College football is now competing head-to-head with the NFL for viewership. Which is why it’s a good thing the collegians have a series of compelling games to offer. Thursday yielded to the Chiefs and Ravens, but tonight we get back to the pure game.
And while the action in Sanford Stadium may not be all that compelling, the schedule elsewhere is worth your watch. As usual the full schedule is at the bottom, in chronological order for your perusal as the day progresses, with SEC games in bold. Up top is the abbreviated version with only the highlights for those who prefer a more regimented viewing experience.
Friday Night: Dukin’ it out by the Lake.
I write to you from my hotel room in downtown Detroit, where I find myself surrounded by Texas fans, including one I just saw drawl his way into an early check-in. Good job, sir.
But for tonight the epicenter of the college football universe will be further to the west of the Great Lakes region, as Northwestern hosts Duke in the Wildcats’ temporary stadium on the banks of Lake Michigan (9:00, FS1). The football may be mediocre, but the views will be breathtaking.
You might also enjoy BYU at SMU in a game of fans from Utah who don’t drink Coke and those from Dallas who prefer their coke on the drier side (7:00 ESPN2).
Saturday Noon: Texas is back (again)!
The marquee matchup is clearly #3 Texas at #10 Michigan live from Ann Arbor (Noon, Fox). Texas is a 7 point favorite and honestly I think that’s conservative. Michigan feels like a team that’s missing the constituent parts that led them to a national title. I’m not 100% sold on the Longhorns as a title team. But I think they’ve got more than enough to knock out a Wolverine team trying to re-establish its identity.
Elsewhere Arkansas travels to #16 Oklahoma State in a game that Sam Pittman’s staff really needs to win (Noon, ABC, ESPN+). This feels like one of those games a staff could lose and in the process convince boosters and administrators that they’re just not ever going to get over the hump.
Also, undefeated and ranked Georgia Tech (man, that feels weird) travels to Syracuse to take on Fran Brown’s Orangemen (Noon, ACC Network). I would absolutely love watching the Bees take their first loss of the season at the hands of a former Bulldog assistant.
Elsewhere in the SEC, Texas A&M hosts McNeese State (12:45, SEC Network). I don’t plan to watch that, but you do you.
The Main Event
Obviously your afternoon will revolve around the Georgia Bulldogs’ 2:00 tilt with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2:00, ESPN+/SECN+).
Saturday Midday: Culture Clash on the Plains, and the dumbest football game of the season, guaranteed. At 3:30 Cal travels to Auburn for a game of fanbases that obviously have a lot in common (3:30, ESPN2). Interestingly, ACC stalwarts Cal (honestly, what is happening????) play six road games this season, none of which will be in the state of California.
Also in the 3:30 slot Kentucky and South Carolina open up the SEC on ABC schedule. The Gamecocks were last seen hitting out a close one against Old Dominion. Methinks Brock Vandagriff will have a game for himself.
For those of you in desperate need of psychiatric intervention there’s also the Iowa/Iowa State game (3:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+). Affectionately known as “El Assico” it’s a contest that routinely features everything that is dumb and lovable about college football: nonsensical turnovers, idiotic clock management, and Kirk Ferentz punting from inside his opponent’s 40 yard line. Perhaps on third down, because what’s life without a little punt-based whimsy? If you find demolition derbies too tidy, this is the game for you.
Saturday Night: This one’s for all the mayonnaise.
#14 Tennessee takes on #24 NC State in Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Classic (7:30 p.m., ABC). I can think of no two more Mayo-enthusiastic fanbases. Also I think the Vawls are going to win this one going away. But if they don’t, well, that would be hilarious.
Elsewhere Florida hosts Samford in a game that the Gators already tried super hard to lose once. But if at first you don’t succeed, try to stop the Hatch Attack again. (7:00, ESPN+, SEC+)
Also South Florida travels to Alabama for a rematch of last year’s game that everyone thought might convince Nick Saban to retire (spoiler: he’d already made up his mind!). (7:00, ESPN).
7:30 brings Colorado vs. Nebraska in a matchup up people who only people who don’t really understand football think are really good football coaches. I expect Nebraska to wear down the Buffs, and for Dylan Raiola to throw for however many yards he wants to by throwing over everyone except Travis Hunter until Travis Hunter drops from exhaustion, then throwing over him as well. (7:30, NBC/Peacock).
And Appalachian State travels to the shores of Lake Hartwell to take on #25 Clemson (8:00, ACC Network). I’m not saying the Mountaineers will beat the Tigers. I am saying that if they do Tyler from Spartanburg may leave a severed horse head in Dabo’s bed. I don’t want that per se, but I want to know if it’s going to happen, so I’ll be watching.
The Late Shift: Something weird this way comes.
The late Pacific time zone games this week are going to deliver some hilarity, I’m just not sure where it’s coming from.
Boise State is at # 7 Oregon (10:00, Peacock) in a matchup of an underdog that overperformed in week one and a favorite who underachieved.
Texas Tech is at Washington State (10:00, FOX) in a game played on the Palouse with few eyes. This is a classic set up for late night football entertainment. The only surer guarantee of hijinx would be a visiting top 20 USC team.
Mississippi State travels to Arizona State for a 10:30 eastern start on ESPN. I have no idea how this one will go. I don’t dare even predict what happens when Starkvillians descend on Tempe. I’m not sure the Universe was made to contain that scenario.
And last but not least, Liberty is at New Mexico State (10:15 pm, ESPN2) in a game I’m not fully convinced that some Liberty players don’t think counts as foreign missionary service. Las Cruces is also right down the road from Juarez, a place all Liberty fans reading this should definitely visit for dinner and a show. Until later…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
FULL SCHEDULE (SEC GAMES IN BOLD)
Friday, September 6th
Western Illinois at Indiana | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network
BYU at SMU | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Mass Maritime at SUNY Maritime | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Western New England at Springfield | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Duke at Northwestern | 9 p.m. | FS1
Saturday, Sept. 7
Arkansas at No. 16 Oklahoma State | 12 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+
No. 3 Texas at No. 10 Michigan | 12 p.m. | FOX
Rhode Island at Minnesota | 12 p.m. | Peacock
Bowling Green at No. 8 Penn State | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Akron at Rutgers | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 23 Georgia Tech at Syracuse | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
Pitt at Cincinnati | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
No. 17 Kansas State at Tulane | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Troy at Memphis | 12 p.m. | ESPNU
Army at Florida Atlantic | 12 p.m. | CBSSN
Lafayette at Monmouth | 12 p.m. | FloSports
South Carolina State at The Citadel | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Wagner at Lehigh | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgetown at Marist | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Widener at Lyoming | 12 p.m. | FloSports
Shippensburg at American International | 12 p.m. | FloSports
McNeese at Texas A&M | 12:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Campbell at Western Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
St. Anselm at Sacred Heart | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Bowie State at Lenoir-Rhyne | 1 p.m. | FloSports
St. Andrews at Anderson (SC) | 1 p.m. | FloSports
Bucknell at VMI | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Tennessee Tech at No. 1 Georgia | 2 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Missouri State at Ball State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
New Hampshire at Holy Cross | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Valparaiso at Youngstown State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
St. Francis (PA) at Kent State | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Utah Tech at UNLV | 3 p.m. | Mountain West Network
Cal at Auburn | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2
South Carolina at Kentucky | 3:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+
Iowa State at No. 21 Iowa | 3:30 p.m. | CBS/Paramount+
Michigan State at Maryland | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Eastern Michigan at Washington | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
South Dakota at Wisconsin | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
Northern Illinois at No. 5 Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. | NBC
UMass at Toledo | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Duquesne at Boston College | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Jacksonville State at No. 22 Louisville | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Charlotte at North Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Baylor at No. 11 Utah | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
Temple at Navy | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Wofford at Richmond | 3:30 p.m. | FloSports
Stone Hill at Stony Brook | 3:30 p.m. | FloSports
Tennessee State at North Dakota State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
UTSA at Texas State | 4 p.m. | ESPNU
Franklin Pierce at Bryant | 4 p.m. | FloSports
Virginia State at Norfolk State | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Carleton State at Pomona Pitzer | 4 p.m. | FloSports
Middle Tennessee at Ole Miss | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network
Marshall at Virginia Tech | 4:30 p.m. | CW Network
Idaho at Wyoming | 4:30 p.m. | truTV/Max
UVA Wise at East Tennessee State | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+
UAlbany at West Virginia | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida A&M at No. 12 Miami (Fla.) | 6 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Central Michigan at Florida International | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Gardner-Webb at James Madison | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
East Carolina at Old Dominion | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
South Alabama at Ohio | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Elon at North Carolina Central | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Morgan State at Towson | 6 p.m. | FloSports
Villanova at Colgate | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Virginia Union at Hampton | 6 p.m. | FloSports
Miles College at Alabama State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Charleston Southern at Furman | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Oregon at Idaho State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Kentucky Christian at Morehead State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Warner at Stetson | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Shaw at Albany State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Sam Houston at UCF | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
South Florida at No. 4 Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Samford at Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Buffalo at No. 9 Missouri | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
No. 19 Kansas at Illinois | 7 p.m. | FS1
William & Mary at Coastal Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Western Kentucky | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Chattanooga at Georgia State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Cal Poly at Stanford | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/ACCNX
Virginia at Wake Forest | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Louisiana at Kennesaw State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
San Jose State at Air Force | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
Georgia Southern at Nevada | 7 p.m. | truTV/Max
Tulsa at Arkansas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UAB at UL Monroe | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
SE Louisiana at Southern Miss | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas Southern at Rice | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern Colorado at Colorado State | 7 p.m. | Mountain West Network
Winston-Salem at North Carolina A&T | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Central Arkansas at Lindenwood | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Illinois at Austin Peay | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UT Martin at SE Missouri State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Illinois State at North Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Indiana State at Eastern Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Butler at Murray State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Montana at North Dakota | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UIW at South Dakota State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Prairie View A&M at Northwestern State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Mississippi Valley State at Lamar | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tarleton State at Houston Christian | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Drake at Eastern Washington | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Catawba at Davidson | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/FloSports
Presbyterian at Erksine | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Mercyhurst at Howard | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Missouri S&T at Delta State | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Valdosta State at Newberry | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Tusculum at West Alabama | 7 p.m. | FloSports
Nicholls at No. 18 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
No. 14 Tennessee vs. No. 24 NC State (in Charlotte, North Carolina) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
Alcorn State at Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU
Colorado at Nebraska | 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock
Western Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Stephen F. Austin at North Texas | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston at No. 15 Oklahoma | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Appalachian State at No. 25 Clemson | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
Long Island University at TCU | 8 p.m. | BESPN+
Maine at Montana State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
West Georgia at Abilene Christian | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Portland State at Weber State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Sul Ross State at Eastern New Mexico | 8 p.m. | FloSports
Southern Utah at UTEP | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Boise State at No. 7 Oregon | 10 p.m. | Peacock
Northern Arizona at No. 20 Arizona | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas Tech at Washington State | 10 p.m. | FOX
Texas A&M-Commerce at UC Davis | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
George Fox at Redlands | 10 p.m. | FloSports
Liberty at New Mexico State | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN2
Mississippi State at Arizona State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Oregon State at San Diego State | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Utah State at No. 13 USC | 11 p.m. | Big Ten Network