ESPN College GameDay: College Football Playoff, conference champion predictions, Week 0 picks

Week 0 has arrived, meaning the beautiful sport of college football is officially back and ready to roll for another season.

Of course, the return of college football coincides with the return of ESPN’s College GameDay. Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit are ready to deliver the best pregame show in the sport, with the legendary Lee Corso joining the party as well.

Starting the party are a myriad of fantastic matchups, as we dip our toes back into the college football pool on Saturday. The biggest game of Week 0’s slate features none other than Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are traveling to Ireland to take on the Navy Midshipmen in what should be an emotional affair.

It’s going to be the first time we see former Wake Forest star quarterback Sam Hartman suit up for Notre Dame. His arrival in South Bend signaled a belief that the Fighting Irish can contend for the College Football Playoff in 2023, and their journey will kick off on Saturday against Navy.

Later in the day, another College Football Playoff hopeful will be in action in the USC Trojans. Caleb Williams is the reigning Heisman winner, and he’ll hope to start his back-to-back campaign with a victory over San Jose State.

Additionally, some other wonderful games are on the docket, like Hawai’i at Vanderbilt and Ohio at San Diego State. It’s the perfect appetizer for a full slate of games coming Week 1.

In addition to their Week 0 picks, the College GameDay crew also made their predictions for the College Football Playoff, as well as who will stand tall in each conference when it’s all said and done.

Alas, the College GameDay crew was in the studio on Saturday, but starting next weekend they’ll be out in-front of a raucous crowd week-in and week-out. Here are their predictions for Week 0, and the season as a whole.

ESPN College GameDay CFP predictions, picks for Week 0:

College GameDay Conference Champion Predictions

ACC: Florida State Seminoles (Howard); Clemson Tigers (McAfee, Herbstreit)

Big Ten: Michigan Wolverines (Howard); Ohio State Buckeyes (McAfee, Herbstreit)

Big 12: Texas Longhorns (Howard, McAfee, Herbstreit)

PAC-12: Washington Huskies (Howard); Utah Utes (McAfee, Herbstreit)

SEC: Alabama Crimson Tide (Howard, McAfee, Herbstreit)

Top Group of 5 Team: Tulane Green Wave (Howard, Herbstreit); UTSA Roadrunners (McAfee)

College GameDay College Football Playoff Predictions

Desmond Howard: Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles, Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns — National Championship: Michigan over Alabama

Pat McAfee: Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines — National Championship: Alabama over Georgia

Kirk Herbstreit: Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines — National Championship: Alabama over Ohio State

College GameDay Week 0 Picks

Hawai’i at Vanderbilt: The Rainbow Warriors are traveling a long way to face-off against the Commodores, and Howard and McAfee believe it’ll pay off for them in a big way.

UMass at New Mexico State: The College GameDay crew is in agreement, believing in the Aggies to get the win.

Ohio at San Diego State: While McAfee is riding with the Bobcats, Howard and Herbstreit are on the Aztecs in Week 0.

Navy at Notre Dame (Ireland): Everyone is riding with the Fighting Irish to get the victory in Ireland on Saturday.

Full picks from College GameDay crew for Week 0

Desmond Howard: Hawai’i, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Notre Dame

Pat McAfee: Hawai’i, New Mexico State, Ohio, Notre Dame

Kirk Herbstreit: Vanderbilt, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Notre Dame