2016 College Football Week 1 Live Thread, Streaming, TV Info

There’s no reason to dance around it. This is the best opening weekend of college football in my life.

Opening weekends were once jejune affairs. Devoid, empty, enfeebling affairs. There are still markers of this once-not-at-all-hallowed practice.

Michigan-Hawaii. Ohio State-Bowling Green. Florida-Massachusetts. Oregon-UC Davis...

To hell with that.

Today is a day of permanence. Of resurrection. Here are the major clashes bringing the sport back to life.

#3 Oklahoma at #15 Houston - 12pm ET, ABC

There was no way when the Sooners scheduled the Cougars to host them for the 2016 season opener two years ago that they could have predicted UH would hire Tom Herman, instantly catapult the program into top 10 status on the back of a 13-1 season and immediately transform the recruiting bedrock in Texas. That’s what has happened.

Houston is now a major player to lead Big XII expansion much the worry of the other programs. That Houston was able to land DT Ed Oliver this recruiting season explains why.

OU is angling for a playoff spot. Houston is carving out the makings of a power program much like Baylor did in the last decade.

This is one hell of an early contest.

#16 UCLA at Texas A&M - 3:30pm ET, CBS

#5 LSU at* Wisconsin - 3:30pm ET, ABC

* - Game to be played at neutral location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

There’s nearly enough NFL talent between these two games to craft an entire NFL roster. A damn good one at that.

#18 Georgia at #22 North Carolina - 5:30pm ET, ESPN

Two college football playoff sleepers here. I really wish they weren’t crossing conference lines to play this and in the process likely taking one out of playoff contention.

Aside from this game, UNC could win every game except for the trip to Florida State on October 1. Georgia, meanwhile, has a pretty strong path to the SEC Championship if they can get through today kicking off Kirby Smart’s head coaching career.

This one may not have the luster of the other games, but it could be one we point to in a couple of months...and maybe look back at in seasons to come as a course-charting game.

SMU at North Texas - 7pm ET, HAHA

A HUGE BATTLE WITH THE NATION WATCHING.

Go Mean Green

#20 USC at* #1 Alabama - 8pm ET, ABC

* - Game to be played at neutral location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

The thing I said about the NFL talent in the 3:30 block? Yeah, that again. USC WR Juju Smith-Schuster and Alabama WR Calvin Ridley are better wideouts than anyone on the Los Angeles Rams’ roster. Could they change that by joining the Rams’ roster in the near future? (The answer is dear God, please yes, how much would this cost and how many banks do I have to rob to get that much because I swear it will go down)

#2 Clemson at Auburn - 9pm ET, ESPN

Clemson QB DeShaun Watson is the truth. Always has been. This is about staying healthy, getting to that late October meeting between Clemson and Florida State and deciding who will get to the college football playoff out of the ACC.

Hard not to bet on Watson getting back there again.

Today is a day to enjoy. Share it with friends. Eat well. Imbibe responsibly. Do everything you should do because you can and because you’re invited to.

This is joy. Have some.