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.

Okay, a quick note about how the weekend previews work. For starters, we started this as a watch guide. So the idea is to relay when games are on and give you (the reader) an idea of what’s good and what’s maybe worth doing the dishes during. Here’s the basic format:

• The time
• The matchup, with FCS teams in italics (and note that usually FCS vs. FCS games are omitted, and previews will not be provided for almost all FCS games)
• The title of the game, if it has one
• The location of the game, if it’s not a home game
• The network or streaming service the game is available on (note that streaming games will not have previews)
• And the preview, subject to the conditions above

Hopefully that made sense!

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

2:30: Navy vs. Notre Dame (@Dublin, Ireland; NBC): Once again, the Irish champion will be decided. Last year, Northwestern defeated Nebraska, resulting in the somewhat hilarious stat that Northwestern was 1-0 in Ireland and 0-11 everywhere else. While great things aren’t projected for the Midshipmen this year, it’s safe to say they probably won’t go 0-for-North America.

3:30: Mercer vs. North Alabama (FCS Kickoff @ Montgomery, AL; ESPN)

5:30: Texas-El Paso @ Jacksonville State (CBSS): Welcome to FBS, Jacksonvile State! It will often bear repeating the next few years that they are a school in Jacksonville, AL and not the much larger city to the southeast of them. Either way, while UTEP’s fate is uncertain this year, the Miners are favorites here.

7:00:

• Massachusetts @ New Mexico State (ESPN): UMass is still independent, but the Aggies are back in the new look CUSA (officially without the dash this year, by the way). While neither of these teams is exactly good, things look good for the home team here.
• Ohio @ San Diego State (FS1): Hopefully the Bobcats enjoy the weather down in San Diego, because they’re not especially likely to enjoy this matchup.

7:30:

• Hawaii @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Speaking of home teams, Vanderbilt’s finally revamping their home field, which is one the few places other than Bobby Dodd Stadium I’ve ever seen a college football game. And, well, by any conference’s standard, much less the SEC’s, it was sorely needed. At any rate, we’re talking about the stadium here because the action on the field… not so much. The Dores should roll.
• South Carolina State vs. Jackson State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge @ Atlanta, GA; ABC)

8:00: San Jose State @ Southern California (Pac12): Naturally, USC’s last season in the Pac-12 sees them kick off on the Pac-12 Network, which basically no one (other than me, apparently) gets. At any rate, this Spartan-on-Trojan violence will likely have a fairly predictable outcome.

9:00: Florida International @ Louisiana Tech (CBSS): Finally, we have… no idea how to project this one. This starts at 6PM Pacific, so this might be the only one of these games I actually get to watch live, so it’ll be on. Going with the Techies out of Ruston, LA just out of solidarity, I suppose.