As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Clemson @ Syracuse (ABC): While the Cuse is often known for giving Clemson a game, it’s hard to exactly rely on that. I’ll take the Tigers but keep an eye on this one.
• Southern California @ Colorado (FOX): So what we all finally expected to happen to Colorado at some point this year finally did happen at the hands of the Ducks, who absolutely obliterated the Buffs on the lines. USC’s defense is still extremely suspect but there’s nothing wrong with Caleb Williams and company, so while Colorado might get in the end zone more than once, this is still going to be a rout.
• Florida @ Kentucky (ESPN): I don’t have a good read on either of these teams. Well, I know the Gators are still kind of figuring it out, but I don’t have much of an idea about the Wildcats at all. Sure, they’re 4-0, but that schedule has been, well, soft. The Gators are a little more battle-tested and I like them just a bit, but I won’t be surprised either way.
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Tulane (ESPN2): It’s going about as well in Birmingham as I thought it would be for Trent Dilfer. Which is to say, not very well. The Green Wave will roll.
• Louisiana @ Minnesota (BTN): Still trying to figure out how the Gophers lost to Northwestern, but they’ll be fine here.
• Pennsylvania State @ Northwestern (BTN): Penn State will not pull a Minnesota here, I feel pretty good about that.
• South Alabama @ James Madison (ESPNU): JMU more or less looks like the best team in the Sun Belt, which makes it somewhat inconvenient for them that they’re still ineligible for the postseason this year. Many folks are trying to pump this one up, but y’all, USA lost to Central Michigan last week. I think JMU will be fine.
• Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (@Arlington, TX; SEC): The Jerry Jones bowl enters what I believe to be its last season as a neutral-site game. Both of these teams enter with plenty of questions. The vibes are off at Arkansas this season, and, well, they’ve been that way for a while for Jimbo down in College Station. That said, it seems like they may’ve figured some stuff out on offense, whereas even with the close effort against LSU last week Arkansas just seems to be missing something. I like the Aggies.
• Utah State @ Connecticut (CBSS): Speaking of Aggies… they’ll roll.
• Buffalo @ Akron (ESPN+)

1:30: Eastern Michigan @ Central Michigan (ESPN+)

2:00: Virginia @ Boston College (The CW): This is, for all intents and purposes, one of the worst games in the Power 5 on this day. It’s not going to be good. Virginia can actually play offense a little, so I’ll take the Hoos.

3:00: Arizona State @ California (Pac12): The Sun Devils can score, Cal can’t.

3:30:

• Georgia @ Auburn (“The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”; CBS): Well, this edition of the most-played game in the Deep South doesn’t figure to be close. An Auburn shutout seems like the most likely scenario.
• Michigan @ Nebraska (FOX): Michigan’s gradual easing into the season continues. Their first road test will be against a mostly bad Cornhusker squad that will either be easy to deal with or provide motivation to not take anyone lightly.
• Kansas @ Texas (ABC): One of the few ranked vs. ranked games of the day is… KU-Texas? Which, of course, many Internet commentators will note has gone poorly for Texas in the past. But that was when Kansas was terrible. When both have been good, Texas has not had issues here, and I don’t expect them to.
• Central Florida @ Baylor (FS1): UCF looks pretty likely to get their first ever Big 12 win.
• Texas Tech @ Houston (FS2): The Red Raiders look pretty likely to get their first Big 12 win.
• Indiana @ Maryland (BTN): It’s still September and the Hoosiers are terrible, so the Terps will roll.
• Wagner @ Rutgers (BTN)
• Northern Illinois @ Toledo (ESPNU): Rockets figure to roll here.
• Bowling Green @ Georgia Tech (ACCN): The victory over Wake last week was deserved, but it was incredibly weird in many ways. For starters, there were a boatload of penalties, some of them very dumb. The passing game was on fire, but we couldn’t run the ball at all. A defense that came into the game with 1 sack left with 9. (Seriously, was Wake’s o-line play bad or what?) Either way, we were resilient and still mostly competent, all encouraging signs. The focus needs to be maintained in this game, as getting a third victory here makes getting to a bowl for the first time since 2018 very possible.
• South Florida @ Navy (CBSS): Navy’s 1-2 record makes things look worse than they are, which is surprising. That said, they need to get an actual victory and not just a moral victory, and the Bulls will also be a tough test. I like USF here.
• Illinois @ Purdue (Peacock)
• Ball State @ Western Michigan (ESPN+)
• Arkansas State @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)
• Old Dominion @ Marshall (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Boise State @ Memphis (ESPN2): In the days of Peak Boise, this would’ve been a great game. Unfortunately, they’re kind of just okay now. I’ll take Memphis.
• Missouri @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Mizzou should be fine here.
• Hawaii @ Nevada-Las Vegas (Team1Sports)
• New Mexico @ Wyoming (MWN)

6:00: Louisiana State @ Mississippi (“Magnolia Bowl”; ESPN): Ole Miss talked a big game against Bama last week, and then completely failed to follow up on it. LSU had a bit of a weird game against Arkansas, but I’m still going with the Tigers here.

6:30: Oregon @ Stanford (Pac12): The Ducks are going to score here. A lot.

7:00:

• Iowa State @ Oklahoma (FS1):  Iowa State got a conference win last weekend against a similarly bad Oklahoma State team. Oklahoma will not be as accommodating.
• Coastal Carolina @ Georgia Southern (NFLN): A couple years ago this was a marquee Sun Belt matchup, but it’s been tougher since. That said, Coastal just looks a bit more lost, so I like the Eagles here.
• Utah Tech @ Colorado State (MWN)
• Troy @ Georgia State (ESPN+)
• Texas State @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)
• Abilene Christian @ North Texas (ESPN+)
• East Carolina @ Rice (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Notre Dame @ Duke (ABC): This is pretty much the game of the day. The obvious quip, of course, is that the Domers will be favored if they can have 11 dudes on the field for defense. That said, this Duke team is good and fun, but… I think Notre Dame is just too talented. I think things will get real quickly for the Blue Devils.
• Michigan State @ Iowa (NBC): The Drive for 25 is now completely off the rails after Penn State deleted Iowa’s “offense” last weekend. By getting shutout, the Hawkeyes are now at 85 points through 4 games, which is 21.25 points per game. Assuming a bowl game, the they’ll need to average 26.67 points per game the rest of the way. That said, the Spartans are… well, it’s not going great up in East Lansing, let’s say that. I suspect whether Iowa can get to 27 will be the main drama here.
• South Carolina @ Tennessee (SEC): The Vols appeared to figure some things out against UTSA last week, so I’ll take them here.
• Charlotte @ Southern Methodist (ESPNU): SMU isn’t that good this year, at least so far, but Charlotte… well, it’s been tough there.

8:00:

• West Virginia @ Texas Christian (ESPN2): Someday we’ll know how exactly this TCU team lost to Colorado, but in the meantime they’ll continue improving against a slightly-better-than-expected WVU squad.
• Pittsburgh @ Virginia Tech (ACCN): This one seems dire, but it’s no UVA-BC at least. Pitt actively hates the idea of offensive football, and VPI just lost to Marshall. Just on relative talent I’ll take Pitt, but, uh, not a lot of reasons to watch this one.
• San Diego State @ Air Force (CBSS): The Aztecs have lost three in a row, and Air Force has won four in a row. ‘Nuff said.
• Appalachian State @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)

9:00: Alabama @ Mississippi State (ESPN): Miss State is caught a little bit between offensive identities right now, which is never good, but seems much, much less than ideal against Nick Saban and company.

10:00: Washington @ Arizona (Pac12): While USC-Colorado figures to be the most lopsided game of the day in the Pac-12, this one may give that a run for its money, since UDub can actually play defense.

10:30: Nevada @ Fresno State (FS1): Fresno is pretty good again, and Nevada is possibly the worst team in FBS. That means there’s unfortunately not to recommend in this nightcap.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Florida State @ Clemson (ABC): The game formerly known as the Bowden Bowl is opening the day instead of being one of the closers because of some of the heavy hitters we’re going to get to. Regardless, Clemson is here to try to prove they’re still among the elite in college football, while Florida State is ready to announce their entry into said class. I think the Noles will do it, as well.
• Oklahoma @ Cincinnati (FOX): Cincy definitely wishes they had their 2021 team still around for their first ever Big 12 game, but alas an Oklahoma team that’s still good at offense and much improved on defense will likely be too much for them.
• Auburn @ Texas A&M (ESPN): If this A&M team made any sort of sense, they’d be an easy pick here. Instead, they don’t. I still think Auburn is still too-talent deficient this season for the SEC, but it’s hard to count on A&M to really do anything. I still think Jimbo will get it done in this game, but if I were a betting man I’d stay far away.
• Virginia Tech @ Marshall (ESPN2): Virginia Tech isn’t good, but I don’t think they’re bad enough to lose to this Marshall team.
• Southern Methodist @ Texas Christian (FS1): The Iron Skillet is on the line for the last time in a while, and this figures to go out with a bang. Both teams are little off from last year’s iteration that saw TCU win 42-34. Back across town, SMU’s chances actually seem a little higher against a TCU defense that might be figuring it out a little bit and an offense may not be able to do what last year’s group did. Overall, I give a slight edge to the Ponies.
• Rutgers @ Michigan (BTN): Even entering Big Ten play, Michigan still won’t have played anyone until, well, arguably over a month from now. Yeah.
• Western Kentucky @ Troy (ESPNU): Last year, this would’ve been a lot of fun. This year, not so much. Then again, WKU put up more points on USF than Bama did. Meanwhile, Troy’s defense isn’t what has been the past few years and they’re still limited offensively. The Hilltoppers figure to prevail here.
• Kentucky @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Yeah, the “Vandy is kind of competent” train derailed last week in Vegas, and with it their prospects of winning a single SEC game this season.
• Tulsa @ Northern Illinois (CBSS): Shouts out to Tulsa for getting that bag, enduring 43-10 and 66-17 losses to Washington and Oklahoma respectively in back-to-back weeks. (At least the Sooners made the trip up to Tulsa.) The degree of difficultly drops significantly for this trip to suburban Chicago, but the downside here is that I have no idea if against a more… even level of competition if the Golden Hurricane will actually be any good. Then again, NIU is the “select” club of teams that have lost to a FCS team this season, so, sure, let’s go with Tulsa.
• Army @ Syracuse (ACCN): Army’s still having some trouble with the passing thing, and this looks to be a competent Syracuse outfit that just beat Purdue by two scores on the road. I’ll take the Orange here.

3:30:

• Colorado @ Oregon (ABC): This is possibly the game with the largest gap I’ve ever seen between “hype” and “point spread”, where the Buffs have all the hype (and interest otherwise) as three touchdown underdogs. That said, I’m mostly just confused. Did one player (Travis Hunter) really mean that the Buffs were able to boat race TCU and Nebraska in the first two weeks, and then following his injury on a dirty hit mean they let Colorado State hang around for way too long. (Arguably, with better coaching in the 4th quarter, the Rams win instead of taking it to overtime.) Meanwhile, the Ducks aren’t without questions themselves, but their main case of letting an underdog hang around too long happened in Lubbock, and let’s face it, I’m sure that’s happened more that once out there. This game is in Eugene, the Buffs are still without their second best player, and their offensive line is still bad. I expect the Ducks to cover.
• California-Los Angeles @ Utah (FOX): I’m not entirely sure how it happened this way, but the Pac-12 somehow managed to go out with a bang. Yep, this is another ranked vs. ranked Pac-12 matchup of the day. That said, I haven’t watched a second of UCLA football yet this season, and their schedule so far isn’t instructive. Meanwhile, I still really like these Utes and the game is in Salt Lake City. Plus, they might have their starting QB back. If that happens, these Utes will get the “darkhorse” dropped from the phrase “darkhorse national title contender” dropped pretty quickly.
• Maryland @ Michigan State (NBC): September Maryland gets a Spartans program that is in utter disarray at the moment. With the two games above in this time slot, and even some of the ones below, yeah, there’s not a lot of reason to watch how much the Terps are going to win by here.
• Brigham Young @ Kansas (ESPN): Meanwhile, a hearty welcome to the Cougars to the Big 12, where a decent Kansas outfit with one of America’s most entertaining quarterbacks in Jalon Daniels rules the plains. (Note: I said entertaining, not best.) That said, the Cougars went on the road to Ar-kansas last week, held their own, and won. The Jayhawks main advantage will be that they’re probably a little more… agile than the Hogs, but nonetheless BYU has the ability to compete well and, I think, win.
• Miami @ Temple (ESPN2): Yes, that’s the Canes blowing into Philly, and the Owls already lost 36-7 to a bad Rutgers outfit. Miami drops games like this, well, it feels like a lot, but nonetheless I can’t really predict that.
• Florida Atlantic @ Illinois (BTN): Illinois should be fine in this one.
• Louisiana Tech @ Nebraska (BTN): There’s been years where I would say that the Huskers would lose this game. This isn’t one of them.
• Boston College @ Louisville (ACCN): BC, after nearly losing to Holy Cross, gave FSU everything they wanted (and more) last weekend in Chestnut Hill, but they’re still not good. I like the Cardinals here.
• Duke @ Connecticut (CBSS): This isn’t one of those fun years where UConn makes a bowl game, unfortunately.
• New Mexico @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)
• Texas Tech @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
• Ohio @ Bowling Green (ESPN+)
• Delaware State @ Miami (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Oklahoma State @ Iowa State (FS1): Thanks to Houston, neither of these teams is probably the worst team in the Big 12, but the fact that it’s close doesn’t speak well for either of them. The Pokes just lost 33-7 to South Alabama, and the Clones 10-7 to Ohio. Losing to Sun Belt and MAC teams is just… not good. Especially for the amount of time both coaches have been here. Ultimately, the problem for both of these teams is that they can’t really score points. At least Iowa State sorta seems to be able to play defense, though.
• Rice @ South Florida (ESPNU): I don’t think anyone had this game circled a few weeks ago, yet an upset of Rice and a near-upset of Alabama have some eyes turned toward Tampa. That said, at least in the USF-Bama case, that seemed to say more about Bama’s offensive woes than anything USF did well, and Rice seems to legitimately be able to score points. For probably the first time in years on this site, I can say that I like the Owls here.
• Texas-San Antonio @ Tennessee (SEC): Look, the Vols have struggled this year, but the unfortunately the magic has run out for the Roadrunners. I suspect Tennessee may work some things out in this one.

5:00:

• Central Michigan @ South Alabama (ESPN+)
• Eastern Michigan @ Jacksonville State (ESPN+)

6:00: Gardner-Webb @ East Carolina (ESPN+)

6:30:

• Georgia Tech @ Wake Forest (The CW): On the one hand, yes, haha, the CW, but on the other, this game will be on broadcast television nationally. Last year or the year before, we definitely lose this game. While we still didn’t really look in it except for stretches against Ole Miss, this is the best we’ve looked in a while. That said, with our talent level there are still limited chances to put up-or-shut up, and this is one of those of those opportunities. The road back into college football relevance has to start somewhere. Why not in Winston-Salem?
• Liberty @ Florida International (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Oregon State @ Washington State (FOX): Welcome to the Pac-2 Championship! Yep, the left behind teams are both currently ranked and this is starting to get to pretty late in the day in Pullman. There’s an all-time helmet game at 7:30, so this isn’t quite the game of the day, but boy howdy this may be the most fun game of the day. And what the hell, I can’t really bet against the Cougs at home, let’s chug some Fireball and get this thing done.
• Arkansas @ Louisiana State (ESPN): As long as the Tigers aren’t looking forward to the Magnolia Bowl next weekend, they’ll be fine here.
• Appalachian State @ Wyoming (CBSS): Last year, I would’ve liked App’s chances to go out to Laramie, but the Pokes look to actually be pretty good. Nonetheless, check in on this one.
• Arizona @ Stanford (Pac12): Arizona isn’t good… but the Cardinal is bad. As in, just lost to the team they hired their new coach from bad.
• Charlotte @ Florida (ESPN+)
• Southern Mississippi @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• Nevada @ Texas State (ESPN+)
• Nicholls State @ Tulane (ESPN+)
• Colorado State @ Middle Tennessee State (ESPN+)
• Sam Houston State @ Houston (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Iowa @ Pennsylvania State (CBS): This is… not the helmet game I was referring to. The Drive for 25 got a huge boost last week, as the Hawkeyes showed they were possibly aware that the entire college football Internet was making fun of them by scoring some late touchdowns to beat Western Michigan 41-10. Iowa now sits at 28.3 points per game, which means they could actually average 24 points per game for the rest of the season (plus bowl game) and wind up with exactly… 25 points per game! At any rate, yeah, they to figure to revert a little more to type in Happy Valley, where barring the some defensive scores (which, well, we are talking about Iowa here) they figure to probably be a little south of 24, much less 25.
• Texas @ Baylor (ABC): Texas had a little bit of a hangover up in Laramie, but back in the Lone Star state and against a familiar punching bag that’s back to “punching bag” status this year, the Horns should be fine.
• Ohio State @ Notre Dame (NBC): Ohio State is Ohio State. After playing with their food a bit in Week 1, they’ve now turned on the jets. If Notre Dame loses track of Marvin Harrison, Jr the same way that F-35 got lost, this figures to be a long night for the folks in South Bend. That said, the Irish have some talent of their own, with Sam Hartman coming in from Wake Forest and fitting right in. On paper, the Buckeyes still out-talent the Irish at most positions and I like them to win, similar to how they out-talented a game Utah squad in the Rose Bowl a couple years ago. But that said, Notre Dame may have a slight edge at quarterback, and so far this season they’ve shown they can score in bunches. This should be fun, but I still like the Buckeyes.
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Georgia (ESPN2): I had managed to forget Trent Dilfer is coaching at UAB now, which, well, I don’t know where I’m going with that. Unlike a lot of games this season, Georgia should make this one academic [sic] quickly.
• Minnesota @ Northwestern (BTN): Gophers roll.
• Akron @ Indiana (BTN): Akron is kind of bad, so the fact I can’t completely rule them out here… it’s not great, Hoosiers.
• Memphis vs. Missouri (@St. Louis, MO; ESPNU): This game gets a measure of excitement because it features two undefeated teams, but, uh, Mizzou’s going to win.
• Mississippi State @ South Carolina (SEC): South Carolina gets both of the SEC’s Bulldogs two weeks in a row, but this time I figure they’ll win.
• Buffalo @ Louisiana (ESPN+)

8:00:

• North Carolina @ Pittsburgh (ACCN): Pitt has lost to both FBS teams they’ve played so far, and as long as they just… refuse to play offense I don’t see how they won’t get torched by Drake Maye and company.
• Central Florida @ Kansas State (FS1): K-State participated in one of the games of the season so far in their last-second loss to Mizzou. This doesn’t figure to be the follow up to that as UCF gets possibly one of the rudest welcomes to the Big 12.
• James Madison @ Utah State (MWN)

9:00: Nevada-Las Vegas @ Texas-El Paso (ESPN+)

10:30:

• Southern California @ Arizona State (FOX): Arizona State just got shut out by Fresno. USC’s defense still doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but yeah, the Sun Devils also figure to lose by more than 29 here.
• California @ Washington (ESPN): Cal will give the Huskies their toughest test so far, but that’s mostly because of their defense. Once they break, expect the Huskies to win by plenty.
• Kent State @ Fresno State (CBSS): Kent has scored 12 points against FBS competition so far. That figures to still be the case after their trip to the Valley.

12:00: New Mexico State @ Hawaii (Team1Sports)

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Pennsylvania State @ Illinois (FOX): Okay Penn State, it’s time to go on the road and put up or shut up a bit if this indeed the year you’re going to beat Michigan and/or Ohio State. That said, I think they’ll win this game.
• Florida State @ Boston College (ABC): BC escaped Holy Cross last week. I think FSU will be fine here.
• Louisiana State @ Mississippi State (ESPN): I don’t think Miss State will beat LSU, but also think this game won’t do much to quell the questions around the current state of LSU.
• Wake Forest @ Old Dominion (ESPN2): Wake all the way here.
• North Dakota @ Boise State (FS1)
• Georgia Southern @ Wisconsin (BTN): Wisconsin lost once again to Wazzu. While this Southern team is Sun Belt competent, they’re not “beat even a retooling Wisconsin with a first year coach” competent.
• Louisville vs. Indiana (@Indianapolis, IN; BTN): If you like flailing, this is the game for you! Neither of these teams are good and the game is in a “neutral” site that happens to be in the middle of Indiana. (Seriously, look at Indianapolis on a map sometime.) I guess I’m going Hooiser here?
• Iowa State @ Ohio (ESPNU): Matt Campbell is rapidly becoming, if he hasn’t already, an example of a coach who waited too long to cash out and get a bigger job. He’s definitely starting to get a little past his expiration date and the folks in Ames are getting restless. That said, I don’t think they’re going to lose to Ohio or anything.
• Kansas State @ Missouri (SEC): Yet again, the wrong the Kansas is team is in this game. That said, Mizzou fans will likely be disappointed.
• Liberty @ Buffalo (CBSSN): Buffalo lost to an FCS team earlier this season, so yeah, speaking of past their expiration date coaches, Mo Linguist is also on that list. It brings me pleasure to say the Flames are going to roll here.
• Central Connecticut @ Kent State (ESPN+)
• Long Island @ Baylor (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Virginia Military @ North Carolina State (The CW)
• Weber State @ Utah (Pac12)
• Massachusetts @ Eastern Michigan (ESPN+)
• Norfolk State @ Temple (ESPN+)
• Indiana State @ Ball State (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Alabama @ South Florida (ABC): Well, there’s “get right” games, and then there’s “go to Tampa because what you’re about to do is probably illegal in Alabama”-type “get right” games. Bama might score 80.
• South Carolina @ Georgia (CBS): Georgia’s looked… sleepy in their first several games. So, yeah, we’ll all get excited when Spencer Rattler hits a 60 yard touchdown early in the second quarter for 10-3 lead… and then the Gamecocks will lose 35-10. Book it.
• Minnesota @ North Carolina (ESPN): Minnesota has looked okay so far this season, while we just saw UNC escape App State once again (to the point where Mack Brown said out loud he was glad he wasn’t going to have to play them anymore). I don’t think the Gophers have the dedication in the same way.
• Oklahoma @ Tulsa (ESPN2): Yeah, the Sooners will be fine here.
• San Diego State @ Oregon State (FS1): SDSU already lost to a Pac-12 team at home last weekend, so that doesn’t bode well for their trip to Corvallis.
• Virginia Tech @ Rutgers (BTN): I, uh, Rutgers I guess? I wouldn’t recommend watching this, that’s for sure.
• Western Michigan @ Iowa (BTN): The Iowa/Brian Ferentz Drive For 25 continues! So far, through two games Iowa has scored 44 points, which means they actually need to average 26.5 points the rest of the season. They should definitely be able to do so against this WMU squad, but then again, we said that about Utah State.
• Northwestern @ Duke (ACCN): I may feel more confident about this game being a blowout than any other today, outside of Bama @ USF. Devils all the way.
• Florida International @ Connecticut (CBSSN): Eh, what the heck, Go Huskies.
• East Carolina @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Western Kentucky @ Ohio State (FOX): Okay, this should also be one-sided, but Ohio State has yet to really turn on the jets offensive. That said, they’re probably the most capable of doing so.
• Tulane @ Southern Mississippi (ESPNU): This is actually a bit of a rivalry, but where these two programs are at the moment doesn’t give me up hope that Southern Miss will be able to hold up their end of the bargain.
• Idaho @ California (Pac12)

5:00:

• North Carolina Central @ California-Los Angeles (Pac12)
• Northern Colorado @ Washington State (Pac12)
• Washington @ Michigan State (Peacock): There’s several scandals rocking college football right now, but the most disgusting is what just got Mel Tucker suspended (read: fired) earlier this week. I don’t have the heart to recap it here, but suffice it to say, Huskies all the way.

6:00: Georgia State @ Charlotte (ESPN+)

6:30: Villanova @ Central Florida (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Tennessee @ Florida (ESPN): The Vols have looked kinda shaky, but to say that about the Gators would be putting that mildly. This might be another early season anxiety bowl? Then again, Florida fans were already setting expectations for Napier Year 2, while Tennessee has mostly just not lived up to their lofty billing yet. So I have to go with the Vols.
• Northern Illinois @ Nebraska (FS1): Former GT quarterback Jeff Sims (who won the job back in 2020) has become something of a national college football punchline two games into the Cornhuskers’ season, and, well, he mostly has himself to blame. I’m not sure who’s going to start for the Huskers in this one, but either way, it should go better for them this one.
• James Madison @ Troy (NFLN): This could well be the game of the week, so it’s worth figuring out where NFL Network is on whatever method you use to get TV. That said, it’s Troy’s to lose at home.
• Vanderbilt @ Nevada-Las Vegas (CBSS): Is any school better at scheduling “vacation” road games than Vandy? Last season the Dores played at Hawaii, the year before they went to Ft. Collins, in 2018 they went to South Bend. They’ll take a break the next few seasons, but then they’ll head back to Ft. Collins and they’ve got two future trips to Palo Alto on the schedule. It’s certainly the most…adventurous out-of-conference scheduling of any SEC team. At any rate, they’ve also looked kind of decent this year and should have no issues out in Vegas.
• San Jose State @ Toledo (ESPN+)
• Stony Brook @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• Duquense @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
• Samford @ Auburn (ESPN+)
• Tartleton State @ Texas Tech (ESPN+)
• North Texas @ Louisiana Tech (ESPN+)
• Murray State @ Middle Tennessee State (ESPN+)
• South Alabama @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
• Miami @ Cincinnati (“Battle for the Bell”; ESPN+)
• Louisiana @ Alabama-Birmingham (ESPN+)
• Texas Southern @ Rice (ESPN+)
• Prairie View A&M @ Southern Methodist (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Syracuse @ Purdue (NBC): This is certainly a football game that will be happening, but I think most eyes will be elsewhere. And also I guess I’ll pick Purdue?
• Pittsburgh @ West Virginia (“Backyard Brawl”; ABC): We’re midway through the current revival of the Backyard Brawl, and thank goodness because this week 3 is otherwise kind of bleak. That said, this game last year produced a result that was way above where WVU was at any point the rest of the season. That said, while Pitt isn’t like good this year (they lost to a retooling Cincinatti last week), they optimism for both WVU and their coach is pretty low right now that. Winning this game is probably about the only way Neal Brown keeps his job. So I’m going to take Pitt.
• Brigham Young @ Arkansas (ESPN2): Two years ago, my favorite college football podcast, the Shutdown Fullcast coined the term “WOMP” to describe the physical, smashing quality of the Arkansas offense under Sam Pittman, led by the nation’s WOMPiest quarterback, KJ Jefferson (6’4″, 246 pounds). KJ is still there, but the shine is off a little bit (though that said, they have so far blown out their first two opponents). But if there’s any opponent that also enjoys WOMPin’ (and adds a dash of playin’ dirty), it’s the BYU Cougars. If you think modern football is to finesse, with all the passing and lack of hitting and whatnot, this might be the game for you. I think BYU stands a solid chance of pulling off the upset, but I’ll play it safe and take the Hogs.
• Bowling Green @ Michigan (BTN): One more merciful week until the Harbaugh suspension ends and hopefully sanity prevails again in Ann Arbor. (That said, Harbaugh has been extremely thoughtful about the interim coaches taking charge in his stead for these games.)
• Akron @ Kentucky (ESPNU): Kentucky will be fine in this one.
• Georgia Tech @ Mississippi (SEC): Hoo boy, so the difficultly level sure just spiked. Last week’s outing against South Carolina State was never in doubt. The offense showed signs of competence, similar to the ones that briefly emerged in the second quarter against Louisville. The defense is still a bit of a concern, which if you’re saying that about SC State, well, that doesn’t bode well for playing Ole Miss at the grove. That said, I don’t think we’re going to get shut out this time around.

8:00:

• Texas Christian @ Houston (FOX): Houston lost to Rice last week. ‘Nuff said.
• Florida Atlantic @ Clemson (ACCN): Clemson will be fine, which isn’t really good enough for their recent excellence, but they’re in no danger here.
• Wyoming @ Texas (LHN): Texas teams of old would fall on their face in this kind of game after a big win. The thing about their win in Tuscaloosa last week, though, it wasn’t just that they beat Alabama. It hasn’t happened often since Bama’s dynasty run began, but I mean, come on, Chad Kelly once beat them. No, it’s that the Horns didn’t get lucky, or use a new system to exploit a beefy, talented, but slow defense, a la Texas A&M with Johnny Manziel. No, Texas was just flat out the better team, and they won. And they’ll win this one.
• Hawaii @ Oregon (Pac12): The Ducks made it… interesting on the road in Lubbock last weekend, but well, lots of weird stuff happens out in Lubbock. They’ll fine here.
• Sacramento State @ Stanford (Pac12)
• New Mexico State @ New Mexico (“Rio Grande Rivalry”; MWN): Get out your green chile salsa and sit down for some football, New Mexico style. The Lobos will definitely be favored, but I don’t see this being a blow out or anything.

8:30: Jackson State @ Texas State (ESPN+)

10:00: Colorado State @ Colorado (“Rocky Mountain Showdown”; ESPN): I still think the Buffs are going to get stung at some point (the offensive line is still light and Sanders hangs on to the ball too long), but the Rams aren’t going to be the team that makes them feel pain.

10:30:

• Fresno State @ Arizona State (FS1): Fresno already beat a Power 5 team this year, and I’ll say they’ll do it again.
• Kansas @ Nevada (CBSSN): Nevada lost 33-6 to FCS Idaho last weekend and to USC 66-14 the week before. Kansas will be gunning for 66, I think.

10:00: Texas-El Paso @ Arizona (Pac12): We all want to believe UTEP is a fun quirky team, but the magic isn’t there this year, as shown by last week’s 38-7 loss to Northwestern. Arizona will be fine here.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

11:00: Vanderbilt @ Wake Forest (ACCN): Whoo boy this week really got away from me. I’m going to rush to finish this while the early games are still going.

Noon:

• Notre Dame @ North Carolina State (ABC): ND?
• Nebraska @ Colorado (FOX): Buffs.
• Utah @ Baylor (ESPN): turns on TV, sees Utah losing what the heck Utes?!?
• Purdue @ Virginia Tech (ESPN2):  Trains.
• Troy @ Kansas State (FS1): K-State.
• Youngstown State @ Ohio State (BTN)
• James Madison @ Virginia (ESPNU): JMU?
• Ball State @ Georgia (SEC): UGA.
• Delaware State @ Army (CBSSN)
• Holy Cross @ Boston College (ESPNX/ESPN+)
• Delaware @ Pennsylvania State (Peacock)

1:00: South Carolina State @ Georgia Tech (ACCNX/ESPN+): So it turns out our game hasn’t actually started yet because it’s storming in Atlanta. So that gives me chance to write something quickly. It’s pretty much this: that second quarter was good. Everything else… not so much. Also a great demonstration of how much the previous administration cratered the program is this. I went to the same bar in Seattle I watched Geoff’s first game at in 2019. Now, that was a Thursday instead of a Friday, but regardless, the place was completely packed out. For Brent’s first game as the full-time guy? There were like maybe 10 of us. Yeah.

1:30: New Hampshire @ Central Michigan (ESPN+)

2:00: Eastern Illinois @ Bowling Green (ESPN+)

2:15: Charleston Southern @ Clemson (ACCN)

3:00:

• Southern Utah @ Brigham Young (ESPN+)
• Eastern Kentucky @ Kentucky (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Iowa @ Iowa State (“El Assico”; FOX): Okay, we’re through the early games, now on to the cutting, hard-hitting analysis you’ve come to expect from this site. So yeah, Iowa’s going to win this game, the question is what wacky score that is short of the 25 Brian Ferentz needs to keep his job.
• Nevada-Las Vegas @ Michigan (CBS): Michigan, please stop acting like your suspended head coach is dead. Sincerely, the entire rest of the college football internet.
• Texas A&M @ Miami (ABC): This is a bit of a statement game for both teams, in the sense that they both need to win to show that the plan, so to speak, is working. I think TAMU is better, but any result here wouldn’t surprise me.
• Mississippi @ Tulane (ESPN2): I think this is going to be a fun one. The Sugar Bowl champs face an old rival in New Orleans for the first time since 2010 and they have a legitimate chance to win for for the first time since 1988. That said, I don’t exactly expect it, as Ole Miss figures to just have too many weapons on offense.
• Richmond @ Michigan State (BTN)
• Texas-El Paso @ Northwestern (BTN): I wouldn’t advise watching this. Northwestern, I guess?
• Wagner @ Navy (CBSSN)
• Western Michigan @ Syracuse (ACCNX/ESPN+)
• Texas State @ Texas-San Antonio (ESPN+)
• Southern Illinois @ Northern Illinois (ESPN+)
• Texas Southern @ Toledo (ESPN+)
• Miami @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Marshall @ East Carolina (ESPNU): I have nothing to tell you about this game. Sorry.
• Kent State @ Arkansas (SEC): Womp.
• California Polytechnic @ San Jose State (NBCSBA)

5:00:

• Tulsa @ Washington (Pac12): UDub all the way here.
• Austin Peay @ Tennessee (ESPN+)
• Southeastern Louisiana @ South Alabama (ESPN+)

5:15: Appalachian State @ North Carolina (ACCN): Last year, this game was an absolutely barnburner, with UNC holding on for a 63-61 win. I suspect that… will not be the case this year.

6:00:

• Lafayette @ Duke (ACCNX/ESPN+)
• Ohio @ Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
• Duquense @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
• Southern Methodist @ Oklahoma (ESPN+)
• Morgan State @ Akron (ESPN+)
• New Mexico State @ Liberty (ESPN+)
• Fordham @ Buffalo (ESPN+)
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Georgia Southern (ESPN+)
• Louisiana @ Old Dominion (ESPN+)

6:30:

• Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh (CW):
• North Texas @ Florida International (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Oregon @ Texas Tech (FOX): This one might be fun, but I don’t think TTU is quite there yet.
• Texas @ Alabama (ESPN): Ah, here we go. The helmet game of helmet games. This is a step up for both teams after cruising in Week 1, and it’ll be interesting to see if Texas can actually do the thing this year. That said, I think Bama at home will just be too much in the end.
• Central Florida @ Boise State (FS1): I almost typed that this should be a fun G5 vs. G5 matchup and then remembered UCF is in the Big 12 now. Sorry y’all! But yeah, the Gus bus should continue to roll.
• Houston @ Rice (NFL): Houston might be bad-bad but they’re not terrible enough to lose to Rice.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Missouri (ESPN+)
• Memphis @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• Jacksonville State @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
• Connecticut @ Georgia State (ESPN+)
• Northwestern State @ Louisiana Tech (ESPN+)
• Houston Christian @ Western Kentucky (ESPN+)
• Florida A&M @ South Florida (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Wisconsin @ Washington State (ABC): Speaking of fun inter-sectional matchups… there should be some offense here! Wisky’s new Air Raid-ish offense goes on the road to Pullman, and Wazzu is no slouches themselves. I’ll take the Cougs at home.
• California-Los Angeles @ San Diego State (CBS): I don’t think the Aztecs can score enough points to win here.
• Charlotte @ Maryland (NBC): Terps.
• Eastern Michigan @ Minnesota (BTN): Gophers.
• Temple @ Rutgers (BTN): Rutgers.
• McNeese State @ Florida (ESPNU)
• Arizona @ Mississippi State (SEC): I think Arizona is kind of bad, so the Bulldogs should roll.
• Furman @ South Carolina (ESPN+)
• Grambling State @ Louisiana State (ESPN+)

8:00:

• Air Force vs. Sam Houston State (@Houston, TX; CBSSN): Falcons all the way here.
• Nicholls State @ Texas Christian (ESPN+)
• Lamar @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)

8:30: Southern Mississippi @ Florida State (ACCN): The Noles got a huge win last week against LSU. I suspect we won’t be taking much away from this one.

9:00: California-Davis @ Oregon State (Pac12)

10:30:

• Stanford @ Southern California (FOX): Time of the late night slate. First off, I don’t know how good or bad Stanford is, I know that USC’s defense is still bad, but at least against Stanford it shouldn’t matter.
• Auburn @ California (ESPN): I may be able to get over to Berkeley for this one. I have no read on either team so far. I’m picking Cal because that would be more fun both in general and specifically because it’s going to get the Auburn boosters restless again.
• Oklahoma State @ Arizona State (FS1): Oklahoma State should roll.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Saturday

Noon:

• Colorado @ Texas Christian (FOX): It’s the beginning of the Deion era in Boulder, and, well, it’s not going to be pretty.
• Virginia vs. Tennessee (@Nashville, TN; ABC): Speaking of name games that will probably be blowouts, well, there’s finally this one. The Joe Milton cannon arm jokes are already getting tired, but I doubt UVA is going to much to stop being from making them.
• Arkansas State @ Oklahoma (ESPN): Probably worth keeping an eye out to see if Oklahoma is still good at offense and at least a pulse on defense this year, at least when all the starters are still in.
• Utah State @ Iowa (FS1): I thought about having a “Brian Ferentz 25 Points Per Game” side bar, but regardless we’ll be keeping tabs. An opener against what will probably be a extremely moribund Utah Statee team is a good initial test. (And remember, defensive and special teams score count!)
• Fresno State @ Purdue (BTN): Fresno gets a very early test in the post-Jake Haener era that I actually like their chances at the upset in. Might be worth keeping an eye on.
• Louisiana Tech @ Southern Methodist (ESPNU): SMU.
• Ball State @ Kentucky (SEC): Kentucky.
• Northern Illinois @ Boston College (ACCN): I won’t watch this game because I’ll be busy, but you probably shouldn’t either.
• Bowling Green @ Liberty (CBSS): Liberty has a new coach who should bring the party to the next level on offense. BGSU doesn’t stand much of a chance.
• East Carolina @ Michigan (Peacock)

1:00: Northern Iowa @ Iowa State (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Akron @ Temple (ESPN+)
• Long Island @ Ohio (ESPN+)
• East Tennessee State @ Jacksonville State (ESPN+)
• Mercer @ Mississippi (ESPN+)

3:00: Portland State @ Oregon (Pac12)

3:30:

• Boise State @ Washington (ABC): The Peterson Bowl! That said, this Boise team likely isn’t up to the standards of classic, Chris Peterson-era Boise yet, and Washington’s offense figures to be prolific. But I probably won’t doubt Boise unless it’s just a blowout at the half.
• Tennessee State @ Notre Dame (NBC)
• Ohio State @ Indiana (CBS): “9windiana” is the dream, but, well, one of those 9 wins won’t be this one. But that said, come for the dissonance of hearing the CBS college football theme with their A announcers call their first Big Ten game in year one of the new TV deal.
• Rice @ Texas (FOX): When most of the previews of this game I’ve heard either mention the speech (which I’ve talked about several times over the years, most recently here) or that the most interesting aspect of this may be whether or Arch Manning (yes, of those Mannings) makes an appearance in the second half.
• Massachusetts @ Auburn (ESPN): While we all agree it will be hilarious for Hugh Freeze to lose this game they just… won’t. That said, they gotta go to Berkeley next week…
• Buffalo @ Wisconsin (FS1): Do not adjust your TV screens: yes that is the Wisconsin Badgers slingin’ it like a Mike Leach team. Okay, it probably won’t be that extreme, but look for them to practice some passing over what figures to be an overmatched Buffalo team.
• Towson @ Maryland (BTN)
• Wofford @ Pittsburgh (ACCN)
• South Florida @ Western Kentucky (CBSS): WKU.
• Eastern Kentucky @ Cincinnati (ESPN+)
• Gardner-Webb @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)

4:00:

• California @ North Texas (ESPNU): Speaking of the Bears, they’re on the road to Denton this week. While they have no business losing this game, I can’t completely discount it.
• Southeastern Louisiana @ Mississippi State (SEC)
• Colgate @ Syracuse (ACCNX)
• Western Illinois @ Arkansas (@Little Rock, AR; ESPN+)

6:00:

• Tennessee-Martin @ Georgia (ESPN+)
• South Carolina State @ Charlotte (ESPN+)
• Monmouth @ Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
• Bucknell @ James Madison (ESPN+)
• The Citadel @ Georgia Southern (ESPN+)
• Albany @ Marshall (ESPN+)

6:30:

• Nevada @ Southern California (Pac12): Once again, it’s the “Is the USC Defense Actually Better This Year?” challenge. At least based on last week’s results against San Jose State, the answer is kind of “nope!” Nevada figures to be less of a challenge, but the Wolf Pack are still moving the ball easily some tough questions need to be asked down in LA.
• Maine @ Florida International (ESPN+)

7:00:

• New Mexico @ Texas A&M (ESPN): While the Aggies firing Jimbo at this point is unfathomable, they really need to look pretty good in this game. Not that New Mexico is much of a threat, but this has gotta be like a 45-10 scoreline.
• Texas-San Antonio @ Houston (FS1): I’ve seen this called a “budding rivalry” elsewhere but I’ll have to take their word for it. It is unfortunate though that will be moot after this game. Either way, speaking of coaches who need to show something, Dana Holgerson has to show that the Cougars can compete in the Big 12, and taking care of the Meeps right here would be a good way to do that.
• Washington State @ Colorado State (CBSS): It’s a bit uncertain for Wazzu this year, but a rebuilding Colorado State shouldn’t give them much of an issue on the road.
• Army @ Louisiana-Monroe (NFL): It’ll be a new-look Army team: they’ll be running a more spread-option type system this year as opposed to the flexbone look they’ve sported for the better part of the last two decades. I suspect it’ll be a bit of an adjustment, but ULM should probably a give them a chance to make it.
• Alabama A&M @ Vanderbilt (ESPN+)
• Stephen F. Austin @ Troy (ESPN+)
• Alcorn State @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)
• Central Arkansas @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
• Southeast Missouri State @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
• Bethume-Cookman @ Memphis (ESPN+)
• Texas State @ Baylor (ESPN+)

7:30:

• South Carolina vs. North Carolina (Duke’s Mayo Classic @ Charlotte, NC; ABC): This one could get pointsy, but the Gamecocks’s ability to play, like, any defense at all will probably see them win out.
• West Virginia @ Pennsylvania State (NBC): I admire the ‘Neers playing their Appalachian colleagues but I don’t see them having much of a chance in this one.
• Texas Tech @ Wyoming (CBS): The Red Raiders head up to Laramie, and I suspect will be in for a bit of a bad time.
• Toledo @ Illinois (BTN): The Illni will be fine in this one.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Alabama (SEC): As will the Tide.
• Northwestern State @ Louisiana (ESPN+)

8:00:

• South Alabama @ Tulane (ESPNU): USA’s helmets feature “The Home of Mardi Gras” on the back, which will definitely lead to some raised eyebrows, but if you’re from that part of the country you know that Mobile has always had a bone to pick with New Orleans about Mardi Gras. That said while USA is improving, the Sugar Bowl champs should win this one.
• Old Dominion @ Virginia Tech (ACCN): It’s going to be a long season for VPI, but they should get this one.

9:00:

• Incarnate Word @ Texas-El Paso (ESPN+)
• Western Illinois @ New Mexico State (ESPN+)

10:00: Northern Arizona @ Arizona (Pac12)

10:15: Sam Houston State @ Brigham Young (FS1): Welcome to FBS, Sam Houston State! Naturally, they get to play a bunch of grown men who will be more than happy to properly introduce them to the top level of the sport.

10:30:

• Coastal Carolina @ California-Los Angeles (ESPN): Coastal seems to have an “anytime, anywhere” philosophy and we’re here for it. I suspect so will the Bruins.
• Idaho State @ San Diego State (CBSS)

Sunday

Noon: Northwestern @ Rutgers (CBS): This is definitely a bit of an eyebrow raiser for the Big Ten on CBS to start with. Especially given that it’ll probably be a Rutgers blowout.

3:30: Oregon State @ San Jose State (CBS): If you’re in or around the part of the college football Internet I am, then you know that we all kinda want the Beavs to really stick it to the rest of the Pac-12 this season. While SJSU gave USC fits last weekend, the Beavs can actually play defense and should be able to keep this one under control.

7:30: Louisiana State vs. Florida State (Camping World Kickoff @ Orlando, FL; ABC): And the most helmet game of the weekend gets the Sunday primetime slot. Both of these teams have aspirations, but I feel like LSU is the better team with a better coach. It should be a good one though.

Monday

8:00: Clemson @ Duke (ESPN): Speaking of national title aspirations, the Tigers hope to be back in the picture this season, and this should lay a sound foundation.