Week 1 Recap

Week 1 of the 2024 college football season was certainly interesting. A flurry of games throughout the weekend produced a handful of upsets, a bevy of Top 25 teams struggling to put away weaker competition, and the SEC flexing its offensive muscles. Week 2 seems poised to be a bit of a letdown for the top end of college football, as most of the Top 25 have FCS or Group of Five teams on the schedule this weekend. Of course, the phrase “any given Saturday” can apply to any week of the season, so let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.

Top 25 Matchups

Rankings are from this week’s AP Poll (CFP Poll after release), Game Times EST

Saturday 9/7:

12:00PM-3:00PM

• #4 Texas @ #10 Michigan, FOX
• Bowling Green @ #8 Penn State, BTN
• Arkansas @ #16 Oklahoma State, ABC
• #17 Kansas State @ Tulane, ESPN
• #23 Georgia Tech @ Syracuse, ACCN
• Tennessee Tech @ #1 Georgia, ESPN+

3:30PM-6:30PM

• Northern Illinois @ #5 Notre Dame, NBC
• Baylor @ #11 Utah, Fox
• Iowa State @ #21 Iowa, CBS
• Jacksonville State @ #22 Louisville, ESPN+
• Middle Tennessee @ #6 Ole Miss, SECN
• Florida A&M @ #12 Miami, ESPN+

7:00PM-11:00PM

• South Florida @ #4 Alabama, ESPN
• Buffalo @ #9 Missouri, ESPN
• #19 Kansas @ Illinois, FS1
• Western Michigan @ #2 Ohio State, BTN
• #14 Tennessee @ #24 NC State, ABC
• Nicholls @ #18 LSU, ESPN+
• Houston @ #15 Oklahoma, SECN
• Appalachian State @ #25 Clemson, ACCN
• Boise State @ #7 Oregon, Peacock
• Northern Arizona @ #20 Arizona, ESPN+
• Utah State @ #13 USC, BTN

Most Interesting Matchups

Colorado @ Nebraska: Coach Prime and the Buffaloes survived a scare vs NDSU last week. How will they fare against a Nebraska team playing at home, with a ton of confidence and a dynamic new quarterback in Dylan Raiola?

Tennessee @ NC State: Can Tennessee’s offense keep up their blistering pace against a Power 4 opponent? NC State struggled to pull away from FCS Western Colorado, so this one has the potential to get ugly fast.

Appalachian State @ Clemson: Clemson looked positively dreadful against Georgia, but the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 for a reason. If Appalachian State can keep this game from getting away from them in the first half, there is serious potential for a major upset on the road.

Boise State @ Oregon: The race for the 12 seed gets a lot more interesting as the Broncos visit one of the preseason playoff contenders under the lights in Eugene. Oregon was another ranked team that struggled against lesser competition last week, but they are still among one of the most talented in the nation.

Texas @ Michigan: Can the Wolverines shake off a rough start last week and make it 2-for-2 for the Big Ten against the SEC?

FCS Game of the Week

Montana @ North Dakota, 9/3, 6PM , ESPN+

Northwest FCS powers collide in a matchup of FCS Top 25 teams.

Selected Pick ATS

• Texas (-7.5) @ Michigan
• App. State (+17.5) @ Clemson
• Boise State (+19) @ Oregon
• Colorado @ Nebraska (-7.5)