Football is a tough game to follow. Some quick shot numbers and names to get you started!
BEST GAME
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 20 USC?
No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas?
No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina.
No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.
No. 11 Mississippi faces No. 4 Florida State in Orlando, Florida, on Monday night.
Florida State seems set everywhere but quarterback. Redshirt Deondre Francois takes over a team with national title hopes. Dalvin Cook is one of the best running backs in the country and safety Derwin James is a versatile playmaker on defense.
HEISMAN WATCH
No player could do more for his Heisman Trophy hopes in Week 1 than Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. The 15th-ranked Cougars open against No. 3 Oklahoma atNRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Longest current season-opener winning streaks:
Florida — 26. The Gators play UMass at the Swamp.
USC — 17. The Trojans face Alabama in Arlington, Texas.
Ohio State — 16. The Buckeyes host Bowling Green.
(SLIGHTLY) OFF THE RADAR
BYU opens against Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, marking the return of Cougars QB Taysom Hill for a sixth season of eligibility.
The Arizona game is the first in a string of high-level opponents for the independent BYU.
COACH IN NEED OF A WIN
It’s never too early to start the hot seat watch.
Big challenges and great opportunities to show things are headed in the right direction for all the coaches.
For Auburn, a solid showing against a team that pushed Alabama in the championship game could make a loss in the opener palatable to Malzahn’s critics. All will be told as we kick off to the College Football Season!