College Football: 5 best quarterbacks of 2016 NCAA.com
CHAMPS
Students return to school, textbooks fly off the shelves and the college football pundits of the world sharpen their pencils getting ready to take notes on the nation's best. One thing is for sure; you've got to pace yourself, people. It's a long season and there's no need for anyone to catch a silly injury from too much channel surfing. Oklahoma vs. Houston: Saturday, Sept. 3, at NRG Stadium (Houston, 12 p.m. ET, ABC) All eyes will be on the quarterback matchup when Houston meets Oklahoma, and most can’t be blamed for being glued to the screen when Baker Mayfield of Greg Ward Jr. have the ball in their hands. Related: Saturday, Sept. 3, at Georgia Dome (Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Get your popcorn, or um, your waffle fries ready for this one. It’s going to be fun when the Bulldogs and Tar Heels face off from the Georgia Dome for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Nick Chubb has been cleared to play for Georgia, which will be music to the ears of the Bulldogs faithful after his injury last year, but a reunion with backfield mate Sony Michel could be a few weeks away. More to the point, UGA’s opener could be overshadowed by a potent UNC squad. MORE: Switzer, the senior from Charleston, W.Va., has posted solid numbers in his three years at wide receiver under the tutelage of head coach Larry Fedora. Entering 2016 he stands one punt return touchdown away from the all-time record (8), so don’t be surprised if we see UNC try to spring the senior wideout in the kicking game. USC vs. Alabama: Saturday, Sept. 3, at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas, 8:00 p.m. ET, ABC) Two of the most successful programs in college football history will meet in Week 1 when the Trojans take on the Crimson Tide. When the defending Champs take the field, most eyes will be watching. A primetime matchup on Saturday night will be the first stage that Alabama must perform on to justify their No. 1 ranking as they begin their title defense (Alabama has won three of the last five titles). Clemson vs. Auburn: Saturday, Sept. 3, at Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn, Ala., 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) This matchup doesn’t have as much to offer as some of the other battles in Week 1, but a chance to watch is a good reason to tune in to see Clemson in action. Auburn is coming off a middling 7-6 result from a year ago, while Clemson made it all the way to the national championship game before losing to eventual champion Alabama. Monday, Sept. 5, at Florida Citrus Bowl (Orlando, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) Of all the Week 1 matchups to watch, this could be the game with the most immediate implications for the College Football Playoff. A meet up between No. 4 and No. 11 (FSU and Ole Miss, respectively) will draw a lot of eyeballs around the country. Win and you stay in the hunt, lose and you are left crossing your fingers on the outside looking in at the Playoff. The offenses are not the only thing to watch in this game because the defenses will be on trial too. FSU and Ole Miss each play in conferences with a lot of firepower, so this will be a good measuring stick to see where the other stands. Honorable mentions: LSU v. Wisconsin: Saturday, Sept. 3, at Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wis., 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Any time spent watching Leonard Fournette run the ball is time well spent. And the icing on the cake here is the added benefit of playing at the iconic home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. RELATED: UCLA v. Texas A&M: Saturday, Sept. 3, at Kyle Field (College Station, Texas, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) Sophomore QB Jake Rosen looks to follow-up on last year’s campaign with another stellar year for UCLA. MORE: Notre Dame v. Texas: Sunday, Sept. 4, at Royal Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Notre Dame’s dueling quarterback scenario will not just be a problem in-house, it’s now a problem for the rest of college football. There could be some fireworks here if this one gets out of hand early. RELATED: College football champions Every undefeated team to win the national championship since 1936
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