Uthinkuknowsports

Author: uthinkuknowsports

  • Arizona vs. BYU preview: Can Wildcats pull the upset, flip Big 12 upside down?

    Arizona vs. BYU preview: Can Wildcats pull the upset, flip Big 12 upside down?

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 2:30 PM CT | LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT | FOX
    DraftKings snapshot: BYU -7 | Over/under: 51.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Arizona and BYU are skipping straight from FCS openers into a Big 12 game between teams that combined for 21 wins last season. BYU went 12-2; Arizona went 9-4. The winner gets a conference victory before most of the league has played one, while the loser spends the rest of September with almost no margin for error in the Big 12 race. [S4/S6/S9]

    There is unfinished business from last year’s five-hour game in Tucson. Arizona led by 10 with just over four minutes left, but Bear Bachmeier tied it with 19 seconds remaining and scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of BYU’s 33-27 escape. This time Noah Fifita and Arizona have to finish the job in Provo, where BYU is 5-3 against the Wildcats. [S6/S9]

    Three things to know

    1. Arizona’s run defense meets BYU’s deepest strength: Arizona held Northern Arizona to minus-seven rushing yards and recorded five sacks. BYU ran for 308 yards against Utah Tech, with 11 players contributing and five different players scoring rushing touchdowns. Both performances came against FCS teams, but strength-versus-strength at the line of scrimmage is the clearest early matchup. [S2/S3/S4/S5]
    2. The turnover totals could make a close game swing hard: BYU forced four Utah Tech turnovers and committed none. Arizona lost two fumbles and threw a late interception after the starters left, finishing minus-two despite winning by 28. Noah Fifita did not throw a pick, but Arizona cannot hand BYU extra possessions after last year’s meeting needed two overtimes. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S9]
    3. Two very different quarterbacks looked ready: Fifth-year Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita completed 22 of 29 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. BYU sophomore Bear Bachmeier went 16 of 20 for 198 yards and three touchdowns, then added 30 rushing yards and another score. Fifita brings 73 career touchdown passes; Bachmeier already owns a 12-win season and last year’s comeback against Arizona. [S3/S4/S6/S7/S8/S9]

    Stat comparison

    MetricArizona 2026BYU 2026Arizona 2025 rankBYU 2025 rank
    Points per game35.0 (No. 56*)63.0 (No. 9*)No. 44No. 27
    Points allowed per game7.0 (No. 25*)7.0 (No. 25*)No. 19No. 16
    Yards per game520.0 (No. 34*)521.0 (No. 33*)No. 42No. 55
    Yards allowed per game193.0 (No. 26*)184.0 (No. 24*)No. 19No. 35
    Passing yards per game314.0 (No. 30*)213.0 (No. 77*)No. 36No. 74
    Passing yards allowed per game200.0 (No. 75*)135.0 (No. 42*)No. 7No. 50
    Turnover margin-2 (No. 107*)+4 (No. 2*)No. 3No. 20

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S10]

    Players to watch

    • Arizona — Noah Fifita: He completed 22 of 29 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, then sat for most of the fourth quarter. Arizona’s fifth-year quarterback is the player most equipped to handle a road conference opener. [S2/S3/S7]
    • BYU — Legend Glasker: The true freshman scored three touchdowns on only five touches—two receiving scores and a rushing touchdown. His debut gives Arizona a new problem that was not on last year’s BYU film. [S4/S5/S8]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Wake Forest vs. Purdue preview: Which offense is real?

    Wake Forest vs. Purdue preview: Which offense is real?

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | FS1
    DraftKings snapshot: WAKE -3.5 | Over/under: 49.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Purdue scored only 18.8 points per game last season, then opened 2026 with 44 points and 523 yards. Wake Forest is coming off a nine-win season and immediately produced 559 yards against Akron. This game tells us whether Purdue’s offensive jump was real and whether Wake’s explosive passing game travels against a Power Four opponent. [S2/S3/S7]

    The programs have not met since 2003. A 2-0 start would give the winner a useful nonconference result before league play becomes the main event. [S1/S4]

    Three things to know

    1. The quarterbacks just produced almost the same opener: Wake’s Gio Lopez threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Purdue’s Ryan Browne answered with 317 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. They combined for 667 passing yards and six touchdowns, so this matchup starts with a very different quarterback conversation than it would have a week ago. [S2/S3/S7/S8]
    2. Wake’s big-play passing is the obvious stress point: Wake scored on passes of 72 and 78 yards, while Carlos Hernandez and Antonio Meeks combined for 258 receiving yards on only eight catches. Purdue held Indiana State to 284 total yards, but it still allowed 218 through the air. [S2/S3/S7/S8]
    3. Both teams gave away too many yards without turning it over: Wake committed 11 penalties for 115 yards; Purdue had nine for 85. Neither offense had a turnover, but 200 combined penalty yards can flip this game once the opponent is good enough to take advantage. [S7/S8]

    Stat comparison

    MetricWake Forest 2026Purdue 2026Wake Forest 2025 rankPurdue 2025 rank
    Points per game38.0 (No. 48*)44.0 (No. 40*)No. 55No. 127
    Points allowed per game16.0 (No. 67*)19.0 (No. 77*)No. 34No. 107
    Yards per game559.0 (No. 20*)523.0 (No. 31*)No. 62No. 102
    Yards allowed per game305.0 (No. 64*)346.0 (No. 75*)No. 26No. 120
    Passing yards per game356.0 (No. 16*)346.0 (No. 20*)No. 58No. 81
    Passing yards allowed per game156.0 (No. 51*)288.0 (No. 109*)No. 46No. 110
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)+1 (No. 30*)No. 110No. 131

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S6]

    Players to watch

    • Wake Forest — Carlos Hernandez: Five catches became 165 yards and a 78-yard touchdown. His 33.0 yards per catch explains how quickly Wake turned a comfortable opener into a blowout. [S2/S7]
    • Purdue — Ryan Browne: He completed 23 of 29 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Purdue’s first Power Four opponent will show how much of that improvement carries over. [S3/S8]

    HE SAID IT

    • Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert: “Our offensive execution didn’t run the ball to the caliber I believe we can, or with the physicality we can play with.” Purdue held Indiana State’s running backs to 10 yards on 11 carries, so Wake’s own concern about rushing physicality meets Purdue’s strongest opener result. Source
    • Purdue coach Barry Odom: “We’re not going to be good enough to overcome 85 yards of penalties.” Wake Forest committed 11 penalties for 115 yards in its opener, so the cleaner team can erase a major self-inflicted weakness shared by both sides. Source

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • South Florida vs. Army preview: Clashing styles in early AAC showdown

    South Florida vs. Army preview: Clashing styles in early AAC showdown

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Michie Stadium, West Point, NY | CBSSN
    DraftKings snapshot: ARMY -1.5 | Over/under: 52.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    South Florida has never played a conference game this early in a season. It is also the Bulls’ first visit to West Point since a 28-0 win in 2003 and the programs’ first meeting since Army answered with a 42-35 win in Tampa in 2004. The series is tied 1-1, but this is the first meeting with both schools in the American Conference. [S4/S5/S6/S7/S8]

    Their openers could not have looked more different. Army ran for 569 yards and gained 648 overall in a 59-3 demolition of Bryant. USF beat FIU 19-9 despite gaining only 208 yards because its defense forced three turnovers and Nico Gramatica made four field goals. This game should show which Week 1 formula can survive a major jump in competition. [S2/S3/S9/S10/S12]

    Three things to know

    1. Army’s option meets the part of USF that looked ready: The Bulls held FIU to 80 rushing yards on 25 carries, but Army’s option is an entirely different test. The Black Knights rushed for 569 yards at 10.0 per carry against Bryant, the fourth-highest rushing total in program history. Bryant is an FCS opponent, so this is the first real test of whether that historic opener travels. [S2/S3/S9/S10]
    2. USF cannot keep asking its defense and kicker to do everything: USF managed one touchdown, 208 total yards and only 2.8 yards per rush against FIU. Army allowed 165 total yards and no touchdowns in its opener. Michael Van Buren Jr. protected the ball, but the Bulls will need more sustained offense if Army turns this into the long-possession game it prefers. [S2/S3/S9/S10]
    3. Turnovers are USF’s shortcut—and Army did not offer one: USF forced three turnovers against FIU and is 17-2 over the last four seasons when it creates at least two. Army did not commit a turnover against Bryant and converted six of nine third downs. If the Black Knights protect the ball again, the Bulls lose the easiest way they found to create points in Week 1. [S2/S3/S9/S10]

    Stat comparison

    MetricSouth Florida 2026Army 2026South Florida 2025 rankArmy 2025 rank
    Points per game19.0 (No. 96*)59.0 (No. 13*)No. 3No. 101
    Points allowed per game9.0 (No. 35*)3.0 (No. 10*)No. 48No. 36
    Yards per game208.0 (No. 120*)648.0 (No. 6*)No. 3No. 110
    Yards allowed per game381.0 (No. 88*)165.0 (No. 18*)No. 84No. 43
    Passing yards per game100.0 (No. 119*)79.0 (No. 124*)No. 18No. 136
    Passing yards allowed per game301.0 (No. 111*)98.0 (No. 20*)No. 112No. 27
    Turnover margin+3 (No. 6*)0 (No. 60*)No. 38No. 38

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S11]

    Players to watch

    • South Florida — Nico Gramatica: He made all four field-goal attempts, including a 53-yarder, and scored 13 of USF’s 19 points. He has now made 11 straight field goals and owns a school-record six makes from at least 50 yards. [S2/S3/S13]
    • Army — Zach Mundell: He needed only four carries to rush for 105 yards and two touchdowns. That tied an Army record, set in 1964, for the fewest carries in a 100-yard rushing game—and the 66-yard score was the longest run of his career. [S9/S10/S12/S14]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Oregon vs. Oklahoma State preview: Cowboys answer 69-3 rout

    Oregon vs. Oklahoma State preview: Cowboys answer 69-3 rout

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK | ESPN, Disney+
    DraftKings snapshot: ORE -22.5 | Over/under: 59.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Oregon survived a real opener, beating Boise State 34-27 behind 378 passing yards from Dante Moore. Oklahoma State’s reset under Eric Morris began with a 24-10 loss at Tulsa and four turnovers. The Cowboys now get a much harder test—and a chance to show they are not the same team Oregon beat 69-3 last season. [S2/S3/S4/S5]

    Oregon is trying to protect a playoff résumé before Big Ten play. Oklahoma State is trying to stop an ugly two-season slide from swallowing a new coaching era after the very first result. [S3/S5]

    Three things to know

    1. Oklahoma State cannot give Oregon extra possessions: The Cowboys lost two fumbles and Drew Mestemaker threw two interceptions at Tulsa. Oregon committed only one turnover against Boise State and still gained 497 yards. A repeat of Oklahoma State’s minus-three turnover margin would give the Ducks too many short fields. [S2/S3]
    2. Dante Moore was the offense: Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Oregon ran for only 119 yards, so Oklahoma State’s clearest path is to make the Ducks prove they can win without Moore controlling the game. [S2]
    3. The score hid some Oregon warning signs: Boise State held the ball for almost six minutes longer, Oregon committed 10 penalties for 90 yards and the Ducks converted only 4 of 12 third downs. Oklahoma State still needs enough offense to take advantage, but Oregon was not as clean as 497 yards sounds. [S2]

    Stat comparison

    MetricOregon 2026Oklahoma St 2026Oregon 2025 rankOklahoma St 2025 rank
    Points per game34.0 (No. 60*)10.0 (No. 116*)No. 12No. 136
    Points allowed per game27.0 (No. 97*)24.0 (No. 92*)No. 9No. 122
    Yards per game497.0 (No. 41*)368.0 (No. 85*)No. 16No. 130
    Yards allowed per game274.0 (No. 52*)361.0 (No. 80*)No. 7No. 116
    Passing yards per game378.0 (No. 8*)241.0 (No. 60*)No. 39No. 116
    Passing yards allowed per game181.0 (No. 60*)227.0 (No. 87*)No. 4No. 121
    Turnover margin-1 (No. 86*)-3 (No. 126*)No. 30No. 106

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S8]

    Players to watch

    • Oregon — Dante Moore: He completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns without an interception against Boise State. [S2/S6]
    • Oklahoma State — Wyatt Young: He caught eight passes for 84 yards, leading Oklahoma State in both categories during an otherwise uneven debut at Tulsa. [S3/S7]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Western Kentucky vs. Georgia preview: Hilltoppers face test

    Western Kentucky vs. Georgia preview: Hilltoppers face test

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:45 AM CT | Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA | SEC Network
    DraftKings snapshot: UGA -35.5 | Over/under: 52.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Georgia’s 63-3 opener was exactly what a national-title contender wanted: the starters dominated, Gunner Stockton was nearly perfect and most of the first team was resting before halftime. Western Kentucky’s opener was the opposite. The Hilltoppers went to Nevada expecting to build on last year’s 31-16 win and instead lost 49-14. [S2/S3/S7/S8]

    This is Georgia’s last tune-up before SEC play begins at Arkansas. For WKU, it is the middle game of a brutal three-week road swing that goes Nevada, preseason No. 3 Georgia and preseason No. 6 Indiana. The Hilltoppers are the only FBS team scheduled to face two preseason top-10 teams outside conference play, so the real goal is to show the Nevada result did not expose a season-long problem. [S6/S7]

    Three things to know

    1. WKU’s run defense is walking into an awful matchup: Nevada rushed for 323 yards at 7.7 per carry against the Hilltoppers. Georgia then opened with 272 rushing yards at 10.1 per carry against Tennessee State. Those opponents were very different, but the basic problem is clear: WKU has to fix its tackling and run fits immediately or Georgia may not need to ask Stockton to do much at all. [S3/S8]
    2. Ajay Allen was WKU’s one reliable answer: Allen rushed 21 times for 102 yards and both Western Kentucky touchdowns. The rest of the Hilltoppers combined for 62 rushing yards, and quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. averaged only 5.1 yards per pass attempt. Georgia just held Tennessee State to 109 total yards and 10 on the ground, so Allen has to keep WKU out of obvious passing situations. [S2/S3/S8/S10]
    3. Do not let WKU’s passing-defense number fool you: Nevada threw for only 163 yards, but it attempted just 16 passes because the run game was averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Georgia completed passes to 15 players for 388 yards and five touchdowns, all by different receivers. WKU did not prove it can stop the pass; Nevada simply had no reason to keep throwing. [S3/S8/S14]

    Stat comparison

    MetricWestern KY 2026Georgia 2026Western KY 2025 rankGeorgia 2025 rank
    Points per game14.0 (No. 106*)63.0 (No. 9*)No. 63No. 39
    Points allowed per game49.0 (No. 120*)3.0 (No. 10*)No. 38No. 8
    Yards per game367.0 (No. 86*)660.0 (No. 5*)No. 45No. 50
    Yards allowed per game486.0 (No. 114*)109.0 (No. 6*)No. 96No. 14
    Passing yards per game203.0 (No. 84*)388.0 (No. 7*)No. 22No. 78
    Passing yards allowed per game163.0 (No. 55*)99.0 (No. 21*)No. 80No. 60
    Turnover margin-1 (No. 86*)0 (No. 60*)No. 114No. 73

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S13]

    Players to watch

    • Western Kentucky — Ajay Allen: The well-traveled senior was WKU’s bright spot at Nevada, rushing 21 times for 102 yards and both Hilltopper touchdowns. He accounted for 62% of WKU’s rushing yards. [S8/S10]
    • Georgia — Nate Frazier: Four carries produced 72 yards and three touchdowns. He scored from 48 yards on his first carry, from 14 on his second and from three on his fourth before Georgia emptied the bench. [S2/S3/S11]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Penn State vs. Temple preview: Remembering the 2015 upset

    Penn State vs. Temple preview: Remembering the 2015 upset

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | ESPN2
    DraftKings snapshot: PSU -21.5 | Over/under: 51.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Penn State opened the Matt Campbell era with a 45-0 shutout and now returns to Philadelphia for the first time since Temple’s landmark 27-10 upset in 2015. Temple also started 1-0, but a 38-14 win over Rhode Island is a very different test from facing a ranked in-state opponent. [S2/S3/S4/S5]

    Temple has only four wins in 45 meetings, so an upset would immediately become the defining result of K.C. Keeler’s second season. Penn State is trying to show its clean opener was the start of a real reset, not just a comfortable afternoon against Marshall. [S4/S5]

    Three things to know

    1. Penn State’s passing debut was almost flawless: Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns, while Koby Howard turned six catches into 161 yards. Temple allowed only 195 passing yards to Rhode Island, but Penn State’s combination of accuracy and explosive gains is a much larger problem. [S2/S3]
    2. Temple’s defense created its own points: Tyree Alualu and Jamarcus Pierre returned interceptions for touchdowns. Those two plays supplied 14 of Temple’s 38 points, so Penn State’s zero-turnover opener matters: the Owls’ clearest upset path is stealing a score rather than trying to match Penn State drive for drive. [S2/S3]
    3. The hidden concern is Temple’s quarterback split: Ajani Sheppard and Jaxon Smolik combined for only 142 passing yards against Rhode Island. Keveun Mason carried the offense with 158 rushing yards, but Penn State just held Marshall to 147 total yards. Temple may need more from the passing game before Penn State can crowd the line. [S2/S3]

    Stat comparison

    MetricPenn State 2026Temple 2026Penn State 2025 rankTemple 2025 rank
    Points per game45.0 (No. 35*)38.0 (No. 48*)No. 54No. 75
    Points allowed per game0.0 (No. 1*)14.0 (No. 54*)No. 27No. 92
    Yards per game487.0 (No. 45*)369.0 (No. 84*)No. 85No. 101
    Yards allowed per game147.0 (No. 12*)292.0 (No. 61*)No. 25No. 91
    Passing yards per game324.0 (No. 27*)142.0 (No. 107*)No. 105No. 98
    Passing yards allowed per game103.0 (No. 25*)195.0 (No. 69*)No. 20No. 38
    Turnover margin+2 (No. 12*)+2 (No. 12*)No. 49No. 10

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S8]

    Players to watch

    • Penn State — Koby Howard: The true freshman caught six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in his college debut. He immediately became Becht’s biggest-play target. [S2/S6]
    • Temple — Keveun Mason: He carried 20 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, then added two catches for 34 yards. He accounted for more than half of the Owls’ offensive yards. [S3/S7]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Wofford vs. Kent State preview: Golden Flashes need a reset

    Wofford vs. Kent State preview: Golden Flashes need a reset

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium, Kent, OH | ESPN+
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Kent State’s home opener is a badly needed reset after a 57-0 loss at South Carolina. Wofford arrives 2-0 after beating Gardner-Webb 17-13 despite being outgained by 230 yards, so both teams have obvious reasons to distrust the latest final score. [S2/S3/S4]

    Wofford can earn an FBS win; Kent State can avoid carrying a shutout and an 0-1 record into the rest of its schedule. This is the kind of game where one turnover or one special-teams play can matter more than the talent gap. [S1/S2/S3]

    Three things to know

    1. Kent State has to prove it can stop anything: South Carolina gained 645 yards, including 367 passing and 278 rushing, and collected 35 first downs. Wofford produced only 208 yards against Gardner-Webb, but the Terriers had 42 points and 404 yards in their opener. Kent State cannot assume the second-game slump is Wofford’s real level. [S2/S3/S4]
    2. Wofford survived a game it did not control: Gardner-Webb held the ball for nearly 34 minutes and gained 438 yards to Wofford’s 208. The Terriers won because Gardner-Webb committed three turnovers and Wofford made a 51-yard interception return. That formula is hard to repeat without more offense. [S2]
    3. The Golden Flashes’ punter was their bright spot: Jake Stoeckel averaged 46.3 yards on eight punts and put five inside the 20 at South Carolina. Field position cannot fix an offense that gained 179 yards, but it can keep an FCS opponent from receiving the short fields South Carolina enjoyed. [S3]

    Stat comparison

    MetricWofford 2026Kent State 2026Wofford 2025 rankKent State 2025 rank
    Points per game29.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)0.0 (No. 126*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 119
    Points allowed per game13.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)57.0 (No. 127*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 123
    Yards per game274.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)179.0 (No. 122*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 128
    Yards allowed per game394.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)645.0 (No. 128*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 125
    Passing yards per game150.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)79.0 (No. 124*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 99
    Passing yards allowed per game251.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)367.0 (No. 124*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 102
    Turnover margin+2 (FCS; no FBS rank)-1 (No. 86*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 87

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S8]

    Players to watch

    • Wofford — Gerald Modest Jr.: He rushed 20 times for 85 yards and Wofford’s only offensive touchdown against Gardner-Webb, one week after a 105-yard, two-touchdown opener. [S2/S4/S6]
    • Kent State — Jake Stoeckel: The punter averaged 46.3 yards on eight attempts and placed five inside the 20. He can help the Golden Flashes avoid another afternoon of short fields. [S3/S7]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Louisiana Tech vs. LSU preview: Bulldogs, Tigers meet after impressive offensive showings

    Louisiana Tech vs. LSU preview: Bulldogs, Tigers meet after impressive offensive showings

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 6:30 PM CT | Tiger Stadium (LA), Baton Rouge, LA | SECN+
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Louisiana Tech and LSU both opened with blowouts, but the scores came with very different levels of proof. The Bulldogs’ 80-6 win over 0-2 FCS Northwestern State was historic; LSU’s 51-10 win over Clemson came with a 644-145 yard advantage. Week 2 asks whether Louisiana Tech’s explosion travels when the opponent gets dramatically bigger and faster. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S6]

    This is a rematch in the same stadium only 371 days after LSU won 23-7 and held Louisiana Tech to 154 yards. Blake Baker threw the Bulldogs’ only touchdown late in that loss and now returns as the starter after throwing three touchdowns in the opener. LSU must avoid a letdown before opening SEC play at Ole Miss; Louisiana Tech gets an immediate chance to show that this offense is different from the one LSU smothered last September. [S7/S8/S9/S12]

    Three things to know

    1. Louisiana Tech’s track meet runs into LSU’s real defense: The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first 11 possessions and put up 63 first-half points against Northwestern State. LSU just held Clemson to 145 yards, 40 rushing yards and one conversion in 13 third-down attempts. Louisiana Tech proved it can punish an overmatched defense; now it has to create normal drives against a defense that never let Clemson breathe. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S6]
    2. Blake Baker gets a useful one-year measuring stick: Baker came off the bench in last year’s meeting and threw Louisiana Tech’s only touchdown with 4:09 left, after LSU had already built a 20-0 lead. He opened 2026 by completing 10 of 14 passes for 232 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. If he can move the ball early this time, that would mean much more than another late score. [S2/S3/S7/S8/S10]
    3. LSU can make this a long night without throwing it all over the field: LSU ran 58 times for 309 yards against Clemson, held the ball for 36:09 and converted 11 of 16 third downs. Louisiana Tech allowed only 1.9 yards per rush in its opener, but that came against an FCS offense. If the Tigers stay ahead of the chains, they can shorten Louisiana Tech’s possessions and keep its fast-starting offense on the sideline. [S3/S4/S5/S6]

    Stat comparison

    MetricLouisiana Tech 2026LSU 2026Louisiana Tech 2025 rankLSU 2025 rank
    Points per game80.0 (No. 1*)51.0 (No. 26*)No. 79No. 94
    Points allowed per game6.0 (No. 21*)10.0 (No. 38*)No. 87No. 21
    Yards per game528.0 (No. 28*)644.0 (No. 11*)No. 88No. 111
    Yards allowed per game129.0 (No. 10*)145.0 (No. 11*)No. 68No. 27
    Passing yards per game296.0 (No. 36*)335.0 (No. 23*)No. 121No. 63
    Passing yards allowed per game43.0 (No. 5*)105.0 (No. 26*)No. 107No. 42
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)0 (No. 60*)No. 20No. 23

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S14]

    Players to watch

    • Louisiana Tech — Blake Baker: The quarterback completed 10 of 14 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the opener. He gets a second chance at the LSU defense that limited the Bulldogs to 154 total yards last year. [S2/S3/S7/S8/S10]
    • LSU — Sam Leavitt: In his LSU debut, the Arizona State transfer produced 343 total yards and three touchdowns: 230 passing yards and one score, plus 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Louisiana Tech has to account for the quarterback even when LSU appears to call a pass. [S5/S6/S11/S17]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Holy Cross vs. Miami (Ohio) preview: Which offense recovers?

    Holy Cross vs. Miami (Ohio) preview: Which offense recovers?

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 12:00 PM CT | Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH | ESPN+
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Miami’s home opener suddenly matters more than a normal FBS-FCS game after the RedHawks lost 59-14 at Pitt. Holy Cross arrives 0-2 after losing its first two games by the exact same 35-10 score. One team needs a reset; the other needs to keep a difficult start from becoming an 0-3 hole. [S2/S3/S6/S7]

    The most important early question is which bad opener number was opponent-driven. Miami managed 28 rushing yards against Pitt, while Holy Cross has allowed 216.5 rushing yards per game through two losses. [S2/S3/S8]

    Three things to know

    1. Holy Cross can throw it—but keeps giving the ball away: David Lynch has passed for 577 yards in two games, but he has also thrown five interceptions. Miami allowed 480 passing yards at Pitt, so Holy Cross should find chances downfield; the game changes if those chances keep ending with the wrong team catching the ball. [S2/S3/S6]
    2. Something has to give in the run game: Miami returned four offensive-line starters who had combined for 49 starts, yet the RedHawks rushed for only 28 yards at Pitt. Holy Cross allowed 281 rushing yards to Lehigh and 152 to Colgate. This is the part of the matchup where Miami should find out whether Pitt exposed a real problem or simply overwhelmed it. [S2/S3/S7/S8]
    3. Miami cannot let one explosive play hide the rest: Damarion Witten’s 75-yard touchdown accounted for more than one-quarter of Miami’s 289 total yards against Pitt. Holy Cross just allowed four touchdown passes on only 14 Colgate completions. The RedHawks need Witten’s big-play threat, but also need an offense that works between the highlights. [S2/S3/S5]

    Stat comparison

    MetricHoly Cross 2026Miami OH 2026Holy Cross 2025 rankMiami OH 2025 rank
    Points per game10.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)14.0 (No. 106*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 71
    Points allowed per game35.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)59.0 (No. 128*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 33
    Yards per game360.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)289.0 (No. 110*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 108
    Yards allowed per game420.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)646.0 (No. 129*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 36
    Passing yards per game288.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)261.0 (No. 53*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 106
    Passing yards allowed per game203.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)480.0 (No. 131*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 39
    Turnover margin-5 (FCS; no FBS rank)-1 (No. 86*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 38

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S9]

    Players to watch

    • Holy Cross — Ty Curran: The Ball State transfer caught seven passes for 130 yards against Colgate. He gives Lynch a target capable of punishing Miami if the quarterback protects the ball. [S2/S4]
    • Miami OH — Damarion Witten: The Ohio State transfer turned two catches into 90 yards and Miami’s only passing touchdown at Pitt, including a 75-yard score. [S3/S5]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.

  • Wagner vs. James Madison preview: Dukes test rebuilt roster

    Wagner vs. James Madison preview: Dukes test rebuilt roster

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 2:30 PM CT | Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA | ESPN+
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    James Madison followed last season’s 12-2 College Football Playoff run by winning Billy Napier’s first game as head coach, 20-13 over Liberty. That matters because JMU brought back only five starters and welcomed 61 newcomers; the opener was the first evidence that a massive roster reset can still win immediately. [S7/S9]

    Wagner’s offense looked like a different unit in a 31-7 win over Division II Southern Connecticut State after managing only 97 yards in its opener. This is the first meeting between the programs and the first of back-to-back FBS road games for Wagner, with California next. [S2/S3/S5/S10]

    Three things to know

    1. JMU’s run game meets Wagner’s best early-season number: James Madison rushed for 173 yards at 5.6 per carry against Liberty. Wagner has allowed only 107 rushing yards in two games—79 to Robert Morris and 28 to Southern Connecticut State—but JMU is a major jump in size and speed from both. If that small-sample run defense is real, Wagner has a way to avoid being overwhelmed. [S2/S3/S4/S7]
    2. Wagner’s quarterback just made an enormous jump: Benjamin Newman went from 4 of 12 for 12 yards in the opener to 23 of 33 for 267 yards and three touchdowns against Southern Connecticut State. The opponent change explains part of it, so JMU’s defense will tell us whether Wagner found its quarterback or simply found a much easier matchup. [S2/S3/S6]
    3. JMU already showed it can win without pretty numbers: Liberty held the ball for 37:22 and outgained JMU 321-291, but the Dukes did not turn it over, ran for 173 yards and allowed only 13 points. That is a useful formula for a favorite: avoid gifts, stay physical and make the underdog sustain drives. [S4/S7]

    Stat comparison

    MetricWagner 2026James Madison 2026Wagner 2025 rankJames Madison 2025 rank
    Points per game19.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)20.0 (No. 93*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 17
    Points allowed per game17.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)13.0 (No. 47*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 12
    Yards per game253.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)291.0 (No. 109*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 15
    Yards allowed per game215.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)321.0 (No. 68*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 5
    Passing yards per game171.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)118.0 (No. 115*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 88
    Passing yards allowed per game162.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)230.0 (No. 88*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 19
    Turnover margin+1 (FCS; no FBS rank)0 (No. 60*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 67

    *The 2026 ranking is based on the 131 teams who had played by Saturday night. We did not wait on the Sunday and Monday college football games to publish the majority of our previews. [S11]

    Players to watch

    • Wagner — Benjamin Newman: The redshirt freshman completed 23 of 33 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in Wagner’s 31-7 win. He now faces a much tougher defense. [S2/S6]
    • James Madison — JC Evans: He completed 7 of 9 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown and also led JMU in rushing against Liberty. JMU used two quarterbacks, but Evans’ legs give Wagner an extra problem on every option play. [S4/S7/S8]

    Looking for a prediction?

    I make final predictions on my TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/Facebook pages @uthinkuknowsports.

    Sources

    Full disclosure: I use AI tools to format my research into an article encompassing all of the information.