Week 1 Predictions

      After a soft launch of the season last week we are set for a full five day slate of College Football heading into Labor Day Weekend. This post will have all the games from Thursday to Monday that you need to know about. Clearly I need to shake off the rust after going .500 in Week 0 and missing on all the big games. Luckily this week there are so many games to cover, so let's get to the predictions. Enjoy five days of college football!

Week 0 Results: 4 - 4

Week 1 Predictions:

Akron at Wake Forest

     You might wonder why I'm kicking off Week 1 predictions with Akron at Wake Forest, but for those unaware, the Zips ran one of the most unique fan promotions leading into the season. Season ticket holder for Akron were entered into a competition where a winner was selected and they got to work with the Akron coaching staff to design playcalls for the opening drive. Truly every armchair quarterback's dream, and I hope this first drive is nothing short of perfection. I do think Wake comes away with the victory, but you'll want to tune in for Akron's first drive no matter what! Demon Decons beat the Zips 30-14.

Colorado at Georgia Tech

     Deion returns to Atlanta as the Buffaloes open the season with the Yellow Jackets. The Rambllin' Wreck of Georgia Tech will be looking to run over around and through Colorado's defense, one that ranked second to last (135th) in the nation last year. Star QB Haynes King is gone, but GT still has RB Justice Haynes to lean on while Alberto Mendoza finds his footing from the transfer portal. Despite some big roster shifts on both sides, I like Georgia Tech to dominate the line of scrimmage and utilize the run gmae effectively. I'm not sure Colorado will be much better against the run this season either. Georgia Tech 34, Colorado 10.

#7 Miami at Stanford

     The national champion runner-ups start their season with a cross country road trip to the Farm. Stanford is coming off a stellar win against Hawaii featuring a big lead lost, late game heroics and a scoop and score for the win. The Hurricanes are likely to be much tougher of an opponent, but I'm hoping Stanford can make things interesting for at least a little while. I expect QB Darian Mensah to put up some big numbers in the Miami offense this year, especially with weapons like RB Mark Fletcher Jr. and WR Malachi Toney. Anxious to see the revamped Miami defense after losing a lot of talent, but they should have enough to defeat the Cardinal. Miami over Stanford 38-14.

Liberty at James Madison

     In honor of my former student Tyler Hurst who is now the creative director at Liberty, I wanted to put this game on the big board. The Flames had a rough go of it last season, mustering just 4 wins and ending the season with 4 one-score losses, including 3 straight overtime losses. JMU is reloading after Bob Chesney moved to LA, now in charge of the Bruins. The Dukes lost a number of players in the transfer portal, so very little experience returns. They're a program that doesn't lose often though, and always have a tough environment for opponents to play in. The rebuild is on for Liberty, but it may have to wait a week as I'm picking the Dukes. In an odd history book twist, Liberty itself is defeated by James Madison 33-21.

Boise State at #2 Oregon

     The Broncos are the favorite in the (new) PAC-12, just like the Ducks used to be. Boise State and Oregon square off for an exciting Week 1 matchup. The Ducks are a heavy favorite as one of the top teams in the nation, so I can't wait for this one. If Boise can put up a fight, they'll certainly look the part of a playoff potential team. Dante Moore is looking for a big year after passing on the NFL, and the Ducks have arguably the best defense in the nation with 8 returning starters on defense. Hard to beat an experienced defense at home, sco Ducks for a 37-17 win.

Baylor vs Auburn

     Auburn has a fresh start with Alex Golesh in as head coach, and DJ Lagway has a fresh start with the Bears. Baylor is in desparate need of a big season, so an opening win against an SEC team would certainly help. Alex Golesh brought along his QB with Byrum Brown following him to Auburn, and the Tigers should look a little more lively on offense. It may take a game or two to fully get in gear, and I think Dave Aranda has a big season in him for Baylor. Sic 'Em with a statement win 31-21.

Oklahoma State at Tulsa

     An instate matchup that has a little more flare to it after Tulsa pulled the upset in Stillwater last season. A very different Pokes team lines up across from the Golden Hurricanes though, as 92 new players will don the orange behind new head coach Eric Morris. This one should feature a fun QB battle between OSU's Drew Mestemaker and Tulsa's Baylor Hayes. Mestemaker led the nation in passing last year, and I expect him to be near the top with another year in the Morris system. While I do think Tulsa is a dangerous team and should be in the post season, the Cowboys will have a quick turnaround under the new regime. Pokes get revenge and win 35-20.

Wyoming at Colorado State (Boarder War)

     One of the oldest rivalries out west, we're kicking off Week 1 with the 118th meeting between Wyoming and CSU in the Boarder War. Wyoming brings back some key pieces on offense, but have to rebuild a defense that gave up just 20.5 points per game last year. Jim Mora is now the head man at Colorado State after rebuilding UConn. This was one of my favorite hires during the offseason and I think the Rams will certainly be dangerous in the new PAC-12. Wyoming has won 8 of the last 10 in this series, including a 28-0 victory last year. I hope this rivalry continues despite CSU changing conferences, but for this game I like the Rams to get it done. Colorado State beats Wyoming, starting to flip the script in this rivalry.

Western Michigan at #16 Michigan

     A new era starts in Ann Arbor as long-time Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is now wearing the maize and blue. The ground and pound approach shouldn't change too much for the Wolverines, but developing the passing game is a major priority for OC Jason Beck. The Broncos are a top team in the MAC, posing a uniquely quiet upset opportunity. Western Michigan brings back 7 starters on offense including QB Broc Lowry who has tremendous dual threat ability, accounting for 23 total touchdowns last year with 1,800+ through the air and another 900+ on the ground. The Wolverine defense is always a strength, but they will be tested in this one. I like Michigan to handle business at home, but don't be surprised if the Broncos hang around for a while. Michigan wins in the Big House 30-14.

UNLV at Hawaii

     Both the Rebels and Rainbow Warriors are in need of a bounce back game, unfortunately they have a tough conference opponent on the schedule. Two of the top teams in the Mountain West looking for a leg up in conference play. Jackson Arnold started hot for UNLV last week, but showed old tendencies as the pressure of Memphis wore them down. UNLV's protection became a serious concern after watching their opener last week. As for Hawaii, they didn't seem to realize a football game was happening against Stanford until the 4th quarter. The fierce comeback fell short after a strip sack led to a scoop and score for the Cardinal. Playing at home is always nice for a bounce back game, so I'll ride with Hawaii to win 33-27. Especially since I picked them to make the Mountain West Championship game.

UCLA at Cal

     Two new head coaches square off as old PAC-12 rivals clash out in Cali. UCLA brought in Bob Chesney from James Madison and Cal hired one of their own in Tosh Lupoi. Both head coaches inherit star QBs with Nico Iamaleava and Jaren-Kawe Sagapolutele for the Bruins and Golden Bears respectively. I think the Calgorithim has a better structure for Lupoi to build from, but Bob Chesney will have UCLA winning some big games later this season. It's a bit anti-BIG 10 in this case, but I like Cal to win their home opener behind a sensational showing from JKS. Golden Bears defeat the Bruins 34-21.

Clemson at #11 LSU

     All the talking stops Saturday night when the lights come on in Death Valley. While we're still waiting to see if any NFL players will be suiting up for LSU as the battle in the courts continues, two Tiger teams will clash on Saturday night. Dabo has thrown some shade and Lane Kiffin has quickly become a top tier villain in college football. LSU is expecting big things from Kiffin, but meshing all of these new players together could take some time. Clemson brings in a very experienced team with tremendous talent, but can they handle the toughest environment in College Football? This should be a fantastic game and as difficult as it is to pick against LSU in a night game, I think Dabo has one more big season in him. Clemson wins a thriller on the road to get revenge and reclaim the Death Valley title 26-23.

Washington State at #17 Washington (The Apple Cup)

     Wazzu is starting with a new coach for the thrid straight season as Kirby Moore takes over after Jimmy Rodgers departed for Iowa State. The Huskies are entering year three under Jedd Fisch, and have a dangerous roster matched with a manageable schedule up until the last couple of weeks. Star QB Demond Williams nearly left the team after being enticed by some extra money in the transfer portal, but ultimately decided to stay in Seattle. He leads an offense that brings back six other starters and averaged 34.1 points per game last year, tied for 17th best in the nation. Huskies get the dub in the Apple Cup 35-17.

Wisconsin vs #4 Notre Dame

     The Badgers and the Irish square off at Lambeau Field to start the season as Luke Fickell tries to cool off his seat. A win against a top 5 team to start the year would do wonders for his reputation in Madison, but the Irish won't be going down easy this season. After narrowly missing out on the Playoffs last season, Notre Dame is built for a championship run this year. CJ Carr could be a Heisman finalist when the dust settles, and while he doesn't have Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to lean on any more, he'll be well protected in the pocket, giving him plenty of time to throw. Defensively, they should be one of the best in the nation. Wisconsin has a stout defense as well, but the offense will need to be much improved after mustering just 12.8 points per game last year, second worst in the nation. I don't think they'll quite match up to the Irish, so give me Notre Dame to win 38-14.

#24 Louisville vs #9 Ole Miss

     Arguably the most intriguing game of the weekend takes place in Nashville as the Cardinals take on the Rebels. Louisville is a dark horse to win the ACC and will be led by ex-Buckeye QB Lincoln Keinholz. He should feel very comfortable in a Jeff Brohm offense, likely putting up big numbers this season. On the other side, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss proved himself to be one of the best in the nation last year after taking over for the injured Austin Simmons and leading the Rebels to the CFP Semi-finals. They're working with a lot of new pieces on the coaching staff, so we'll see if the offense clicks as well as last year. Both teams will also be relying on some talented running backs. Kewan Lacey had over 1,500 yards with 24 TDs for the Rebels last year, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown averaged 8.8 and 7.3 yards per carry respectively, and both could be 1,000+ yard rushers this season now that they're healthy. I think Ole Miss is still a very strong team, but don't sleep on Louisville this year. Give me the Cardinals for the upset win 36-27.

#19 SMU at Florida State

     The Ponies will always be one of my favorite teams to watch and they're primed for a big year 3 in the ACC. They fell just short of back-to-back ACC Championships (and likely CFPs) due to the Calgorithim last year, so they spent the offseason building up the roster. Heisman hopeful QB Kevin Jennings is back with six of his closest friends on the offensive side of the ball. SMU racked up an average of 416 yards per game on offense last season, so look for them to push that number a little higher in 2026. Florida State needs this win probably more than any team in the nation. They've got a big opportunity with hosting in Tallahassee, but after last week's mediocre performance against New Mexico State, red flags are still up around the FSU program. I don't think Mike Norvell has the juice within this team any more, and I've got SMU in the playoffs. Pony up for a 34-13 win.

Ohio at Nebraska

     Nebraska opens the season with the Ohio Bobcats coming to Lincoln and both teams will be greeted at mid-field by a familiar friend for the coin toss. Former Husker & Bobcat head coach Frank Solich will do the honors and a new chapter of Husker football will begin. Lots of new faces for the Huskers, but none more talked about than QB Anthony Colandrea. The reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year transfers to Nebrsaka in hopes of finally pushing this offense to score more than 30 points per game on average. A veteran offensive line should provide good protection and some running lanes, but no RB has broken out of the pack from fall camp. Colandrea is expected to utilize his legs quite a bit, so this offense should be more dynamic to watch than previous seasons. On the defensive side of the ball, Nebraska needs to get a push up front. The Bobcats have some new pieces as well, but this is a team that ranked 9th in the nation for rush offense last season. The Blackshirts struggled mightily against the run last year, so new DC Rob Aurich has his work cut out for him with Husker fans watching the front seven closely. I'm hoping we don't see this game stay competitive much beyond halftime, so give me a big Husker win for the opener with 40-17 over the Bobcats. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

Toledo at Michigan State - Both teams are rebuilding, but I think Pat Fitzgerald rebuilds faster and will have the Spartans ready for week 1. Sparty over the Rockets 30-14.

Fresno State at #14 USC - The Trojans looked strong in their opener, but gave up some points late. Fresno brings in a better squad than San Jose State, so look for USC to tighten things up. Solid win 38-17.

ECU at #13 Alabama - I doubt Bama will have issues here, but don't sleep on the Pirates much this season. They're a fun team to watch and could provide a headache or two for a few drives. Roll Tide 33-10.

Oregon State at #23 Houston - The Beavers have a new staff and the rebuild has begun. Unfortunately they open the season with back-to-back games against two of the best from the Big XII. Not enough firepower to keep pace here, Cougars win it at home 45-17.

Coastal Carolina at West Virginia - The Mountaineers were just short of a bowl game last season, but I think Rich Rod has an interesting team this year. The Chanticleers are rebuilding with a new head coach, but I don't think it will take Ryan Beard too long to get things going. WVU wins 30-20.

Boston College at Cincy - Two programs that desperately need a win and to start the season strong. BC brings back multiple secondary players while Cincy brings back 3 of their starting Oline. I'll give the nod to the Bearcats at home. Cincy 27, Boston College 10.

Tulane at Duke - Not as dramatic of a game as last season after Darian Mensah had to face off against the team he transferred from, but new chapters for both schools start now. Manny Diaz and the reigning ACC Champions have a solid defense, but need to find new answers on offense. Tulane as been at the top of the American for the last 4 seasons, but have a new head coach in Will Hall. Duke wins 24-13.

FIU at USF - The Panthers and the Bulls meet in Tampa as Brian Hartline makes his head coaching debut. His talent for recruiting top tier wideouts should play well in the sunshine state, but don't overlook FIU. This team made a bowl game last season in year 1 with Willie Simmons. I like the Panthers with an upset 27-24.

Central Michigan at New Mexico - Unfortunately for the Lobos (my G6 Playoff pick), they've lost starting QB Jack Layne for the season after he needed another elbow surgery. Layne threw for over 2,400 yards and 13 TDs last year, so we'll see how the QB battle for the Lobos goes. Central Michigan brings in an experienced offense, so the Chippewaes should push this game late into the second half. I'm not backing off my Lobos pick though and New Mexico wins 31-21.

Thank you all for reading my Week 1 Predictions and enjoy a new college football season! Also, be sure to check out my new show Inside the Heart Football where I analyze all the teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the NAIA. Watch weekly on Thursdays at 6 PM.

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando