Rooting guides for all 138 FBS teams

BC is a live but clear underdog at Cincinnati, with its rebuilt backfield and defense facing an immediate fight for control of the line of scrimmage.

How California fans should watch the UCLA opener, set expectations, and judge the result beyond the final score.

Clemson gets a high-upside test at LSU, while Stanford and Florida State offer useful, but optional, ACC help.

Duke opens its ACC title defense with a Tulane rematch, a rebuilt lineup and Nate Sheppard as the clearest source of stability.

The opener is a low-drama rooting assignment with one important question: can Florida State turn productive offense into scoreboard control?

Georgia Tech is a 78% favorite, but the rematch matters most as the first look at Alberto Mendoza running George Godsey’s offense.

The Cardinals get a high-value shot at Ole Miss, while three other results can improve their path to the ACC title game.

NC State gets a high-leverage ACC opener, plus two conference results worth a smaller share of your attention.

UNC gets one revealing afternoon in Dublin: watch whether Bobby Petrino’s rebuilt offense can keep functioning after its first few answers against TCU.

Pitt hosts Miami (Ohio), while Florida State offers the only useful result elsewhere on the Week 1 board.

Stanford is favored against Hawai'i, but a six-day turnaround to Miami makes Pritchard's debut more necessity than ceremony.

The Cavaliers open ACC play with a favored rematch against NC State, while two outside results offer smaller conference-race help.

What Wake Forest fans should watch as the defense supports a rebuilt offense in the opener against Akron.

Why the Pirates’ offensive shape matters almost as much as the score in a daunting Week 1 visit to Alabama.

The Owls have a 7% upset chance at Florida, with offensive continuity creating hope and the rebuilt run defense setting the ceiling.

Memphis is a live underdog at UNLV if Charles Huff’s familiar defensive core can create room for an unsettled offense.

Bloomington begins a compressed three-game search for a dependable identity from Neal Brown's reconstructed North Texas offense.

Root for USF to set the tone in Brian Hartline’s debut, then keep a measured eye on two national playoff competitors.

Tulane has a real upset path at Duke, but it begins with the veteran defense, not a replay of Jake Retzlaff’s four-touchdown performance.

Watch whether Tulsa turns productive drives into touchdowns, and calibrate your hope for a season opener that looks like a near coin flip.

UAB’s Week 1 rooting guide: how to watch the Blazers’ rebuilt offense and calibrate hope against Illinois.

Baylor’s 29% chance against Auburn makes Week 1 a hopeful test of whether the Bears can keep the ground game from deciding the rematch.

Cincinnati’s opener is less about style points than whether its veteran offensive line can make a rebuilt offense feel dependable again.

How to watch Colorado at Georgia Tech, where the upset path begins with a rebuilt rushing attack and an unsettled offensive line.

Houston is an 88% favorite, but the rematch asks whether the Cougars can establish control early instead of staging another escape.

Kansas should handle LIU; the revealing part is whether its rebuilt offense already speaks a coherent, run-driven language.

Oklahoma State’s opener at Tulsa is less a fresh start than an immediate test of whether this rebuild feels meaningfully different.

TCU should beat North Carolina, but the useful Week 1 test is whether Jaden Craig and Gordon Sammis can produce a balanced offense.

Texas Tech opens against ACU with one premium evaluation at quarterback and two modest rooting interests elsewhere.

How UCF fans should watch Bethune-Cookman, with the defense’s pressure plan carrying more interest than the expected result.

Utah’s Week 1 guide to five new offensive-line starters, Devon Dampier’s protection and the standard awaiting Morgan Scalley’s first regular season.

West Virginia’s Week 1 guide to expectations, attention and the offensive signs that matter against Coastal Carolina.

Illinois is a heavy favorite over UAB, but Bobby Hauck’s new defense gives Thursday night real diagnostic value.

The forecast is comfortable; the useful question is whether Indiana’s rebuilt lineup already moves with familiar authority.

Root for Iowa, inspect four unsettled foundations and save a little late-night hope for Stanford against Miami.

Michigan's Week 1 guide: what to look for in the Whittingham debut and why the model quietly prefers Ohio State over Ball State.

Michigan State is favored over Toledo, but Fitzgerald’s debut is a real test of whether this rebuild can begin with order and authority.

Anthony Colandrea gets another look at the Ohio defense that frustrated him in December, this time as Nebraska’s experienced new centerpiece.

Ohio State gets one live rehearsal before Texas, with Arthur Smith's backfield plan and the offense's established stars sharing the spotlight.

Oregon is a massive favorite, but Boise State’s hold on the series gives the Ducks’ opener more weight than the model alone suggests.

Penn State should beat Marshall; the revealing part is how much Matt Campbell entrusts to Rocco Becht and how his defense handles a dangerous quarterback.

Rutgers should beat UMass. The useful question is whether its rebuilt defense looks organized, forceful and ready for harder work.

How UCLA fans should calibrate hope for the Week 1 trip to California, and identify the signs that this enormous reset may work quickly.

Against San José State, watch USC’s communication at center and the receiving pecking order; elsewhere, the model offers two rooting interests.

Washington should defend the Apple Cup, but Week 1 will show whether its rebuilt backfield and receiving corps can keep the offense balanced.

Wisconsin has only a 4.6% upset chance, but its rebuilt offense can make that number feel less defining against Notre Dame.

FIU returns to Tampa with a 9% upset chance and a rebuilt offense whose first task is keeping the game alive into the fourth quarter.

The Gamecocks are favored at North Dakota State, but the rebuilt ground game will determine how comfortable that edge should feel.

The Flames have a 9.9% upset chance at JMU, plus one modest reason to root against a CUSA contender before kickoff.

How to watch an unlikely opener for signs that Missouri State’s winning identity can carry into a season of change.

What New Mexico State fans should hope to see from the rebuilt passing game in Saturday night’s opener at Florida State.

Sam Houston’s upset path starts with keeping Landyn Locke out of the downs where Troy’s pass rush and punter can take control.

The Nevada rematch is nearly a coin flip. Watch whether WKU’s quarterback plan can control the fourth quarter before two daunting road trips.

A 7% upset chance sets the mood: enjoy the swing, then judge whether Akron can keep the opener playable.

Ball State’s opener at Ohio State is about finding composure and functional offense in a game the Cardinals are overwhelmingly unlikely to win.

Central Michigan has a 17% upset chance at New Mexico, but the opener’s real intrigue is how an experienced offense supports a rebuilt defense.

Eastern Michigan is favored, but the opener’s real value is showing whether its redesigned defense can withstand a direct challenge on the ground.

The Golden Flashes have a narrow upset path at South Carolina, and a few specific moments worth watching for.

UMass has a 1.7% upset chance at Rutgers, but four quarters of structure would make this opener meaningful even without a miracle.

Miami has a 14% upset chance at Pitt, and the first test is whether its proven defense can give a rebuilding offense a manageable game.

Honor Frank Solich, hope Ohio’s rebuilt offense travels, and keep a measured eye on three helpful MAC results.

How to watch the Hornets’ opener, how much hope to carry, and why this week’s attention stays on one game.

Two long opening-night streaks converge as Mike Jacobs begins his Toledo tenure at Michigan State.

Western Michigan has a 10% upset chance at Michigan, with its proven rushing core offering the clearest reason to lean in.

Hawai'i gets a road rematch with Stanford, while Ashlock’s status and one long-shot upset shape the Week 1 watch list.

Nevada gets an even-money rematch with WKU, with ball security and fourth-quarter execution offering the clearest signs of progress.

Root for the Lobos to control Central Michigan’s ground game, then give Stanford a modest cheer against future conference opponent Hawai’i.

NDSU’s opening challenge is less about instant validation than discovering which familiar strengths can survive a new level.

The upset is a long shot, but NIU’s defense can give its rebuilt offense a meaningful first test if it keeps the game compressed.

The upset is wildly unlikely. The useful hope is that San José State’s rebuilt offense looks dangerous enough to carry into the season.

UNLV’s opener is about easing a new quarterback into the job, and one unlikely New Mexico result offers a small bonus.

How to watch UTEP’s opener, calibrate upset hope and identify credible progress possession by possession.

Wyoming takes a credible upset chance and a redesigned offense into a road Border War that should reveal more than the final score.

Boise State has earned reason to dream at Oregon, but the real Week 1 question is whether its rebuilt supporting cast can keep the upset alive.

Colorado State has a 55% chance to open with the Boot, and this rivalry deserves nearly all of your attention in a quiet Week 1.

Oregon State returns to Houston with long odds and one revealing question: can JaMarcus Shephard’s first team finish what last year’s Beavers started?

How hard to hope for the upset, what it would mean, and the one other Week 1 result worth watching.

How to watch Washington State-Washington, set expectations for an 11% upset shot, and decide what would make Week 1 encouraging.

Root for a comfortable Alabama opener, a useful offensive balance and two national results that modestly improve the Tide’s playoff outlook.

Arkansas should beat North Alabama. The real Week 1 hope is that its new offense produces answers before Utah and Georgia arrive.

What Auburn fans should expect from the opener, how much hope to invest and which parts of the new team deserve the closest attention.

Florida's Week 1 guide to what matters against FAU, how much suspense to expect and which early signs deserve attention.

Georgia’s Week 1 rooting guide: what to watch in the opener and which four long-shot upsets would help most.

Kentucky should handle Youngstown State. The useful question is whether its rebuilt defense can keep Beau Brungard contained.

What LSU fans should hope for against Clemson, plus the one unlikely outside result that can help the Tigers’ playoff outlook.

Mississippi State should handle ULM. The useful Week 1 question is whether Zach Arnett’s rebuilt defense already looks like his defense.

Missouri’s opener should reveal whether Austin Simmons and the rebuilt passing operation can function without leaning on Ahmad Hardy.

The outcome should be routine. The useful question is whether Oklahoma can build a better run game before next week’s trip to Michigan.

Ole Miss should beat Louisville, but the revealing part will be how quickly a rebuilt receiving corps takes shape around Trinidad Chambliss.

The Gamecocks should beat Kent State comfortably; the revealing test is whether their rebuilt coverage and kick units prevent explosive mistakes.

Tennessee should overwhelm Furman, but the opener offers two useful clues about its new quarterback and rebuilt defense.

Root for an organized Texas defense against Texas State’s veteran passing core, then save a little hope for two useful long-shot upsets.

What Texas A&M fans should watch against Missouri State, how much the opener matters, and why the rest of the slate can stay quiet.

Austin Peay is a near-certain win; the real Week 1 question is how Vanderbilt’s quarterbacks operate the post-Pavia offense.

How to watch Coastal's Week 1 opener and judge whether its imported Missouri State leadership can organize a radically rebuilt roster.

The Dukes are heavily favored, but Week 1 is really about whether a rebuilt roster can carry last season’s physical identity forward.

The Herd’s best Week 1 hope is to turn offensive continuity into immediate pressure before Penn State finds its footing.

Troy should beat Sam Houston. The better Week 1 question is whether Adam Austin’s new offense can win without its old safety net.

How to watch ULM’s opener at Mississippi State, where a 5% upset chance matters less than what four veteran anchors reveal.

What Irish fans should watch in the Lambeau opener, and the long-shot result at USC that could help Notre Dame’s bye chances.