CFB Game Guide Week 1:
Well, week one proved to be quite the hors d’oeuvres for the season kickoff—or should that be a serving of crispy potato cakes, given the location? Nobody could have scripted a better finish to the Irish opener, Georgia Tech playing the underdog role to perfection. Now, we focus on the veritable feast of action in Week 1. Knowing what to watch and when can be tricky, so we will help you navigate the schedule each week and pick the matchups to which we will assign one of our multiple screens.
Early Kickoff Window
Big Screen Billing: Clemson @ Georgia (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, ABC)
Five years ago, this would have been a blockbuster, and while there will be plenty of intrigue and future draft picks, Dabo Swinney’s unwillingness to participate in the transfer portal means there is a substantial talent gap between these two teams.
Georgia should run out winners. Carson Beck has had a year to get comfortable at QB for the Bulldogs, and 2024 is billed as his procession to the number 1 overall draft selection. Elsewhere, the roster remains stacked with five stars.
For Clemson, the defense will need to come up with turnovers and players like linebacker Barrett Carter have the talent to make an impact. However, QB Cade Klubnik will need to show much more than he has put on tape in his first two years, and Phil Mafeh, the powerful running back, will need a monster day to keep this one interesting into the second half.
Keep an eye on: Virginia Tech @ Vanderbilt (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, ESPN)
You want to keep an eye on the Virginia Tech Hokies. Head Coach Brent Pry is now in his third year, and the team is steadily improving. Given that they have retained much of their talent, they should outdo their 7-6 record from 2023. Quarterback Kyron Drones should be worth the watch alone. He is a dual threat, and his bowl performance last season highlighted that, with Drones rushing for 176 yards.
Although this one is only against the SEC’s regular whipping boys Vanderbilt, it’s an early test to see if the Hokies are legitimate challengers for the ACC title.
Upset Alert: Penn State @ West Virginia (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, FOX)
Playoff expansion in College Football has made a National Championship run more accessible for multiple programs, and with that comes plenty of pressure. James Franklin is one of the head coaches feeling that most keenly. Penn State has the talent but has failed to prove itself in the big-time matchups.
They kick off the season as 8.5-point favourites over West Virginia. It will be a febrile atmosphere in Morgantown, with West Virginia fans hoping for a run at the wide-open Big-12 championship. Penn State QB Drew Allar will have plenty on his plate and will be looking to establish a rapport with his wide receivers, incoming transfer Julian Fleming and returning Trey Wallace.
There should be no worries on the defensive front, with edge rushers Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton headlining an impressive group. It would be a surprise for the Mountaineers to run out winners, but it’s not the easiest way to kick off a season for the Nittany Lions.
Primetime Window
Big Screen Billing: Miami (FL) @ Florida (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, ABC)
What better way to kick off the prime-time window than an in-state rivalry? Miami travels to the swamp with Mario Cristobal eager to land an ACC title for the Hurricanes. There’s equal, if not more, pressure on the other sideline where Billy Napier is struggling on the field and on the recruiting trail. A tough 2024 schedule could be the final nail in his coffin.
Miami will be the favourites, and Florida State’s slip-up in Dublin allows them to seize an early upper hand in the conference. Cam Ward gets his chance on the big stage to show his playmaking ability, backed up by highly-rated running back Damien Martinez.
For Florida, Graham Mertz retains his starting berth at quarterback, but the leash will be short now that he has a five-star backup. DJ Lagway is an electrifying talent that Canes fans will be baying for if Mertz fails to inspire early confidence.
Keep an eye on: Akron @ Ohio State (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, CBS)
Okay, so this matchup isn’t one for those looking for parity. As a fifty-point favourite, this isn’t going to be a close one! It will be intriguing to see how flawless Ohio State, one of the National Championship contenders, can be. That starts with quarterback Will Howard. Suddenly forced out of Kansas State as they moved on to Avery Johnson, he is now charged with leading one of the most high-powered groups in the nation.
There are plenty of other questions as well. Does freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith get week 1 snaps? How does Sonny Styles transition to life as a full-time linebacker? How does the snap count fall out between transfer running back Quinshon Judkins and returning senior TreVeyon Henderson? If you can bear seeing the Zips getting a shellacking, you might get some answers!
After Dark Window
Keep an eye on: Notre Dame @ Texas A&M (7.30PM ET / 12.30AM GMT, ABC)
The evening slate brings us another hotly anticipated matchup as Notre Dame heads to College Station to take on Texas A&M. Again, the twelve-team playoff brings pressure to third-year coach Marcus Freeman, with his Fighting Irish expected to be major players.
It won’t be easy, though. Having lost their starting left tackle to injury, Notre Dame must find a way to protect new quarterback Riley Leonard, who is seeking to boost his draft stock. College Station will be alive for this primetime kickoff, and a win for the Aggies would prove that Mike Elko is a much more stable presence than the unsuccessful hype train Jimbo Fisher brought to town.
Keep your eyes on quarterback Conner Weigman, who may be the top true junior quarterback in the nation. He flashed potential before missing the majority of last season through injury. If he can unpick an experienced Irish defense, then his stock will rise.
Keep an eye on: Fresno State @ Michigan (7.30PM ET / 12.30PM GMT, NBC)
The Michigan Wolverines should be entering 2024 basking in a glow of superstardom having won the National Championship. Instead, they are fending off NCAA allegations left, right and centre. All while missing a huge chunk of talent that graduated to the NFL and, oh yes that’s right, the Head Coach who brought them a title – Jim Harbaugh.
It couldn’t be a much more difficult start for new coach Sherrone Moore, who is wrapped up in the sign-stealing saga himself, being a coordinator for the Wolverines last year. He also needs to bed in an inexperienced quarterback in Alex Orji. Orji has a lot of the physical traits needed to succeed but will it translate to immediate success?
One thing the Wolverines can depend on is this defense. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are a formidable interior duo on the line, while Will Johnson vies for the top corner spot in the 2025 draft class. That should give them the edge over Fresno State, but this remains an intriguing watch.
Something Extra...
Keep an eye on: LSU @ USC (7.30PM ET / 12.30AM GMT, ABC)
If all that wasn’t enough. College Football chucks you a tasty morsel on Sunday evening, given that the NFL doesn’t start until next week. This one sees two quarterbacks who had to watch from the bench in 2023. Garrett Nussmeier for the Tigers faces off against Lincoln Riley’s new Trojan project, Miller Moss. Which of the two will adjust best to a starting role?
USC coach Lincoln Riley will likely be more concerned with how his new look defense plays. New DC D’Anton Lynn will hope to bring some backbone to a unit that has been the laughing stock of the Pac-12 for the last two years. Now a member of the Big 10, things are unlikely to get much easier. Facing off against an SEC powerhouse is as good a warmup as any, right?
For LSU the seat is getting warmer for Brian Kelly, now in his third season after jumping ship from Notre Dame, he would be left red-faced if his former team made a deep playoff run and LSU fail to do so. After his defense conceded 34.4 points per game last season, facing Lincoln Riley in the opener could be seen as a potential banana skin.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.