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  • Oklahoma vs. Michigan preview: Can Michigan find some offense against the Sooners defense?

    Oklahoma vs. Michigan preview: Can Michigan find some offense against the Sooners defense?

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | FOX
    DraftKings snapshot: OU -4.5 | Over/under: 44.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor with the cleaner opener and the recent edge in the series. The Sooners scored on their first eight possessions in a 51-0 shutout of UTEP, while Michigan escaped Western Michigan 13-12 with a dramatic hailmary despite losing the turnover battle 3-0 and holding the ball for less than 20 minutes. This rematch will show whether Michigan’s opener was merely ugly or an early warning. [S2/S3/S4/S11]

    Oklahoma beat Michigan 24-13 last September and later reached the College Football Playoff. Michigan has the immediate chance to reverse that result at home; Oklahoma can add another major nonconference road win to a résumé that already has playoff expectations. [S6/S7/S12]

    Three things to know

    1. Michigan cannot give Oklahoma three extra possessions: The Wolverines committed three turnovers against Western Michigan and still won because their defense allowed only 221 yards. Oklahoma just forced two UTEP turnovers, held the Miners to 198 yards and scored on its first eight possessions. Michigan is unlikely to survive another minus-three turnover margin against an offense that finished nearly every early drive. [S2/S3/S4/S11]
    2. Bryce Underwood gets a direct test of his growth: Underwood completed only 9 of 24 passes for 142 yards and no touchdowns at Oklahoma last season. He opened 2026 at 12 of 22 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while adding 47 rushing yards and another score. Brent Venables’ defense now gets to ask the same question again: can Underwood stay efficient when the easy throws disappear? [S4/S6/S7]
    3. Michigan has to keep its offense on the field: Western Michigan possessed the ball for 40:08 and limited Michigan to 10 third-down attempts; the Wolverines converted only three. Oklahoma was not overpowering on third down either at 6 of 11, but it averaged 10.1 yards per pass attempt and produced touchdown throws of 40, 34 and 48 yards. Long Michigan drives are the simplest way to keep that quick-strike passing game watching from the sideline. [S2/S3/S4]

    Stat comparison

    MetricOklahoma 2026Michigan 2026Oklahoma 2025 rankMichigan 2025 rank
    Points per game51.0 (No. 26*)13.0 (No. 109*)No. 48No. 79
    Points allowed per game0.0 (No. 1*)12.0 (No. 46*)No. 9No. 26
    Yards per game401.0 (No. 67*)276.0 (No. 114*)No. 92No. 59
    Yards allowed per game198.0 (No. 28*)221.0 (No. 36*)No. 6No. 23
    Passing yards per game231.0 (No. 64*)170.0 (No. 97*)No. 59No. 107
    Passing yards allowed per game86.0 (No. 13*)89.0 (No. 16*)No. 32No. 54
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)-3 (No. 126*)No. 87No. 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. [S8]

    Players to watch

    • Oklahoma — Isaiah Sategna III: He caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, then added an 88-yard punt-return score. His two different paths to the end zone make him the player Michigan must locate on both offense and special teams. [S2/S3/S9/S11]
    • Michigan — JJ Buchanan: He turned six catches into 126 yards and Michigan’s only passing touchdown. Buchanan accounted for nearly three-quarters of the Wolverines’ passing yards and gave Underwood a reliable answer during an otherwise uneven opener. [S4/S10]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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

  • Howard vs. Indiana preview: Hoosiers chase 18th straight win

    Howard vs. Indiana preview: Hoosiers chase 18th straight win

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN), Bloomington, IN | BTN
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Indiana’s title defense began with the new quarterback looking ready and the defense looking surprisingly human. Josh Hoover threw four touchdown passes in a 52-16 win over North Texas, but the Mean Green actually outgained the Hoosiers 367-365 and held the ball for more than 37 minutes. Howard comes in 1-1 after a 28-21 loss to Richmond, needing a much cleaner offensive game to have any chance of turning Indiana’s defensive warning signs into real pressure. [S2/S3/S4/S6]

    The defending national champions have won 17 straight games overall and 16 straight at home. This is the first football meeting between Indiana and Howard, and the Hoosiers’ challenge is to sharpen the defense without losing the big-play offense that made their opener look comfortable. [S4/S6/S10]

    Three things to know

    1. Indiana’s new quarterback did not need many chances: Hoover completed 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Indiana scored 52 points despite running only 46 offensive plays. Howard just allowed Richmond quarterback Ashten Snelsire to throw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, so explosive passing is the clearest mismatch. [S2/S3/S4/S5]
    2. The final score hid Indiana’s defensive issues: North Texas gained two more yards than Indiana and possessed the ball for about 15 minutes longer. Curt Cignetti specifically pointed to poor perimeter tackling after the game. Howard rushed for 131 yards against Richmond, but only 109 passing yards and two turnovers kept the Bison from turning that work into enough points. [S2/S3/S4]
    3. Howard cannot give the champion extra possessions: The Bison went 4 of 16 on third down and turned the ball over twice against Richmond. Indiana had no turnovers and scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions, then on its final three drives. An upset bid disappears quickly if Howard’s empty drives become short fields for Hoover. [S2/S3/S4]

    Stat comparison

    MetricHoward 2026Indiana 2026Howard 2025 rankIndiana 2025 rank
    Points per game26.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)52.0 (No. 25*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 7
    Points allowed per game26.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)16.0 (No. 67*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 2
    Yards per game338.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)365.0 (No. 89*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 17
    Yards allowed per game352.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)367.0 (No. 83*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 4
    Passing yards per game215.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)231.0 (No. 64*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 55
    Passing yards allowed per game257.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)215.0 (No. 82*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 24
    Turnover margin0 (FCS; no FBS rank)+1 (No. 30*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 2

    *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

    • Howard — Aidan Foster: He made eight tackles, recorded a sack and added a quarterback hurry against Richmond. Howard needs disruption from its front before Indiana’s receivers can separate. [S2/S8]
    • Indiana — Josh Hoover: His 13-of-16, 231-yard, four-touchdown debut set an Indiana record for touchdown passes by a quarterback in his first Hoosier game. [S3/S4/S5/S9]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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  • Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech preview: Hokies seek revenge after last year’s upset

    Old Dominion vs. Virginia Tech preview: Hokies seek revenge after last year’s upset

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA | CW
    DraftKings snapshot: VT -14.5 | Over/under: 51.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Old Dominion did not just beat Virginia Tech last season. The Monarchs led 28-0 at halftime and won 45-26 for the first road victory over a Power Four team in program history. That made ODU 3-4 in this young series and turned this year’s trip to Blacksburg into an immediate revenge game for new Hokies coach James Franklin. [S7/S8/S13]

    Both teams won their openers, but neither FCS matchup tells the whole story. Virginia Tech crushed VMI 73-3 in Franklin’s debut, while ODU beat Norfolk State 31-10 for its seventh straight victory despite gaining only 319 yards and committing two turnovers. The Hokies are favored by 14.5 points; before laying that number, they have to prove last year’s 19-point loss was about the old team rather than the matchup. [S1/S2/S3/S4/S5/S6]

    Three things to know

    1. Virginia Tech finally gets a real test of its new start: The Hokies gained 619 yards, averaged 6.7 yards per rush and scored touchdowns on their first four offensive possessions against VMI. Their defense piled up 17 tackles for loss—the program’s most in a game since at least 1987—and held VMI to minus-four rushing yards. Those are overwhelming numbers, but ODU is coming off a 10-win season and returns five defensive starters. This is the first opponent capable of showing whether the blowout represented real change. [S5/S6/S11]
    2. Quinn Henicle makes the rematch a different quarterback problem: Henicle accounted for all four ODU touchdowns against Norfolk State, passing for 137 yards and two scores while rushing for 68 yards and two more. He has now rushed for two touchdowns in each of his three career starts. Virginia Tech dominated an overmatched VMI offense, but it now has to defend a quarterback who can punish an undisciplined pass rush by keeping the ball. [S2/S3/S4/S9/S14]
    3. Turnovers could erase Virginia Tech’s talent advantage: ODU forced three Norfolk State turnovers, including a fumble at the one-yard line and another recovered at the Spartans’ 12. Virginia Tech lost two fumbles against VMI even though the Hokies controlled almost everything else. Last year’s ODU win also included two Virginia Tech fumbles, so ball security is not a throwaway detail in this matchup. [S2/S3/S4/S6/S7/S8]

    Stat comparison

    MetricOld Dominion 2026Virginia Tech 2026Old Dominion 2025 rankVirginia Tech 2025 rank
    Points per game31.0 (No. 69*)73.0 (No. 2*)No. 44No. 85
    Points allowed per game10.0 (No. 38*)3.0 (No. 10*)No. 13No. 96
    Yards per game319.0 (No. 102*)619.0 (No. 15*)No. 14No. 97
    Yards allowed per game220.0 (No. 35*)83.0 (No. 3*)No. 33No. 71
    Passing yards per game137.0 (No. 109*)351.0 (No. 17*)No. 83No. 119
    Passing yards allowed per game94.0 (No. 18*)87.0 (No. 15*)No. 29No. 81
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)-1 (No. 86*)No. 67No. 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. [S16]

    Players to watch

    • Old Dominion — Quinn Henicle: In his first start of 2026, he completed 9 of 12 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, then added 68 rushing yards and two more scores. ODU’s current quarterback has produced two rushing touchdowns in all three of his career starts. [S2/S3/S4/S9/S14]
    • Virginia Tech — Jeffrey Overton Jr.: He needed only nine carries to rush for 104 yards and two touchdowns against VMI, including a 50-yard score on Virginia Tech’s opening drive. He entered the night with 146 career rushing yards and nearly matched that total in one opener. [S5/S6/S10/S15]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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

  • ETSU vs. North Carolina preview: Kenan Stadium turns 100

    ETSU vs. North Carolina preview: Kenan Stadium turns 100

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | ACC Network, ACCNX
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted [S1]

    What’s at stake

    North Carolina brings a 1-0 record home after a 15-10 win over TCU in Dublin, where the Tar Heels held the Horned Frogs scoreless for the final 49 minutes. ETSU is 1-1 after following a 49-37 loss to Campbell with a 48-14 win over Division II Tusculum. [S2/S3/S4]

    This is North Carolina’s first home game in the 100th season of Kenan Stadium. For ETSU, it is the program’s first game against an ACC opponent since visiting NC State in 2002. [S5/S10]

    Three things to know

    1. Can North Carolina establish a run game?: The Tar Heels beat TCU while rushing for only 90 yards at 3.1 per carry. ETSU just allowed Tusculum to rush for 212 yards and possess the ball for 36:45, so this is the part of North Carolina’s offense that should have room to improve. [S2/S3]
    2. Mason Mims now faces a very different defense: Mims threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns against Tusculum after setting an ETSU record with 33 completions in his college debut. North Carolina held TCU to 175 passing yards and no points over the final 49 minutes. The jump from Division II Tusculum to that defense is enormous. [S2/S4/S6]
    3. Third and fourth downs can keep this interesting: ETSU converted 8 of 11 third downs against Tusculum. North Carolina allowed TCU to convert 7 of 16 third downs but stopped four of five fourth-down attempts, including two late stands deep in Tar Heel territory. ETSU must extend drives without giving UNC’s defense another short-field opportunity. [S2/S3/S4]

    Stat comparison

    MetricETSU 2026North Carolina 2026ETSU 2025 rankNorth Carolina 2025 rank
    Points per game42.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)15.0 (No. 104*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 124
    Points allowed per game31.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)10.0 (No. 38*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 61
    Yards per game506.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)322.0 (No. 100*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 131
    Yards allowed per game417.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)281.0 (No. 56*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 38
    Passing yards per game316.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)232.0 (No. 63*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 111
    Passing yards allowed per game226.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)175.0 (No. 59*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 52
    Turnover margin-3 (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. [S9]

    Players to watch

    • ETSU — Mason Mims: The redshirt freshman completed 13 of 21 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns against Tusculum. One week earlier, he set the school single-game completions record with 33 in his college debut. [S2/S6/S7]
    • North Carolina — Xavier Lewis: He posted career highs with seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks against TCU. His 4.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Tar Heel since 2024. [S4/S8]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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

  • Arizona State vs. Texas A&M preview: Can Boley, Sun Devils upset the Aggies?

    Arizona State vs. Texas A&M preview: Can Boley, Sun Devils upset the Aggies?

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Kyle Field, College Station, TX | ABC
    DraftKings snapshot: TA&M -14.5 | Over/under: 50.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    The final scores were enormous, but this is the first result that can tell us much about either team. Arizona State beat Morgan State 70-7 behind six Cutter Boley touchdown passes; Texas A&M blanked Missouri State 50-0 while allowing only 67 yards. Now Boley gets his first Sun Devil road start against a defense that just played exactly the way Mike Elko wanted. [S2/S3/S4/S5/S12/S13]

    Texas A&M reached the College Football Playoff last season and opens as a 14.5-point favorite, so this is an early résumé game for the Aggies rather than a free Saturday. Arizona State can announce that its new quarterback and rebuilt offense are ready for a much bigger stage; a competitive loss would be encouraging, but a win at Kyle Field would change the Sun Devils’ season immediately. [S1/S8]

    Three things to know

    1. Cutter Boley goes from an FCS secondary to Mike Elko’s defense: Boley completed 21 of 27 passes for 387 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in his Arizona State debut. Texas A&M held Missouri State to 30 passing yards and 67 total yards, forced three fumbles and allowed only four first downs. Both opener performances need an opponent-strength warning label, but this is the weekend’s sharpest jump in difficulty for a new quarterback. [S2/S3/S4/S5]
    2. Texas A&M can keep Arizona State’s explosive offense on the sideline: The Aggies possessed the ball for 43:03, ran it 47 times for 236 yards and produced 35 first downs. Arizona State scored 70 while needing only 29:48 of possession, but Morgan State still ran for 102 yards at 4.1 per carry. If A&M can create another long, physical game, Boley will have far fewer chances to hunt big plays. [S2/S4/S5]
    3. The setting is a real part of the test: This is Arizona State’s first game at Kyle Field, and the 11 a.m. Central kickoff is 9 a.m. in Arizona. Texas A&M drew 107,782 for its opener—the largest season-opening crowd in Kyle Field history and the Aggies’ 12th straight home game above 100,000. Arizona State must handle the early body clock and crowd noise before it can worry about the defense. [S4/S6/S8]

    Stat comparison

    MetricArizona St 2026Texas A&M 2026Arizona St 2025 rankTexas A&M 2025 rank
    Points per game70.0 (No. 5*)50.0 (No. 29*)No. 23No. 24
    Points allowed per game7.0 (No. 25*)0.0 (No. 1*)No. 59No. 49
    Yards per game681.0 (No. 2*)505.0 (No. 40*)No. 30No. 23
    Yards allowed per game188.0 (No. 25*)67.0 (No. 2*)No. 57No. 18
    Passing yards per game432.0 (No. 4*)269.0 (No. 48*)No. 69No. 32
    Passing yards allowed per game86.0 (No. 13*)30.0 (No. 1*)No. 95No. 16
    Turnover margin-1 (No. 86*)+2 (No. 12*)No. 110No. 122

    *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

    • Arizona State — Cutter Boley: The Kentucky transfer threw six touchdown passes in his first game as a Sun Devil, completing 21 of 27 throws for 387 yards without an interception. Week 2 shows whether that instant explosiveness travels against a playoff-level defense. [S2/S3/S9]
    • Texas A&M — Ryan Henderson: In his Aggie debut, the defensive end produced two tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. His ability to hurry Boley without A&M having to gamble with extra blitzers could decide whether Arizona State’s deep passing game survives the jump in competition. [S4/S5/S10]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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

  • App State vs. East Carolina preview: ECU tries to end skid

    App State vs. East Carolina preview: ECU tries to end skid

    Saturday, 2026-09-12 | 11:00 AM CT | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC | ESPNU
    DraftKings snapshot: ECU -10 | Over/under: 56.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    App State and East Carolina arrive from opposite ends of opening day. The Mountaineers gained 647 yards in a 55-3 win over Maine; the Pirates managed 162 yards and two net rushing yards in a 48-10 loss at Alabama. This in-state game should tell us how much of either extreme was simply the opponent. [S2/S3/S9]

    App State has won the last three meetings—33-19 in 2021, 43-28 in 2023 and 21-19 in 2024. ECU’s home opener is a chance to stop that run before one rough afternoon at Alabama turns into an 0-2 start. [S4/S5/S10]

    Three things to know

    1. ECU has to make App State earn its yards: Malachi Singleton completed 22 of 24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and App State also rushed for 299 yards. ECU allowed 48 points at Alabama while its own offense went 0 for 9 on third down, so the Pirates cannot keep handing this balanced attack short rests. [S2/S3]
    2. The Pirates’ run game has nowhere to go but up: ECU finished with two net rushing yards on 22 attempts. App State held Maine to 52 rushing yards and 250 total, so this is not an automatic bounce-back spot. ECU needs ordinary gains on early downs before Mitch Griffis can use the downfield target who produced its only touchdown. [S2/S3]
    3. One explosive catch changed ECU’s whole box score: Tyler Johnson’s 68-yard reception accounted for 42.5% of ECU’s 160 passing yards. App State had much more balance: eight players caught a pass and six players had at least four rushing attempts. ECU needs repeatable offense, not one highlight. [S2/S3]

    Stat comparison

    MetricApp State 2026East Carolina 2026App State 2025 rankEast Carolina 2025 rank
    Points per game55.0 (No. 22*)10.0 (No. 116*)No. 35No. 34
    Points allowed per game3.0 (No. 10*)48.0 (No. 119*)No. 112No. 24
    Yards per game647.0 (No. 7*)162.0 (No. 125*)No. 72No. 19
    Yards allowed per game250.0 (No. 47*)487.0 (No. 115*)No. 114No. 50
    Passing yards per game348.0 (No. 18*)160.0 (No. 101*)No. 34No. 21
    Passing yards allowed per game198.0 (No. 73*)260.0 (No. 100*)No. 130No. 92
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)0 (No. 60*)No. 87No. 12

    *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

    • App State — Malachi Singleton: In his first college start, he completed 22 of 24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He is listed on App State’s 2026 roster. [S2/S7]
    • East Carolina — Jeremiah Melvin: He caught four passes for 60 yards and ECU’s only touchdown at Alabama. He is listed on the current ECU roster and gave the Pirates their most dependable production in a difficult opener. [S3/S8]

    Looking for a prediction?

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    Sources

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

  • Missouri vs. Kansas preview: Border War returns to Lawrence

    Missouri vs. Kansas preview: Border War returns to Lawrence

    Friday, 2026-09-11 | 7:00 PM CT | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | FOX
    DraftKings snapshot: MIZ -6.5 | Over/under: 51.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    The Border War came back last season after a 14-year break, and Missouri rallied from 15 points down to win 42-31. Now the rivalry returns to Lawrence for the first time since 2005. Both teams opened with comfortable FCS wins, but this is the first game that can show whether those huge offensive numbers will hold up against a comparable roster. [S4/S6]

    This is also an early résumé game between an SEC team and a Big 12 team. The winner leaves Week 2 with a rivalry trophy, a real nonconference win and far more evidence than either opener provided. [S1]

    Three things to know

    1. Two new quarterbacks looked immediately comfortable: Missouri’s Austin Simmons completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns in less than a full game. Kansas’ Isaiah Marshall went 14 of 19 for 246 yards and two touchdowns, then added 49 rushing yards. The question is which debut travels better when the opposing defense can punish a late read. [S2/S3/S8/S9]
    2. Kansas can test Missouri’s run blocking: Missouri finished with 205 rushing yards, but lead back Jamal Roberts needed 13 carries for 47 yards and Eli Drinkwitz acknowledged that the early run game was not efficient enough. Kansas produced 11 tackles for loss against LIU, including four by Leroy Harris III. That is a far more revealing matchup than the final scores. [S2/S3]
    3. Even the record book is part of the rivalry: Missouri says it leads the series 58-54-9, while Kansas counts it as 57-55-9. The one-game swing comes from a 1960 Kansas win that Missouri records as a forfeit because Kansas used an ineligible player. The schools disagree, but both agree Missouri has won five of the last six meetings. [S4/S5/S10]

    Stat comparison

    MetricMissouri 2026Kansas 2026Missouri 2025 rankKansas 2025 rank
    Points per game54.0 (No. 23*)51.0 (No. 26*)No. 33No. 72
    Points allowed per game14.0 (No. 54*)6.0 (No. 21*)No. 16No. 87
    Yards per game562.0 (No. 18*)613.0 (No. 16*)No. 32No. 67
    Yards allowed per game386.0 (No. 90*)255.0 (No. 48*)No. 8No. 86
    Passing yards per game357.0 (No. 15*)336.0 (No. 22*)No. 104No. 72
    Passing yards allowed per game232.0 (No. 91*)184.0 (No. 63*)No. 11No. 57
    Turnover margin+1 (No. 30*)+1 (No. 30*)No. 106No. 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. [S7]

    Players to watch

    • Missouri — Austin Simmons: His 17-of-19, 252-yard, four-touchdown first half made him the sixth Missouri quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in one half. [S2/S8]
    • Kansas — Nik McMillan: He caught six passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in his Kansas debut, giving Marshall a proven downfield target before the competition rises sharply. [S3/S9]

    HE SAID IT

    • Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz: “We had multiple third and longs early, with an inability to run the ball at the efficiency that we need to.” Kansas made 11 tackles for loss in its opener, so Missouri’s own concern about early run efficiency points directly at a Week 2 matchup test. Source
    • Kansas coach Lance Leipold: “It took us a little bit to get our game speed underneath us, but we settled down, and then started taking control up front.” Kansas eventually controlled an FCS opponent up front; Missouri is the first test of whether that advantage carries over against a comparable roster. Source

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    Sources

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

  • Norfolk State vs. Virginia preview: First meeting between in-state rivals

    Norfolk State vs. Virginia preview: First meeting between in-state rivals

    Friday, 2026-09-11 | 6:00 PM CT | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | ACCNX
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted

    What’s at stake

    Virginia’s 34-8 win over NC State was not just a comfortable opener. It was the Cavaliers’ 700th victory, and they held a conference opponent to 168 yards while controlling the ball for more than 38 minutes. Norfolk State is coming off the opposite kind of reality check: after a 56-0 opener, the Spartans managed 220 yards and committed three turnovers in a 31-10 loss at Old Dominion. [S2/S3/S8/S9]

    The two Virginia schools are separated by fewer than 175 miles but have never played football. For the Cavaliers, this is a chance to show the NC State performance was a new baseline. For Norfolk State, it is a short-week opportunity to prove one difficult FBS road game did not erase what looked so promising in its 56-0 Week 0 win. [S4/S5/S11]

    Three things to know

    1. Virginia can squeeze the life out of a game: The Cavaliers ran 57 times for 258 yards and finished a 23-play touchdown drive that lasted 12:15 against NC State. Norfolk State held the ball for 32:19 at Old Dominion, but 12 first downs and an 0-for-3 night on fourth down meant that possession rarely became real pressure. [S2/S3/S8/S9]
    2. Beau Pribula changes the math: Pribula completed 9 of 11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, then led Virginia with 110 rushing yards. Norfolk State quarterback Deljay Bailey completed 14 of 20 at Old Dominion, but his throws produced only 94 yards and his 21 official rushing attempts netted 12. Virginia can make the Spartans defend every gap; Norfolk State needs more than short completions and quarterback scrambles. [S2/S3/S8/S9]
    3. Jalyn Daniels is Norfolk State’s best counterpunch: Daniels gained 84 yards on only 11 carries against Old Dominion, a strong 7.6 yards per attempt. The problem was volume: he had barely half as many carries as Bailey. Giving Daniels enough touches to keep Virginia’s offense off the field is the clearest way for the Spartans to stay competitive. [S2/S6]

    Stat comparison

    MetricNorfolk St 2026Virginia 2026Norfolk St 2025 rankVirginia 2025 rank
    Points per game33.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)34.0 (No. 60*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 30
    Points allowed per game15.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)8.0 (No. 34*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 20
    Yards per game338.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)413.0 (No. 60*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 29
    Yards allowed per game212.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)168.0 (No. 20*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 20
    Passing yards per game122.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)155.0 (No. 105*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 55
    Passing yards allowed per game112.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)92.0 (No. 17*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 33
    Turnover margin+2 (FCS; no FBS rank)+2 (No. 12*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 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. [S10]

    Players to watch

    • Norfolk State — Jalyn Daniels: He rushed 11 times for 84 yards at Old Dominion, including a 35-yard run. He was the one Norfolk State skill player who consistently created room against an FBS defense. [S2/S6]
    • Virginia — Beau Pribula: His Virginia debut produced 155 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a game-high 110 rushing yards without a turnover. [S3/S7/S9]

    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.

  • Richmond vs. NC State preview: How does Wolfpack respond after stinker against UVA?

    Richmond vs. NC State preview: How does Wolfpack respond after stinker against UVA?

    Friday, 2026-09-11 | 6:00 PM CT | Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC | ESPNU
    DraftKings snapshot: not yet posted in the ESPN/DraftKings feed | Over/under: not yet posted

    What’s at stake

    NC State does not need a routine home win as much as it needs proof that its offense still has a pulse. The Wolfpack opened with only 168 yards and eight points against Virginia, its first 0-1 start since 2017 and its first scoreless first half in a season opener since 2009. Richmond arrives 2-0 after a 28-21 road win at Howard, so this is not a useful week for NC State to carry the opener’s frustration into the fourth quarter. [S2/S3/S4/S11]

    NC State owns an 18-1-1 series lead and has sold out 29 straight home games. Richmond’s opportunity is bigger than its opponent’s record: the Spiders can turn a strong start into a program-defining FBS upset, while the Wolfpack needs a convincing response before its schedule gets harder. [S5/S6/S7]

    Three things to know

    1. Richmond just won without a running game: The Spiders finished with only 39 rushing yards and 1.2 yards per carry at Howard, but Ashten Snelsire threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. NC State allowed only 155 passing yards to Virginia but was run over for 258. Richmond cannot assume the same one-dimensional formula will travel to Carter-Finley. [S2/S3/S4]
    2. NC State has to find ordinary offense again: The Wolfpack had 10 first downs, 92 passing yards and two turnovers against Virginia. Howard completed only 9 of 28 passes and gained 240 yards against Richmond, which means this is the level drop NC State needs—but the Pack still has to prove it can create easy throws and a dependable run game. [S2/S3/S4]
    3. Third down can keep the pressure on the Pack: Virginia held the ball for 38:03 and finished a 23-play touchdown drive that lasted 12:15. Richmond then converted 8 of 16 third downs at Howard and possessed the ball for 32:30. If NC State cannot get off the field, a nervous home opener can become uncomfortable quickly. [S2/S3/S4]

    Stat comparison

    MetricRichmond 2026NC State 2026Richmond 2025 rankNC State 2025 rank
    Points per game31.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)8.0 (No. 121*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 57
    Points allowed per game17.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)34.0 (No. 104*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 91
    Yards per game346.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)168.0 (No. 123*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 64
    Yards allowed per game213.5 (FCS; no FBS rank)413.0 (No. 101*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 111
    Passing yards per game230.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)92.0 (No. 120*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 49
    Passing yards allowed per game132.0 (FCS; no FBS rank)155.0 (No. 49*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 132
    Turnover margin+1 (FCS; no FBS rank)-2 (No. 107*)FCS — not ranked with FBSNo. 49

    *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

    • Richmond — Ashten Snelsire: He threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns without an interception at Howard. Through two games he has six touchdown passes and no picks. [S2/S8/S11]
    • NC State — Popo Aguirre: The linebacker made 18 tackles against Virginia, more than twice as many as any other Wolfpack defender. Richmond’s ball-control offense will keep him involved. [S3/S9]

    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.

  • Rutgers vs. Boston College preview: How will Scarlet Knights respond after historic upset?

    Rutgers vs. Boston College preview: How will Scarlet Knights respond after historic upset?

    Friday, 2026-09-11 | 6:30 PM CT | Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, MA), Chestnut Hill, MA | ESPN2
    DraftKings snapshot: BC -3.5 | Over/under: 55.5 [S1]

    What’s at stake

    Rutgers is not trying to shrug off a normal Week 1 loss. The Scarlet Knights lost 37-21 at home to a UMass team that went 0-12 last season and entered with the longest active losing streak in the FBS at 16 games. After Rutgers scored first, UMass ripped off 30 straight points; Greg Schiano said his team was outplayed and out-coached. This is a response game for the entire Rutgers program, not simply a chance to avoid 0-2. [S2/S6/S9/S10]

    Boston College’s opening problem was less shocking but hardly encouraging: the Eagles were scoreless at halftime, fell behind Cincinnati 24-0 and did not reach the end zone until late in the third quarter. BC eventually gained 388 yards and got 301 total yards from quarterback Mason McKenzie, but produced only 15 points. Now the Eagles return home for an emotional Red Bandanna Game against an old Eastern rival that beat them in the most recent meeting. [S3/S4/S5/S7/S11]

    Three things to know

    1. Rutgers has to prove the UMass collapse will not continue: Rutgers threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and rushed for only 30 yards while UMass scored 30 unanswered points. The loss ended the longest active losing streak in the FBS. Repeating even one piece of that performance would put the Scarlet Knights in immediate trouble at Boston College. [S2/S6/S9/S10]
    2. Boston College moved the ball without threatening early: The Eagles gained 388 yards and Mason McKenzie accounted for 301, but BC was shut out in the first half and trailed 24-0 before scoring late in the third quarter. Movement between the 20s means little if drives keep ending without touchdowns. [S3/S7/S11]
    3. Neither defense controlled the run: UMass rushed for 200 yards against Rutgers, while Cincinnati ran for 254 against Boston College. McKenzie also ran for 78 yards, so Rutgers must repair its run defense while accounting for a quarterback who can escape pressure. [S2/S3]

    Stat comparison

    MetricRutgers 2026Boston College 2026Rutgers 2025 rankBoston College 2025 rank
    Points per game21.0 (No. 87*)15.0 (No. 104*)No. 68No. 95
    Points allowed per game37.0 (No. 109*)34.0 (No. 104*)No. 107No. 116
    Yards per game349.0 (No. 93*)388.0 (No. 79*)No. 44No. 73
    Yards allowed per game397.0 (No. 95*)339.0 (No. 73*)No. 127No. 128
    Passing yards per game319.0 (No. 29*)223.0 (No. 72*)No. 25No. 15
    Passing yards allowed per game197.0 (No. 72*)85.0 (No. 12*)No. 76No. 123
    Turnover margin-4 (No. 129*)-2 (No. 107*)No. 73No. 122

    *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

    • Rutgers — KJ Duff: He set a career high with three touchdown catches and matched his career best with nine receptions while piling up 196 yards against UMass. [S2/S6]
    • Boston College — Mason McKenzie: In his first BC start, he threw for 223 yards and added 78 on the ground. He accounted for 78% of an offense that gained 388 yards but scored only 15 points. [S3/S7]

    HE SAID IT

    • Rutgers coach Greg Schiano: “I didn’t have them ready to play.” There was no attempt to soften the loss. Rutgers now has a short week to show whether that shock produces a response or exposes a deeper problem before Big Ten play. Source
    • Boston College coach Bill O’Brien: “We can’t do those things and expect to win. We don’t have that type of team. No team can do that.” Boston College’s problem was not just a quiet offense; false starts, bad snaps, a failed fake punt and empty scoring chances kept making the job harder. Against a shaken Rutgers team, cleaner football may matter more than style. 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.