Badgers, Lions look to make big opening statement

No. 19 Penn State at No. 12 Wisconsin

Noon Saturday, FOX

These two Big Ten powers are coming off lackluster seasons that saw both teams finish outside the top 25 for the first time since 2012. Wisconsin has lost five straight games against ranked opponents and four straight meetings with the Nittany Lions. Penn State QB Sean Clifford is looking to avoid another slow start after throwing eight interceptions in the first five games last season.

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Miami

3:30 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta, ABC

The last time these two programs met was in the 1993 Sugar Bowl where Alabama came away with the BCS national championship, its first title in 13 years. Fast forward nearly 20 years later and the Crimson Tide are opening the defense of another title at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Miami’s last win over a No. 1 team came in against Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000.

No. 23 Louisiana at No. 21 Texas

4:30 p.m. Saturday, FOX

New Texas coach Steve Sarkisian gets an early test as the Longhorns open against a ranked opponent for the first time since Notre Dame in 2016. Louisiana is coming off back-to-back double-digit win seasons and starts a season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history. The Ragin’ Cajuns knocked off then-No. 23 Iowa State, 31-14 to start the 2020 season.

No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 3 Clemson

7 :3 0 p.m. Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., ABC

Clemson is looking to avoid starting a season with a loss for the first time since 2014 when the Tigers suffered a humiliating 45-21 loss to this same Georgia program. The Bulldogs last dropped an opener against – of all teams – Clemson in 2013. D.J. Uiagalelei replaces Trevor Lawrence, who went 34-2 as the Tigers starting quarterback, while JT Daniels returns for his second season with the Bulldogs.

No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State

7 :3 0 p.m. Sunday, ABC

The last time Notre Dame traveled to Tallahassee in 2014, the Fighting Irish nearly came away with an upset of then-No. 2 Florida State. How times have changed. The Seminoles are 2-13 against ranked opponents since 2017 with one of those wins coming last season against North Carolina. FSU dropped a 42-26 affair to Notre Dame in South Bend last season.