Week 1: Top impact games
The five games in Week 1 that will have the most impact on the College Football Playoff race (time p.m. Eastern):
No. 13 Oregon vs. No. 16 Auburn in Arlington, Texas; Saturday, 7:30, ABC: Saturday’s main event – stop us if you’ve heard this one before – pits the Tigers of the Plains against a Pac-12 contender carrying the banner for a league that desperately needs a signature win. Washington came up short against Auburn in a nearly identical scenario a year ago. Can the Ducks get it done this time? There are a couple of factors working in Oregon’s favor, starting with the return of senior QB Justin Herbert. He will, however, be up against an Auburn defensive line that could be the best in the Southeastern Conference – no small feat – featuring DT Derrick Brown and DE Marlon Davidson. But Herbert also has his entire protection group back, and experienced RBs C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye could also help keep the Tigers from sending the house. Auburn has considerably less experience at QB. True freshman Bo Nix won the starting job. He’s a talented recruit with a family pedigree, but he’ll be a question mark until he performs on the main stage. He’ll be opposed by another true freshman, Ducks’ touted DE recruit Kayvon Thibideaux. Houston at No. 4 Oklahoma; Sunday, 7:30, ABC: The Sunday spotlight contest gives us a look at the Sooners as they debut yet another transfer quarterback. But they can’t overlook the Cougars, who’ll be under new management but have a history of causing trouble for Big 12 opponents – including Oklahoma itself. One of the most intriguing questions of the offseason was how Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts would fit with the high-octane OU attack. We’ll get our first answer now that he’s officially been named the starter. New Houston head man Dana Holgorsen is well acquainted with the Sooners’ schemes from his years at West Virginia, but he’ll need CB Damarion Williams, a former junior college All-American, to help shore up the secondary that had a rough 2018. Holgorsen will not have to change much on the Cougars’ offense he inherits. D’Eriq King is back at full speed after a knee injury ended his 2018 season prematurely, and he has a deep and experienced group of pass catchers at his disposal led by WR Marquez Stevenson. Already a question heading into the season, the Oklahoma pass defense took a major hit when CB Tre Norwood suffered a season-ending injury in camp. No. 2 Alabama vs. Duke in Atlanta; Saturday, ET, ABC: For the second consecutive year, the Crimson Tide open at a neutral site against an opponent from the ACC. Week 1 sometimes features slow starts for offenses as they get their first taste of live-game speed. That probably won’t be the case for Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, who will also have favorite targets Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs back to snare long balls. DE Victor Dimukeje provides the Blue Devils’ best hope to at least bother Tagovailoa a bit. QB Quentin Harris will run the show for Duke. Alabama will be breaking in some key pieces on defense with LB Dylan Moses (knee) likely out for the year. No. 3 Georgia at Vanderbilt; Saturday, 7:30, ESPN: Georgia QB Jake Fromm and RB D’Andre Swift will try to remove any suspense quickly, though the former will be working with a relatively inexperienced assembly of pass catchers. The Vandy defense has a lot of holes to fill, but sophomore LB Dimitri Moore could develop into a solid centerpiece. The Commodores’ top returning offensive weapons are RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn and TE Jared Pinkney, though the party responsible for getting them the ball has yet to be determined – or at least disclosed – by coach Derek Mason. It’s possible that both Deuce Wallace and Ball State transfer Riley Neal will take snaps.
No. 25 Northwestern at No. 23 Stanford; Saturday, 4, Fox: On the periphery of the playoff picture is Week 1’s only other Top 25 matchup. It could also be among the most competitive contests of the weekend, featuring power-conference teams with designs on winning their respective divisions. Both are led by well-respected coaches who know how to maximize their available talent. Stanford had to evolve last season into a pass-first team as QB K.J. Costello was able to compensate for a ground game that never lived up to expectations. Costello is back, though the Cardinal receiving corps will be a lot younger. RB Cameron Scarlett will need to contribute some key rush yards against a rugged NU defense, anchored by LB Paddy Fisher, that doesn’t allow many. The Wildcats will be breaking in a new signal-caller. That is expected to be Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson, but senior T.J. Green, who backed up Clayton Thorson last season, remains in the mix. They must beware of Stanford CB Paulson Adebo, who swiped four passes and broke up 24 more as a freshman last year.