CFW Week 1 Forecast – 91 games on the menu
‘Football with a little bit of soul’
Every year, I feel like this is the best weekend of college football. After all, we’ve been waiting long enough – seven months without football. And college football is not only back, but we get five-straight days of it. Five-straight days of football – 91 games. You couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m high already. I’m high just thinking about it.
“Now when you’re feelin’ low and the fish won’t bite
You need a little football to put you right”
Of the 136 FBS college football teams, 134 of them will be playing this weekend. The only two teams not playing during Labor Day Weekend are Stanford and FIU. Stanford opened last weekend at Hawaii. The Trees play at BYU next week. FIU opens next week at Penn State. Poor, poor FIU. The Panthers won’t know what hit them.
There are 91 games of football over the five-day weekend – 17 games tonight, 11 games tomorrow, 60 games Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Monday (Labor Day Night). That doesn’t leave much time to get any sleep. I’m wired already. Come Sunday morning, I’ll be running on nervous energy and caffeine.
“You gotta make like you want to kneel and pray
And then a little bit of football will come your way”
For your viewing pleasure, here is a five-day television listing of games you may (or may not) want to follow. Thursday: It all begins on ESPN at 5:30 pm ET, this evening – #25 Boise State at South Florida. This is an inter-conference encounter. Both teams will be trying to make the CFP as the highest-ranked Group of Five team. Can South Florida keep up with Boise State?
Sixty minutes later (7 pm ET), you might want to switch over to ACCN to catch the East Carolina-NC State brawl. These two teams literally ended the 2024 season in a knock-down, drag-out brawl on the field – the Military Bowl. East Carolina won the game, 26-21. I don’t know who won the brawl. Round 2 commences this evening. An hour later, you might want to check in on Buffalo at Minnesota – 8 pm ET on FS1. Some analysts think Buffalo will win the MAC. Are the Bulls good enough to upset the Gophers?
The feature game this evening begins at 9 pm ET – #34 Nebraska vs. Cincinnati on ESPN. This contest is looking more and more like it could be a good game. Recently, several analysts have said they think Cincinnati is an underrated team. The Bearcats have the home field advantage, and the Huskers are only a one touchdown favorite. Sounds like the makings of a barn burner to me.
Should the Nebraska-Cincinnati game be disappointing, you can also check out the Miami (Ohio)-Wisconsin game which also begins at 9 pm ET. The RedHawks and Badgers are on the Big Ten Network. Miami is one of the favorites to win the MAC. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell enters the season on the hot seat.
Friday: The pickings are few and far between tomorrow evening. The night begins with Tarleton State at Army at 6 pm ET on CBSSN. This contest gives you a game to watch for two hours before the two feature games of the evening begin – #37 Auburn at #28 Baylor and #31 Georgia Tech at #49 Colorado. Both games start at 9 pm ET. Auburn-Baylor is on FOX. Georgia Tech-Colorado is on ESPN. Both should be interesting contests.
If you are game (no pun intended) for staying up late Friday night, then check out the final quarter of UNLV at Sam Houston. This game starts at 9:30 pm ET on CBSSN.
“Now when your girl is gone and you’re broke in two
You need a little football to see you through”
Saturday: Saturday is a big day with lots of exciting games. And the excitement gets started with the very first game. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than this – #1 Texas at #3 Ohio State, 12 noon ET, on FOX. Arch Manning takes on the Buckeyes.
Depending on how the Texas-Ohio State game is playing out, you may want to check in on Syracuse vs. #24 Tennessee from Atlanta. The Orange vs. the Orange. This game is also a 12 noon ET start, brought to you on ABC.
The next two games are both interesting and curious. Both start at 3:30 pm ET. The first of the two is #8 Alabama at #40 Florida State on ABC. Two coaches coming in on the hot seat. The other game is one of those potentially good FCS vs. FBS affairs – South Dakota at #22 Iowa State on FOX. Consider this: 1. South Dakota is one of the best FCS teams in the country – ranked 4th and 5th in the nation among FCS teams. 2. Iowa State could be a little tired, following their trip to Dublin. 3. Iowa State could be overconfident, following their win over Kansas State in Dublin. 4. South Dakota got to scout Iowa State, watching them on TV last week. Just saying.
After the 3:30 pm ET games, you may want to check in on #19 Texas A&M. The Aggies are hosting UTSA at 7 pm ET on ESPN. Then, 30 minutes later, it’s time for the second biggest game of the day – #9 LSU at #4 Clemson – 7:30 pm ET on ABC. For a night cap after the LSU-Clemson game (you may need one) you can finish off the night and early morning with #27 Utah at UCLA – 11 pm ET on FOX .
Sunday: Sunday is supposed to be a day a rest and rest it should be as there are only two games. But they are very good games, especially one of them. First up is at 3 pm ET on ESPN – Virginia Tech vs. #13 South Carolina from Atlanta. Then at 7:30 pm ET on ABC, it is the third best game of the weekend – #6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami.
Monday (Labor Day): Finally, the TV viewing all comes to climax. We get to see Bill Belichick’s coaching debut in college football. #46 TCU at North Carolina, 8 pm ET on ESPN. Wonder if Jordan Hudson will be on the sideline with the team, sitting in the press box or not at the game at all. If she’s not at the game, that wouldn’t be a good sign. Enjoy your five days of TV viewing!
“And when you raise the roof with your rock ’n roll
You get a lot more football with a little bit of soul”
Before you watch all those games, you need to know the new rules that are in place for this season. Finally, no more faking injuries and more. Here they are:
1. Faking Injury – If a medical staff member enters the field to evaluate an injured player after the ball has been spotted for the next play, that player’s team will be charged timeout. If the team is out of timeouts, the team will be penalized five yards for delay of game. The ruling directly targets the tactic of faking injuries to stop the play, shift momentum or avoid using a timeout.
2. Overtime Timeout Modifications – In an effort to streamline extended play, the overtime timeout structure has been changed. Beginning with the third overtime, each team will be granted one timeout to use for the remainder of the game no matter how many overtimes are played.
3. Instant replay change – Referees will now only use two terms to describe replay results. The terms “confirmed” and “stands” will no longer be used to avoid confusion on the field. The two terms that will be used are “upheld” and “overturned.” Upheld meaning not enough evidence to overturn the call. Overturned meaning the video clearly disproves the call on the field.
4. Formation change – Punt formation gets a change. No offensive player may now line up directly in the snapper’s frame or in the path of the snap for a formation to be considered a legal kick. If the scrimmage kick alignment isn’t met, five offensive linemen numbered 50-79 must be on the line. In addition, if the snapper lines up at the end of the line, the snapper will lose the kick protection, opening them up to contact.
5. Kickoff change – The “T” signal (arms in a T-formation) by a kickoff returner will now immediately end the play, signaling that the team is opting not to return the kick.
6. Simulation change – Simulating action at the snap, including vocal distractions that mimic offensive cadence, is now illegal. Only defensive players may use verbal cues like “move” or “stem.” Offensive use of those terms to confuse defenses will now result in a penalty.
7. Substitution change – There is a new clarification on illegal substitutions late in the half. If the defense has 12 or more players participating after the two-minute warning, the offense can rewind the clock to the start of the play after a five-yard penalty is assessed.
8. Sideline communication change – Coach-to-player communications via technology will now be a permissive option.
You are up to date. You can watch the games.
“And when your party is failing ’cause ain’t nobody groovin’
A little bit of football will get it movin’”
There aren’t many changes to the FBS conferences this season. Moving up from FCS to FBS, Delaware and Missouri State have joined Conference USA. That makes C-USA a 12-team conference. In the only other move, Massachusetts gave up its Independent days and joined the Mid-American Conference. That makes the MAC a 13-team league. These changes took place on July 1, 2025. There will be several changes next year.
Ah, the analysts and the pundits. They always have their say in who will win and who will finish at the bottom of the conferences. Here is a consensus of what they are predicting for this season. And already, they may be wrong on the Big 12. They were last season.
ACC
Favorite: Clemson. Challenger: Miami. Wildcard: SMU. Bottom Feeders: Wake Forest and Stanford.
Big 12
Favorites: Arizona State and Kansas State. Challenger: Texas Tech. Wildcards: Baylor and Iowa State. Bottom Feeder: Arizona.
Big Ten
Favorites: Penn State and Ohio State. Challenger: Oregon. Wildcard: Michigan. Bottom Feeder: Purdue.
SEC
Favorite: Texas. Challenger: Georgia. Wildcards: Alabama and LSU. Bottom Feeder: Mississippi State.
AC
Favorite: Tulane. Challengers: Navy and Memphis. Wildcards: UTSA and South Florida. Bottom Feeder: Tulsa.
C-USA
Favorite: Liberty. Challenger: Western Kentucky. Wildcard: Jacksonville State. Bottom Feeder: Kennesaw State.
MAC
Favorite: Toledo. Challengers: Ohio, Buffalo and Miami. Wildcard: Northern Illinois. Bottom Feeder: Kent State.
MWC
Favorite: Boise State. Challengers: UNLV and San Jose State. Wildcards: Colorado State, Air Force and Fresno State. Bottom Feeder: New Mexico.
Sun Belt
Favorites: James Madison and Louisiana. Challengers: Georgia Southern, Texas State and South Alabama. Wildcards: Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion and Arkansas State. Bottom Feeders: Georgia State and ULM.
“And when you’re in a mess and you feel like cryin’
Just think about football and you’ll be smilin’”
In the College Football Playoff, we are still at 12 teams. However, this year the teams will be seeded in the playoff as they are ranked in the poll. The four Power Four conference champions will still get an automatic spot. But not necessarily the Top 4 spots. They will be seeded as ranked. The highest-ranked Group of Five team is still guaranteed a spot and seeded as ranked.
There are no changes to the bowl games. There will be 41 bowls, plus the national championship game.
You are now prepared for the season, assuming you are well-stocked in cold pizza, chili dogs and your favorite brew.
It was reported this week that Maryland athletic director Jim Smith believes the Big Ten will expand to 20 teams by 2030. That would be an expansion of two teams. On3’s Brett McMurphy thinks the Big Ten has its eyes on North Carolina and Virginia. He also thinks the SEC has its eyes on North Carolina and Virginia. UNC and Virginia are both on the Big Ten and SEC’s radars, according to McMurphy. “I do really believe that they are the most attractive to both leagues,” McMurphy said. “And we’ll have to see what happens.”
“As your team moves the ball, headin’ towards the goal
Just remember what I said about a little bit of soul”
Both ESPN’s College GameDay and FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will be in Columbus, Ohio, for the Texas-Ohio State game. SEC Network’s SEC Nation will be in Atlanta for the Syracuse-Tennessee game. ACC Network’s ACC Huddle will be in Clemson, South Carolina, for the LSU-Clemson game. Ohio State has banned Big Noon Kickoff’s crew member Dave Portnoy from entering the stadium before, during and after the game. Portnoy, who is debuting on the show this Saturday, is a Michigan graduate.
But wait. And this sounds familiar. Remember all the brouhaha after it was reported that North Carolina had banned Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordan Hudson from the Tar Heels’ stadium? And after a few days of brouhaha, North Carolina said Hudson had not been banned. Well, after the brouhaha over Portnoy, Ohio State said it had not banned him from entering their stadium. According to Ohio State officials, Fox Sports, Portnoy’s employer, banned him from entering the stadium. Maybe this is Fox Sports way of trying to build up viewership for the Big Noon Kickoff show.
“You get a lot more football with a little bit of soul”
Let the fun begin! Quarterbacks, start your teams!
Touchdown Tom
August 28, 2025
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
“A Little Bit O’ Soul” is a song written in 1964 by British songwriters John Carter and Ken Lewis. It was originally recorded and released in 1965 by The Little Darlings, a British band based out of Coventry, England. In 1967, the song was recorded and popularized in the United States by the garage band The Music Explosion of Mansfield, Ohio. Their recording reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1967. “A Little Bit O’ Soul” was The Music Explosion’s only Top 40 hit. My apologies for taking liberties with the lyrics.
Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
Week One’s 10 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games….and then some
GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. #1 Texas at #3 Ohio State – (SEC vs. Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FOX – What more could you ask for on opening weekend? No. 1 vs. No. 3! Not only the high rankings but throw in all the other ingredients. Two of the best coaches in the country – Steve Sarkisian and Ryan Day. Texas quarterback Arch Manning – all the hype. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith – all the hype. More than one hundred thousand fans. Both College GameDay and Big Noon Kickoff shows at the game. Which team can best handle the pressure? Ohio State has a new quarterback, starting his first game – Julian Sayin. Sayin is a transfer from Alabama. He’s one of those California bred quarterbacks. He’s from an athletic and smart family. His older brother is the quarterback at Penn, and his sister played soccer for the University of Chicago. This is a payback game for the Longhorns. Texas and Ohio State met in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff last season. It was anybody’s ball game until Quinn Ewers fumbled on the Ohio State goal line. Ohio State returned the fumble for a touchdown. How well Texas must remember. The Eyes of Texas have 20/20 vision – Texas 27, Ohio State 20.
RUNNER-UP: 2. #9 LSU at #4 Clemson – (SEC vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm, Saturday, ABC – LSU enters the game with a serious problem. The Cajun Tigers can’t win their opening game. At least they haven’t for the past five years. Yes, LSU is currently 0-5 in its openers. LSU coach Brian Kelly is responsible for the last three of those opening losses. If that is not enough incentive for the Cajun Tigers to win, I don’t know what is. The two teams have two of the top quarterbacks in the country, maybe the top two quarterbacks – Garrett Nussmeyer for LSU and Cade Klubnik for Clemson. Aside from that, there are some differences. Clemson is loaded, I mean loaded, with lots of returning starters from last year. LSU has a lot of new players, especially on offense. Some analysts think Clemson will win the national championship. One preseason poll had Clemson as its No. 1 team. Clemson also has the home field advantage in this game. Make it 0-6 – Clemson 24, LSU 23.
REST OF THE BEST: 3. #6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami (Florida) – (Ind. vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm, Sunday, ABC – Whenever Notre Dame and Miami get together for a football game, it’s usually a good one. It’s usually one of those humdingers, one of those barn burners, one of those donnybrooks. This year should be no different. Like Texas against Ohio State, Miami has the name brand quarterback – Carson Beck. Notre Dame has an unknown, starting his first game – C.J. Carr. However, at the rest of the positions, Notre Dame has the experience. Miami has a lot of unknowns. The Irish were in the national championship game last season. They hope to be back there. Miami hopes to make the CFP. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is one of the best in the country. Miami coach Mario Cristobal is a good recruiter, but is he a good game day coach? He’s had his problems. Irish eyes will be smiling in south Florida – Notre Dame 30, Miami 24.
4. #8 Alabama at #40 Florida State – (SEC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm, Saturday, ABC – What did David Bowie say about pressure? “Pushing down on me.” Going into this game, these two coaches must have lots of pressure pushing down on them. Florida State coach Mike Norvell is on the hot seat – big time. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is feeling a good bit of heat. Alabama is a solid favorite. Still, it’s an opening game and Bama has an inexperienced quarterback. And the game is in Tallahassee. I can hear that Seminole war chant now. Alabama needs to shut down that war chant early if the Tide wants to win. Ty Simpson is the starting quarterback for Alabama. He is a fourth-year junior. Tony Castellanos is the quarterback for FSU. He used to play for Boston College. His playing days did not end well there. Castellanos is a senior. Alabama returns lots of experience. FSU is a totally new team. Chief Osceola gets caught in a rip Tide – Alabama 28, Florida State 17.
5. #37 Auburn at #28 Baylor – (SEC vs. Big 12) –8 pm ET, Friday, FOX – Auburn coach Hugh Freeze is another one of those coaches sitting on a hot seat. He will have his work cut out for him at Baylor. The Bears look strong on offense in all positions. Baylor has a talented quarterback in Sawyer Robertson. Also, a strong running back in Bryson Washington. The Bears are a threat in the air and on the ground. Auburn is an unknown. But a lot of analysts think highly of the Tigers. Freeze has recruited well. He just needs to put together a team that can jell. This will be a tough game for both teams. If Auburn wins, the Tigers could be off to a great season. Although not favored by most, Baylor is a potential threat to win the Big 12. Freeze can’t Bear it – Baylor 27, Auburn 24.
6. #13 South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech – (SEC vs. ACC) – 3 pm ET, Sunday, ESPN – This is the second of two games that will be played in Atlanta, Georgia, this weekend. I’m thinking it could be over before it starts. South Carolina just looks too good for Virginia Tech. I’m not sure the Hokies can handle the Gamecocks. South Carolina is stacked with experience. And the Gamecocks have one of the best quarterbacks in the country – LaNorris Sellers. Sellers can get you running and he can get you passing. There’s not much he can’t do. Except at quarterback, Virginia Tech is lacking in experience. The quarterback is Kyron Drones. If he is having a good day, he can be dangerous – very dangerous. But he is susceptible to his share of bad days. Still, he’s a senior with lots of playing time, so he should be prepared to make good decisions. The Rooster crows, the Turkey trots – South Carolina 30, Virginia Tech 20.
7. Syracuse vs. #24 Tennessee – (ACC vs. SEC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ABC – This is the first of two games being played in Atlanta, Georgia, this weekend. Tennessee comes into the game with basically a new offense. It may take the Vols a game or two to get their offense cranked up. The Vols lost their quarterback to the transfer portal during the offseason. That may have been a good thing. The new quarterback came to Tennessee via the transfer portal from Appalachian State – Joey Aguilar. Aguilar was going to transfer to UCLA. However, when the old Tennessee quarterback chose UCLA for his destination, Aguilar changed his mind for Tennessee. Confusing, isn’t it? The Vols defense may be the best part of the team – at least early on. The defense is loaded. Syracuse had a great season last year – 10-3. This year probably won’t be as good. The Vols are one of the better teams in the SEC. Syracuse is not one of the better teams in the ACC. Regardless of who wins, it’s going to be an Orange Day in Atlanta. Rocky Tops the Cuse – Tennessee 23, Syracuse 20.
8. #46 TCU at North Carolina – (Big 12 vs. ACC) – 8 pm ET, Monday, ESPN – Bill Belichick makes his debut as a college football coach. We know he’s a winner in the NFL. Will he find success at the college level? He won’t have Tom Brady. Instead, he will have Gio Lopez, quarterbacking the Tar Heels. Lopez transferred into Chapel Hill from South Alabama. TCU has the edge at the quarterback position with Josh Hoover. Hoover passed for 3,989 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. He averaged 304 passing yards a game. He’s capable of slicing and dicing the North Carolina defense. And defense is the weakest side of North Carolina’s team at the start of the season. Don’t be surprised if the ESPN cameras provide more closeups of Jordan Hudson than they do the players. Belichick doesn’t get a winning kiss from Hudson – TCU 27, North Carolina 24.
9. #27 Utah at UCLA – (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) – 11 pm ET, Saturday, FOX – This may be the final season for Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. And Whittingham wants to retire in style. He has a 167-86 record in 20+ years at Utah. The most exciting part of the Utes may be their new quarterback – Devon Dampier. Last year at New Mexico, Dampier passed for 2,768 yards (14 touchdowns) and rushed for 1,166 yards (19 touchdowns). He’ll have a better team behind him at Utah. Utah has a good nucleus of players back. UCLA doesn’t. The Bruins have been a bit of a strange team of late. They can pop up and surprise you when you aren’t expecting it. This year, the Bruins have Tennessee’s old quarterback Nico Iamaleava. These two teams are old Pac-12 rivals. Utah is a contender in the Big 12. UCLA is not a contender in the Big Ten. The Utes win one for Whittingham – Utah 28, UCLA 20.
10. #31 Georgia Tech at #49 Colorado – (ACC vs. Big 12) – 8 pm ET, Friday ESPN – Georgia Tech enters the game looking good at quarterback and running back. Both are experienced seniors. Quarterback Haynes King can run and pass. Running back Jamal Haynes rushed for 996 yards last year, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Colorado will have a new quarterback and running back. The quarterback is Kaidon Salter, who transferred in from Liberty. Salter is also a dual-threat quarterback – his running is better than his passing. These two teams shared the national championship in 1990. Colorado was ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, while Georgia Tech was ranked No. 1 in the UPI Coaches Poll. Neither team is going to win the national championship this year, but Georgia Tech is the better team. Buzz puts the sting on Deion – Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20.
YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:
Robert Morris at West Virginia – (NEC vs. Big 12) – 2 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+ – A new era begins in Morgantown with new coach Rich Rodriguez back in his second stint with the Mountaineers. Analysts and pundits aren’t expecting much from West Virginia this season. It may be good WVU has its opener against a team like Robert Morris. Surely Rich Rod won’t lose this one. The Mountaineers are truly an unknown team. Nothing we see, good or bad, should surprise us. Robert Morris is located in the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. The school was named after, yes you got it, Robert Morris. He was the financier of the American Revolution. Hence Robert Morris began as a business college. Along with Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin, Robert Morris is widely regarded as one of the founders of the financial system of the USA. The school’s athletic teams are the Colonials. The mascot’s name is RoMo. Get it? Obviously, I don’t know much about the Robert Morris football team. An FCS team, the football program competes in the Northeast Conference. Like I said, Rich Rod is lucky to have Robert Morris for an opener. The Mounties make RoMo look like a Bozo – West Virginia 49, Robert Morris 10.
LIU at #15 Florida – (NEC vs. SEC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+ – Florida and West Virginia have something in common on opening weekend. Their opponents – LIU (Long Island University) and Robert Morris are in the same conference. The commonality ends there. Florida is a ranked team at preseason. WVU isn’t. D.J. Lagway will start for the Gators and likely play the entire first half – maybe even the first series of the second half. Then it should be the backup quarterbacks for the remainder of the game. The entire Gator team is likely to see action in this contest. The entire LIU team may see action too. I mean, what the heck, give the guys a chance to play in The Swamp. It may be the biggest thrill they’ll get all season. “Here we go Looby Loo. Here we go Looby LIU. All on a Saturday night” – Florida 56, LIU 3.
#34 Nebraska vs. Cincinnati – (Big Ten vs. Big 12) – 9 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – They say the third time is a charm and this is Matt Rhule’s third season coaching Nebraska. After two seasons, Rhule is batting one game above .500 at13-12. It’s an understatement to say that expectations are high in Lincoln. It’s only a matter of how high the expectations are. I don’t think anyone is expecting Nebraska to win the Big Ten. But aside from that where are they expecting the Huskers to finish? Pretty high, I’d say. With Dylan Raiola, the Huskers are solid at quarterback. How solid is Nebraska in the other positions? Like Rhule, this is the third season for Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield. Unlike Rhule, Satterfield enters the season on the hot seat. He is 8-16 after two seasons. Like Nebraska, the Bearcats have an experienced quarterback in Brendan Sorsby. The other positions are questionable. However, several analysts think Cincinnati is an underrated team. Herbie gets by Cincy with a win – a close one, but a win. Nebraska 28, Cincinnati 26.
Elon at #41 Duke – (CAA vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN+ – Second-year Duke coach Manny Diaz had a great first year, coaching the Dookies. They went 9-4. Except at Alabama, that’s a great first-year record. Duke is expected to do just as well again this year – no better, no worse. The Duke quarterback is new – Darian Mensah , who quarterbacked Tulane last year. Most of the rest of the Duke team – offense and defense – are starting returners from last year. Elon, an FCS school, should be a cake walk for the Dookies. Out of the Coastal Athletic Association, Elon is not one of the stronger teams in that conference. The Devils have their Blue Dress on – Duke 35, Elon 14.
Marshall at #5 Georgia – (SBC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Uga is angry. The pollsters didn’t rank the Dawgs among the Top 3 in the country. Uga will be out to prove them wrong. Poor Marshall bears the brunt. Georgia does have a few question marks. Nothing serious, but the offensive and defensive lines raise some questions. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has to establish and prove himself. Safer opening against Marshall than say a Clemson. Remember the Dusty Springfield song “A Brand New Me?” (Winter of 1969-70). That’s what Marshall is “A Brand New Me.” The Herd has a brand new coach and a brand new team. Last year’s coach left for Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Last year’s team made a mass evacuation from Huntington via the transfer portal. Marshall had to turn down a bowl bid because it didn’t have enough players. Th Herd has a new coach. The Herd has a new team. Uga gives them an initiation – Georgia 45, Marshall 10.
Ball State at Purdue – (MAC vs. Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, BTN – Purdue has a new coach – Barry Odom. But don’t expect Odom to do at Purdue what Curt Cignetti did in his first year at Indiana last year. Far from it. Of all the pollsters, pundits and analysts, Purdue was a unanimous pick to finish last in the Big Ten this year. And I don’t think Purdue will pull off an Arizona State. Odom previously coached Missouri and UNLV. His record at Missouri was poor, but he had success at UNLV. The UNLV success, plus his experience, got him the job at Purdue. Ball State should be easy pickins’ for the Boilers. But something tells me Ball State will hang around and give Purdue some problems. However, not enough problems that Purdue can’t handle. Pete bounces the Ball – Purdue 30, Ball State 18.
ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:
#25 Boise State at South Florida – (MWC vs. AAC) – 5:30 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN….
Jacksonville State at UCF – (C-USA vs. Big 12) – 7 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN+….
Bethune-Cookman at FIU – (SWAC vs. C-USA) – 7 pm ET, Friday, ESPN+….
Lenoir-Rhyne at West Florida – (Gulf South vs. South Atlantic) – 7 pm ET, Friday….
Florida Atlantic at Maryland – (AAC vs. Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, BTN….
Florida A&M vs. Howard – (SWAC vs. MEAC) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, ESPNU….
Webber International at Stetson – (Sun vs. Pioneer) – 6 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….
Quotes of the Week
“I’m excited. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Might as well go have fun, right?” Texas quarterback Arch Manning three days before the Ohio State game.
“I’m worried about what his uncles are telling him right now,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, on Arch Manning.
The next posting of College Football Week - CFW - Week 1 Results - will be released on Tuesday morning, September 2.
Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
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