The 5 Biggest College Football Games You Can't Miss This Weekend

We’re already two days into the five-day feast that is Week 1 of the college football season.

We already had our first instant classic of the season in Thursday night’s Colorado win over Georgia Tech.

But Saturday, we finally get our first wall-to-wall day of football.

While Week 1 isn’t what it used to be, the next few days still provide some great matchups that should more than scratch the itch that the diehards have been trying to ignore the last few months.

Here are five must-see college football games this weekend:

Boise State at No. 2 Oregon (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS)

Oregon is a trendy pick to finally win its first national title. Boise State is a trendy pick to earn the Group of Six College Football Playoff spot for the second time in three seasons.

Dan Lanning has built the Ducks into a powerhouse, with four 10-win seasons in as many years leading the program. He gets back quarterback Dante Moore, who elected to return to college over likely being the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL Draft, but had to replace both coordinators.

Boise State also returns starting quarterback Maddux Madsen and has had consistent success under Spencer Danielson, who won 21 games in his first two full seasons. If the Broncos can keep it close, it’s a good sign for their season.

Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

Two teams that underwent significant transformations open their respective seasons with a high-profile clash.

Auburn, which has had six straight losing seasons, hired Alex Golesh away from South Florida to lead the Tigers. He brought along dual-threat QB Byrum Brown, who could be a longshot Heisman pick, and looks to carry over the success he found in Tampa.

Dave Aranda, looking for another uptick in his roller-coaster tenure at Baylor, brought on former five-star QB recruit DJ Lagway, who flashed potential but struggled with interceptions at Florida.

Clemson at No. 11 LSU (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

The most anticipated game of the weekend will be played in Death Valley (LSU’s, not Clemson’s).

Lane Kiffin has fully embraced his villain arc since leaving Ole Miss ahead of the CFP to join LSU. The Tigers have paid a lot of money in an attempt to be immediately competitive in Year 1, bringing on top transfer QB Sam Leavitt among a host of other additions. Will he really test the NCAA/SEC and play the pro players who have been temporarily ruled eligible to return to college?

This feels like a make-or-break season for Dabo Swinney’s Clemson tenure. He’s won two national titles there but has seen the wins fall off of late. Can new QB Christopher Vizzina and his supporting cast return Clemson to its former greatness?

Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame in Green Bay, Wisc. (Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC)

Another trendy national title pick is Notre Dame, which came just one win short of returning to the mountaintop two years ago against Ohio State.

The Fighting Irish have to replace their top-two running backs but do return QB CJ Carr and a defense which could be the nation’s best anchored by star cornerback Leonard Moore.

Wisconsin elected to give Luke Fickell more money to build a better roster rather than paying his hefty buyout last December. Keeping this game even remotely competitive after winning nine total games the last two seasons would be a serious sign of life for the Badgers.

No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville in Nashville (Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

The only ranked matchup of Week 1 sees a team looking to carry over momentum against a team looking to break through.

Ole Miss made the CFP semifinals last year under Pete Golding, who was thrust into the head coach position when Kiffin bolted. Golding now had a full offseason to build his team, and has the major benefit of returning star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy.

Louisville has won nine-plus games in each of Jeff Brohm’s first three seasons. Once again a dark-horse playoff pick, could the Cardinals break through with another transfer QB, this time Lincoln Kienholz from Ohio State?