It’s week one of a full college football slate. With no Louisville football on the docket quite yet, here is the best way to spend your day.
It’s finally here. A weekend of no preseason rankings. No Louisville football what-if scenarios. No forced conversation about preseason expectations. And the best part, if you’re a Cards fan, is that it’s a pressure-free Saturday. You can get the laundry finished and mow the yard if you so desire. You can acknowledge your family for the last Saturday of the fall. Hell, you can go to a wedding today without throwing a chair. The world is your oyster. So crack a window, take in some of this fresh air and let’s get this itinerary rolling.
Editors note: I thought it was an unspoken rule that we don’t mow that lawn before 8:00 AM on Saturdays. Don’t fire up any gas-powered lawn equipment at 6:50 AM, Hank. What’re we doing here.
9 A.M.-12 P.M.: College Gameday
Throw on a pot of coffee and let’s preview this Saturday Slate.
Maybe it’s a nostalgic generational thing but there is something special to me about College Gameday on a Saturday morning. Now that I have attended two in-person as a Louisville student, it just feels that much more important to catch each Saturday in the fall.
The guys are back for in-person football and that includes the beloved Lee Corso (Louisville connection).
Noon: 12. Penn State at 19. Wisconsin | FOX
What a way to start your Saturday.
This game is expected to be a defensive stalwart, but I’d wager both teams have enough offensive firepower to make this a fun one. The over is 49.5, and despite what the experts say, I think that could hit.
Noon Option 2: ULM at Kentucky | SEC Network
Let’s be honest, we always love to keep tabs on that team to the east. Given that UK has had a ton of distractions this offseason and the fact that the Cats traditionally start slow under Stoops, it will be interesting to see if they can put away a god-awful ULM team right away.
3:30 P.M.: 1. Alabama vs. 14. Miami | ABC
The first of the Chick-Fil-A Kick-Off games will be between juggernaut Alabama and always-hyped Miami.
This is a battle of two teams who always receive a significant amount of preseason chatter. The difference being, of course, that Bama has six national titles under Nick Saban and Miami seems to fall flat more than it lives up to the billing.
The one thing Miami has going here is that it enters this game behind veteran QB D’Eriq King and a group of talented weapons around him. While easing into things as an inexperienced QB is probably not as challenging at Alabama, new QB Bryce Young will have to prove himself on the biggest stage.
Bama is expected to roll, but let’s wait and see how that Tide offense clicks.
3:30 P.M. Option 2: FedEx Cup Playoffs | NBC
Jack Nicklaus made $5.7 Million in his career on the PGA Tour. That’s almost how much Justin Thomas made when he collected $5 million for a second-place FedEx Cup finish in 2020.
The winner? He will walk away with a cool $15 million.
Thomas is tied for third heading into the weekend atop a leaderboard headed by Patrick Cantlay, John Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau. Players like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Speith are still very much in contention.
The FedEx Cup finale is the ultimate test of mental fortitude and the perfect lead-up to the Ryder Cup in two weeks. While Thomas, like most of us, will have his eyes on his alma mater, Alabama, the FedEx Cup is bound to make for some serious drama leading up to an always wild finish.
7:30 P.M.: 3. Clemson vs. 5. Georgia | ABC
The match-up of the day might be the biggest game of the year.
Two of the top five playoff contenders face off in Charlotte in a game that will feel more like a New Year’s Eve game than a week 1 game.
The battle to watch here will be in the trenches. Both Clemson and Georgia have dominant front sevens. Look for DJ Uiagalelei to have his breakout game if the Tiger’s offensive line can keep him upright.
Alliance After Dark; 10:30: BYU vs. Arizona | ESPN
Louisville football fans are going to have to learn more about the Pac-12 in the coming years and it’s easy to get a jump on that with Pac-12 after-dark action.
BYU is trying to reload in the post-Zack Wilson era. Arizona is a good opponent to ease into things against. However, crazy things always tend to happen after midnight on the east coast and this might be the game that gets weird.
Other games to watch:
No. 17 Indiana at No. 18 Iowa; 3:30 P.M. | Big Ten Network
No. 23 Louisiana at No. 21 Texas; 4:30 P.M. | FOX
Oregon State at Purdue; 7 P.M. | FS1
