators are currently in the midst of the worst two-year start to a head coaching tenure since Charley Pell in 1979-80. Napier’s job could be on the line should the Hurricanes run rampant on his squad. On the other sideline, Mario Cristobal has shown flashes of greatness but has also made some disastrous calls in his two years at the U.
The Hurricanes are favored in this game for a reason, however. With Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward taking over the reins, it certainly feels like Miami is going to be in the conversation for the ACC title. In four years of college ball, Ward has thrown for a mindbending 13,847 yards and 119 touchdowns. With the targets he has around him, he should be able to chop up the less-than-stellar Florida secondary. If the Gators’ solid defensive line can get to Ward, however, it could spell trouble for the Hurricanes.
Prediction: Miami 31-21 Florida
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., ABC
For a Week 1 matchup, this game has enormous implications. Notre Dame goes into this season with the most to lose out of any top-25 team. Due to their lack of conference ties, every game the Irish play is a must-win. Their campaign’s opening act brings a major challenge: a Saturday night game at Kyle Field.
Mike Elko’s first game as Texas A&M head coach will pit his squad against his former signal-caller: Duke transfer Riley Leonard. Leonard could be in for a long day at the office if the Aggies can get through the injury-riddled and inexperienced Notre Dame offensive line. However, a massive question remains: how well has the new A&M coaching staff meshed with the roster?
If Notre Dame is going to win, they’re going to do it on the strength of their defense. With the talent they have in each position group, the Aggies will be easily picked apart by sloppy line play and poor offensive decision-making. However, even a top-10 defense, the question marks surrounding the offense are simply too big to ignore.
Prediction: Texas A&M 21-17 Notre Dame
No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC
LSU and USC are about as similar as two college football teams could be. They had the #1 and #3 scoring offenses in college football last season, but their defenses were atrocious. The Tigers gave up 45.3 points per game against ranked opponents. The Trojans didn’t fare much better, allowing an average of 41.0 points against top-25 teams.
Both teams enter the season with new defensive coordinators and revamped defensive units. Both exchange their Heisman-winning quarterbacks for redshirt Juniors. Both enter the 12-team playoff era with expectations of greatness.
With inexperienced quarterbacks and transitioning defenses, the winner of the Las Vegas Classic will be whoever get’s lady luck to give them her favor.
Prediction: LSU 27-24 USC
No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia, Noon, Fox
This game has the potential to be an absolute banger. Penn State dominated the first leg of the home-and-home last season in Happy Valley. However the Mountaineers, led by head coach Niel Brown, could make some noise against their Big Ten opponents.
West Virginia has one of the best rushing attacks in the country. Quarterback Garrett Greene and running backs Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson Jr. combined for 2,412 yards on the ground last year. For Penn State, quarterback Drew Allar has an almost totally revamped receiving corps to work with.
While thee Morgantown leg of the revamped rivalry should be an offensive duel, the Nittany Lions should be able to safely come out on top.
Prediction: Penn State 31-20 West Virginia
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