College football is underway and week 1 gets into full force this week beginning on Thursday night.
It’s been 9 months of momentum in the college football world. Player movement via transfer portal, superpowers making moves to other conferences and coaches making their own big time moves. Here are some of the highlights for week one. The entire week one schedule is here.
West Virginia at 17 Pittsburgh, Thursday 7 ET on ESPN
It’s the first “Backyard Brawl” in over a decade, so it’s only fitting that these familiar foes likely will have some very familiar QBs going head-to-head. Former USC QB Kedon Slovis has been named the starter at Pitt, and former USC and Georgia QB JT Daniels is likely to get the nod for the Mountaineers. Both competed for the starting role at USC in 2019.
5 Notre Dame at 2 Ohio State, Saturday 7:30 ET on ABC
Saturday night brings us just the 7trh meeting all time between a pair of midwest icons in Notre and Ohio State. The Irish won the first two meetings in 1935 and 1936 however Notre Dame has not beaten the Buckeyes since! This marks only the 3rd time the 2 schools have met with both being ranked in the top-5 of the AP Poll.
11 Oregon vs 3 Georgia, Saturday 3:30 ET on ABC
Dan Lanning knew what he was getting into when he took his first head-coaching position. Forget about the long term for a week. He awaits a stiff challenge in his first game that he knows as well as anyone. It’s Georgia, whose defense he built into a juggernaut that helped secure the Dawgs’ first national title since 1980. No doubt, Lanning’s UGA “D” left its mark in Athens
7 Utah at Florida, Saturday 7 ET on ESPN
At No. 7, Utah enjoys its highest preseason ranking in program history. It visits Gainesville to take on Florida, who kicks off the Billy Napier era. Napier heads to the SEC after leading Louisiana to new heights. Only Alabama and Ohio State posted better win percentages over the last 3 seasons than Napier’s Ragin’ Cajuns.
Florida State vs LSU, Sunday 7:30 ET on ABC
Florida State has not finished above .500 since 2017 when it went 7-6. It hasn’t made an appearance in the AP poll sine 2018 when it topped out at Number 19. Since 2019. 73 FBS schools have played at least 1 game while ranked. FSU is not one of them.
With head coach Mike Norvell firmly on the hot seat in Tallahassee, now would be a good time for a winning season. Under new coach Brian Kelly, LSU returns to the Caesars Superdome for the 1st time since Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and company whipped Clemson in the 2020 CFP National Championship Game
4 Clemson at Georgia Tech, Monday (Sept. 5) 8 ET on ESPN
Dabo Swinney lost both of his coordinators but returns QB DJ Uiagalelei, who endured a tough sophomore campaign in Death Valley. Swinney’s offensive coordinator Tony Elliott moved to Virginia to take over the Cavaliers’ program. And longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables assumed his first head-coaching position at Oklahoma.
Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins is in the hot seat after going 6-16 in league games the last 2 seasons.
Those are your college football week 1 highlights! Enjoy the games kids. My my first “Real Top 25 CFB Rankings” for 2022 will come out next Tuesday morning!!
