Category: College Football

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

Metric	Wofford 2026	Kent State 2026	Wofford 2025 rank	Kent State 2025 rank
Points per game	29.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	0.0 (No. 126*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 119
Points allowed per game	13.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	57.0 (No. 127*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 123
Yards per game	274.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	179.0 (No. 122*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 128
Yards allowed per game	394.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	645.0 (No. 128*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 125
Passing yards per game	150.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	79.0 (No. 124*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 99
Passing yards allowed per game	251.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	367.0 (No. 124*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 102
Turnover margin	+2 (FCS; no FBS rank)	-1 (No. 86*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 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

• S1: ESPN Wofford–Kent State game page
• S2: ESPN Gardner-Webb–Wofford final box score
• S3: ESPN Kent State–South Carolina final box score
• S4: Wofford official 42-14 Citadel recap
• S5: Kent State official 2026 football media center
• S6: Wofford official 2026 football roster
• S7: Kent State 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 | 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

Metric	Louisiana Tech 2026	LSU 2026	Louisiana Tech 2025 rank	LSU 2025 rank
Points per game	80.0 (No. 1*)	51.0 (No. 26*)	No. 79	No. 94
Points allowed per game	6.0 (No. 21*)	10.0 (No. 38*)	No. 87	No. 21
Yards per game	528.0 (No. 28*)	644.0 (No. 11*)	No. 88	No. 111
Yards allowed per game	129.0 (No. 10*)	145.0 (No. 11*)	No. 68	No. 27
Passing yards per game	296.0 (No. 36*)	335.0 (No. 23*)	No. 121	No. 63
Passing yards allowed per game	43.0 (No. 5*)	105.0 (No. 26*)	No. 107	No. 42
Turnover margin	+1 (No. 30*)	0 (No. 60*)	No. 20	No. 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

• S1: ESPN Louisiana Tech-LSU game page
• S2: Louisiana Tech official 80-6 Northwestern State recap
• S3: Louisiana Tech official Northwestern State final box score
• S4: ESPN Northwestern State-Louisiana Tech final box score
• S5: ESPN Clemson-LSU final box score
• S6: LSU official Clemson game box-score page
• S7: Louisiana Tech official 23-7 LSU recap, series history and postgame notes
• S8: LSU official 23-7 Louisiana Tech recap
• S9: LSU official 2026 schedule
• S10: Louisiana Tech official 2026 football roster
• S11: LSU official 2026 football roster
• S12: Louisiana Tech official 2026 football schedule announcement
• S13: LSU official 2026 game-notes hub; Week 2 links pending
• S14: SportsDataverse/ESPN 2025 team-summary source
• S15: Louisiana Tech official football history vs. LSU
• S16: ESPN Louisiana Tech-LSU 2025 final and AP recap
• S17: Associated Press Clemson-LSU game story via The Washington Post
• S18: ACC official Clemson-LSU 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 | 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

Metric	Holy Cross 2026	Miami OH 2026	Holy Cross 2025 rank	Miami OH 2025 rank
Points per game	10.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	14.0 (No. 106*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 71
Points allowed per game	35.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	59.0 (No. 128*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 33
Yards per game	360.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	289.0 (No. 110*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 108
Yards allowed per game	420.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	646.0 (No. 129*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 36
Passing yards per game	288.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	261.0 (No. 53*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 106
Passing yards allowed per game	203.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	480.0 (No. 131*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 39
Turnover margin	-5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	-1 (No. 86*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 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

• S1: ESPN Holy Cross–Miami game page
• S2: ESPN Holy Cross–Colgate final box score
• S3: ESPN Miami–Pitt final box score
• S4: Holy Cross official 2026 football roster
• S5: Miami official 2026 football roster
• S6: Holy Cross official Lehigh recap
• S7: Miami official Pitt opener notes and offensive-line experience
• S8: ESPN Lehigh–Holy Cross final box score
• 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 | 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

Metric	Wagner 2026	James Madison 2026	Wagner 2025 rank	James Madison 2025 rank
Points per game	19.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	20.0 (No. 93*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 17
Points allowed per game	17.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	13.0 (No. 47*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 12
Yards per game	253.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	291.0 (No. 109*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 15
Yards allowed per game	215.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)	321.0 (No. 68*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 5
Passing yards per game	171.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	118.0 (No. 115*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 88
Passing yards allowed per game	162.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)	230.0 (No. 88*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 19
Turnover margin	+1 (FCS; no FBS rank)	0 (No. 60*)	FCS — not ranked with FBS	No. 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

• S1: ESPN Wagner–James Madison game page
• S2: ESPN Southern Connecticut State–Wagner final box score
• S3: ESPN Robert Morris–Wagner final box score
• S4: ESPN Liberty–James Madison final box score
• S5: Wagner official Southern Connecticut State preview and schedule context
• S6: Wagner official 2026 football roster
• S7: James Madison official Liberty game center and final team stats
• S8: James Madison official 2026 football roster
• S9: James Madison official 2026 opener preview and roster-turnover context
• S10: Wagner official JMU kickoff announcement and first-meeting note
• 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 | 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.