Yes, I’m back. For real this time. I wasn’t lying when I said my coverage would increase, and you would see more posts. I already completed my preseason top 25, but my preseason college football coverage doesn’t stop there. Along with this post, I plan on writing up my preseason All-American team and conference champion picks (the latter coming with my Saturday Selections post on August 27). I will also review the AP Poll that came out on Monday. With the All-American post, I will also include my picks for the college football awards (major conference player of the year, national player of the year, defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year, and freshman of the year). There are many great games each week, so along with my top game, I will also include honorable mentions for each week. Anyways, let’s get into Week 0 to start.
Week 0: Nebraska vs. Northwestern (in Dublin, Ireland)
Week 0 games only became part of college football in 2002, with a hiatus from 2005 to 2015. Highly anticipated Week 0 matchups are rare, with USC vs. Virginia Tech (2004) and Florida vs. Miami (FL) (2019) being the highlights in past years. This year includes an international matchup in Dublin, Ireland, between two Big Ten teams. Unfortunately, both teams finished at the bottom of the Big Ten West last season. Nebraska is known as one of college football’s most historic programs. Northwestern has not won the Big Ten since 2000. With Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost on the hot seat again this year, he needs a win over Northwestern to prove that he can help Nebraska win games, as they have not had a winning record under Frost. Expectations are low for the Huskers, as they lost starting quarterback Adrian Martinez to Kansas State.
Tune into the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on August 27 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX.
Honorable mentions: Howard-Alabama State (FCS) (in Atlanta) (7 PM ET, ESPN); Stephen F. Austin-Jacksonville State (FCS) (in Montgomery, AL) (3:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Week 1: #5 Notre Dame at #2 Ohio State
There is only a handful of Week 1 games where two top-10 teams, let alone two top-5 teams face off. For the second straight season, a top-5 matchup kicks off the season on Labor Day weekend. Last year it was between Georgia and Clemson, but this year includes a night game in Columbus between two of college football’s most decorated programs. Notre Dame is the clear underdog, as they are still a team that needs to figure itself out offensively. Ohio State was upset last time they hosted a major opponent not in the Big Ten (Oregon last year). Every top-5 matchup is a must-watch, especially this one with both teams containing lots of potential.
Tune into Notre Dame at Ohio State on September 3 at 7:30 PM ET on ABC.
Honorable mentions: #11 Oregon vs. #3 Georgia (in Atlanta) (3:30 PM ET, ABC); #23 Cincinnati at #19 Arkansas (3:30 PM ET, ESPN); West Virginia at #17 Pittsburgh (9/1, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
Week 2: #1 Alabama at Texas
Despite there being a matchup between two top 25 teams later in the day, this matchup includes many talented players on both teams, as well as a coaching battle between Nick Saban and Steve Sarkisian. Alabama and Texas will eventually be conference foes, with the Longhorns joining the SEC in 2025. I consider Texas to have enough to be in the top 25, but apparently, the AP Poll disagrees. After falling to Georgia in last year’s National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide will have their first real test in Austin.
Tune into Alabama at Texas on September 10 at 12 PM ET on FOX.
Honorable mentions: #10 Baylor at #25 BYU (10:15 PM ET, ESPN); Tennessee at #17 Pittsburgh (3:30 PM ET, ABC); #20 Kentucky at Florida (7 PM ET, ESPN)
Week 3: #16 Miami (FL) at #6 Texas A&M
Both Miami and Texas A&M seemed to have benefitted the most from NIL, and both look to find a great boost to their resumé in College Station. Tyler Van Dyke, one of the more talented quarterbacks in college football, has a chance to show the college football world what he’s made of. These teams don’t play often, so take it in.
Tune into Miami (FL) at Texas A&M on September 17 at 9 PM ET on ESPN.
Honorable mentions: #25 BYU at #11 Oregon (3:30 PM ET, FOX); #9 Oklahoma at Nebraska (12 PM ET, FOX); Penn State at Auburn (3:30 PM ET, CBS)
Week 4: #19 Arkansas vs. #6 Texas A&M (in Arlington, TX)
I love this year’s matchup. Arkansas brings back KJ Jefferson to face Texas A&M, a team with lots of potential but needs to prove it. Both teams could be undefeated coming into this highly anticipated matchup (unless Cincinnati beats Arkansas), setting up for one of the SEC’s best matchups this season.
Tune into the Southwest Classic on September 24 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #18 Wisconsin at #2 Ohio State (ABC); #4 Clemson at #22 Wake Forest; Florida at Tennessee
Week 5: #13 NC State at #4 Clemson
This matchup is between the two best ACC teams, both teams with high expectations coming into this season. Clemson’s defense looks strong, but the offense needs to prove itself. NC State has the preseason ACC Player of the Year, Devin Leary, who helped the Wolfpack upset Clemson in Raleigh last year. Could they go back to back?
Tune into NC State at Clemson on October 1 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #12 Oklahoma State at #10 Baylor; #20 Kentucky at #21 Ole Miss; #1 Alabama at #19 Arkansas
Week 6: #6 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama
Two of the best teams in their division face off again after a thrilling upset win for the Aggies last season. However, that game was in Bryan-College Station. Can the Aggies go back-to-back with the game being in Tuscaloosa this year? We’ll find out when Week 6 comes around.
Tune into Texas A&M at Alabama on October 8 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: Texas vs. #9 Oklahoma (in Dallas) (ABC); #2 Ohio State at #15 Michigan State; #25 BYU vs. #5 Notre Dame (in Las Vegas) (7:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock)
Week 7: #14 USC at #7 Utah
Despite Oregon ranked ahead of the Trojans, I believe this matchup has the two best teams in the Pac-12 this year. USC is loaded with talent, thanks to new head coach Lincoln Riley. Utah lost linebacker Devin Lloyd, but Kyle Whittingham’s team looks strong with lots of talent returning, including quarterback Cameron Rising. The Pac-12, with an unknown future, needs all the love that they can get with the major conference realignment going on.
Tune into USC at Utah on October 15 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #18 Wisconsin at #15 Michigan State; #19 Arkansas at #25 BYU; #1 Alabama at Tennessee
Week 8: Texas at #12 Oklahoma State
With Texas moving to the SEC, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy had words to say about it, saying they “took the money and ran.” That could make this matchup fierce, with Texas’ talented squad and Oklahoma State’s experienced team. Get some popcorn for this one, folks.
Tune into Texas at Oklahoma State on October 22 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: Iowa at #2 Ohio State; Purdue at #18 Wisconsin (3:30 PM ET); #21 Ole Miss at LSU
Week 9: #15 Michigan State at #8 Michigan
Last year’s battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy lived up to the hype, with Kenneth Walker III having his own Heisman moment (despite him not being one of the finalists). Both teams have the teams to compete for a trip to Indianapolis, but they will need to eliminate one or the other in this rivalry matchup.
Tune into Michigan State at Michigan on October 29 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #21 Ole Miss at #6 Texas A&M; #20 Kentucky at Tennessee; #2 Ohio State at Penn State
Week 10: #4 Clemson at #5 Notre Dame
Remember the last time Clemson came to South Bend? The Tigers were upset, and the Notre Dame fans infamously stormed the field (it’s infamous because the COVID-19 pandemic was a much more signifcant issue at the time). D.J. Uiagalelei returns to Notre Dame Stadium after he filled in Trevor Lawrence’s shoes the last time he was there. The Tigers seek revenge, but both teams have gone through changes since the previous meeting in Indiana. Both teams are ranked in the AP Top 5, setting up one of the only top 5 clashes of the season.
Tune into Clemson at Notre Dame on November 5 at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
Honorable mentions: #10 Baylor at #9 Oklahoma; #22 Wake Forest at #13 NC State; #1 Alabama at LSU
Week 11: #1 Alabama at #21 Ole Miss
This rivalry matchup features the only top 25 matchup of the week (as of right now). However, the Crimson Tide have not fallen to the Rebels since 2015, when Ole Miss got them back-to-back years. Matt Corral is no longer at Ole Miss, as he was drafted into the NFL. How will USC transfer Jaxson Dart do as he replaces Corral this season? We’ll know by Week 11, that’s for sure.
Tune into Alabama at Ole Miss on November 12 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #18 Wisconsin at Iowa; LSU at #19 Arkansas; #17 Pittsburgh at Virginia
Week 12: #12 Oklahoma State at #9 Oklahoma
With Bedlam’s future up in the air, this year’s matchup makes the rivalry even more special. It’s common for this annual matchup to become a college football classic, but the Sooners have won six of the last seven meetings, with the Pokes putting an end to Oklahoma’s streak this past season. Both teams are ranked in the top 12, as they should be. I’m excited about this matchup late in the season.
Tune into the Bedlam Series on November 19 (time & TV info TBD).
Honorable mentions: #7 Utah at #11 Oregon; #16 Miami (FL) at #4 Clemson; #21 Ole Miss at #19 Arkansas
Week 13: #8 Michigan at #2 Ohio State
Michigan beat Ohio State for the first time since 2011 last year, locking in their spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and eventually the College Football Playoff. As one of the oldest college football rivalries, there’s not much better than when both teams are highly ranked as they face off the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Tune into The Game on November 26 at 12 PM ET on FOX.
Honorable mentions: #5 Notre Dame at #14 USC; Auburn at #1 Alabama; #17 Pittsburgh at #16 Miami (FL)
Week 15: Army vs. Navy (in Philadelphia)
The Army-Navy rivalry is one of the greatest rivalries in sports. As both schools face off on the same field as the Philadelphia Eagles, all eyes are on this game. The traditions that happen every year are just as good as the game itself. It’s a perfect ending to every regular season as everyone prepares for bowl season.
Tune into Army vs. Navy on December 10 at 3 PM ET on CBS.
Calhoun's Corner 