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Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 2:30 PM CT | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | ESPN2
DraftKings snapshot: PITT -8.5 | Over/under: 56.5 [S1]

What’s at stake

UCF and Pitt combined to score 132 points in their openers—73 by the Knights and 59 by the Panthers—but both did it against badly overmatched teams. This is the first matchup that can separate a real offensive leap from a one-week fireworks show. [S2/S3/S4]

Pitt went 8-5 last season and brings back sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel, who went 6-3 as a starter as a true freshman. UCF is trying to turn an 11th straight season-opening win into a meaningful road result. Both leave this game with a much clearer picture of what 2026 can become. [S2/S5/S7/S10/S12]

Three things to know

1. UCF’s run game meets Pitt’s run wall: UCF rushed for 360 yards, seven touchdowns and 9.5 yards per carry against Bethune-Cookman. Pitt allowed Miami (Ohio) only 28 rushing yards at 1.3 per carry. The opponent gap matters, but this is still the cleanest strength-on-strength question in the game. [S2/S3/S4]
2. Pitt’s quarterback already looks midseason sharp: Mason Heintschel completed 31 of 41 passes for 453 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. UCF allowed only 74 passing yards, but it faced three Bethune-Cookman quarterbacks and the Wildcats scored their only touchdown on the final play. The Knights’ secondary is moving from a warmup to one of the hottest quarterbacks of Week 1. [S2/S3/S5]
3. UCF may have to ask more of Alonza Barnett III: Barnett threw only 18 passes because UCF averaged 9.5 yards per rush; he completed 11 for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Pitt just scored on seven Heintschel passes, so UCF needs to know whether Barnett can answer if the game becomes a shootout rather than another handoff parade. [S2/S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	UCF 2026	Pitt 2026	UCF 2025 rank	Pitt 2025 rank
Points per game	73.0 (No. 2*)	59.0 (No. 13*)	No. 18	No. 26
Points allowed per game	6.0 (No. 21*)	14.0 (No. 54*)	No. 53	No. 59
Yards per game	560.0 (No. 19*)	646.0 (No. 8*)	No. 76	No. 67
Yards allowed per game	181.0 (No. 23*)	289.0 (No. 58*)	No. 37	No. 32
Passing yards per game	200.0 (No. 86*)	480.0 (No. 1*)	No. 76	No. 20
Passing yards allowed per game	74.0 (No. 9*)	261.0 (No. 101*)	No. 22	No. 100
Turnover margin	+1 (No. 30*)	+1 (No. 30*)	No. 99	No. 83

*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

• UCF — Duke Watson: The Louisville transfer carried seven times for 110 yards and scored on a 64-yard run in his UCF debut. He now faces a defense that allowed 28 rushing yards in Week 1. [S2/S3/S6]
• Pitt — Mason Heintschel: The sophomore threw seven touchdown passes and 453 yards without an interception in the opener. He went 6-3 as a starter in 2025. [S3/S5/S7]

HE SAID IT

• UCF coach Scott Frost: “I told the team after the game we can’t go patting ourselves on the back for this.” Frost immediately pointed toward the step up in competition. Pitt opened with 59 points and held Miami (Ohio) to 14, so UCF’s record night does not guarantee the same easy answers in Week 2. Source
• Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi: “Big thing is he’s standing right now, and he didn’t throw any interceptions. That’s the best stat right there. Forget records.” The seven touchdowns grab attention, but Narduzzi highlighted ball security. UCF returned an interception for a touchdown on Bethune-Cookman’s second possession, showing how quickly one bad decision can change this matchup. Source

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN UCF–Pitt game page and DraftKings feed
• S2: UCF official 73-6 Bethune-Cookman recap
• S3: ESPN Bethune-Cookman–UCF final box score
• S4: ESPN Miami–Pitt final box score
• S5: Pitt official 2026 football roster
• S6: UCF official 2026 football roster
• S7: Pitt official Mason Heintschel bio
• S8: UCF official 2019 35-34 Pitt recap
• S9: UCF official future-series announcement and series history
• S10: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source
• S11: Pitt official 2026 opener game center
• S12: Pitt official 2025 football schedule and record

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 2:30 PM CT | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, MA | ESPN+
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

What’s at stake

UMass comes home with something it did not have at any point in recent seasons: momentum. The Minutemen went 0-12 in 2025, then opened 2026 by beating Rutgers 37-21 on the road for their first victory since October 2024 and first win over an FBS opponent since October 2023. [S3/S4/S10/S11]

Sacred Heart did many winning things in a 31-24 loss at Monmouth—408 yards, 26 first downs, 217 rushing yards and no turnovers. Now the Pioneers face a UMass team that also protected the ball and just won the turnover battle by four. This first meeting is a chance for UMass to prove the Rutgers result was a real change, not a one-night surprise. [S2/S4/S8/S11]

Three things to know

1. Can UMass create short fields again?: UMass intercepted three Rutgers passes, recovered a fumble and did not turn the ball over. That plus-four margin was a complete reversal for a team that finished minus-seven in 2025. Sacred Heart gave Monmouth no takeaways at all, so UMass may have to drive much farther for its points this week. [S2/S4/S10/S11]
2. Both teams want to win on the ground: Sacred Heart ran for 217 yards on 46 attempts, but UMass held Rutgers to 30 rushing yards on 25 attempts. The Minutemen also ran for 200 yards themselves. If UMass’ front repeats its opener, it can force Sacred Heart quarterback Poochie Snyder to carry far more of the game. [S2/S3/S4/S11]
3. Sacred Heart already showed the exact passing threat UMass allowed: Dean Hangey caught five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yarder. Rutgers receiver KJ Duff just produced 196 yards and three touchdowns against UMass, including a 78-yard score. The Minutemen controlled the opener, but their secondary still gave Sacred Heart a clear place to attack. [S2/S4/S5/S11]

Stat comparison

Metric	Sacred Heart 2026	UMass 2026	Sacred Heart 2025 rank	UMass 2025 rank
Points per game	24.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	37.0 (No. 54*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 138
Points allowed per game	31.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	21.0 (No. 85*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 135
Yards per game	408.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	397.0 (No. 68*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 136
Yards allowed per game	350.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	349.0 (No. 76*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 129
Passing yards per game	191.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	197.0 (No. 88*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 120
Passing yards allowed per game	237.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	319.0 (No. 115*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 55
Turnover margin	0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	+4 (No. 2*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 114

*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

• Sacred Heart — Dean Hangey: The junior caught five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns at Monmouth. He gives the Pioneers a downfield answer if UMass shuts down the run. [S2/S5]
• UMass — William “Pop” Watson III: The Virginia Tech transfer completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in his UMass debut. He also ran for 40 yards. [S3/S4/S6/S11]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Sacred Heart–UMass game page
• S2: ESPN Sacred Heart–Monmouth final box score
• S3: UMass official 37-21 Rutgers recap
• S4: UMass official Rutgers final box score
• S5: Sacred Heart official 2026 football roster
• S6: UMass official 2026 football roster
• S7: Sacred Heart official 2026 opener notes and 2025 context
• S8: Sacred Heart official UMass opponent-history page
• S9: UMass official 2026 weekly-information and game-note page
• S10: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source
• S11: ESPN UMass–Rutgers final box score

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 6:30 PM CT | Brooks Stadium (SC), Conway, SC | ESPN+
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

What’s at stake

Coastal Carolina came within one score of winning Ryan Beard’s debut at West Virginia, while Fordham was shut out 38-0 by North Dakota State. The Chanticleers’ home opener is a chance to turn an encouraging loss into an expected win; Fordham is trying to avoid a third straight defeat before Patriot League play. [S2/S3/S5]

This is the first meeting, and it completes consecutive FBS road games for Fordham. Coastal already showed it can throw for 373 yards; the question is whether it can add a usable run game instead of asking Deuce Bailey to carry everything. [S2/S3/S4/S5]

Three things to know

1. Coastal’s passing game is far ahead of its run game: Deuce Bailey threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns without an interception at West Virginia. Coastal rushed for only 52 yards at 1.9 per carry. Fordham allowed North Dakota State to complete 18 of 22 passes, so Bailey should have openings—but the home team still needs more balance. [S2/S3]
2. Fordham cannot survive another turnover pileup: The Rams lost one fumble and threw three interceptions at North Dakota State. Coastal lost two fumbles of its own in a seven-point loss. Both teams saw how quickly a good possession disappears when the ball hits the ground or lands with a defender. [S2/S3]
3. One Fordham defender kept fighting through the shutout: Andrew Osmun had 13 tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss. Coastal allowed only one sack at West Virginia, so that individual matchup matters if Fordham is going to keep Bailey from setting up another string of deep throws. [S2/S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	Fordham 2026	Coastal 2026	Fordham 2025 rank	Coastal 2025 rank
Points per game	7.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	24.0 (No. 80*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 115
Points allowed per game	31.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	31.0 (No. 101*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 118
Yards per game	162.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	425.0 (No. 55*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 116
Yards allowed per game	403.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	413.0 (No. 101*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 132
Passing yards per game	116.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	373.0 (No. 11*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 117
Passing yards allowed per game	202.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	132.0 (No. 40*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 101
Turnover margin	-1 (FCS; no FBS rank)	-1 (No. 86*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 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. [S9]

Players to watch

• Fordham — Andrew Osmun: The senior linebacker made 13 tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss at North Dakota State. He was the Rams’ clearest bright spot. [S2/S6]
• Coastal Carolina — Deuce Bailey: He completed 21 of 37 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns without an interception at West Virginia. He produced 88% of the Chanticleers’ offense through the air. [S3/S7]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Fordham–Coastal Carolina game page
• S2: ESPN Fordham–North Dakota State final box score
• S3: ESPN Coastal Carolina–West Virginia final box score
• S4: Fordham official NDSU preview and consecutive-FBS context
• S5: Coastal Carolina official 2026 home-opener announcement
• S6: Fordham official 2026 football roster
• S7: Coastal Carolina official 2026 football roster
• S8: Coastal Carolina official West Virginia opener notes
• S9: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 5:00 PM CT | Williams Stadium (VA), Lynchburg, VA | ESPN+
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

What’s at stake

Liberty lost its opener 20-13 at James Madison and now gets a home game against a Gardner-Webb team that is 0-2. The Flames need to show that one competitive road loss did not signal an offensive step backward; the Runnin’ Bulldogs need to turn two productive passing games into an actual win. [S2/S3/S4]

This is a familiar series—Liberty identified Gardner-Webb as one of only two opponents it had faced 25 times entering the season. Familiarity helps the underdog, but Gardner-Webb’s three turnovers last week make this a difficult place to chase an upset. [S2/S5]

Three things to know

1. Gardner-Webb can move the ball but cannot protect it: Cole Pennington threw for 378 yards at Wofford, and Gardner-Webb outgained the Terriers 438-208. Three turnovers erased that edge. Liberty did not give the ball away at James Madison, so the Runnin’ Bulldogs cannot count on the same extra possessions they handed Wofford. [S2/S3]
2. Liberty’s run game was busy, not efficient: The Flames ran 38 times for 91 yards, only 2.4 per carry. Gardner-Webb allowed Wofford just 88 rushing yards, so Liberty needs better blocking rather than assuming an FCS opponent will fix the problem automatically. [S2/S3]
3. Penalties kept Liberty from helping itself: Liberty committed 12 penalties for 82 yards and converted only one of three fourth downs. The Flames held the ball for more than 37 minutes and did not turn it over, yet scored 13 points. Cleaner football matters as much as raw yardage this week. [S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	Gardner-Webb 2026	Liberty 2026	Gardner-Webb 2025 rank	Liberty 2025 rank
Points per game	15.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	13.0 (No. 109*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 92
Points allowed per game	26.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	20.0 (No. 79*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 68
Yards per game	391.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	321.0 (No. 101*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 69
Yards allowed per game	345.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	291.0 (No. 60*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 69
Passing yards per game	345.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	230.0 (No. 67*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 101
Passing yards allowed per game	214.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	118.0 (No. 30*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 36
Turnover margin	-1 (FCS; no FBS rank)	0 (No. 60*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 114

*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

• Gardner-Webb — Kory Jones: He caught six passes for 135 yards at Wofford after a nine-catch, 102-yard opener. He has already produced 237 yards in two games. [S2/S4/S6]
• Liberty — Deshawn Purdie: He completed 17 of 27 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown without an interception at James Madison. He gave the Flames efficient quarterback play despite the loss. [S3/S7]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Gardner-Webb–Liberty game page
• S2: ESPN Gardner-Webb–Wofford final box score
• S3: ESPN Liberty–James Madison final box score
• S4: Gardner-Webb official Wofford preview and opener statistics
• S5: Liberty official 2026 James Madison game notes and series context
• S6: Gardner-Webb official 2026 football roster
• S7: Liberty official 2026 football roster
• S8: Liberty official 2026 nonconference schedule announcement
• S9: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 2:30 PM CT | Kroger Field, Lexington, KY | ABC, Disney+
DraftKings snapshot: ALA -10.5 | Over/under: 48.5 [S1]

What’s at stake

Kentucky’s new era gets its first major test one week after Will Stein won his head-coaching debut 45-13. Alabama opened 48-10 and now begins SEC play against a program it has beaten eight straight times. A Kentucky upset would immediately change how the league views the Wildcats; Alabama is trying to avoid giving away an early conference game as a double-digit favorite. [S1/S2/S3/S7/S9]

The series history is enormous: Alabama leads 39-2-1, and Kentucky has not won since a 40-34 overtime game in 1997. The Wildcats’ opener looked promising, but this is the week that tells us whether it was more than a clean debut against an FCS opponent. [S3/S7/S8]

Three things to know

1. Both front sevens erased the opponent’s run game: Alabama held East Carolina to two net rushing yards on 22 attempts. Kentucky held Youngstown State to 59 on 28 attempts. Alabama now brings a 227-yard rushing attack into the matchup, while Kentucky ran for 205, so the winner up front can take pressure off a quarterback making his first SEC start of the season. [S2/S3]
2. The quarterbacks won in completely different ways: Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in his first start. Alabama’s Keelon Russell threw for 256 with no touchdown or interception, but led the Tide with 86 rushing yards and scored on the ground. Kentucky showed the cleaner passing game; Alabama showed its quarterback does not need a touchdown pass to control the game. [S2/S3/S5]
3. Kentucky has to survive Alabama’s third-down defense: East Carolina went 0 of 9 on third down and finished with only five first downs against Alabama. Kentucky was only 3 of 8 on third down against Youngstown State despite scoring 45. If Minchey’s early-down throws stop creating manageable situations, the Tide can squeeze this game quickly. [S2/S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	Alabama 2026	Kentucky 2026	Alabama 2025 rank	Kentucky 2025 rank
Points per game	48.0 (No. 33*)	45.0 (No. 35*)	No. 42	No. 108
Points allowed per game	10.0 (No. 38*)	13.0 (No. 47*)	No. 18	No. 67
Yards per game	487.0 (No. 45*)	506.0 (No. 39*)	No. 84	No. 105
Yards allowed per game	162.0 (No. 17*)	305.0 (No. 64*)	No. 13	No. 67
Passing yards per game	260.0 (No. 54*)	301.0 (No. 33*)	No. 29	No. 96
Passing yards allowed per game	160.0 (No. 53*)	246.0 (No. 97*)	No. 9	No. 105
Turnover margin	0 (No. 60*)	+1 (No. 30*)	No. 23	No. 119

*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

• Alabama — Yhonzae Pierre: The senior linebacker had a sack and returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown against East Carolina. He is listed on Alabama’s 2026 roster after leading the Tide with eight sacks last season. [S2/S4]
• Kentucky — Kenny Minchey: The Notre Dame transfer completed 18 of 27 passes for 301 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in his first Kentucky start. He is listed on the current roster and now makes his first SEC start. [S3/S5]

HE SAID IT

• Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer: “Just taking off and going and making plays. Balancing that with keeping his eyes down the field.” Kentucky held Youngstown State to 59 rushing yards as a team. Russell’s ability to escape without abandoning the pass gives that run defense a much different test. Source
• Kentucky coach Will Stein: “How you play quarterback is you take the easy money. You take what they give you.” Alabama returned an interception for a touchdown in its opener. Minchey’s willingness to accept the simple throw instead of forcing a big one could decide whether Kentucky keeps the upset chance alive. Source

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Alabama–Kentucky game page and DraftKings feed
• S2: ESPN East Carolina–Alabama final box score
• S3: ESPN Youngstown State–Kentucky final box score
• S4: Alabama official 2026 football roster
• S5: Kentucky official 2026 football roster
• S6: Alabama official 2026 schedule release
• S7: Alabama official football history vs. Kentucky
• S8: Alabama official 49-21 Kentucky recap from 2023
• S9: Kentucky official Will Stein opener preview
• S10: Kentucky official 2026 football media center
• S11: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 6:00 PM CT | Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | SECN+
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

What’s at stake

South Carolina’s 57-0 opener looked like a playoff contender handling business; Towson’s 42-15 loss at Navy looked like an FCS team spending most of the day chasing an option offense. This first meeting is mainly about whether the Gamecocks can stay sharp before SEC play and whether Towson can make them solve anything after halftime. [S2/S3/S4]

Towson is playing a second straight FBS road game for only the second season in program history. South Carolina has the talent edge, but the Tigers’ quarterback has thrown four touchdowns in two games and has shown he can create one-play scores. [S2/S4]

Three things to know

1. South Carolina showed balance, not just star power: The Gamecocks gained 645 yards—367 passing and 278 rushing—and had three runners gain at least 62 yards. Towson allowed 527 yards at Navy, so it cannot solve this matchup by taking away only LaNorris Sellers or only the run. [S2/S3]
2. Towson’s passing game can still make a quick strike: Andrew Indorf completed 13 of 18 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns at Navy, including scores of 48 and 29 yards. South Carolina allowed only 79 passing yards to Kent State, so those explosive throws are Towson’s best chance to make the favorite uncomfortable. [S2/S3]
3. The Tigers have to get off the field: Navy held the ball for 39:50 and ran for 506 yards. South Carolina converted 7 of 8 third downs and collected 35 first downs against Kent State. If Towson cannot force early punts, the same tired-defense script can repeat with a very different offense. [S2/S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	Towson 2026	South Carolina 2026	Towson 2025 rank	South Carolina 2025 rank
Points per game	16.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	57.0 (No. 18*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 110
Points allowed per game	31.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	0.0 (No. 1*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 78
Yards per game	312.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	645.0 (No. 10*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 109
Yards allowed per game	428.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	179.0 (No. 22*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 52
Passing yards per game	237.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	367.0 (No. 13*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 67
Passing yards allowed per game	110.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	79.0 (No. 11*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 59
Turnover margin	-2 (FCS; no FBS rank)	+1 (No. 30*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 44

*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

• Towson — Andrew Indorf: He completed 13 of 18 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns without an interception at Navy. He gives the Tigers a chance to create points without sustaining long drives. [S2/S6]
• South Carolina — LaNorris Sellers: He completed 19 of 23 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. He directed an offense that averaged 9.2 yards per play. [S3/S7]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Towson–South Carolina game page
• S2: ESPN Towson–Navy final box score
• S3: ESPN Kent State–South Carolina final box score
• S4: Towson official Navy preview and South Carolina first-meeting note
• S5: Towson official 2026 FBS-game announcement
• S6: Towson official 2026 football roster
• S7: South Carolina official 2026 football roster
• S8: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 6:30 PM CT | DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX | ABC
DraftKings snapshot: TEX -1.5 | Over/under: 47.5 [S1]

What’s at stake

Ohio State won last season’s meeting 14-7 in Columbus and now takes a 3-2 series lead into Austin. Both playoff contenders opened with comfortable wins, but this rematch is the first result that will shape the national résumé of either team. [S2/S3/S4]

The opener numbers were enormous—Ohio State gained 671 yards and Texas scored 59—but both came against overmatched opponents. This game will show whether Julian Sayin’s efficient start and Arch Manning’s four-touchdown afternoon hold up when every throwing window gets smaller. [S2/S3]

Three things to know

1. Ohio State’s downfield combination arrived immediately: Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two scores. Texas allowed 188 passing yards to Texas State and now has to defend a receiver who accounted for nearly half of Ohio State’s passing production. [S2/S3]
2. Texas was better on third down than it was protecting the run: The Longhorns converted 11 of 15 third downs and scored 59, but Texas State still rushed for 161 yards. Ohio State ran for 237 yards and had two backs reach 83, so Texas cannot rely on Manning winning a shootout if its front keeps allowing efficient runs. [S2/S3]
3. The turnover margin can swing a rematch this tight: Ohio State threw one interception but forced one; Texas also threw one interception but forced three turnovers. Last year’s meeting produced only 21 combined points, so one short field could matter far more than the opener scores suggest. [S2/S3/S4]

Stat comparison

Metric	Ohio State 2026	Texas 2026	Ohio State 2025 rank	Texas 2025 rank
Points per game	56.0 (No. 19*)	59.0 (No. 13*)	No. 27	No. 55
Points allowed per game	3.0 (No. 10*)	7.0 (No. 25*)	No. 1	No. 38
Yards per game	671.0 (No. 3*)	516.0 (No. 35*)	No. 26	No. 70
Yards allowed per game	165.0 (No. 18*)	349.0 (No. 76*)	No. 1	No. 40
Passing yards per game	434.0 (No. 3*)	360.0 (No. 14*)	No. 23	No. 44
Passing yards allowed per game	120.0 (No. 34*)	188.0 (No. 67*)	No. 1	No. 97
Turnover margin	0 (No. 60*)	+2 (No. 12*)	No. 44	No. 6

*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

• Ohio State — Jeremiah Smith: He caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State. He remains the matchup Texas must solve first. [S2/S7]
• Texas — Ryan Wingo: He caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown against Texas State. He gives Manning a proven answer when Ohio State pressures. [S3/S8]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Ohio State–Texas game page and DraftKings feed
• S2: ESPN Ball State–Ohio State final box score
• S3: ESPN Texas State–Texas final box score
• S4: Ohio State official 2026 schedule announcement and Texas series history
• S5: Ohio State official 2026 football media center
• S6: Texas official 2026 football game center
• S7: Ohio State official 2026 football roster
• S8: Texas official 2026 football roster
• S9: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 10:00 PM CT | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | BTN
DraftKings snapshot: USC -28.5 | Over/under: 63.5 [S1]

What’s at stake

USC is 2-0, but the two wins have told very different stories. The Trojans followed an uncompetitive Week 0 game against San Jose State that looked closer than it was with a 39-0 demolition of Fresno State in which they gained 552 yards and allowed 116. Louisiana opened with 474 yards in a 38-7 win over Lamar, so the Cajuns bring enough offense to make USC prove that its defensive leap was not a one-night performance. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S6/S12]

This is the first meeting between the programs and Louisiana’s first chance to measure its rebuilt defense against a ranked Power Four offense. USC is trying to reach 3-0 before its schedule gets much more demanding; the Cajuns can turn an ordinary nonconference trip into one of the biggest wins in program history. [S1/S7/S8]

Three things to know

1. Louisiana’s run game is its best way to shorten the night: The Cajuns rushed for 243 yards against Lamar, with Darrell Smith gaining 84 yards and scoring twice on 10 carries. USC just held Fresno State to 39 rushing yards. If Louisiana cannot move the chains on the ground, Jayden Maiava will get too many possessions against a defense that ranked 109th nationally in yards allowed last season. [S2/S3/S4/S6/S11]
2. USC’s passing efficiency is almost hard to believe: Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns, and USC finished with 412 passing yards while completing at least 93% of its team attempts. Louisiana held Lamar to 149 passing yards and intercepted three passes, but the jump from an FCS quarterback to USC’s speed and accuracy is enormous. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S6]
3. The turnover totals give Louisiana one real opening: Louisiana forced four turnovers against Lamar, but committed three of its own. USC forced two Fresno State turnovers and also lost two. The Cajuns probably cannot win a clean, possession-for-possession shootout; creating short fields while protecting Lunch Winfield is the most realistic way to make USC uncomfortable. [S2/S3/S4/S6]

Stat comparison

Metric	Louisiana 2026	USC 2026	Louisiana 2025 rank	USC 2025 rank
Points per game	38.0 (No. 48*)	40.5 (No. 45*)	No. 90	No. 4
Points allowed per game	7.0 (No. 25*)	13.0 (No. 47*)	No. 106	No. 44
Yards per game	474.0 (No. 48*)	528.5 (No. 27*)	No. 100	No. 8
Yards allowed per game	205.0 (No. 29*)	226.0 (No. 40*)	No. 109	No. 49
Passing yards per game	231.0 (No. 64*)	376.5 (No. 9*)	No. 123	No. 5
Passing yards allowed per game	149.0 (No. 47*)	155.5 (No. 50*)	No. 79	No. 47
Turnover margin	+1 (No. 30*)	-1 (No. 86*)	No. 80	No. 57

*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

• Louisiana — Darrell Smith: He carried 10 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. His 8.4-yard average makes him Louisiana’s clearest chance to control the clock and keep USC’s passing game off the field. [S2/S3/S9]
• USC — Trent Mosley: The freshman caught four passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns, giving him consecutive 100-yard games to begin his college career. USC says he is its first freshman to do that since Drake London in 2019. [S4/S5/S6/S10]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Louisiana-USC game page and DraftKings feed
• S2: Louisiana official Lamar final game center and team statistics
• S3: ESPN Lamar-Louisiana final box score
• S4: USC official Fresno State postgame notes and quotes
• S5: USC official Associated Press Fresno State recap
• S6: USC official Fresno State box score
• S7: USC official first-meeting announcement
• S8: Louisiana official 2026 Lamar preview and game-note facts
• S9: Louisiana official 2026 football roster
• S10: USC official 2026 football roster
• S11: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source
• S12: ESPN San Jose State-USC Week 0 final box score

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 9:00 PM CT | Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, CO | FS1
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted

What’s at stake

North Dakota State’s first Mountain West game is also its first conference road game as an FBS program. The Bison are 2-0 with wins by 26 and 38 points; Air Force opened by rushing for 431 yards in a 34-0 shutout. This is the first real measuring stick for both newcomers to the 2026 league picture. [S2/S3/S4/S5]

The teams have never met. NDSU brings the pressure of its FCS dynasty into a new division, while Air Force gets the first chance to show whether last season’s defensive struggles have actually been repaired. [S4/S5/S10]

Three things to know

1. Air Force’s option offense immediately looked like itself: The Falcons ran 71 times for 431 yards and held the ball for 40:50. NDSU allowed Fordham only 19 rushing yards and Jacksonville State 182 in its FBS debut, so the first conference game is a much more revealing test of both fronts than either Week 1 score. [S2/S3/S6]
2. NDSU can make Air Force pay for selling out against the run: Nathan Hayes completed 18 of 22 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns against Fordham. Through two games the Bison have completed 70.6% of their passes without an interception. Air Force attempted only five passes in its opener, so an early deficit would drag the Falcons away from their preferred script. [S2/S3/S6]
3. Neither team gave the opponent anything: NDSU forced four turnovers and committed none against Fordham; Air Force forced two interceptions and also had no turnover. When both teams want to shorten the game with the run, one takeaway could decide who gets to play from ahead. [S2/S3]

Stat comparison

Metric	N Dakota St 2026	Air Force 2026	N Dakota St 2025 rank	Air Force 2025 rank
Points per game	35.5 (No. 55*)	34.0 (No. 60*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 11
Points allowed per game	3.5 (No. 20*)	0.0 (No. 1*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 98
Yards per game	373.0 (No. 82*)	450.0 (No. 52*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 46
Yards allowed per game	152.5 (No. 14*)	107.0 (No. 5*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 118
Passing yards per game	204.5 (No. 81*)	19.0 (No. 131*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 128
Passing yards allowed per game	100.5 (No. 24*)	53.0 (No. 7*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 128
Turnover margin	+5 (No. 1*)	+2 (No. 12*)	2025 FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 83

*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

• North Dakota State — Nathan Hayes: He completed 18 of 22 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Fordham. [S2/S7]
• Air Force — Liam Szarka: The starting quarterback rushed 13 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns while directing a 431-yard option attack. [S3/S8]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN North Dakota State–Air Force game page
• S2: ESPN Fordham–North Dakota State final box score
• S3: ESPN Duquesne–Air Force final box score
• S4: NDSU official 2026 schedule and first Mountain West game
• S5: Air Force official 2026 Mountain West opponent announcement
• S6: ESPN Jacksonville State–North Dakota State final box score
• S7: North Dakota State official 2026 football roster
• S8: Air Force official 2026 football roster
• S9: NDSU official FBS-debut preview
• S10: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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

Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 6:45 PM CT | Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL | SEC Network
DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

What’s at stake

Auburn survived three interceptions and stopped Baylor inches short on a two-point try to win Alex Golesh’s debut 17-16. Now Golesh coaches his first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium against a Southern Miss team that opened with a 49-3 win over Alcorn State. [S2/S3/S4/S5]

Auburn leads the series 18-5, but these teams have not met since a 24-13 Tigers win in 2018. Southern Miss’ opener showed a powerful run game and an opportunistic secondary; Auburn’s opener showed a defense capable of surviving an uneven offensive day. [S2/S3/S4/S7]

Three things to know

1. Southern Miss’ run game gets a real test: The Golden Eagles rushed for 317 yards at 5.6 per carry against Alcorn State. Auburn held Baylor to 103 rushing yards at 2.3 per carry, so the line of scrimmage will tell us quickly how much of Southern Miss’ opener carries over against an SEC front. [S2/S3]
2. Byrum Brown cannot repeat the turnover problem: Brown threw three interceptions and no touchdown passes against Baylor. Southern Miss intercepted Alcorn State four times, including three by Kobi Albert. The level of competition changes, but the Golden Eagles just showed they can punish careless throws. [S2/S3]
3. Auburn’s defense was better than the yardage total: Baylor gained 436 yards and threw for 333, yet scored only 16 points. Auburn forced two turnovers, made a fourth-down stop in the red zone and ended the game with Eric Winters’ tackle inches short of the goal line. Southern Miss cannot count on long drives automatically becoming points. [S3/S5]

Stat comparison

Metric	Southern Miss 2026	Auburn 2026	Southern Miss 2025 rank	Auburn 2025 rank
Points per game	49.0 (No. 30*)	17.0 (No. 97*)	No. 48	No. 85
Points allowed per game	3.0 (No. 10*)	16.0 (No. 67*)	No. 128	No. 47
Yards per game	543.0 (No. 24*)	389.0 (No. 78*)	No. 53	No. 79
Yards allowed per game	223.0 (No. 38*)	436.0 (No. 110*)	No. 101	No. 29
Passing yards per game	226.0 (No. 70*)	259.0 (No. 55*)	No. 25	No. 99
Passing yards allowed per game	119.0 (No. 31*)	333.0 (No. 117*)	No. 86	No. 90
Turnover margin	+4 (No. 2*)	-1 (No. 86*)	No. 6	No. 16

*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

• Southern Miss — Steven Robinson: He rushed 23 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns against Alcorn State. Together with Jamarice Wilder, he gave Southern Miss two backs who combined for 213 yards and five scores. [S2/S8]
• Auburn — Eric Winters: He made 11 tackles, forced a fumble and stopped Baylor’s potential game-winning two-point try inches from the goal line. [S5/S9]

Looking for a prediction?

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

Sources

• S1: ESPN Southern Miss–Auburn game page
• S2: ESPN Alcorn State–Southern Miss final box score
• S3: ESPN Baylor–Auburn final box score
• S4: Auburn official Week 2 kickoff announcement and series history
• S5: Auburn official 17-16 Baylor recap
• S6: Southern Miss official Alcorn State box score
• S7: Southern Miss official football history vs. Auburn
• S8: Southern Miss official 2026 football roster
• S9: Auburn official 2026 football roster
• S10: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source

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