It’s time we get back into the real meat of the schedule, starting with a beautiful five consecutive days of college football over Labor Day weekend. While most of this week will consists of directional and/or State and/or Tech teams vs their much bigger older brothers, there are still some fun matchups to be found here.

Week Zero Recap

Reports of UNC’s demise appear to have been exaggerated, as the Tar Heels come back from the Emerald Isle with an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. NDSU appears to be handling the transition to FBS just fine, and UVA has (extremely) early momentum in the ACC title race. But enough about abridged football weekends, let’s move on to the first full slate of college games!

Top 25 Matchups

Rankings are from AP Poll

Thursday 9/3:

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ #25 Missouri, 8PM, SECN
• Idaho @ #21 Utah, 9PM, ESPNU

Friday 9/4:

• UTEP @ #10 Oklahoma, 8PM, SECN+
• #7 Miami @ Stanford, 9 PM, ESPN
• Fresno State @ #14 USC, 9PM, FOX

Saturday 9/5:

12:00-3:00PM

• Oregon State @ #23 Houston, ESPN
• East Carolina @ #13 Alabama, ABC
• North Texas @ #6 Indiana, FOX
• Ball State @ #1 Ohio State, BTN
• Tennessee State @ #3 Georgia, SECN+

3:30PM-6:30PM

• Marshall @ #18 Penn State, FS1
• Boise State @ #2 Oregon, CBS
• Texas State @ #5 Texas, ESPN
• Furman @ #20 Tennessee, SECN+
• Northern Illinois @ #22 Iowa, BTN

7:00-10:00PM

• Missouri State @ #8 Texas A&M, ESPN
• Abilene Christian @ #12 Texas Tech, FS1
• Western Michigan @ #16 Michigan, NBC
• Clemson @ #11 LSU, ABC
• Utah Tech @ #14 BYU, ESPN+

Sunday 9/6:

• Washington State @ #17 Washington, 4:30 PM, NBC
• Wisconsin @ #4 Notre Dame, 7:30 NBC (Green Bay)
• #24 Louisville @ #9 Ole Miss, 7:30 ABC (Nashville)

Monday 9/7:

• #19 SMU @ Florida State, 7:30 PM, ESPN

Most Interesting Matchups

Tulane @ Duke: To all of those who claim that Tulane wasted a playoff spot last year, I will remind you that the Green Wave did beat the eventual ACC champions in this matchup last time around. I’m sure both they and the Blue Devils hope this matchup will lead to a similar level of success this year.

Clemson @ LSU: After both of these teams regressed last season, a win here would signal that at least one of them is back on the path to legitimacy. However, given Dabo’s inability to adapt to the modern game and Lane Kiffin’s inability to keep his mouth shut, that may be easier said than done.

Washington State @ Washington: It’s always nice knowing that games like Apple Cup has been spared cancellation due conference realignment (at least for now). Like all good in-state rivalries, this one has no love lost between the Huskies and Cougars, especially since the former has jumped ship for the Big Ten.

Louisville @ Ole Miss: The Cardinals are coming in to this season looking to emerge from the top of a logjam on top of the ACC and build off of last year’s 9-win season. On the other side, the Rebels are the latest recipient of the “Lane Kiffin’s Scorned Ex” award and want to prove that one of the best seasons in school history was the result of more than just one man.

SMU @ Florida State: The devastating effect of Jordan Travis’ injury in 2023 needs a full 30 for 30 documentary at this point, as it has proven to be the exact moment that the Seminoles entered a tailspin that continues to this day. A win over a Mustangs squad that has been a consistent contender since moving up to the ACC would count for some signs of course correction for head coach Mike Norvell.

FCS Game of the Week

Illinois State @ Eastern Illinois, 9/5 7PM, ESPN+

Keeping with the “State vs Cardinal Direction” theme, this game also features a particularly fun mascot matchup in Redbirds vs Leathernecks (because Cardinals vs Soldiers is too boring, I guess).

Selected Pick ATS

My Picks:

Last Week: 2-1 Season: 2-1

• Tulane (+7.5) @ Duke
• Clemson (+10) @ LSU
• Wazzu (+23.5) @ Washington
• Louisville @ Ole Miss (-7)
• SMU (-3) @ FSU

Coin Flip Picks

Rules – Heads: Home Covers, Tails: Away Covers

Neutral Site: Heads picks the first team alphabetically

Last Week: 2-1 Season: 2-1

• Tulane (+7.5) @ Duke
• Clemson @ LSU (-10)
• Wazzu @ Washington (-23.5)
• Louisville (+7) @ Ole Miss
• SMU (-3) @ FSU