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The Associated Press
The opening weekend of college football -- the full opener, not the Week 0 appetizer -- is a five-day immersive course to get you prepared for an intense and unpredictable 14-week class.
The final is due on Jan. 8. Everybody gets an A just for showing up.
This season feels like the end of an era in college football, but when the games kick off all the off-the-field messiness drifts away.
Week 1 is light on marquee matchups and heavy on potential mismatches. Twelve ranked teams are favored by at least 20 points against FBS opponents.
Only one game matches ranked teams, but it's a really big one and easily the most intriguing of Labor Day weekend: No. 5 LSU faces No. 8 Florida State in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday night.
The Seminoles won a wild Week 1 game last year in New Orleans against the Tigers. Neither was ranked at the time, but they both went on to have big seasons to set up this top-10 matchup.
Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels for LSU and Jordan Travis for Florida State are two of the most exciting players in the country, both getting Heisman Trophy buzz. Each side has a preseason All-America game-wrecker on defense: linebacker Harold Perkins for LSU and defensive end Jared Verse for LSU. Our pick: Florida State, 28-24.
Tonight:
Florida at No. 14 Utah (-6.5), tonight, The Utes lost to Anthony Richardson and the Gators in a Gainesville thriller last year. It turned out to be the highlight of the season for Florida and its future first-round NFL draft pick.
Utah seems primed for payback, but injury questions hang over the two-time defending Pac-12 champion. QB Cam Rising's status after a knee injury is uncertain and his back-up is banged up, too. It is also unclear whether star TE Brant Kuithe (knee) will play. Our pick. Utah, 24-20.
Saturday:
Boise State at No. 10 Washington (-14.5): QB Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies have big expectations after a turnaround in 2022. They face a real test in the opener against a Broncos team that is favored to win the Mountain West. Washington, 35-27.
South Alabama at No. 24 Tulane (-6): A matchup of teams that had double-digit wins last year that could turn out to be pivotal in the race to determine which Group of Five champion earns a New Year's Six bowl bid. South Alabama, 23-20.
Colorado at No. 17 TCU: Coach Prime unveils his new-look Buffaloes. Who knows how good they will be -- projections suggest not at all -- but finding out is must-see TV. TCU, 52-24.
East Carolina at No. 2 Michigan (-36): First game of coach Jim Harbaugh's three-game suspension … Michigan, 49-10.
No. 3 Ohio State (-30.5) at Indiana: Buckeyes debut a new quarterback in Kyle McCord against a team they have beaten 28 straight times … Ohio State, 45-10
Middle Tennessee at No. 4 Alabama (-39.5): Crimson Tide's quarterback competition will likely continue through at least Week 1 … Alabama, 56-14.
Nevada at No. 6 USC, (-38.5): Trojans freshman Zachariah Branch was the breakout star of Week 0 … USC, 52-10.
West Virginia (+20.5) at No. 7 Penn State: Renewal of an old-school Eastern rivalry that hasn't been played since 1992 … Penn State, 31-14.
Rice (+35.5) at No. 11 Texas: Longhorns tune-up for next week's trip to Alabama … Texas, 38-10.
No. 12 Tennessee (-28.5) vs. Virginia at Nashville, Tennessee: It's QB Joe Milton's show for the Vols now … Tennessee, 45-13.
Buffalo at No. 19 Wisconsin (-28): Badgers debut Dairy Raid offense… Wisconsin 42-10.
Arkansas State at No. 20 Oklahoma (-35.5): Sooners trying to bounce-back from first losing season in more than two decades … Oklahoma, 48-10.
No. 21 North Carolina vs. South Carolina (+2.5) at Charlotte, North Carolina: Tar Heels star QB Drake Maye gets an early test from QB Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks … South Carolina, 31-28.
New Mexico at No. 23 Texas A&M (-38): Aggies unveil their new offense under coordinator Bobby Petrino … Texas A&M, 42-3.
Utah State at No. 25 Iowa (-25): Drive for 325, the number of points the Hawkeyes need to score this season for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to keep his job, begins … Iowa 34-7.
Sunday:
No. 18 Oregon State at San Jose State (+16.5): Clemson transfer DJ Uiagalelei is latest quarterback seeking fresh start in Pac-12 … Oregon State, 31-17.
Monday:
No. 9 Clemson (-13.5) at Duke: In line with a theme of opening weekend, Tigers are another ranked team rolling out a new offense … Clemson, 31-14.