It’s the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, which means the full chaos of college football has truly arrived.
Week 0 was just an appetizer, but things really get going this weekend as there are three matchups between teams ranked in the AP Top 25.
There were 21 games on Thursday — including Colorado’s win against perennial FCS powerhouse North Dakota State — and six games Friday before things really get going on Saturday. Here are the games that you need to make sure to watch this weekend.
The day starts with one of the best matchups of the week. Clemson enters this game looking to get its offense on track after a rough first season under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and led by QB Cade Klubnik. Both are back and hoping to improve against an uber-talented Georgia team led by Heisman hopeful QB Carson Beck. Though the Bulldogs may be missing running backs Roderick Robinson (injury) and Trevor Etienne (suspension), they’ll still be heavily favored in the neutral-site game in Atlanta.
It’s our first chance to get a glimpse of what could be a totally new Penn State offense. The Nittany Lions hired former Kansas co-offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to be PSU’s new offensive coordinator and his biggest task is to help Drew Allar play better in big games. West Virginia should be a good first test. The Mountaineers were 9-4 a season ago and bring back the majority of an offense that scored over 31 points per game last season.
The first game of the season doesn’t make or break a team’s season. But boy, does it feel like there’s a lot at stake in this in-state rivalry game. Miami enters the season with high expectations and a promising transfer quarterback in Cam Ward. The ACC could be up for grabs if Florida State’s surprising loss to Georgia Tech last week. Florida, meanwhile, may need this game for bowl eligibility at the end of the season. Seriously. The Gators have talent on both sides of the ball, but they also have the toughest schedule in college football.
Notre Dame doesn’t shy away from tough openers, and this is no exception. Saturday night is QB Riley Leonard’s first game in a Notre Dame uniform after transferring to Duke, but he’ll be playing behind a revamped offensive line that lost three starters from 2023. First-year Texas A&M coach Mike Elko brings a defense that has lots of new faces but is still plenty talented. And QB Connor Weigman returns as the Aggies’ starting quarterback with the goal of staying healthy for the whole season.
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Halftime: Georgia 6, Clemson 0
The Bulldogs essentially end the half after their drive stalls out just short of midfield.
Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is 8 for 8 with 2 TD passes and the Vols lead Chattanooga 21-0 halfway through the 1st.
We knew Tennessee had a chance to be explosive this year, but wow!
PSU 13, WVU 3
The Mountaineers are finally on the board with a 38-yard FG from Michael Hayes. West Virginia has controlled possession in the game so far, but has little to show for it.
Georgia 6, Clemson 0
The Bulldogs are able to tack on another 3 points with a 55-yard field goal from Peyton Woodring. There’s 4:16 left in the first half.
Not a great start for Iowa, but it’s up 3-0 on Southern Illinois.
Iowa’s new-look offense so far:
3 plays, 4 yards – punt 3 plays, 5 yards – punt 4 plays, 6 yards – field goal 6 plays, 16 yards – punt 7 plays, 30 yards – turnover 6 plays, 17 yards – punt
One play after converting a fourth down pass, Drew Allar hits Kaytron Allen out of the backfield for a 20-yard score.
Georgia 3, Clemson 0
We have our first points of the game in Atlanta. The Bulldogs worked their way all the way down inside the Clemson 10 before being held to a field goal.
Georgia has pieced together the best drive of the game so far and is nearing red zone now.
Early upset watch? Vanderbilt (+13.5) is dominating Virginia Tech so far. Leading 10-0 early in the 2nd.
New season, Iowa still punting
3 punts for Iowa in the 1st quarter versus Illinois St. The Hawkeyes are back! Probably a little too warm for the Punts sweatshirts on Aug. 31, though.
Oh, Iowa also kicked a field goal for a 3–0 lead.
Touchdown Penn State!
Drew Allar finds Harrison Wallace on a deep crossing route and Wallace takes it 50 yards to the house.
Clemson’s drive stalls out at midfield and they punt it back to Georgia. Points will be at a premium in this one.
Annnd we finally have a highlight in the Clemson-Georgia game. Antonio Williams makes a nifty 36-yard over-the-shoulder catch on the sideline.
WVU just went for it on fourth-and-1 deep in PSU territory and didn’t get it. It’ll be Nittany Lions ball at their own 16.
Clemson and Georgia have traded punts with little movement between them. The last time these two teams met, Georgia won 10-3 and the sole touchdown was a defensive one. Let’s hope this one provides a few more fireworks.
Pitt is off to a fast start to its season, leading 14-0 over Kent State after Desmond Reid’s 78-yard punt return touchdown!
Back-to-back turnovers for Penn State and West Virginia! Just one play after a botched snap by Drew Allar and PSU, West Virginia’s center hits the motion man and the Mountaineers turn it back over to PSU.
The Bulldogs are without their top two running backs in this one. Trevor Etienne is being held out and No. 2 RB Roderick Robinson is injured. No. 3 RB Branson Robinson will likely get the majority of the carries today.
It’s a quick three-and-out for Clemson to start things off in Atlanta.
