We made it, guys! Week 1 is here! College football games from Thursday through Monday.We just need to get through one more freaking lawsuit hearing.Can you explain how it is possibly worth it for LSU to do all this for an extra tight end (Dae’Quan Wright) and defensive lineman (Zxavian Harris)? At least with Texas Tech, it was about their quarterback. Are we simply not capable of understanding why Lane Kiffin does what he does? — Tyler S.Regardless of what happens in a courtroom Thursday, I’m confident saner heads will prevail at LSU before Kiffin locks in his final roster Friday night. Because you’re right — it’s not worth it.Much like with Texas Tech and the Big 12 this summer, the other 15 SEC schools are becoming increasingly disgusted with LSU/Kiffin for not backing down, even after the SEC instituted its policy (currently enjoined by a judge in Baton Rouge) that could result in Kiffin being suspended for half the season if he adds recent NFL players to his roster. I found it pretty telling that Kiffin’s longtime pal, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, went off about the possibility Monday, calling it “morally wrong.”My understanding of why Kiffin is doing this is threefold:1. He has been exploiting every possible advantage — and relishing the backlash it elicits — for nearly as long as he’s been a head coach.2. After getting fired by the Raiders in 2008 and landing the Tennessee job, he hired offensive line coach James Cregg from his Raiders staff with two games left in their season, an absolute no-no within the NFL, but, wink wink, this was NFL to college.3. At USC, he once had starting quarterback Cody Kessler wear a different jersey number to start the game, one that happened to be the same number as the Trojans’ punter, then snuck him out as the holder on an extra point and attempted a two-point conversion.Ole Miss defenders also always had a knack for developing cramps or sudden-onset injuries when the opposing offense was trying to run tempo.And in this case, CBS Sports reported that Kiffin himself encouraged his former players to file a lawsuit so they could return to school and play for him.He clearly miscalculated by assuming other schools would do the same thing. Others may have made inquiries with certain players, but as of this writing, LSU is the only Power 4 football program still attempting to add guys who have signed NFL contracts. (There are a few fifth-year guys, like Texas O-lineman Cole Hutson, who had mini-camp tryouts.)Maryland coach Mike Locksley, for one, said he considered adding two former players after they got cut by NFL teams but backed off after the Big Ten issued its ban. Whereas the lawyers for Kiffin’s potential adds said, screw it, let’s sue the SEC, too.And then there’s the simplest explanation: Kiffin must not have full confidence in his team if he’s still trying to upgrade his roster days before the Clemson game. Apparently, the greatest transfer portal class of all time didn’t plug all the holes.Ultimately, the decision may be made for Kiffin on Thursday if the judge who granted the players their temporary restraining order either denies their request for a longer-term preliminary injunction or rules it does not apply to the SEC. If not, though, all eyes will turn to LSU President Wade Rousse, and whether he’s really willing to go against every one of his conference peers and sign off on Kiffin’s roster adds.I tend to think no, but it’s Louisiana.At least one AP top-10 team has lost to an unranked opponent in Week 1 every year since 2020. With Ole Miss being the only top-10 team playing a ranked opponent (Louisville), there are plenty of choices of who might lose, but the remaining nine matchups are at least a 20.5-point spread. Does the streak end this season? — Ryan S.Those lopsided spreads reflect how schools are watering down their early-season non-conference schedules. Which stinks. But I still don’t want to hear a single “This is a bad Week 1” out of any of you. It’s been eight months. We’ll take it.The only semi-realistic options are No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State and No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin in Green Bay. While the Broncos are my pick for Group of 6 Playoff team, and took the Ducks to the wire at Autzen two years ago, I just can’t see it. Boise doesn’t have Ashton Jeanty, and the talent gap between the two teams has grown since 2024.But there’s a path for the Badgers. And I say that as someone who picked Notre Dame to reach the national championship game.While I’m bullish on new Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion), realistically, Luke Fickell’s team isn’t going to put up 30 on an elite Irish defense. Instead, they’re going to have to ugly it up. The Badgers showed the makings of a very good defense over the last half of the 2025 season, holding Oregon to 21 points, Minnesota to 17 and Washington and Illinois to 10. They unleashed a couple of talented young linebackers in Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa, whom Fickell built around in the portal.Notre Dame has a potential first-round quarterback in CJ Carr, but its big question, obviously, is the run game post-Jeremiyah Love/Jadarian Price. If the Badgers can get into the backfield, force a couple of turnovers and get the cheeseheads rocking, I could see them pulling out an upset with a score somewhere around 20-16.I could also see them losing by four touchdowns.Regarding the players expected to start in this Saturday’s slate of games, excluding true freshmen, can you venture a guess as to what percentage started at other programs? It seems like after every tackle the announcer lists two to three schools that the tackler played prior to this year. — Russell W.It varies quite a bit from school to school, depending mostly on the state of the program at a given time. I’ll divide it into four tiers. Note: These are purely my own ballpark estimates based on scanning depth charts, not anything scientific.• Consistent CFP contenders (Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, etc.): 6-8 transfer starters