Week 1: The 10 best games this weekend

Week Zero is out of the way, and now the 2021 season gets under way for real. And, man, what a great Week 1 it is, with big games everywhere.

There’s the best non-conference game of the season. There are two huge Big Ten games (on the first Saturday in September!), and another Big Ten contest sees Ohio State open on the road on a Thursday night (nice way to treat your premier program). The defending national champs open their season at a neutral site with a new quarterback, a new running back, three new starting offensive linemen and a new go-to receiver — not to mention a new offensive coordinator. Texas plays its first game with Steve Sarkisian as coach — against one of the best Group of 5 teams in the nation. Two other top-flight Group of 5 teams get together Thursday night — and both with new coaches.

Hey, we’re giddy, and every fan should be, too, because the first real week of the season is filled with great games. Here are the 10 best.

10. Notre Dame at Florida State

TV: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

The buzz: The Irish rolled 42-26 last season in a conference game. The Fighting Irish are back to their independent ways this season, and it’ll be interesting to see how new starting QB Jack Coan handles things. Expect him to rely heavily on RB Kyren Williams; he should, anyway. This is a tough opener for second-year Seminoles coach Mike Norvell, and he’d better hope his defense has made huge strides or Williams will run wild.

9. North Carolina at Virginia Tech

TV: Friday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

The buzz: UNC lost two 1,000-yard rushers and its top two wide receivers. But QB Sam Howell is a star and there still is ample talent surrounding him, though it is relatively untested. Hokies coach Justin Fuente enters the season on the hot seat, and unless Tech’s defense is a lot better than it was last season, that seat might be even hotter after this one. These teams play annually, and the Hokies have won six of the past eight.

8. Boise State at UCF

TV: Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

The buzz: A big-time Thursday night showdown between Group of 5 powerhouses. Boise State traveled to the state and beat Florida State in 2019, but this UCF team is better than that FSU team. Both coaches will be making their debuts: Andy Avalos at Boise and Gus Malzahn at UCF.

7. LSU at UCLA

TV: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox

The buzz: LSU is expected to bounce back from a mediocre 2020 season, but the Bruins — who opened this past Saturday with a rout of Hawaii that increases the interest in this game — could be a tough out. Can UCLA’s secondary handle LSU’s receivers? And while this is a UCLA home game, will anyone be surprised if there are more LSU fans in the stands?

6. Ohio State at Minnesota

TV: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

The buzz: It’s sort of surprising to see the Buckeyes open on the road. A neutral-site opener is one thing — but to open on the road, against a tough league opponent? Thanks, Big Ten office. This will be the first start for Buckeyes QB C.J. Stroud, but an insanely deep group of receivers should help ease his mind. Minnesota has a high-level 1-2 backfield punch of QB Tanner Morgan and RB Mohamed Ibrahim. If the Buckeyes can control Ibrahim, who rushed for 100 yards in each of Minnesota’s seven games last season, this could get ugly.

5. Louisiana at Texas

TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox

The buzz: The first game for Steve Sarkisian at Texas is a tough one. The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off a 10-win season and are ranked 23rd in the AP preseason poll. Louisiana returns 20 starters, and a win in the opener gives it a legit chance to get to a New Year’s Six bowl game. No. 21 Texas has more talent, of course, and a budding superstar in RB Bijan Robinson. But all the pressure is on Texas, and that hasn’t boded well for the Longhorns in recent seasons.

4. Alabama vs. Miami

TV: Saturday in Atlanta, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

The buzz: This one is all about the quarterbacks. This will be the first start for new Tide QB Bryce Young; the Hurricanes, meanwhile, absolutely need D’Eriq King — who suffered a torn ACL during UM’s Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State on December 29 — to be as close to 100 percent as possible. King needs to be great or UM has no shot. This also will be the first game for new Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien; he will be matching wits with Miami coach Manny Diaz, who has taken over defensive coordinator duties for the ’Canes.

3. Indiana at Iowa

TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

The buzz: Nothing like a conference opponent ranked in the top 20 to open the season — and that goes for both of these teams. Indiana is No. 17 and Iowa No. 18 in the preseason AP poll. Indiana’s Michael Penix Jr. should be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Big Ten, but he’ll be throwing against an Iowa secondary that returns all four starters. Iowa’s rushing attack is the key; the Hoosiers were good against the run last season, and if they stymie the Hawkeyes on the ground, they win.

2. Penn State at Wisconsin

TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox

The buzz: Penn State is coming off a disappointing 2020 season, but there is no easing into the 2021 campaign. The opener is a huge conference game, one that should be a measuring-stick contest for both programs. New Penn State OC Mike Yurcich has good skill-position players at his disposal, but Wisconsin’s defense will be one of the two best in the league and Badgers LBs Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal are studs.

1. Clemson vs. Georgia in Charlotte

TV: Saturday in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

The buzz: A matchup of two of the top four or five rosters in college football. The D.J. Uiagalelei era begins for Clemson, while Georgia hopes J.T. Daniels picks up where he left off at the end of last season. Both defensive fronts are fearsome; some of the best d-linemen in the nation will be on view. Can the o-lines handle it? Clemson looks to have the advantage at receiver, Georgia at running back.