Football is fully back! Well, it has been since at least Wednesday, but Saturday makes it feel all the more real, doesn't it? There are five -- yes, five -- games between AP Top 25 opponents, the most ever for a Week 1, so it's safe to say we're in for a real treat. And with fans being able to attend in full force this season, there's no shortage of excitement to go around.
Come back here throughout the day for the latest results, reaction and revelry from throughout the land.
Evening game of the day: No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 5 Georgia (7:30 p.m., ABC)
JT Daniels is the next Mac Jones. Georgia is the next Clemson. Daniels is the most important player in college football. Georgia games are must-watch, either because of greatness or angst. Virtually anything I wrote this offseason included something about how fascinating Georgia's prospects are in 2021. Bulldog fans are tired of hearing it and I'm tired of writing it. So it's great that Georgia begins the season in one of the biggest games of the year.
While this game isn't a must-win for the Dawgs when it comes to the national title race -- a theoretical 12-1 UGA squad would still have wins over Florida and the SEC West champion (probably Alabama) on its rรฉsumรฉ and would likely get into the College Football Playoff -- it's a chance to answer a lot of questions. Read more from Bill Connelly's Week 1 preview (ESPN+)
How to watch: ESPN+ | ESPN streaming | SEC Network | ACC Network | All games also on the ESPN App
Complete schedule and scores: All teams | Top 25
Touchdown of the day
This 94-yard touchdown from Bryce Young to Jameson Williams is a thing of beauty.
BAMA 94-YARD HOUSE CALL ๐ก ๐ pic.twitter.com/tBC5a1kcpu
โ SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 4, 2021
Scene in the stands
In other traditions we dearly missed last season, the Iowa Wave is still just as heartfelt as before.
The best tradition in all of sports. @UIchildrens | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/5DE5521DcM
โ Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 4, 2021
A good fan to have.
Whatever it takes to win, Clemson fans are ready for it.
Well, that's one way to savor the delicious flavor of Duke's Mayo... pic.twitter.com/vUz61SLVDH
โ Duke's Mayo Classic (@DukesMayoBowl) September 5, 2021
"Jump Around" is back, and it seems as if everything is right in the college football world.
The greatest tradition in college football is BACK! #OnWisconsinpic.twitter.com/rcwk0AOVcV
โ Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) September 4, 2021
Now, this is the kind of entrance anyone would love to have.
Wow.
โ Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) September 4, 2021
Just...wow. pic.twitter.com/I3YgWfxhlN
We want to know where someone could find such an outfit? Asking for a friend.
โ no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 3, 2021
These fans are more than ready for Texas A&M's game.
It's just different here ๐#MidnightYell | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/7yqDGC8Qhc
โ Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 4, 2021
It's off the chain
Sir, you're going to actually have to take that chain off.
Miami celebrating a fumble recovery with the turnover chain while down 27-0 only for the call to be reversed is the funniest thing you will see all weekend. pic.twitter.com/C0cWpdGwJw
โ Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) September 4, 2021
What chain?!!! ๐คฃ๐๐๐#RollTide pic.twitter.com/TotmVVqHE2
โ Mark Ingram II (@markingramII) September 4, 2021
More: Bama's decisive victory over Miami was a trending topic in the social world
All right, Tulane brought out some Mardi Gras beads for this interception on Spencer Rattler, and yeah, we're a fan.
GET. HIM. THE. BEADS. #RollWave
โ Tulane University Football (@GreenWaveFB) September 4, 2021
๐บ ABC pic.twitter.com/Vm8yUPOEYE
Mascot fun
We know at least one certain someone hyped about a Texas win.
The big guy is pumped for the first win of the Sarkisian era. pic.twitter.com/NFI0P7doAt
โ Dave Wilson (@dwil) September 4, 2021
Someone looks ready for football.
get in, it's gameday! ๐พ pic.twitter.com/8zPgFVf1td
โ Dubs (@DubsUW) September 4, 2021
Run, Ralphie VI, Run!
Yep, you heard that right. There's a new Buffalo in town in Boulder, and she's making her debut Saturday as Colorado hosts Northern Colorado to kick off the season.
A new era.
โ Ralphie (@CUBuffsRalphie) September 1, 2021
Run, Ralphie VI, Run.
pic.twitter.com/q84g2bAw8Q
Wondering what the Oregon Duck has been up to lately?
#CrateChallenge pic.twitter.com/2NFqFOFPer
โ The Duck (@TheOregonDuck) August 24, 2021
Well, probably safe to say it's best that the football season is back.
papi's home pic.twitter.com/fLLZ54GiMu
โ The Duck (@TheOregonDuck) September 4, 2021
Uniform updates
Nick Saban has got to wear the leather helmet every game from here on out, right?
Players put the helmet on Nick Saban's head and he is absolutely loving it ๐ pic.twitter.com/0wcvVfcGdh
โ Rocco DiSangro (@RoccoDiSangro) September 4, 2021
Ali Gaye has a nice touch added to his helmet.
A native of Gambia, Ali Gaye's home flag now is represented on his helmet. ๐ฌ๐ฒ pic.twitter.com/HLahp4PNK1
โ LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 4, 2021
Well, see. Usually here we like to highlight the cool uniforms out there. But this one...it's not what you want.
โ no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 4, 2021
A new season means time to debut some new threads, or even some classic combos.
๐ถ Week 1 Uniform Combo! ๐ถ#GoHoos | #THEStandard pic.twitter.com/2kff6A8904
โ Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) September 2, 2021
North Texas is rocking with a tribute to former coach Hayden Fry.
Get a closer look at this weekend's fit -- a tribute to the Hayden Fry era of the 1970s #GMG pic.twitter.com/JVLX7vNDip
โ North Texas Football ๐ฏ (@MeanGreenFB) September 2, 2021
And Washington also went with a throwback look.
THE 1991 THROWBACK UNIFORM ๐ฅ
โ Washington Football (@UW_Football) August 31, 2021
ยป https://t.co/Ss2BlfNl61#BowDown x #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/qwiYzn5AQx
Touching tributes
Tulane and Oklahoma were originally supposed to play in New Orleans, but the game was forced to relocate due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Oklahoma then painted a Green Wave on its field for its opponent.
๐ pic.twitter.com/VccrZ1QlEh
โ Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 3, 2021
Utah football honored Ty Jordan, who died in December, by dedicating the 22 portal to him; that was his number.
For Ty #LLTJ@Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/G2rynPG0rn
โ Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 3, 2021
The new Portal 22. For you and your family, Ty. #LLTJ โฅ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/R6Fd7acScV
โ Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 3, 2021
GameDay antics
The coach has spoken:
Tyler Shough rushes in for an 8-yard Texas Tech touchdown as Patrick Mahomes looks on.
Well, this seems...ill-advised.
When it's Week 1 of College Football ๐ pic.twitter.com/HUBLZi0VNC
โ College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 4, 2021
More: Best GameDay signs
Rivalry beef
Here's the deal: Gardner-Webb and Campbell just announced an annual BBQ bowl football game. The winner of the game will be the recipient of a hefty trophy that is topped with none other than a hog. And it gets better. The losing team will have to provide a barbecue feast from its region to the winners.
How does a rivalry game get better than that?
Gardner-Webb and Campbell Announce Annual BBQ Bowl Football Rivalry Game https://t.co/MIDoFDnLbB
โ Gardner-Webb Football (@GWUFootball) September 3, 2021
More must-see
Georgia lands the first punch in the battle of heavyweights via the pick six.
๐จ 74-YARD PICK-SIX ๐จ
โ Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 5, 2021
CHRISTOPHER SMITH INTERCEPTS DJ UIAGALELEI AND PUTS GEORGIA ON THE BOARD! #GODAWGS
(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/UjcgNFEVLR
Some plays have a bit of everything.
Fake PAT, reverse pass, contested catch jarred loose into an INT.
โ Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 5, 2021
Purdue vs Oregon State is ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/JLpfHhTvMT
Records are meant to be broken.
.@BlueHoseFtball QB Ren Hefley set an FCS record with 10 (!!!) passing TDs in a single game.
โ ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2021
Incredible ๐คฏ pic.twitter.com/xW2xC9cbaF
Maryland isn't messing around today.
60 yards for the score ๐ค
โ ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2021
Maryland goes up by nine late in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/vuYz49OhG2
And neither is the Terps social, going all in on West Virginia.
COUNTRY WOOOOOOOOES!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/u6W7w6xJnu
โ Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) September 4, 2021
How does someone even jump this high?
๐จ HURDLE ALERT ๐จ@HawkeyeFootball RB @tgood1110 gets some serious elevation here. pic.twitter.com/waKo4K1Rt0
โ Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 4, 2021
We love to see a good Fetty Wapping.
I'm like hey, what's up, hello pic.twitter.com/cJp6LtiZSL
โ Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 4, 2021
What's better than a big-man TD?
Tagovailoa with the TD has a nice familiar ring to it, doesn't it? Well, this time it's Taulia Tagovailoa.
Taulia Tagovailoa with a DIME ๐ pic.twitter.com/Zz1uo995an
โ ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2021
We're going to politely decline ever taking this kind of hit.
Kayvon. Thibodeaux.#GoDucks | @kayvonT8 pic.twitter.com/hfyvccVmm8
โ Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 4, 2021
Whew! This is a doozy.
It's a shame this catch didn't count, but it doesn't make it any less incredible.
This end zone interception from Stanford's Kyu Blu Kelly is top-notch.
Kyu
โ Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 4, 2021
Kyu
I'm Kyu
That's me! pic.twitter.com/wdhxAx4nEj
Games have been underway since Wednesday, and there has been no shortage of highlights, including this 99-yard kickoff return TD from Weber State's Rashid Shaheed.
Boise State's Hank Bachmeier throws an interception late in the fourth quarter, cementing a UCF win .
And this long TD from Ohio State.
Boston College TE Trae Barry leaps over a defender en route to a 51-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-0.
Then, we got an incredible comeback from UCF, and this INT sealed the deal.
Holy Cross defensive lineman Jason Modak runs back a 29-yard pick-six off a disastrous throw by UConn QB Jack Zergiotis.