It is finally Week One of college football. The best time of the year and one that we have all been waiting for. Fans and teams have spent months planning and making predictions. And what happens on the field this week is when we find out who really deserves the hype. Starting off, the Tigers will face each other in Baton Rouge.
Both teams finished 7-5 in the regular season before losing their bowl games. LSU enters this season ranked No. 11, while Clemson remains unranked. In my opinion, Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut looks good. Their stacked offense now includes Sam Leavitt. It could be intimidating for Clemson. They are coming off its worst season since 2010. This game will tell us whether LSU is a playoff team or just a preseason favorite. Now, is Oregon really the No. 2 team in college football? I guess we will have to see.
Photo Cred: ESPN
Oregon enters the matchup as the clear favorite. The Ducks finished last season 13-2. They stand at No. 2 in the AP Poll marks their highest preseason ranking in the program’s history. Oregon returns key pieces on its defensive line. Also safety Koi Perich arrives, who transferred from Minnesota. Quarterback Dante Moore returns to lead the offense. Some say they could have a championship run and I agree. Boise State, on the other hand, has everyone’s eyes on Maddux Madsen as the fifth-year quarterback. That goes for offensive tackle Daylon Metoyer as well. Defensive tackle David Latu struggled with injuries last season, and with hopes that he remains healthy, I think he could have a good season ahead.
Now, is Indiana a one-hit wonder? Was that 16-0 season just a fluke? The Mean Green will put that to the test. Coming off a national championship-winning season, the Hoosiers need to prove that they can maintain last year’s success. They have a fresh new roster without their Heisman-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. North Texas is in the same boat without Drew Mestemaker, who led the FBS in passing yards last season before transferring to Oklahoma State.
Photo Cred: ESPN
The fact that both teams are entering Week One with new quarterbacks makes Saturday’s game even more interesting. Especially with Josh Hoover taking over for Indiana and former Hoosier Tayven Jackson starting for North Texas. College Football Week One is going to tell us more than we think. These results will largely shape the in-season rankings week one on September 8th. While we know this first week doesn’t define the national championship team, it gives us insight into the way we view these teams for the remainder of the season.
