While most teams in the college football world won't kick off their season until next weekend, there are a couple of games that could have far reaching implications. Two Top 25 squads will begin their season on Saturday, August 26. This will allow 14th ranked Stanford and surprisingly 19th ranked South Florida to get the entire NCAA world staring straight at them for at least a week.
If you're one of those college football fans who didn't even know there were games this weekend, you're likely not alone. Despite having two Top 25 teams playing and five FBS games going on this weekend, most of the sporting world thinks the season isn't kicking off until next Thursday, August 31.
South Florida (19) at San Jose State
South Florida burst onto the national scene in NCAA football thanks in large part to a quarterback who can kill you with both his legs and his arm. Quinton Flowers could be a name to remember this season as he enters his senior season with 46 touchdown passes to just 17 interceptions in his career. Last year, Flowers threw for 2,812 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
He combined those numbers with a team leading 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Those 2016 numbers were a follow up to 2015 where he threw for 2,296 yards, 22 TDs, and just eight INTs. On the ground he rushed for 991 yards and 12 TDs. Finishing 11-2 a year ago, the Bulls are looking to really make their mark this season.
They open the year against a San Jose State team that went just 4-8 and are 22 point underdogs on Saturday. The game will kick off at 6:30 PM central time
Stanford (14) vs Rice
Stanford is the biggest name in the NCAA football world who will be opening their season. The Cardinal went 10-3 last year thanks in large part to Christian McCaffrey and his 1,603 yards and 13 touchdowns.
In his place, the Pac 12 power will likely try and get that same kind of production from Bryce Love.
Love is hardly a newbie to the college football world, having run for 779 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. If Stanford can spend the season inside the Top 25, they are going to need good production out of quarterback Keller Chryst.
He took over the starting job late last year and finished the season with 905 yards and 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions. His 56.6 completion percentage should be a bit of a worry, especially in the Pac 12 while the team tries to keep its rushing offense going. Stanford opens the season against a cupcake in Rice, who went 3-9 a year ago. This game will kickoff at 9:00 PM central time.
The best of the rest in the NCAA football world
The first official game of the 2017 season will feature a matchup between Oregon State and Colorado State. The Beavers are still attempting to rebuild after the departure of long time head coach Mike Riley a few years back. They went just 4-8 in 2016. Colorado State, on the other hand, went 7-6 last season, one year after losing head coach Jim McElwain the year before.
The game will kick off at 1:30 PM central time
BYU will host Portland State starting at 2:00 PM central time. Coming off a 9-4 season, the Cougars are going to be trying to replace a number of departed offensive stars.
Hawaii will take on UMASS in the only FBS game of the day that isn't televised. After years of truly terrible football, Hawaii managed to post a 7-7 season in 2016. UMASS has been a moribund program since joining the highest level of the NCAAs. In 2016 they finished just 2-10.
