It's back. The first full college football weekend of the season brings joy and fills the void of fans who have been waiting more than seven months for the return of the sport they love.
The hard part about the start of season is trying to sort out what will happen on the opening week. With departures to the NFL, incomings and outgoings through the transfer proter and coaching changes, there's a lot to sort out and some surprises sure to come when teams take the field Saturday. But where will they take place?
That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 1 of the college football season:
With Taylor Swift now officially off the market, ESPN moves to North Carolina coach Bill Belichick's girlfriend/muse Jordon Hudson as its new obsession. During a standalone, Monday night primetime game, no less. Oh, and TCU wins the game. -- Matt Hayes
Despite all the weird offseason attention, there's plenty of hype of what North Caorlina can be with a genius in Bill Belichick in charge. It will be an electric first game taking the spotlight on Labor Day, and it could propel the Tar Heels to a statement win. However, a dangerous TCU team is coming to town, led by quarterback Josh Hoover. He knows how to make big plays, and there will plenty of them Monday night. TCU finds itself in another trap of playing against a team debuting its highly anticipated coach. The Horned Frogs don't flop again, and get the Belichick era in Chapel Hill started with a loss. -- Jordan Mendoza
