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    • College Football Week 1 Games You Can’t Miss
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    College Football Week 1 Games You Can’t Miss

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    Technically, the American football season has already started, with several teams getting an early start last Saturday during the somewhat oddly titled Week 0. Week 1 gets underway early with a fair share of games in the books on Thursday and Friday.

    But this is the first full weekend of the campaign, with multiple games available all day. Again, we’re here to help you prioritize your viewing options.

    Standard disclaimer: This is simply a ranking of what we think will be the best matches, based on national interest, championship impact and entertainment potential. As ever, there will undoubtedly be surprise developments in games not mentioned here, so keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote to stay up to date on all the exciting plays and fantastic finishes.

    Now that we’ve covered all that, here are the five games you can’t miss in Week 1:

    No. 1Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson at Atlanta

    Time/TV: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC.

    Why watch: The first of three Top 25 games on opening weekend is the clear headliner of the bunch. The preseason No. 1 team hasn’t lost its season opener since Miami (Fla.) dropped a road game at Brigham Young in its 1990 debut, a streak the Bulldogs hope will continue and Clemson looks to snap. The game features two playoff regulars from the four-team era, though both were absent from last season’s quartet. Georgia came much closer and fell short in the SEC title game, while the Tigers were eliminated from the picture early and hope to avoid a similar fate in 2024. Points could be scarce in this game, despite both teams having established quarterbacks. Georgia’s Carson Beck will need to find a common ground with a couple of new pass catchers, while Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and company will need to improve their explosive play. The defense appears to be the strong side of the field for both teams, with linebacker Smael Mondon centering what should be another strong unit for the Bulldogs and defensive lineman TJ Parker picking up where he left off by leading the Tigers’ pass rush.

    Why it might disappoint: It could become a points contest early on if the offense does indeed start slowly, which would make for an intense football game, if not an aesthetically pleasing one. Georgia is the most likely candidate to build a multi-scoring advantage, so the Tigers will need to convert any red-zone opportunities they get into points.

    No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M

    Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

    Why watch: The Fighting Irish jump right into the fray against a tough conference opponent, hoping to pick up a big win on foreign soil that will matter in December. The Aggies will still have plenty of opportunities to score quality wins in the SEC, but they’ll still want to start the Mike Elko era on a high note. Notre Dame opens the season with another incoming ACC transfer at quarterback, this time in Riley Leonard from Duke. Keeping him healthy will be the top priority in 2024, and his first assignment will put him in front of a staff that’s well-acquainted with his skill set. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was with the program last year but missed significant time with an injury. He’ll be working in a new system with a lot of replacement parts.

    Why it might disappoint: The intensity will be there, but the execution may not match all the unknowns for both teams. There are more such mysteries on the Aggies’ side with the new coaching staff in place, but there were also changes in the offseason at Notre Dame with Mike Denbrock back in town to coordinate the offense. A loss either way seems unlikely, but in this game, it’s always a possibility.

    No. 12 LSU vs. No. 23 Southern California in Las Vegas

    Time/TV: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

    Why watch: The third big intersectional clash of the weekend will take the Sunday prime-time slot. Coincidentally, they also feature the alma maters of the two most recent Heisman winners, who were drafted first and second overall in April. Fans of both are used to seeing high-octane offenses, and that seems likely to continue with new quarterbacks running them. USC’s successor to Caleb Williams will be Miller Moss, who fought off a challenge from UNLV transfer Jayden Mayava to earn the job. He’ll have plenty of playmakers in his corner, but perhaps the most notable is WR Zachariah Branch. Garrett Nussmeier takes over for Daniels, the rare veteran backup who waited his turn in the portal era. Operating behind one of the best offensive lines in the country, anchored by tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, should ease his transition to the starting role.

    Why it might disappoint: It shouldn’t be. In fact, it could be the most entertaining game of the weekend. It’s possible that the offenses struggle to find a rhythm right away, but neither team has been particularly great on the other side of the ball. In short, this feels like a potential track meet. Enjoy.

    No. 19 Miami (Fla.) at Florida

    Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

    Why watch: This is a key non-conference showdown for both Sunshine State rivals for slightly different reasons. The Hurricanes, who always deal with outsized expectations, can’t afford an early misstep, even against an SEC opponent on the road. Florida, with a coach on the hot seat and facing a nasty league slate in the coming weeks, needs every win it can get to avoid a second straight losing campaign. The Miami offense, productive if not elite last season, could be even better with quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez arriving via the transfer portal. The Gators are going to need more from quarterback Graham Mertz, especially when conference play rolls around, but his protection should be better with a more experienced line in front of him.

    Why it might disappoint: The Gators ranked 59th nationally in scoring and 47th in total offense in 2023, not bad but hardly explosive. If Miami does indeed get out of the blocks faster, Florida could struggle to make a comeback.

    No. 9 Penn State at West Virginia

    Time/TV: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, Fox.

    Why watch: In theory, Penn State is one of the programs best positioned to take advantage of both the Big Ten and expanded playoff berths. First, though, the Nittany Lions must take care of their non-conference business. WVU, seen by some as a potential outsider in the Big 12, will be eager to bolster that perception with a positive performance in this high-profile home opener. QB Drew Allar is back for the Nittany Lions after throwing for 25 scores with just two interceptions in 2023, and he’ll likely look to spread the field a bit more this year. The Mountaineers also have quarterback Garrett Greene back, a two-way threat who should once again get plenty of ground help behind an experienced line.

    Why it might disappoint: In reality, that’s probably what you hope if you’re a Penn State fan. If the Mountaineers are anywhere near the crowd after halftime, the hyped-up home crowd will become even more important. It will be the responsibility of the visiting Nittany Lions to take that crowd out of the equation as quickly as possible.

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