Week 0 was the appetizer. Thursday night certainly got things off on the right foot. And now you're ready for the main course. Notre Dame-Ohio State in a top-five tussle. Oregon-Georgia with Dan Lanning's Ducks debut against Kirby Smart and the defending champs. Cincinnati-Arkansas with two would-be contenders looking to make an early statement. And that's just scratching the surface.
But you're not here to read an intro, and we've got a lot to cover, so let's dive straight in.
Here's everything you need to know -- storylines, betting info, viewing guide, etc. -- about the chaotic super marathon that is the first weekend of the 2022 college football season. Hope you're well rested. Hope you're hydrated.
All times are Eastern.
Is Ohio State as good as we think? Does Notre Dame have top-four potential?
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State (7:30 p.m., ABC)
"We feel like we're the strongest, most badass motherf---ers in the country." That was Notre Dame defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola's official statement to the media earlier this week. We'll find out soon enough if that's true, but it rather eloquently points to the biggest strength the Fighting Irish bring to Columbus in this huge battle of top-five teams: line play.
Notre Dame returns four starters (and most of the second string) from an offensive line that wasn't the best of the Brian Kelly era but was awfully solid considering it had two freshmen in the starting lineup. Center Jarrett Patterson is a potential All-American (he's also battling a foot sprain), and if it's still possible to push Ohio State's defensive front around -- as Minnesota, Oregon, Michigan and Utah all did last season -- then Notre Dame might be able to do it. The Fighting Irish also have one of the best defensive lines the Buckeyes will face, led not only by Jayson Ademilola but also rush ends Isaiah Foskey and Justin Ademilola.
To the extent that we have questions about Ohio State heading into this season, Notre Dame will help us answer them. But Ohio State is listed as a 17-point favorite because of, well, everything else. Notre Dame has a new starting quarterback in Tyler Buchner, and Ohio State has Heisman co-favorite C.J. Stroud. Notre Dame will be asking skill-corps players such as running back Chris Tyree and wide receiver Lorenzo Styles to thrive in new, marquee roles, and Ohio State has TreVeyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Ohio State has a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, but Notre Dame has a new head coach in 36-year old Marcus Freeman, who replaced the LSU-bound Kelly.
One of the primary narratives of the offseason -- one I've pushed pretty hard myself, and one that Caesars certainly backed up with its "Three teams vs. the field" prop bet -- is that Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State start 2022 far ahead of the rest of the pack in college football. It's a narrative that is both frustrating (it's not fun heading into the season thinking you know who will make up three-fourths of the College Football Playoff) and exciting, since any of about 15 to 20 teams could land in that fourth spot. We'll find out if Ohio State is as good as expected on Saturday evening, but we'll also find out about Notre Dame's own top-four bona fides.
Current line: Ohio State -17 (down from -17.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Ohio State by 11.3 | FPI projection: Ohio State by 13.8.
The books like the Buckeyes far more than the computers do. So a lot depends on how much improvement Knowles can engineer (and whether Patterson plays).
Can the pupil make life difficult for the master?
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 11 Oregon (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Since 1990, we've seen 11 "No. 3 vs. No. 11" matchups. The No. 3 team has gone 5-6 and has lost three in a row -- Baylor to Oklahoma State in 2013, Alabama to Oklahoma in 2013 and Alabama to Ole Miss in 2014 -- and yet Georgia, like Ohio State, heads into Saturday a 17-point favorite. That certainly speaks to the "top three vs. the field" divide.
Considering what happened the last time we saw these teams, with Georgia beating Alabama for the national title and Oregon getting manhandled by Oklahoma (after getting manhandled twice by Utah), the line certainly makes sense. And if Georgia's Kirby Smart is as ruthless to former assistants -- former UGA defensive coordinator Lanning is now the head man for the Ducks -- as Nick Saban was until this past season, then it makes even more sense. But like No. 11 teams against No. 3 teams have in the past, 17-point underdogs win sometimes. It doesn't happen often -- about 8% of the time over the past decade -- but let's pretend for a moment that it's Sunday morning and we're reflecting on a classic Oregon upset. Beyond the typical upset script (turnovers, special teams explosions, red zone stops), how might it have transpired?
1. Oregon's new big-play weapons come up big. Lanning didn't dig quite as deep with transfers as other first-year coaches, but he still utilized the portal, bringing in Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, UCLA receiver Chase Cota, Texas A&M receiver Caleb Chapman and Minnesota running back Mar'Keise Irving, among others. Oregon desperately needed a boost in the explosiveness department, and Cota and Chapman combined to average 16 yards per catch last season.
2. Georgia's pass rush isn't fine-tuned yet. Nix is the presumptive starter for Oregon. This will be his fourth game against the UGA defense, and in the previous three he took nine sacks. Last year he took four. But of Georgia's top five pass-rushers last season, four are gone. The Dawgs still have linebacker Robert Beal Jr. and all-world tackle Jalen Carter, and devastating new weapons will assuredly emerge from a sea of blue-chippers. But if they start a little slowly in this regard, Nix might have a chance to make some plays.
3. Noah Sewell goes off. Sewell might be Oregon's best blitzer and run defender. Teams that can't slow the run and speed up quarterback Stetson Bennett's brain don't have a chance against the Dawgs, and Sewell might be the key to both.
Odds are good that Georgia rolls, but watch Nix and Sewell. If they're both dealing, the Ducks might stick around.
Current line: Georgia -17 (down from -17.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Georgia by 16.2 | FPI projection: Georgia by 20.2.
Both computer systems rank UGA third and Oregon in the 20s, but FPI sees even larger separation between the top teams and everyone else.
Is Arkansas the second-best team in the SEC West? Is Cincinnati ready to make another big run?
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
If the two biggest games of the week end up as duds, like the sportsbooks think, this might be our best opportunity for a nip-and-tuck headliner. Cincinnati reached the CFP last season, and the Bearcats could theoretically make another unbeaten run if they can escape Fayetteville with a win. But quarterback KJ Jefferson and Arkansas are coming off a nine-win season -- one that included wins over six bowl teams -- and could come up big again in 2022 if a few transfers click.
In soccer parlance, Jefferson is an absolute unit. He's listed at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds and he's both a safe passer (67% completion rate, 21-to-4 TD-to-INT ratio) and a frightening sight in the open field. He can scramble his way into sacks at times, but he averaged 6.9 yards per carry outside of sacks and he's a major threat on designed runs and in short yardage.
He's without Treylon Burks, however. The current Tennessee Titan caught 66 balls for 1,104 yards in 2021, and no one who returns had more than 304 yards last season. Jefferson's success could be determined in large part by receiver transfers Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma) and Matt Landers (Toledo). Haselwood is a former blue-chipper who played inconsistent ball last year, and after transferring from Georgia, Landers found a rhythm late in his lone MAC season, catching 18 balls for 486 yards in his last five games. Neither player is a sure thing, but if they play at a high level -- especially against new Cincinnati cornerback starters -- Arkansas' biggest question is answered.
When the Bearcats have the ball, it will be a similar dynamic: a new No. 1 receiver for Cincinnati (Tyler Scott, perhaps) going against a new No. 1 corner for Arkansas. If the Hogs have an advantage in this game beyond home field, it's that Cincinnati will be breaking in a new quarterback. Both Ben Bryant (a former Cincy backup who threw for 3,121 yards for Eastern Michigan in 2021) and sophomore blue-chipper Evan Prater are exciting, but it's difficult not to assume an offensive drop-off without Desmond Ridder behind center.
This is a massive tone-setter for both teams. This might be Cincinnati's only game as an underdog all season, and a win would spark a bit of a "Wait, can they make the CFP again?" narrative. But in an SEC West that might not have a single bad team, Arkansas has a chance to make an early statement. The QB advantage probably gives them the edge.
Current line: Arkansas -6.5 (up from -6 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Arkansas by 2.8 | FPI projection: Arkansas by 3.3.
SP+ typically liked Cincy more than the spread last year, and it paid off. We'll see if the books are underestimating the Bearcats once more.
Is Utah ready to immediately live up to hype?
No. 7 Utah at Florida (7 p.m., ESPN)
I'll just go ahead and admit it: I have no idea what to expect from Florida this year. If you assume mediocrity based around the principle of "I watched them late last season and it was bad," that's fair. A lot of the same guys who were unimpressive then will be on the field Saturday.
But it's not hard to be convinced that new head coach Billy Napier could do some good things quickly in Gainesville. He almost instantly improved Louisiana -- another team that was playing below its talent level when he arrived -- in his first head-coaching gig. We know that quarterback Anthony Richardson is loaded with potential. We know that all those freshmen who played on defense last season are now sophomores. And if the staffer-heavy team photo is any indication, we know that every single player on the team has his own personal assistant coach.
The Gators are projected 26th in SP+ and 28th in FPI and that feels like splitting the difference -- I can see them either playing at a top-15 level or a sub-top-40 level. And when you think about it, their own level of immediate competence will have a huge role to play in a number of ambitious teams' seasons: Utah, Kentucky and Tennessee all have big aspirations this year, and they will all play Florida before Oct. 1.
First up are the Utes. Kyle Whittingham's squad has become a trendy pick for the fourth CFP spot, partially because of the quality it flashed last season after Cam Rising took over at quarterback -- the Utes won nine of 10 before losing a gripping Rose Bowl to Ohio State -- and in part because of the schedule. They're slated to play only one more projected top-30 team after Florida, and if they can escape Gainesville 1-0, their odds of going 13-0 improve markedly.
Big plays will likely determine Utah's fate. The Utes will be ruthlessly efficient on offense, but they need a few more chunk plays and easy points (sophomore wideout Devaughn Vele might be the key to that), and the defense needs to be better at preventing the same thing. They are potentially the Pac-12 favorites even if they lose to Florida, but the weak schedule might hold them back in the CFP race if they drop this one and get to 12-1.
Current line: Utah -3 (up from -2.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Utah by 0.2 | FPI projection: Florida by 0.7.
The Gators are capable of a wide range of things this season; you cannot convince me to put money on any of them at the moment.
What on earth do the brand-new LSU Tigers have to offer?
Florida State vs. LSU (Sunday, 7:30 p.m., ABC)
Most of what I wrote about Florida above is also true of Brian Kelly's LSU squad, only with about 10 more transfers. New Tigers players could end up starting at quarterback (Jayden Daniels), running back (Noah Cain), left guard (Miles Frazier or Tre'Mond Shorts), nickelback (Greg Brooks Jr.) and both cornerback spots (some combination of Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Sevyn Banks and Colby Richardson), with plenty more filling backup roles. Most of those players were high-quality contributors at other schools, and in general LSU never has trouble reeling in blue-chip recruits. The Tigers always have a high ceiling.
They have also gone just 11-12 since winning the 2019 national title. Will there be a breaking-in period here before high-end talent starts playing at a high-end level? Can new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock get the consistency he seeks from the improvisation-heavy Daniels? Can new talent alone solve problems for a defense that has averaged a 67.5 ranking in defensive SP+ the past two years?
FSU is at least a more known quantity. We saw Mike Norvell's Seminoles in action last week, albeit in more of a rehearsal against Duquesne. The speedy Jordan Travis completed 11 of 15 passes for 207 yards while keeping his rushing to a minimum (three non-sack carries for 18 yards), three FSU backs rushed for more than 100 yards against the outmanned Dukes and sparkly new defensive end transfer Jared Verse had a sack and four pressures in 24 pass-rush attempts. It was a fine outing and it reinforced the idea that after four straight years in the 60s or 70s in SP+, the Noles could be ready for top-40 output this year. They should be good enough to take advantage if LSU isn't ready to click just yet, but it's fair to assume that the Tigers still have the higher ceiling.
Current line: LSU -3 (no movement) | SP+ projection: LSU by 4.6 | FPI projection: LSU by 8.3.
This one's a Choose Your Own Adventure tale, as we can see whatever we want in the Tigers. But the computers are pretty confident that LSU has the edge.
How will the great Michigan quarterback experiment pan out?
Colorado State at No. 8 Michigan (noon, ABC)
I felt bad, honestly. I heartily encourage coaches to think outside the box and try creative (or at least unique) things, and when they do, I often scoff at them like everyone else. That was certainly the case when Michigan's Jim Harbaugh announced that the current battle for QB1 -- a "biblical" one, according to Harbaugh -- would continue into the season, with one guy starting against Colorado State in Week 1 (incumbent Cade McNamara) and another guy starting against Hawai'i in Week 2 (blue-chip backup-to-date J.J. McCarthy).
A great quarterback conundrum can trip up even the sport's most successful coaches. Saban randomly started Cooper Bateman over Jake Coker two games into the 2015 season and started Blake Barnett over Jalen Hurts beginning in 2016. Urban Meyer overthought his 2015 quarterback platoon -- J.T. Barrett vs. Cardale Jones -- to such a degree that neither Buckeyes QB seemed to know where he stood well into the season, and neither threw for even 1,500 yards.
Harbaugh might be in the process of screwing this up too, but giving each guy a shot isn't the worst thing in the world. I do think there are two things that favor McCarthy, though. First, at this point, I think a tie goes to the challenger. McNamara led the Wolverines to their first CFP appearance and looked increasingly good as the year progressed, and he was given more of the playbook to work from. If he had the lead right now, there would be little point in waiting any longer. If it's still up for grabs, I figure McCarthy is the behind-the-scenes leader.
Second, Colorado State might be a lot better than Hawai'i this season. Last time we saw the Rainbow Warriors (McCarthy's foe), they were giving up 63 points to Vanderbilt. CSU isn't guaranteed to be good, but new coach Jay Norvell brought in a load of transfers with him -- among them: Rutgers defensive end CJ Onyechi, Cal corner Chigozie Anusiem and Nevada safety Angel King -- and the Rams were pretty good defensively last season. Michigan should cruise Saturday, but McNamara might have a couple of extra obstacles to deal with.
I reserve the right to roll my eyes if this all backfires on the Wolverines, but Harbaugh is taking full advantage of an easy start to the season; UConn is their Week 3 opponent, so he can take even longer to figure out his No. 1 guy if he wants. But by the time Maryland heads to town in Week 4, he'll need to have his answer. I've been wrong before, but McCarthy is my bet.
Current line: Michigan -30.5 (up from -27.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Michigan by 31.5 | FPI projection: Michigan by 31.6.
The computers offer no edge in this one (though as you'll see below, the over/under might).
My favorite bets
In lieu of a weekly college football Best Bets group column this season, I'm going to share my five favorite bets of the week here. I guess that means I have to keep a running record throughout the season, whether I like it or not.
San Diego State (-6) vs. Arizona (3:30 p.m., CBS). One of my favorite things about college football is uncontrollable August optimism. This year's best example: The Arizona fans yelling at me for their team's poor SP+ projections. The Wildcats are projected 104th overall -- of course they are. They have lost 23 of 24 games, and while they improved a bit late in the year, they still lost their last two games by 49 points. Meanwhile, San Diego State is 26-9 in its past three seasons, beat Arizona by 24 points in Tucson in 2021 and has won four of its past five games against Pac-12 teams.
It's totally fair to assume Arizona will close the gap. Former Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura, UTEP receiver Jacob Cowing and USC edge rusher Hunter Echols are among the transfers who could make an immediate impact, and the defense as a whole is far more experienced than it was a year ago. Considering SDSU's propensity for "rock fights," this one could be close and low scoring for a while. But that's a huge gap to close in one offseason, and this line should be more like SDSU -10 to -13.
Colorado State at Michigan: under 61.5 (noon, ABC). The books are basically projecting a final score of about Michigan 46, CSU 15. In Harbaugh's 12 games against Group of 5 opponents at Michigan, the Wolverines have won by an average of 42.2 to 11.7 -- 53.9 total points -- and CSU is far more proven on defense than on offense. SP+ projects this one as something closer to 42-11, and that feels about right to me.
Kentucky (-16.5) vs. Miami (Ohio) (7 p.m., ESPN+). Mark Stoops has made Kentucky far more competitive against big-name programs over the course of his nearly decade-long tenure, but perhaps more importantly he's made the Wildcats automatic against lesser foes. UK has been a favorite of five or more points 22 times against Group of 5 or FCS opponents since 2013; it is 22-0 in those games, winning by an average of 23.9 points and covering in five of the past six.
We can drown in information like that sometimes, but when you combine that with the fact that SP+ gives the Wildcats an edge of 23.7 points -- nearly the biggest disagreement between SP+ and the spread this week -- I start to feel pretty good about this pick.
Notre Dame (+17.5) at Ohio State (7:30 p.m., ABC). The Buckeyes are the better team, but Notre Dame should be able to land enough punches to keep this within a couple touchdowns.
Illinois (+3) at Indiana (Friday, 8 p.m., FS1). I really expected this one to be a pick 'em. Indiana fell so far last season, and while the Hoosiers' defense could be solid, there aren't too many reasons to assume it will be able to score many points. And if both last year and last week are any indication, it's going to be hard for even a decent offense to score on Ryan Walters' Illinois defense. SP+ gives Illinois the slightest of edges (0.6 points), and I do too.
Week 1 bonus playlist
In addition to everything above, here are some more games you should pay attention to if you want to get the absolute most out of the weekend, from both information and entertainment perspectives. Week 1 is absolutely mammoth.
Friday
Virginia Tech at Old Dominion (7 p.m., ESPNU). The James Franklin Bowl! Both ODU head coach Ricky Rahne and Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry are former Penn State coordinators. I love this game because I don't know where to set the bar for the Hokies -- Four wins? Six? Eight? -- and this game will pretty much give us the answer. Current line: VT -7 (down from -8 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: VT by 7.6 | FPI projection: VT by 5.8
Western Michigan at No. 15 Michigan State (7 p.m., ESPN). WMU has a ton to replace and might struggle to match last year's semi-disappointing eight-win total. But this game will still teach us a lot about what the Spartans are capable of without stars such as Kenneth Walker III, Jalen Nailor and Jacub Panasiuk. Current line: MSU -22 (up from -20.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: MSU by 26.3 | FPI projection: MSU by 23.7
Early Saturday
No. 13 NC State at East Carolina (noon, ESPN). College football is a lot more fun when ECU is a giant-killer, and it's been a little while since that was the case. The Pirates have lost four of five against P5 foes, and the win was against a two-win North Carolina team in 2018. Still, this could be a pretty spicy test for the Wolfpack as they attempt a run at their first top-10 finish. Current line: NC State -11.5 (up from -11 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: NC State by 13.5 | FPI projection: NC State by 9.3
North Carolina at Appalachian State (noon, ESPNU). The line for this one has bounced all around, and both teams have been favorites at some point. I'm not sure why the line drifted back toward the Tar Heels after their iffy defensive performance against FAMU last week, but the computers support it. Current line: UNC -1.5 (down from -2 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: UNC by 3.0 | FPI projection: UNC by 1.6
Saturday afternoon
No. 24 Houston at UTSA (3:30 p.m., CBSSN). After last year's 12-win season, Houston is one of the prime candidates for a run at the G5's New Year's Six bowl bid. But first it has to start 1-0. UTSA lost star running back Sincere McCormick but returns quarterback Frank Harris and a veteran line. Houston will need to be as good as we think it is to win this one. Current line: Houston -4 (down from -4.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Houston by 2.1 | FPI projection: Houston by 4.3
No. 25 BYU at South Florida (4 p.m., ESPNU). This doesn't boast as much pizzazz as the normal No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle, but the Cougars and Bulls finished the offseason with the top two spots in my returning production rankings. The Cougars should be a top-25-level team this season, but USF is experienced, and head coach Jeff Scott used the portal to significantly upgrade the depth chart. We'll see if it works. The computer models see very different things here. Current line: BYU -12 (no movement) | SP+ projection: BYU by 17.1 | FPI projection: BYU by 5.2
Saturday evening
Utah State at No. 1 Alabama (7:30 p.m., SECN). Utah State came nowhere close to covering as a big favorite against UConn last week; we'll see if the Aggies fare better as big underdogs. The Tide should obviously roll, but it's hard to get a read on who might star in Bama's skill corps. Now we'll get some answers. Current line: Bama -41.5 (up from -40 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Bama by 36.6 | FPI projection: Bama by 41.7
Rice at No. 14 USC (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The oddsmakers trust Lincoln Riley's new-look Trojans far more than the computers do, but they should still cruise against a Rice team that is physical but shouldn't offer much resistance against Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison and all the new players on the USC offense. Current line: USC -32.5 (down from -34 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: USC by 26.4 | FPI projection: USC by 27.3
Army at Coastal Carolina (7 p.m., ESPN+). Aesthetically, this is the most attractive game of the weekend, and it's not close. Army's triple-option against Grayson McCall and Coastal's modernized, pass-friendly option? Can these teams play a best-of-seven series? Current line: Coastal -2 (down from -2.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Coastal by 2.8 | FPI projection: Army by 1.7
Louisville at Syracuse (8 p.m., ACCN). The ACC is loaded with fun quarterbacks, and Louisville's Malik Cunningham might be the most fun of all. Syracuse's defense could be solid, but upside should give the Cardinals the edge in the dome formerly known as Carrier (now JMA Wireless). Current line: Louisville -4.5 (up from -4 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Louisville by 5.0 | FPI projection: Louisville by 2.8
Georgia State at South Carolina (7:30 p.m., ESPN+). In the past three years, Shawn Elliott's GSU Panthers have outmuscled Tennessee (a 38-30 win in 2019) and scared the heck out of Auburn (a 34-24 loss in 2021, in which GSU led until the final minute). South Carolina's offense should be improved with the addition of quarterback Spencer Rattler & Co., but it better be improved. Otherwise, this has upset potential. Current line: S. Carolina -12.5 (up from -11.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: S. Carolina by 13.4 | FPI projection: S. Carolina by 13.2
Middle Tennessee at James Madison (6 p.m., ESPN+). JMU's FBS debut! The computers are skeptical of the Dukes compared to the oddsmakers -- they've got a lot of awesome players to replace from last year's squad -- but the environment should be electric in Harrisonburg. Current line: JMU -6 (down from -6.5 on Monday) | SP+ projection: JMU by 3.6 | FPI projection: MTSU by 7.4
Late Saturday
Boise State at Oregon State (10:30 p.m., ESPN). It's logical to assume Oregon is the Pac-12 North favorite, but who are the Ducks' biggest challengers? It could be Jonathan Smith's Beavers, who are more experienced on defense and still have explosiveness potential on offense. But first, they have to win a virtual toss-up against a Boise State team that has won three of its past four against OSU. Current line: OSU -2.5 (down from -3 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: BSU by 3.6 | FPI projection: BSU by 0.1
Kent State at Washington (10:30 p.m., FS1). If Oregon State isn't Oregon's biggest challenger, Washington might be. The Huskies have far too much talent to have fallen apart like they did last year, and head coach Kalen DeBoer has thrived in virtually every job he's ever had. But if he can't engineer an immediate turnaround, Kent State is feisty and unique enough to threaten a big road upset. Current line: UW -23 (up from -21.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: UW by 17.2 | FPI projection: UW by 20.4
After Saturday
No. 4 Clemson at Georgia Tech (Monday, 8 p.m., ESPN). Tech head coach Geoff Collins shuffled his staff dramatically to find traction after accruing just nine wins in three years. It probably won't work, if we're being honest, but it will be interesting to see what the Yellow Jackets bring to the table. And it will be even more interesting to see what new Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter has done to try and fix quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Current line: Clemson -22 (up from -21.5 on Sunday) | SP+ projection: Clemson by 24.5 | FPI projection: Clemson by 23.9
Smaller-school showcase
Finally, let's always save a shout-out for football at levels below FBS. Here are three huge games you should crack open the laptop for this weekend.
FCS: Florida A&M vs. No. 17 Jackson State (Sunday, 3 p.m., ESPN2). The city of Jackson's shocking water emergency has cast a pall on this game -- as the real world often does -- but if Deion Sanders' Tigers are able to compete at the level they expect, the Orange Blossom Classic could be an absolute treat. SP+ projection: FAMU by 3.1
FCS: No. 9 Southern Illinois at No. 14 Incarnate Word (7 p.m., ESPN+). UIW quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. is entering his seventh year of eligibility and playing for his fourth team (after LSU, Missouri and Nicholls State). He and receiver Taylor Grimes could keep the Cardinals scoring at a high level, and SIU returns eight starters from a good offense too. This one could be pointsy and close. SP+ projection: SIU by 0.4
NAIA: No. 3 Northwestern (Iowa) at No. 1 Morningside (8 p.m., local streaming). Morningside is the NAIA's North Dakota State, having gone 53-1 with three national titles in four years. But Northwestern lost by six and nine points in two games against Morningside last season -- the Raiders are good enough to throw a scare into the champs.