The first week of the college football season has arrived. We got a preview last Saturday to see UCLA vs. Hawaii and many other awesome competitions. There are some nuggets tonight, though a pair of Pac-12 shows are starting their seasons. Follow along in action here to share the experience with your fellow Husky fans if your eyes are going to be glued to your TV tonight.
Suggested viewing guide (PT all the time)
4:00 PM: Boise State at UCF (-5.5), ESPN
(Note: This game has a power delay and may not start in time)
You have 3 options for starting the evening, depending on your preferences. I think the best overall game is the one with the perennially best team in the 2nd G5 conferences in first place. Both programs have their first games under a new head coach, with former Oregon DC taking over Boise State and former Auburn head man Gus Malzon to helm UCF. Boise's win here will help solidify the schedule for the Pac-12, which, as usual, has a lot of games against the Mountain West at Non-Con this year.
4:30 PM: #24 Weber State in Utah (Pac-12 Network)
If you're the type of person who prefers to focus on Pac-12 schools then you can check out UTS against an FCS rival in the state. Unfortunately this isn't really a scouting opportunity as the Huskies are not scheduled to play Utah this season. However, no one should be surprised if Washington eventually plays them in the Pac-12 title game. Utah is hoping that Baylor transfer QB Charlie Brewer will be able to take the program to new heights and we'll see if that can happen.
5:00 PM: #4 at Ohio State (-13.5) in Minnesota (FOX)
Most of the national attention will be on this game as the Buckeyes are the biggest names playing this opening Thursday. This game is the only game on the schedule before Ohio State took on Oregon in a massive non-convention showdown. If Minnesota is able to keep it close or even upset the spring you can be sure Oregon fans will be convinced they have a shot next Saturday. West Coast native CJ Stroud took over from the NFL with Justin Fields in QB for Ohio State.
7:30 PM: #25 Southern Utah in the state of Arizona (Pac-12 Network)
It's a potential scouting opportunity as the Sun Devils head to Seattle later this year. The added layer of intrigue is that ASU is still under investigation by the NCAA and currently has 3 assistant coaches on administrative leave. How is the team reacting to all the procrastination? If the answer is that it is not bothering them then it must be a devastating offensive attack. Regardless, I think they shouldn't have a problem against Southern Utah.
Guide to Suggested Watching Friday Games
3:00 PM- #10 North Carolina (-5.5) Virginia Tech. In
There's a lot of hype surrounding the Tar Heels as they enter a season ranked in the top-10, led by QB Sam Howell, the predicted 1st round draft pick. They start the season on Friday night on the road in Blacksburg which has historically not been a great setting to win. It doesn't look like it's going to be a great Hokies squad, though mainly watch to see if UNC looks like a team that could theoretically challenge Clemson in the ACC (they can't). ).
6:00 P.M.- Northern Colorado in Colorado
Another Pac-12 Scouting opportunity will also travel to Boulder later in the year in the form of Washington. I'm most interested to see what happens with the QB situation after starter Sam Noyer was transferred to Oregon State of late and then his expected replacement Tennessee transfer JT Schrout suffered a knee injury. The depth is dangerously thin at the most crucial point in the game and the buffs are in serious trouble if someone else goes down.