We made it.
Once again, we have arrived at a new college football season that kicks off Saturday in Week 0 with five games. And while we usually just have a maximum of one marquee matchup on opening day, there are a few intriguing tilts outside of Iowa State and Kansas State clashing in Dublin.
While college football continues to undergo significant change—much to my chagrin—it still comes down to the games.
With that being said, let’s focus on the matchups and take a glance at the Week 0 action.
No. 22 Iowa State vs. No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland (Noon ET, ESPN):
We get to kick off the season with a critical Big 12 matchup between the Cyclones and the Wildcats, a Farmageddon matchup taking place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
No one saw Arizona State claiming the league crown last year, and there really isn’t a clear frontrunner in the conference heading into this season.
Matt Campbell and the Cyclones set a school record for wins last year, and they played well in close games, going 4-1 in contests decided by 3 points or less. QB Rocco Becht lost his top two receivers, but Chase Sowell has arrived from East Carolina. And the Cyclones return a ton from a team that reached the Big 12 title game.
We’ll get a chance right away to see if ISU’s run defense has improved against a team that knows how to pile up yards on the ground.
Wildcats QB Avery Johnson has a chance to make a big leap in his second season as the starter if he can be more consistent and limit turnovers. He’ll have the luxury of having Jayce Brown as one of the Big 12’s top receivers, while LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne lead a defense that should give conference foes fits.
No other Big 12 foe has given Chris Klieman’s squad as many fits as ISU in recent years, as the Cyclones have won four of the past five games in this series. Whichever team loses will have little room for error in Big 12 play because so many teams are so evenly matched.
Line: Kansas State -3.5
O/U: 50.5
Fresno State at Kansas (6:30, FOX):
Matt Entz will take his Bulldogs into newly-renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium for a showdown with Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks. This will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Kansas returns just six starters from last year’s squad, and there are new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski was promoted to be the main man, while D.K. McDonald was also promoted from a co-coordintor title and will run the defense.
Veteran Jalon Daniels is back for Kansas at QB, and he will have Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson as a top receiving target, while sixth-year Jayhawk Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams (Iowa) form a two-man backfield. When healthy, Daniels is a dangerous mobile QB. Can he revert back to the form he showed in 2022, when he completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,014 yards with 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions to go along with 419 yards and 7 scores on the ground?
Meanwhile, Entz won two national championships at North Dakota State and takes over a team with some intriguing pieces, including transfer quarterback EJ Warner (Kurt Warner’s son). But can the Bulldogs consistently run the ball? That was an issue last season, and a one-dimensional attack will not cut it against the Jayhawks.
This could be a close, four-quarter game. Kansas went just 1-5 in one-score contests last season, so Leipold needs that to flip.
Line: Kansas -13.5
O/U: 50.5
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky (7:00, CBSSN):
This is a really good Conference USA opener.
The Bearkats lost KC Keeler to Temple, so air-raid honcho Phil Longo will try to keep the momentum going after a 10-win season. After fielding one of the best Group of Five defenses last season, they lost most of their production. So they will need to lean on their secondary, which has been infused with transfers, and it will get tested by what could be an explosive Hilltoppers offense coordinated by Rick Bowie and led by Maverick McIvor, who threw for 506 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against Texas Tech last fall. Both the OC and QB came from Abeline Christian, and McIvor gives off Bailey Zappe vibes.
Keep an eye on WKU WR K.D. Hutchinson. He’s a big play waiting to happen. The diminutive junior is just 5-foot-6 and 180 pounds, but he is strong for his size—and speedy.
Meanwhile, Sam Houston QB Hunter Watson is a strong runner who is tough to bring down. But how will he fit in Longo’s Air Raid scheme after excelling within more of a power read style last season?
Line: Western Kentucky -10.5
O/U: 61.5
Stanford at Hawai’i (7:30, CBS):
When will the Cardinal turn things around? Since 2020, Stanford is 16-38. Interim head coach Frank Reich has a tall task in order to avoid being the worst team in the Power Four.
Meanwhile, Micah Alejado shined for the Rainbow Warriors in their regular-season finale last season, throwing for 469 yards and five touchdowns. Size is a little bit of a concern for the Bishop Gorman product, but Alejado could have a really nice under the radar season if he can hold up for a whole year. Against the Cardinal, he could have success against a defense that was among the worst in the country against the pass in 2024.
Stanford hired Andrew Luck as the program’s general manager. He will get this thing right, but it’s going to take time.
Line: Hawai’i -2.5
O/U: 50.5
Idaho State at UNLV (4:00):
The Dan Mullen era begins in Vegas with very high expectations—and with a two-QB system, as Mullen said that both Anthony Colandrea and Alex Orji will get snaps under center.
The Rebels have the fewest returning starters (two) of any FBS team this season, but Mullen and his staff did serious work in the portal to replenish the roster and make this a dangerous Mountain West outfit.
This is the lone game of the day without a national TV carrier.
Line: UNLV -26.5
O/U: 65.5
This week’s best bets
*Iowa State +3.5
*Fresno State-Kansas O50.5
*Hawai’i -2
My preseason Top 25
1. Penn State
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Texas
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. LSU
8. Oregon
9. Alabama
10. Miami (FL)
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. Kansas State
14. South Carolina
15. Florida
16. Michigan
17. Tennessee
18. Texas A&M
19. Indiana
20. SMU
21. Louisville
22. Auburn
23. Nebraska
24. Boise State
25. Ole Miss
Cocktail of the week
Awhile back I worked at a boutique hotel that featured a rooftop bar during the summer months and a lobby bar/lounge when the weather wasn’t cooperative.
These days, I am more of a Cabernet and tequila guy. But through most of my formative drinking years, vodka has been my go-to spirit. And this drink features a really underrated flavored vodka.
So, if you are either tailgating, grilling out or sitting on your couch, have some fun and try out this recipe before the autumn air hits:
*In a small shaker, muddle a few slices of jalapeno and cucumber in .5 oz. of lemon juice
*Add 1.5 oz (or more!) grapefruit jalapeno vodka (you could use regular vodka as well, but Svedka actually has this particular one that works fantastic)
*Add 1 oz grapefruit juice (Ruby Red is the best IMO)
*Add .5 oz St. Germain (this is a little bit of a pricey elderflower liqueur—but it is totally worth it because it will last in your home bar for awhile)
*Add ice to a large shaker, attach the two shakers and shake vigorously; strain over fresh ice placed in a rocks glass
*Add cucumber and jalapeno slices to garnish
Trust me, I could drink these all summer long. And I think, after trying it, you could too.
Enjoy the appetizer that is Week 0. See you next week!
Follow me on X @Miller_Dave & email me at david.matthew.miller@gmail.com
Cocktail 1 of about 20, baby!