By Tucker Harlin

Congratulations! You have made officially made it to Week 1 of the college football season.

We’ve waited seven long months and tonight we get the first 21 games of FBS action in what’s a four day celebration of the sport’s return.

I’ve selected five games that I will have my eyes on the most over the course of the night.

They’re in ascending order.

5. LINDENWOOD @ #22 KANSAS- KU -45, 8 PM ESPN+

*Credit: University of Kansas Athletics*

This one looks a little bit random, but I’m a huge believer in what Lance Leipold has built in Lawrence.

Aside from a productive tight end and the guy that replaced Jalon Daniels when he got hurt last season, this team really didn’t lose a lot off that speedy offense.

Daniels will share the backfield with a potent running back in Devin Neal, and his three best receivers from last season all return.

If this team can string together wins on the road over the course of the season, I think the Jayhawks are a sneaky Big 12 Championship contender.

4. PINE BLUFF @ ARKANSAS- ARK -48.5, 7:30 PM ESPNU

I’m always going to be intrigued by an SEC football game, but there are other elements that make me want to pay attention to this one.

The dynamic between offensive coordinator and former Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino and Sam Pittman is one that every passionate SEC fan should want to watch all year, especially considering how hot Pittman’s seat is.

The unknowns of a new quarterback in Taylen Green is the second reason I’ll be keeping an eye on the Razorbacks. He’s showcased an ability to run the football but had some accuracy issues while at Boise State.

And finally, Tennessee plays Arkansas at the beginning of October, a matchup that usually has several years in between meetings.

3. WESTERN CAROLINA @ #24 NC STATE- NCSU -32.5, 7 PM ACCN

The only reason I really have interest in this game is because NC State is Tennessee’s next opponent after Chattanooga.

I’m not sure how much we’re actually going to learn about the Wolf Pack tonight, but Coastal Carolina folk hero Grayson McCall will be making his first start. Tennessee also has some familiarity with tight end Justin Joly who came to Knoxville as a UConn Husky last season.

Fortunately for Tennessee, NC State won’t be able to learn much about it on Saturday either.

2. NORTH CAROLINA @ MINNESOTA- UNC -2, 8 PM FOX

This is the only matchup between teams in the power conferences tonight, so it had to go pretty high on my list.

One thing that’s entertaining to watch if you don’t have a dog in the fight is problems with quarterback play, and we could very well have some of that in this game.

We already know North Carolina is in some trouble with quarterback depth, and Minnesota is kind of known for pounding the rock on the ground.

If you love ugly Big 10 football, this one’s definitely for you.

The line is suggesting both teams will score in the 20s, but I can envision that under hitting.

1. NORTH DAKOTA STATE @ COLORADO- CU -10, 8 PM ESPN

This was an easy pick for the matchup I’ll be paying the closest attention to tonight.

We’re getting new batches of bizarre stories out of Colorado every single day at this rate. Most recently, it came to light that Colorado went to the PAC 12 office to accuse Oregon of watching its practice film without any hard evidence.

Connor Stalions returning to the college football universe is the only possible way in which Deion Sanders’ title of most dislikable character in college football could be removed, and even then Deion wouldn’t go down without a fight.

On the other side, we know all about North Dakota State’s history against FBS opponents over the last 20 years.

I’d imagine every college football fan aside from those in Boulder will be rooting for the Bison.

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