Tucker’s Top 10 Matchups of Week 1

Credit: Roy K Miller/Getty Images

By Tucker Harlin

Week 1 is upon us and I decided to go through my 10 favorite matchups to celebrate the start of college football.

Here we go:

10. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE @ #17 OKLAHOMA STATE- OKST -9.5, 2 PM ESPN+

This is one of the couple of FCS vs FBS matchups this weekend where I think we could see a little bit of drama.

South Dakota State has won consecutive national titles at the FCS level and has caused trouble for FBS schools recently.

Its two wins over FBS schools in the last 10 years are a 41-38 victory over Kansas in 2015 and a resounding 42-23 victory over Colorado State in 2021. The Jackrabbits have also lost tight contests to TCU in 2016, an 11-2 Minnesota team in 2019, and my personal favorite, Iowa in 2022.

Oklahoma State went 10-4 in 2023 and made an appearance in the Big 12 championship. It’s got most of its key pieces from last year’s team back.

But the 2023 team also got hammered 33-7 in Stillwater by a seven win South Alabama team. I’m not saying the Pokes lose, but don’t be surprised if it’s close.

9. TCU @ STANFORD (Friday)- TCU -9.5, 10:30 PM ESPN

This is one of those important non conference games that can either open or shut a lot of doors this season for either side.

The Horned Frogs defeated the Cardinal 39-37 in an instant classic in the 2017 Alamo Bowl for their last meeting.

Under Gary Patterson, TCU had a tendency to have one or two double digit win seasons in a row and follow those with a 4 to 6 win season the next year.

Sonny Dykes fit right in with his 13-2 season and 5-7 encore performance in his first two years. That said, it wouldn’t shock me if this team is somehow incredible and we just don’t know it.

Stanford is also trying to regain national relevance, although its dormancy has lasted much longer than TCU’s.

2018 was the last time the Cardinal went bowling and its ceiling has been four wins since. It moved on from David Shaw after 2022, hiring Troy Taylor to rebuild the program in 2023.

Stanford should bring some excitement on offense, especially with receiver Elic Ayomanor.

I think this late night contest should have some offensive fireworks and a close finish.

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

If there’s one thing I can say for certain about this game, it’s that both teams will be eager to run the football.

North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton will be among the highest rated in the 2025 draft class.

Two of Minnesota’s top rushers in program history have played under P.J. Fleck in Mo Ibrahim and Rodney Smith. Darius Taylor and Jordan Nubin are eager to carry on that tradition.

The interesting part of this game for viewers that aren’t fans of these teams will be the quarterback play.

Minnesota is expected to start New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer. On the other hand, UNC will be down starter Max Johnson and possibly backup Conner Harrell.

If quarterback play is in fact the difference, I wouldn’t be shocked by a Minnesota win.

7. BOSTON COLLEGE @ FLORIDA STATE (Monday)- FSU -17, ESPN 7:30 PM

Not only is this a conference matchup, but Florida State is one of just six teams in the FBS ranks that we’ve seen play this season.

Like the Georgia Tech team Florida State lost to, Boston College finished the season 7-6 in 2023.

Unlike Georgia Tech, the Eagles are under new direction from head coach Bill O’Brien.

Offensively, there is a lot to like about the portal additions the Eagles brought in, and they bring back a capable dual threat quarterback in Thomas Castellanos and their top receiver in Lewis Bond.

I’ll give FSU the edge because it’s at Doak Campbell Stadium, but the physical beating the Noles took in the loss in Ireland has me wondering if they can actually cover that spread.

6. NORTH DAKOTA STATE @ COLORADO (Thursday)- CU -10, 8 PM ESPN

This has got to be the most intriguing of the FCS vs FBS matchups this season.

North Dakota State won nine FCS titles between 2011 and 2021. The Bison also have wins over both Iowa schools, both Kansas schools, and two wins over Minnesota in the last 20 seasons.

Deion Sanders very quickly went from one of the coolest stories to one of the biggest villains in all of college football in his season at Colorado. Now he’s banning media members from asking questions while his assistants negotiate NIL deals with the Saudis.

For all of Colorado’s talk, it won just four games in 2023.

I have no doubt the offensive skill players will provide for the Buffaloes. But if the offensive line and defense don’t take big strides, North Dakota State is not going to be a fun matchup.

5. #14 CLEMSON vs #1 GEORGIA (Atlanta): UGA -13.5, Noon ESPN

These two have met a handful of times over the past 15 years, and usually it has been entertaining.

But I’m not salivating over this one the way I did in 2021, 2014, or 2013.

Sure, there’s a chance Georgia’s running back depth isn’t where it needs to be on Saturday.

I’m just very unimpressed by Clemson over the last three years.

Cade Klubnik looks more and more like a paper five star with each passing game, and the Tigers team speed is not what it was five years ago.

I have no doubt Clemson’s defense will be one of the toughest in the ACC in 2024, but it’s so outmatched by what Georgia brings on offense.

I like Georgia in this one, and I don’t think it’ll be that close.

4. #19 MIAMI @ FLORIDA- MIA -2.5, 3:30 PM ABC

When these two met in Orlando back in 2019, it felt Florida won because it didn’t want to lose as badly as Miami did.

I think we could have a similar game on our hands in the swamp this week.

The Hurricanes got stronger with portal acquisitions in the offseason, but the Gators took similar measures on offense as they added two potent transfer receivers.

In my opinion, Miami looks like the better team on paper. However, I would not trust Mario Cristobal if my life depended on it.

He lost all credibility to me as a coach when he made that genius decision to run the ball on a play that should never have been run and ultimate led to a loss against Georgia Tech this season.

This one’s a coin flip to me, but either Cristobal or Billy Napier making a horrible decision will determine the outcome.

3. #8 PENN STATE @ WEST VIRGINIA- PSU -8.5, NOON FOX

This was once considered a rivalry but was discontinued after the 1992 season.

The schools broke that hiatus last season when Penn State beat West Virginia 38-15 at Beaver Stadium in the 2023 opener.

But I think we’re in for a far more interesting matchup with this one coming to Morgantown to start the year.

Neal Brown guided the Mountaineers to a 9-4 season in 2023, by far the best in his time as their head coach. Additionally, quarterback Garrett Greene and the running back tandem of C.J. Donaldson and Jahiem White is one of the most potent in the country.

On the other hand, Drew Allar is easily one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the country, the Nittany Lions offense is trapped in a boring middle ground between those of Ohio State and Iowa, and James Franklin has cemented himself in the same upper level mediocrity that Mark Richt and Dan Mullen were in the SEC.

I’m hesitant to pick a winner here, but I feel like this is the game in which we are most likely to see a big upset over the weekend.

2. #7 NOTRE DAME @ #20 TEXAS A&M- A&M -3, 7:30 PM ABC

If you’re looking for a game that won’t be a shootout or a 6-3 Big 10 defensive struggle, this will be the perfect game for you.

First year Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko’s quarterback at Duke the previous two seasons was Notre Dame starter Riley Leonard, so that creates various headlines around the two schools.

These coaches are similar philosophically as they both preach the old football adage “offense scores points, defense wins championships.”

This mirror image in football philosophy is what I think will make this game so compelling. Ultimately, I think Texas A&M has a little more going for it on offense than Notre Dame, and that to me is a big difference in a win and a loss.

The other deciding factor for the Aggies in this game will be the environment at Kyle Field. It’s unlike any other environment Notre Dame will travel to this season.

I like a push on the spread with Texas A&M winning 20-17.

1. #13 LSU vs #23 USC (Las Vegas, Sunday)- LSU -4.5, 7:30 PM ESPN

There are a lot of reasons this is my favorite game in the Week 1 slate.

For one, it’s a standalone game on a Sunday night between two Top 25 teams with some playoff aspirations.

Secondly, these two teams are in very similar situations headed into 2024.

Both are starting new quarterbacks and replacing considerable amounts of talent at the offensive skill positions. On defense, both have the talent to be elite but have been misguided by coaches that were fired in the offseason.

And finally, I enjoy shootouts, and that’s exactly what I expect this game to be on Sunday.

I’m predicting a USC win just based on Brian Kelly’s recent history in these standalone Sunday games, and I think it’s a first to 40 affair