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Week 1 is not what it should be.
There will be 59 games between FBS and FCS teams, with more than a dozen powerhouse programs, each paying more than $1.5 million to smaller schools prepared to hop on a plane and “lose.”
But No. 1 Georgia and No. 14 Clemson are the stars of college football's resurgence.
Three years ago, the Bulldogs and Tigers also began their seasons, but the sport no longer looks the same.
Players now get their pay on the table and change teams as often as professional athletes. A 12-team playoff was born in a sport that hadn't had a traditional postseason for more than a century. The Pac-12 is dead.
And Georgia and Clemson swapped positions.
In 2021, No. 5 Georgia won back-to-back national titles for the first time with a 10-3 victory over No. 3 Clemson. After six straight playoff appearances and two national titles, the Tigers have finished outside the top 10 the past three seasons, losing their spot at the top of the sports world.
Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney are currently the only active coaches with multiple national championships, while Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks once shared the outfield together.
Smart, 48, is now what Swinney, 54, was supposed to be: succeeding Nick Saban as the best coach in the nation, leading a Deep South school that is considered a championship favorite every season.
Three years ago, Georgia was a three-point underdog to Clemson. On Saturday, the Bulldogs (-13.5) come to Atlanta as a two-touchdown favorite with the best defense in the country, a center (Carson Beck) who could be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a coach who is 42-2 over the past three years.
Coming off their first single-digit win season in 13 years, the Tigers know what's coming. They've taken a good look at themselves in the mirror.
Minnesota (+1.5) beats North Carolina
Last year, the Tar Heels won this game in Chapel Hill, 31-13, with Drake Maye throwing for 414 yards and Minnesota's Ahsan Kaliakmanis passing for 133. This year, the Gophers will benefit from a change of scenery, the addition of new quarterback Max Brosmer and Mack Brown's ill-fated decision to replace Maye with a quarterback committee.
Oklahoma (-42.5) beat Temple
It's the first time in five years that the Owls have finished in the top 90 in scoring offense or scoring defense. Their only game against an opponent that finished the season ranked was a 55-0 loss to No. 22 SMU last season. The Sooners, who finished in the top 10 in both categories last season, also achieved that figure in their only games against Group of Five opponents last year, including a 73-0 win over Arkansas State in the season opener.
Stanford (+9.5) to beat TCU
The Horned Frogs might get caught looking too far ahead, with the LIU Sharks visiting in a week.
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Aller throws a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Ryan Field. USA TODAY Sports, via Reuters
West Virginia (+8.5) beats Penn State
No team would benefit more from an expanded playoff and Big Ten than the Nittany Lions, who have qualified for the 12-team field at least five times since 2016. With a moderate schedule and the possibility that Drew Aller could prove even better in his second full season, Penn State is the favorite to take home the Big Ten title, but the season might start with a sweat on the road against the underrated Mountaineers.
Vanderbilt (+13.5) beats Virginia Tech
The Hokies have talent but have a lot to prove, going 3-9 on the road in coach Brent Pry's first two seasons. The Commodores' new two-way quarterback, Diego Pavia, has emerged as a stronger presence and led New Mexico to a lopsided win at Auburn last season.
UConn (+20.5) beats Maryland
Mike Locksley chose not to announce a replacement for Taulia Tagovailoa, saying there would be “no competitive advantage” in doing so, and would be in trouble if he had to resort to bargaining against an opponent he's losing to for 12 straight seasons.
University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward aims for a pass during an NCAA college football practice, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Coral Gables, Fla. AP
Miami (-2.5) vs. Florida
Cam Ward is capable of leading the 19th-ranked Hurricanes to their first ACC title, but Billy Napier isn't ready for prime time just yet, going 2-10 against ranked teams in his first two seasons at Florida.
Colorado State (+32.5) beats Texas State
The Longhorns faced Group of Five opponents twice during last year's breakout season but failed to cover a similar spread, and with Arch Manning's arrival looming, tensions will be high.
Akron (+48.5) beats Ohio State
Don't underestimate Joe Moorhead. He took over a 1-10 team at Fordham and led the Rams to three straight FCS championship appearances in less than four years.
University of Akron head coach Joe Moorhead shakes hands with quarterback Taj Bullock after a touchdown in the second quarter against Ohio, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Phil Masturzo/Beacon Journal/USA Today Network
Alabama (-31.5) beats Western Kentucky
The Crimson Tide are being bet on by 29 percent of bettors but 87 percent of money. Don't overestimate Nick Saban's absence, especially since the legendary coach's replacement (Kalen DeBoer) played in a national title game with Washington and has a 104-12 career record.
Texas A&M (-3) beats Notre Dame
The Irish independence will be rewarded again with a schedule that sees double-digit wins, and their toughest regular season game will come Saturday night in College Station, where more than 100,000 fans will welcome a newly-assembled Notre Dame offensive line that boasts six career starts.
Fresno State (+21) beats Michigan
The Wolverines have a dominant defense, but their offense is expected to take a step back without Jim Harbaugh, JJ McCarthy and four starters from their title-winning offensive line.
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USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley speaks to the media during Big Ten Football Media Day at Lucas Oil Stadium. By Robert Godin – USA TODAY Sports
USC (+4.5) beats LSU
Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley left mid-America for warm-climate schools with contracts worth at least $205 million combined, but they played for four of the most storied programs in college football, with four Heisman Trophy winners and two runners-up, but zero playoff wins. Get the points.
Florida State (-16.5) beats Boston College
Florida State was on the brink before the casual fan knew the season had started. Now they'll face a team that nearly beat last season's ACC champions. There's no chance the Seminoles won't make it to their home opener. Buy low.
Best bets: Miami, Colorado State, Fresno State
Last season: 122-121-5
