Week 1 of College Football Has Arrived

Good Thursday afternoon, and welcome to Week 1 of College Football. There has been so much controversy and upheaval in the game this summer and early into this season, that it’s mind-spinning every day to read about LSU and the SEC, and everything else going on.

The latest is that the SEC is suing LSU to disallow it from adding players who have signed NFL contracts to its roster. That saga is to be determined. Baton Rouge Judge William Jorden will decide today if the temporary restraining order allowing the professional players to play at LSU will be upheld, allowing them to play until at least September 11th.

It’s a cluster, and that’s all this Blog is going to talk about concerning that, as there is some terrific football going on this weekend around the Southeastern Conference and nationally.

The marquee game actually takes place in Baton Rouge, with Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers visiting Tiger Stadium and Coach Kiffin and LSU. Ole Miss squares off with Louisville in Nissan Stadium in Nashville in another classic on Sunday Night.

Of course, around these parts, the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers embark on important seasons for both programs, as Kalen DeBoer and new quarterback, the talented Keelon Russell, along with new offensive and defensive lines, take their first test in game 1 versus East Carolina.

And the Auburn Tigers really get challenged as Coach Alex Golesh comes to the Plains from South Florida, and he and his South Florida transfer quarterback Byrom Brown will face the Baylor Bears in an excellent non-conference matchup. It’s one of the marquee games of the weekend.

There are not a lot of blockbusters this first weekend, but all the big names are playing, and there are some key games that we’ll dive into.

Here’s a look at week 1 with previews and predictions.

Record last week, Week 0: SU, 3-4; ATS, 4-3; O/U, 4-3.

Games Saturday, Friday and Thursday. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted. All game times are Central.

Tier One games

East Carolina @ No.13 Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium 11 A.M., ABC. Bama by 28 1/2, 52 1/2

Keelon Russell is the highest-rated recruit ever signed by Alabama, according to 247 Sports, which started rating high school players in 2010. Keelon was a .9998 five-star. His senior season at Duncanville, Texas, he was named National Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions. His completion percentage was 69.4 as he connected on 238 of 343 passes. He averaged 298 passing yards per game.

It was a heated competition for starting quarterback on this year’s Crimson Tide team, with former four-star recruit from the University of Washington Austin Mack battling it out tooth and nail with Keelon. Russell had a nice spring game with Mack banged up.

Russell completed 21 of 33 passes for 240, 4 TDs and only 1 int. He’s a superb talent. Mack is a highly capable backup.

But he’s got to have protection and a lot of help from the running game. Michael Carroll at right guard and Jackson Lloyd at left tackle will be leaned on for leadership and physical toughnessas they try to clear running lanes for running backs Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and five-star freshman EJ Crowell, who has battled some injuries in the spring and summer but has been declared ready to go by Coach DeBoer. The wide receivers, led by Ryan Coleman- Williams, whom Alabama fans hope is rejuvenated, will need to produce.

The defense is anchored by Bray Hubbard, Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee and a hyper-talented secondary. Outside linebacker/defensive end Yhonzee Pierre is expected to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

So what can this team get done this year? Is it a Playoff spot and a deep run? It’s possible if the line can block, Russell can develop quickly, the running backs deliver, the wideouts play high level football, and the defense shines.

I like this team. They should get off to a solid start against East Carolina.

Alabama 42, East Carolina 10

Auburn vs. Baylor, Mercedes-Benz Stadium,Atlanta 2:30 P.M., ABC, Tigers by 7 1/2, 58 1/2

Alex Golesh and his new quarterback Byrom Brown, take center stage Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium as they challenge themselves against the Baylor Bears.

In 2025 at South Florida, Brown completed 226 of 341, 66%, for 3,158 yards, 28 TDs against 7 interceptions, and also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs. Those are impressive numbers. Can it translate against SEC defenses in 2026? That’s the sixty-four-thousand- dollar question. He’ll be challenged out of the starting blocks against a pretty good Baylor team.

The Auburn rushing game, along with Brown, will need to help. Jeremiah Cobb headlines that group as the junior rushed for 969 yards and 5 TDs in 2025. Like the Crimson Tide, the Tigers will have to get good production out of their offensive line. The receivers, several of whom are from South Florida, will need to produce, and DJ Durkin’s defense, led by standout outside linebacker Xavier Atkins, will need to play solidly for the squad to make an improvement from the last several years, which Auburn fans are more than ready for.

I like the Tigers to win Saturday. They’ll be challenged by Dave Aranda’s Bears, but I’ll take the Tigers to persevere and start off with a solid out of conference victory.

Auburn 31, Baylor 27

Clemson @ No.11 LSU, Tiger Stadium, 6:30 P.M. ABC, LSU by 10 1/2, 50 1/2

Quite a matchup of two complete opposite personalities running their respective sidelines.

Dabo Swinney is old guard, by the book: recruit’em, train’em, play hard-nosed football, respect the integrity of the game. Just play solid football.

Lane Kiffin pushes the envelope to the limit. He attacks the transfer portal, has a $50 million team payroll, and plays wide-open, go-for-it on every fourth down type football. He’s a risk taker and causes controversy wherever he is.

LSU first year quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 216 of 350 passes in 2024 for Arizona State, 62%, for 2,885 yards, 24 TDs and 6 interceptions. In an injury riddled 2025, Leavitt was 145 of 239, 61%, for 1,628 yards, 10 TDs and 3 interceptions. He brings a lot of talent, experience and leadership to the LSU Tigers football team.

On the opposite side, Coach Sweeney went with redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina of Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham and a nephew of Birmingham native Davy Bennett, whom several people know on this Blog.

Vizzina completed 45 of 71 passes last season for 406 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interception in more limited play as Cade Klubnik played most of the snaps. Klubnik is trying to make it in the pros now. So it’ll be an interesting quarterback and coaching matchup.

I like LSU only because they’re at home. There are a lot of new players down there, and it might take time for them to jell. Dabo and his team gives them a tussle.

LSU 28, Clemson 24

Sunday

No. 24 Louisville vs. No.9 Ole Miss, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, 6:30 P.M. ABC, Ole Miss by 6 1/2, 55 1/2

Pete Golding takes over for his first full season after taking over the Rebels in the Playoff, and, along with his superstar quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, leading the team to the Semifinals of the Playoff before falling to Miami late in the game. But the team posted two solid playoff victories over Tulane and Georgia.

Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes last season, 66%, for 3,937 yards, 22 TDs and only 3 interceptions. He also rushed for 537 yards and 8 more TDs. He’s a phenom, and so is running back Kewan Lacy, who rushed for 1,567 yards and 24 scores in 2025. Both these guys are Heisman Trophy candidates, along with several others. But these are two of the best players in the country.

I like Pete, Trinidad, Kewan, and what Golding says is the best defense he’s ever coached to get the job done in Nashville.

Ole Miss 31, Louisville 24

Tennessee State @ No.3 Georgia, Sanford Stadium, 2 P.M., SEC Network+, Georgia by 47 1/2, 54 1/2

Georgia should have no problem here. Gunner Stockton and his teammates commence on what they hope will be a special season in 2026. They always are special seasons at Georgia, but Stockton and his team want to take it to another level.

Georgia 49, Tennessee State 3

Texas State @ No.5 Texas, DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, 2:30 P.M. ESPN, Texas by 30, 59 1/2

The young man from the first family of football will try to lead his Longhorns to a higher level in 2026. Texas has knocked on the door with Steve Sarkisian at the helm, and there were high hopes for Arch last season. While those expectations weren’t met, he showed a lot of promise for what kind of quarterback he can become, as Texas was one of the teams that barely missed the Playoff.

Manning completed 248 of 404 passes, 61%, for 3,163 yards, 26 TDs and 7 interceptions. He rushed for 399 yards and 10 more TDs. He’ll lead a terrifically talented Texas team into 2026, a group that thinks it can win it all. He has the running backs and the wide receiving corps, with Cam Coleman from Auburn leading the way. The offensive line and defense will decide how far the Longhorns go this season.

Texas 52, Texas State 7

Tier 2 games

Friday

UTEP @ No.10 Oklahoma, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 7 P.M., SEC Network, OU by 41 1/2, 51 1/2

I like Brent Venables, John Mateer and the Sooners to have a solid start to the season. The OU defense will be stout. Mateer’s play is the key to the Sooners’ success this season.

Oklahoma 45, UTEP 3

Missouri State @ No.8 Texas A&M, Kyle Field, 6 P.M., ESPN, Aggies by 40 1/2, 53 1/2

For Mike Elko and his Aggies, it’s all about the play of quarterback Marcel Reed this season.

If Reed excels, so do the Aggies. If he’s inconsistent, they won’t reach their goals of making the Playoff and advancing there.

I like Reed. He seems like a great kid from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and has played a lot of good football. He completed 234 of 377, 62%, for 3,169 yards, 25 TDs and 12 interceptions in 2025. He also rushed for 493 yards and 6 more TDs. He’s got a lot of talent. He threw too many interceptions last season and had poor games against Texas in the final game of the season and against Miami in the Aggies first round playoff loss at home.

But he’s got a shot to do well, and so do the Aggies in the SEC and nationally.

Elko has the No.1 recruiting class in the country in 2027 right now.

A&M 45, Mizzou State 7

Florida Atlantic @ Florida, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 6:45 P.M., Gators by 26 1/2, 59 1/2

Like many schools, Florida has a new coach and a new quarterback. Jon Sumrall comes over from Tulane, where he had good success, and before that at Troy. Aaron Philo, a Georgia Tech transfer, will be under center for Florida in game 1.

In limited play at Tech, Philo completed 21 of 28 passes, 75%, for 373 with a TD and one interception. He played behind established starter Haynes King at Tech.

But Sumrall and the Gators are high on Philo, and they’re ecstatic to have running back Jaden Baugh back. Baugh rushed for 1,170 yards and 8 TDs last season and has the potential, with his physicality and breakaway speed, to really enhance those numbers this season.

I like this Gators squad. They’l be heading in the right direction in 2026.

Florida 41, Florida Atlantic 14

Furman (1-0) @ No. 20 Tennessee, Neyland Stadium, 2:30 P.M., SEC Network+, Tennessee by 46 1/2, 66 1/2

Josh Heupel picked five-star freshman Faizon Brandon as his quarterback over four-star sophomore George McIntyre. Brandon is a specimen at 6’3 1/2″, 225 pounds. This will be interesting to watch. The kid’s got a ton of talent, so it might work out for Heupel and the Vols.

Tennessee 35, Furman 17

Tonight

Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-0) @ No.25 Missouri, Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, 7 P.M., SEC Network, Mizzou by 55 1/2, 61 1/2

Missouri will start Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons, who got Wally Pipped by Trinidad Chambliss at Oxford last season. Starting running back Ahmad Hardy was shot this summer but is expected to be back in mid September. Gotta be careful out there.

Jamal Roberts will start at running back. Roberts rushed for 753 yards and 6 TDs last season, so he’s a strong replacement for Hardy while he keeps recovering.

Give me Eli Drinkwitz and his team to have a good night tonight.

Missouri 59, Arkansas Pine Bluff 3

Tier 3 games

Kent State @ South Carolina, Williams-Brice Stadium, 11:45 A.M., SEC Network, SC by 36 1/2, 54 1/2

Shane Beamer hired Kendal Briles from TCU as his offensive coordinator to try to turn his and his team’s fortunes around. I like the hire. If he can get LaNorris Sellers playing good football under center, the Gamecocks have a chance to win 8 or 9 games this season. There’s a lot of talent on this team.

South Carolina 48, Kent State 7

Austin Peay @ Vanderbilt, FirstBank Stadium, 6 P.M., SEC Network+, Vanderbilt by 29 1/2, 60 1/2

Clark Lea had really gained momentum from last season’s 10-3 season, though they did lose in the ReliaQuest Bowl to Iowa, 34-27. They looked like they had mailed it in after not getting in the playoff.

Still, things looked highly optimistic as the Dores signed five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, stealing him away from Georgia.

But Lea has gone with New Mexico State transfer Blaze Berlowitz as his starter versus Austin Peay, saying both quarterbacks will play. I believe in the axiom that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback. And Curtis’ ceiling is so much higher than Berlowitz’s. I hope it works out for Lea. Seems like a mistake. There’s a lot of talent around the quarterback and on the other side of the ball, Lea has recruited the high schools and portal well, so maybe that can compensate for the two quarterback/no quarterback system.

Vanderbilt 30, Austin Peay 10

North Alabama (1-0) @ Arkansas, Razorback Stadium, 3:15 P.M., SEC Network, Arkansas by 40 1/2, 63 1/2

After a successful tenure at Memphis, Ryan Silverfield tests the hard-charging waters of the SEC. North Alabama’s already played and won a game, so the Hogs may be tested a little more than they think. Probably not, though. North Alabama defeated woeful Samford last Saturday, 22-10.

Arkansas 52, North Alabama 10

Kentucky 35, Youngstown State (1-0) 17

Kroger Field, Lexington, 12 P.M. SEC Network+, Kentucky by 23 1/2, 62 1/2

Mississippi State 35, LA Monroe 10

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, State by 28 1/2, 54 1/2

National Outlook

No.6 Indiana 45, North Texas 3, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, 11 A.M. FOX, IU by 40 1/2, 55 1/2

Curt Cignetti has a new quarterback after he and Fernando Mendoza led their team to the national championship in 2025. Mendoza is now waiting his turn behind Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas for the Raiders, and Cignetti has a new quarterback, TCU transfer Josh Hoover.

Hoover completed 272 of 413 passes last season, 66%, for 3,472 yards, 29 TDs, and 13 interceptions. I feel like Cignetti and his coaching staff will figure how to get Hoover to cut down on the interceptions and have a big season, with IU right in the thick of things in December/January.

No.1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, 11:30 A.M., Big Ten Network

Buckeyes by 50 1/2, 56 1/2

As a freshman, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in a Buckeye national championship season. Last season, his sophomore year, he caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs. He could be lifting the Heisman Trophy in December and the national championship trophy in January if his team pans out.

No.2 Oregon 38, Boise State 10

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, 2:30 P.M., CBS

Oregon by 24 1/2, 51 1/2

Dan Lanning has recruited and developed Oregon into what should be the best team they’ve ever had in his five years at the helm. They have trouble with the final hurdles in the playoff, but this year’s team could be different.

Sunday

No.4 Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 7

Lambeau Field, Green Bay. Gotta love that.

6:30 P.M. NBC

ND by 21, 46 1/2

The Fighting Irish under Marcus Freeman are playing with a mad on after being snubbed from the Playoff last season. They start their 2026 journey impressively at the Frozen Tundra.

Friday

No.7 Miami 24, Stanford 21

Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, CA.

8 P.M., ESPN

Miami by 24 1/2, 47 1/2

Miami has trouble with the rejuvenated Stanford team under coach Tavita Pritchard.

Davis Warren, the Stanford quarterback, is the son of Jeff Warren, who I was a Phi Delta Theta with at Vanderbilt. Jeff was a super guy and Davis seems like a great young guy too.