Finally, after what seems like a million year wait, the season is kicking off.  I've decided to put together a little rundown of the interesting games for Saturday Aug 31, week 1 of the season, the matchups, the story lines etc.   The Buckeye game is obviously must see TV and you already know all the story lines, I won't bother to list it here.  Note: these are not game descriptions pulled from the web or AI generated, I'm writing each blurb myself from memory.  If I miss something or make some bonehead mistake, let me know and I'll fix it. 

#1 UGA (-12.5) vs #14 Clemson -- (12 PM on ABC)
The season starts off with a bang. After a shocking loss by one of their premier programs (FSU), the ACC is hoping Clemson can pull off an upset and defeat UGA on a "neutral" field (in quotes because it's in UGA's back yard).  UGA has won 39 regular season games in a row and has a talent advantage pretty much everywhere on the field (at least on paper).  UGA is very thin at RB (will Etienne play or will he be suspended?), Beck has plenty of other weapons.  Klubnik wasn't great last year, but could make a big jump this year.
Outcome: UGA's offense didn't look very good and Clemson's defense does appear to be legit - but Clemson's offense is ... not good.  Mafah is good but not many playmakers, and it doesn't appear like Klubnik has taken a major leap, the Tigers appear to be similar to last year.

Illinois Sate vs #25 Iowa (-24) -- (12 PM on BTN)
Not a particularly interesting game with Iowa being an obvious big favorite, but I'm curious to see how the Iowa offense looks.  If they manage to create even a hint of a real offense they could make some noise this year as their schedule is favorable outside of having to take the L from the Buckeyes.
Outcome: Early on it looked like Iowa being Iowa, with neither team doing anything on offense.   Iowa offense settled in and they win by 40.  If their offense gets better they're going to be a problem for a lot of teams.

#8 PSU (-7.5) at WVU -- (12 PM on BTN)
Not a big time clash, but a bit surprising that PSU is favored by only 7.5 against the 'Eers.  PSU is hoping Allar makes that big leap in his second full year playing, but they don't have a ton of WR's that really scare opponents.   The Nit's defense appears legit though.
Outcome: PSU didn't exactly look explosive, but their defense played really well and the offense did enough.  Allar didn't look great early, but came around and got 3 TD's.  Overall, PSU was about a B+ in this one I think.

#19 Da U (-2.5) at Florida -- (3:30 PM on ABC)
This will be probably year twenty of "Da U is back!"... but will they make some noise this year?  With Cam Ward will be under center, he might be the best QB in the ACC this year.  They have some very good talent sprinkled all over the field.  With the Noles already having lost a conference game and Clemson likely taking the L against UGA, there's a pretty clear path for the Canes.  Florida on the other hand seems to be trending in the other direction, and the last 7 games on their schedule look brutal.  If they lose this one at home to start the season, it might be a pretty ugly one for the.  A bit surprised to see just a 2.5 point spread in this one.
Outcome: I don't think Florida is very good (in fact, they are just bad), but Da U looked pretty impressive in this one and blew the doors off the Gators.  'Canes path to the playoffs is definitely there and wide open.

Ohio at Syracuse (-17.5) -- (3:30 PM on ACC Network)
Ok, neither one of these teams matter in the grand scheme of CFB.  Syracuse is a big favorite here, but I know many of us Buckeyes will be curious to see how McCord does at Syracuse.  A lot of Buckeye fans decided that he was the reason for the Buckeyes failure to make the playoffs last year, and now we're going to see how he fares without the same level of elite talent around him (no more super Marv to throw to!). 
Outcome: McCord wasn't great early (and his WR's didn't do him any favors), but overall he completed 70% of his passes for 354 yards and 4 TD's.  He seemed much more comfortable in this offense than he was at tOSU.  Looking at Syracuse sched, I don't see them losing very many this year.

Fresno State at scUM (-21) -- (7:30 PM on NBC)
Lets get this out there first.  We all would love to see the cheating scumbags up North get shocked again at home to open a season... but Fresno State is dreadful.  Even though I think the Cheaterines will take a big step back in talent level overall, they still have way more than Fresno State and will mop them up.  The intrigue is more around the drama unfolding around their cheating coach and his staff, and whether they'll be able to circle the wagons again this year with the "cheaters against the world!" mentality.
Outcome: scUM didn't appear in real danger of losing this one at any time during the game, but until Will Johnson broke it open with an 80+ yard pick 6 late in the 4th it was still contested.   The cheaters didn't look good at all, but got through, with probably a large amount of looking passed that game to next week's matchup with Texas.  A C- for the cheaters, next week will be the test.

#7 Notre Dame at #20 Texas A&M (-3) -- (7:30 PM on ABC)
This is an intriguing matchup, with Notre Dame seemingly on the rise and now with a pretty good QB in Riley Leonard (transfer from Duke).  Their secondary is solid.  A&M is now under Mike Elko and wants to make some noise of it's own.  Elko knows Leonard from his days at Duke, and might be able to effectively scheme against him. A&M lost a lot of people from it's vaunted recruiting class they purchased a few years ago, but they still have a lot of talent overall if Elko can get some consistent QB play from Connor Weigman.  Weigman was playing pretty well last year but got hurt and missed most of the season.  A&M being a 3 point favorite says a lot about the hostile atmosphere at Kyle Field, it will be loud.  Can the Domers get that signature win for Freeman?
Outcome: a grind it out defensive game, both teams looked good at times and not at others.  Riley Leonard was very gritty and a better runner than I expected.  Key takeway, looking at the 'Domers sched the rest of the way, they are very likely to make the playoffs unless they completely lay an egg along the way.

#13 LSU (-4) vs #23 USC -- (Sun 7:30PM on ABC)
This is another intriguing game.   LSU looks to have the offensive firepower again this year with Nussmeier at the controls and talent at the skill positions, but will they be able to get that defense back to what you'd normally expect at LSU?  USC finally got rid of the Grinch and their defense might improve this year (it can't get any worse can it??).  With Miller Moss taking the snaps, they should have a decent passing attack and have Zach Branch on the field, one of the most electric guys with the ball in his hands.   LSU by 4 looks really low to me, I'm guessing LSU will win it and cover handily.