It’s the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, which means the full chaos of college football has truly arrived.
There were 21 games on Thursday — including Colorado’s win against perennial FCS powerhouse North Dakota State — and six games Friday before a full slate on Saturday.
No. 1 Georgia got things started with an absolute show of force, blasting No. 14 Clemson 34-3 in their season opener. Heisman favorite Carson Beck was on point throughout, throwing for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Here are the best games to watch the rest of today.
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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Touchdown Miami!
Who else but the crafty veteran Cam McCormick? The ninth-year player catches a crossing route from Cam Ward and takes it in for a 9-yard TD.
The Hurricanes have pieced together the best drive of the game so far and are at the Florida 10 after a boneheaded roughing the passer penalty on third down.
Final: Vanderbilt 34, Virginia Tech 27, OT
Vandy gets the stop on 4th and 11 to end Virginia Tech’s shot in overtime! The Commodores pull off the upset in a thriller!
Noteworthy games in the afternoon window just starting:
Miami-Florida
Nebraska-UTEP
Texas-Colorado State
Ohio State-Akron
Penn State-West Virginia still delayed
Another lightning strike in the area has restarted the 30-minute countdown clock in Morgantown.
Vanderbilt strikes first in OT
Vandy gets the ball first and marches into the end zone. It’s a 34-27 lead.
Virginia Tech will have its shot to match.
Vanderbilt-Virginia Tech headed to OT!
With a chance to win it for Vanderbilt, Brock Taylor MISSES from 43 yards out at the buzzer!
Vanderbilt is gonna have a kick to win this thing. It’ll be about a 43-yarder.
Vanderbilt got the stop on defense and now it’s on the move, with the ball already on the edge of field goal range. 15 seconds left.
Vanderbilt ties it!
Vanderbilt gets the tying score an an 8-yard Sedrick Alexander TD run to make it 27-27 with Virginia Tech. 1:51 to play
Final: Georgia 34, Clemson 3
It was utter domination by the Bulldogs in the second half as the offense had its way with Clemson’s defense, rattling off chunk plays at will. Their defense was even more impressive, holding the Tigers to just a field goal in the game.
The Tigers went for it on fourth down deep in Bulldogs territory, but they did not get it, so that’s a wrap for the marquee game of the day.
Virginia Tech takes the lead!
Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones finds Ali Jennings WIDE OPEN for a 62-yard TD strike. Looked like a busted coverage for Vanderbilt. Hokies take their first lead of the game, 27-20, with under 5 minutes to play.
After leading the country in rushing yards last season, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon is starting off this season right by bulldozing anybody that gets in his way.
Touchdown Georgia
Georgia’s Cash Jones runs it in from 15 yards to extend the Bulldogs lead. The No. 1 team in the country looks really, really good
Interception Georgia!
The Bulldogs will have a chance to add onto that lead again as Malaki Starks goes up and grabs the ball out of the air for a slick pick.
Virginia Tech has knotted it up at 20-20 with Vanderbilt on an impressive TD throw by Kyron Drones!
Best game of the early session today? Under 9 minutes to play in Nashville.
Touchdown Georgia!
The Bulldogs are cooking with gas now. Carson Beck finds London Humphreys on a crossing route and Humphreys turns on the boosters for a 40-yard TD.
The Tigers are forced to punt it back to the Bulldogs. There’s just nothing happening on the offensive side of the ball for Clemson, and Georgia is moving the ball at will in this second half.
