It’s tough to describe my feelings headed into this college football season. Each fall brings an excitement and anticipation that I’m sure every fan feels, but for me 2021 is next-level. It feels like we’ve waited much longer than the usual 9 months for this. Yes, there was college football in 2020. But trying to shoehorn a season in the midst of a raging pandemic felt contrived and anticlimactic. To me, it never felt right. That’s not to say they shouldn’t have tried, but the experience ultimately left something to be desired. This season feels like it’s been a long time coming.

Of course, COVID is still very much with us right now. The statistics in certain parts of the country are possibly worse now than at this time last year. Unlike last year, we have vaccines that offer very substantial protection against serious illness. While they are not technically mandatory for players and staff, and there appears to be no central database tracking vaccination rates, anecdotal evidence suggests most FBS programs have vaccination rates in at least the 80% range (and 3 claim to be 100% vaccinated). Programs also have a year’s worth of experience in exercising best practices to avoid outbreaks. Several schools are even applying vaccination and/or masking requirements to fans who attend games, while all appear to be open to full capacity (for now). While there are policies that address the possibility of games unable to be played, the expectation is every scheduled game will happen.

In other words, it’s full speed ahead for the 2021 season. So with that, let’s get on to some actual football.

You can discuss Week 1 of the 2021 College Football season here

“Week Zero” was pretty light this season, both in quantity and quality. No need to go into much of a review, other than to mention the Scott Frost Watch at Nebraska is officially underway. Speaking of coaches on the hot seat, Chip Kelly won his first non-conference game at UCLA, pummeling Hawaii 44-10 (he was 0-6 before that). Some say the Bruins are a dark horse in the Pac 12 South race. I say we’ll know much more about them after they host #16 LSU on Saturday.

Week 1 is unique in that it’s the one weekend each season that college football does not share with the NFL. Even more so this season since the NFL shortened its preseason schedule to just three games. That lack of competition for TV viewers means we will see games spread out across five days, from Thursday through Monday night. Thursday features two of the biggest Group of Five names facing off in non-conference action as Boise State travels to Orlando to play UCF. Or there’s Big Ten action as preseason favorite Ohio State visits Minnesota. Friday features an intriguing ACC matchup when UNC goes to Virginia Tech. Fast forward to Sunday and you have Notre Dame at Florida State, then Louisville and Ole Miss cap off the week in Atlanta.

But as always, Saturday is the big day. There will be five games that feature two AP Top 25 teams. There’s #19 Penn State playing at #12 Wisconsin, #17 Indiana at #18 Iowa, #23 Louisiana at #21 Texas, and #1 Alabama vs #14 Miami in Atlanta. But only one matchup can be my Game of the Week, and there’s no doubt about which one that is.


Game of the Week

#5 Georgia vs #3 Clemson (at Atlanta)

7:30pm ET, ABC

Spread: Clemson -3

Why these two programs who are only 75 miles apart don’t play more often is one of the things that needs to change about college football. That they have been consistent Top 10 teams in recent years makes it even more inexplicable.

In an era of big time college offenses, both of these teams are expected to have Top 10 defenses. The strength of both defenses is on the lines, so expect yards on the ground to be very hard to come by.

While Clemson comes into this game pretty healthy, Georgia does not. Exactly how short-handed Georgia will be isn’t entirely known because Kirby Smart has not released a depth chart for the game as of this writing. But it would seem that the Bulldogs will be without two transfers who are expected to have big roles this season in S Tykee Smith (foot injury) and WR Arik Gilbert (personal reasons). Also TE Darnell Washington has been out with a foot injury. Smart stated both Washington and Smith are “moving around now,” but I’d be shocked  if either plays, and he gave no timeline on Smith’s potential return to the team.

Also factor in that Georgia will be without WRs Dominick Blaylock and George Pickens, who are both still recovering from ACL tears, and that leaves QB JT Daniels pretty thin on weapons to throw to. I think that will be the difference in a game where the offenses will have to move the ball through the air.

Prediction: Clemson 35 – Georgia 24


Under the Radar Game of the Week

#16 LSU at UCLA

8:30pm ET, FOX

Spread: LSU -3

Does Coach O have his team’s woes from last season worked out? Has hurricane Ida, which forced LSU to move to Houston this week to practice, been a disruption that will be tough to overcome? We’ll see. As I mentioned, several college football analysts are bullish on UCLA this season.


Here We Go Again

#23 Louisiana at #21 Texas

4:30pm ET, FOX

Spread: Texas -8

Remember the last time Texas started a new coaching era ranked and playing in Austin? Terps fans sure do, and I bet the Longhorn faithful haven’t forgotten it either. This time, Texas will be hosting a much more heralded opponent in the Ragin’ Cajuns. Still, nothing short of a victory is expected. And if Texas loses? Tom Herman never seemed to recover from the debut letdown, and it will be just as tough for Steve Sarkisian if he suffers the same fate.


My Top 12

(no changes from the spring)

1Oklahoma
2Alabama
3Clemson
4Georgia
5Texas A&M
6Ohio State
7Iowa State
8Oregon
9Cincinnati
10Notre Dame
11North Carolina
12Wisconsin

College Football is back! Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend and enjoy some great football games. See ya next week.

Mike Lowe
Mike Lowe

College Football Analyst

Mike is a Baltimore native living in Portland, OR since 2007. He currently runs his own business specializing in video production and online marketing. Prior to that he was a legal technology consultant, worked for 9 years at Johns Hopkins University and served 6 years in the Air Force. He also enjoys travel, food, beer, and is a volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society.

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