Gameday Saturday: the bulk of College Football kicks off the 2016 season!

MSU senior WR 88 Monty Madaris breaks out in home
opener, as Spartans open with 28-13 win over Furman.

Cedar Rapids, IA --- The Big Ten moved to 3-0 on Friday night of Week 1, as the defending Big Ten champion Michigan State Spartans (1-0) defeated Furman 28-13, in a mistake filled game for the favorites. In Iowa high school football, Cedar Rapids Washington blanked the cross-town rival Cedar Rapids Kennedy 21-0 to move to 2-0 on the 2016 season.

Now, we turn to Gameday Saturday, on September 3rd. Our preseason rating are a composite from Stassen.com to kickoff the 2016 College Football season ...

• Boston College vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin, Ireland) 6:30 am on ESPN2 - an ACC - a battle of two 3-9 programs in 2015, kicks off the ACC inter-division match in Dublin, as these two team meet for the first time, since 2012, when the Yellow Jackets defeated the Eagles 37-17 ... 
• #29 Boise State at Louisiana Lafayette 11:00 am on ALT / SNY / (CSMA / CSCA / NESN+) / espn3 / ASN (affiliates) - after meeting for the first time in 2014, the Ragin' Caguns host the return match, in this Sun Belt-MWC game in a soaked filled Louisiana ...
• Bowling Green at #4 Ohio State 11:00 am on BTN - the Buckeyes only return 6 starters from a 12-1 team, while the Falcons return 11 starters from a 10-4 team in the debut of new coach Mike Jinks, as the former RB coach at Texas Tech fills the new role, where Ohio State's Urban Meyer began his highly successful coaching career as a head coach ...
• Eastern Kentucky at Purdue 11:00 am on ESPN News - the Boilermakers enter coach Darrell Hazel's fourth season, with new coordinators on each side of the football, coming off a disappointing 2-10 season, only 6-30 overall, as the Colonels are coming off a 6-5 season in FCS ...
• Fordham at Navy 11:00 am on CBSSN -the Midshipman finished 11-2, including a 44-28 Military Bowl win over Pitt, in Year 1 in the AAC in 2015, while the Rams finished 9-3 in FCS play and are ranked #20 in the preseason FCS ratings ...
• Hawaii at #8 Michigan 11:00 am ESPN - the Rainbow Warriors (0-1) were opening the 2016 in Australia only a week ago, in a 51-31 loss to Cal (1-0) ... so, the air miles already may make the kickoff against the Wolverines an even taller hurdle, as Jim Harbaugh enters Year 2 at the helm, coming off a strong 10-3 first season!
• #19 Houston vs. #3 Oklahoma (Houston) 11:00 am on ABC - one of the top Power 5 programs faces off with the nation's top returning non-Power 5 to kickoff the 2016 season in a showdown in NRG Stadium ...
• Howard at Maryland 11:00 am on BTN - the D.J. Durkin era kicks off in College Park, as Michigan's former DC, takes over the Terrapins program coming off a 3-9 record ... the Bison were only 1-10 in FCS play!
• Missouri at #34 West Virginia 11:00 am on FS1 - a SEC-Big 12 showdown from Morgantown, as Tigers, off a 5-7 season, welcome Barry Odom as head coach, against Mountaineers program coming off 8-5 season, as they enter the 6th season under Dana Holgorsen!
• South Alabama at #36 Mississippi State 11:00 am on SECN - the Bulldogs enter the 8th season under Dan Mullen, coming off a 9-4 season, as they turn the keys over to a new QB, while the Jaguars are coming off a 5-7 season out of the Sun Belt ...
• #44 Western Michigan at #43 Northwestern 11:00 am on ESPNU - the Broncoes are coming off a bowl win over Middle Tennessee and a 8-5 season, as P.J. Fleck enters his 4th season at the helm, while Pat Fitzgerald enters his 11th season at the Wildcats coming off a 10-3 season, and a tough 45-6 Outback Bowl loss at the hands of Tennessee ...
• Liberty at Virginia Tech 11:30 am on ACC Network - the Hokies off a 7-6 record kick off the Justin Fuente era, the first game, since 1986, where Frank Beamer isn't leading VA Tech ...
• Rutgers at #16 Washington 1:00 pm PAC-12 Network - the Chris Ash era begins for the Scarlet Knights, as Rutgers hits the road to kick off 2016, as Chris Peterson, enters Year 3 in Seattle, coming off a 7-6 campaign and a 44-31 win in the Heart of Dallas Bowl over Southern Miss!
• Kent State at Penn State 2:30 pm on BTN - the unranked Nittany Lions enter Year 3 under James Franklin coming off back to back 7-6 seasons, as the Golden Flashes come into Happy Valley off a 2-9 season, as Jay Hopson takes over the helm for Kent State ...
• #6 LSU vs. #31 Wisconsin (Green Bay) 2:30 pm on ABC / espn3 - the Tigers and Badgers kick off from Lambeau Field, as LSU welcomes the former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to the sidelines, in a rematch of the 2014 opener, as coach Paul Chryst enters his 2nd season at the helm for the Badgers ...
• Miami-OH at #18 Iowa 2:30 pm on ESPNU - it has been 13 years, since the Redhawks and Hawkeyes kicked off a season at Kinnick Stadium, as Iowa is coming off a 12-2 season and Miami a 3-9 year ...
• Murray State at Illinois 2:30 pm on BTN - the Lovie Smith era kicks off in Champaign, as Smith returns to the college game, after two decades in the NFL ...
• Southeastern Louisiana at #20 Oklahoma State 2:30 pm on FSN Affiliates - the Cowboys are coming into the 12th season under Mike Gundy, as junior QB Mason Rudolph likely becomes the full-time starter at the position ...
• Texas State at Ohio U 2:30 pm on CBSSN - Frank Solich enters his 12th season leading the Bobcats, coming off a 8-5 campaign, while the Everett Withers takes over the Bobcats from San Marcos coming off a 3-9 season ... as the battle of two Bobcat programs in this MAC-Sun Belt showcase in Athens today ...
• #21 UCLA at #28 Texas A&M 2:30 pm on CBS - both programs are coming off 8-5 seasons and bowl losses, with each coach entering their 5th season at the helm, the Bruins and Aggies are 2-2 head to head, in the first meeting in College Station ...
• Louisiana Tech at #30 Arkansas 3:00 pm SECN - it is the fourth season in Fayetteville, as the Being Bret Bielema star, is coming off 3-9, 7-5 and now an 8-5 season; while the Bulldogs are coming off a 9-4 season, with a 2nd place finish in the C-USA West!
• UC Davis at #24 Oregon 4:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - the Ducks ended their double digit seasons at seven, after a 3OT loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl, as the Aggies arrive in Eugene, coming off a 2-9 season in FCS play ...
• #15 Georgia vs. #23 North Carolina (Atlanta) 4:30 pm on ESPN - the Bulldogs welcome the Kirby Smart era, after a 10-3 season and 24-17 win over Penn State in the Taxslayer Bowl; while Larry Fedora enters Year 5 in Chapel Hill coming off a strong 11-3 campaign, but Russell Athletic 49-38 loss to Baylor ...
• Rhode Island at Kansas 6:00 pm on (ESPN Extra / espn3) / Jayhawk TV Sacred - the Jayhawks were 0-12 in 2015, as David Beaty's first season included an FCS loss in the opener at the hands of South Dakota State ... the Rams were a 1-10 team in FCS in 2015, so opportunity knocks for the FBS Power 5 program, with only 12 wins, since 2010 ...
• San Jose State at Tulsa 6:00 pm CBSSN - both programs finished 6-7 last year, in this AAC vs. MWC showdown, in a series where the home team has a 4-2 record ...
• SMU at North Texas 6:00 pm on (CSBA / NESN+) / ASN Video - an AAC vs. C-USA showdown, in this off again, on again in-state rivalry, as the visitor has a seven game losing streak in the series ...
• Southern at Louisiana Monroe 6:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3 - the first meeting among these LA state schools, as Matt Viator takes over the Warhawks' program coming off a 2-11 campaign, while the Jayhawks were 6-5 in FCS play ... the Warhawks are 6-0 lifetime in FBS vs. FCS meeting, so this one should be very interesting!
• Towson at #48 South Florida 6:00 pm on CSMA / espn3 / ASN - the Bulls enter Year 4 under Willie Taggart, coming off a 8-5, though a 45-35 loss vs. WKU in the Miami Beach Bowl; while the Tigers were 7-4 in FCS play in 2015 ...
• Southern Miss at Kentucky 6:30 pm on ESPNU - the Wildcats enter Year 4 under Mark Stoops, with back to back 5-7 seasons, while the Golden Eagles finished 9-5, after three straight losing seasons, winning only four games!
• UMass at #26 Florida 6:30 pm on SECN - this is the first meeting, as the Gators are coming off a 10-4 season, including a three game losing streak, with losses against Florida State, Alabama and Michigan. Earlier loss was @ LSU, so four solid program, as the Gators meet UMass for the first time!
• #1 Alabama vs. #14 USC (Arlington) 7:00 pm on ABC / espn3 - the Crimson Tide are 5-2 lifetime against the Trojans, with last meeting in the 1985 Aloha Bowl, when Alabama won 24-3. Former Bama secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt returns to Tuscaloosa to fill the vacant DC role in 2016 ...
• Eastern Washington at #35 Washington State 7:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - the Cougars and Eagles are meeting for the fourth time in the series, second in the modern era, as Washington State has always taken care of business against this FCS program, including a 24-20 win in 2012 ...
• Fresno State at #25 Nebraska 7:00 pm BTN - the Cornhuskers enter the second season under Mike Riley, coming off a disappointing 6-7 season, as the Blackshirts need to up game and the offense needs to avoid turnovers ...
• New Mexico State at UTEP 7:00 pm on beIN - a Sun Belt - CUSA showdown, as the Miners seek to land their eight straight against the Aggies down the road on I-10.
• Northern Iowa at Iowa State 7:00 pm on Cyclones.tv (cable IA) - the Cyclones welcome the Matt Campbell era, as Paul Rhoads exits after seven seasons in Ames. Last season, the Panthers fell 31-7, but won in 2013 28-20, as veteran Mark Farley's team took care of business in the FCS vs. FBS in-state rivalry. The Panthers are #5 in FCS chasing the five time FCS champion North Dakota State in the Valley!
• South Dakota State at #13 TCU 7:00 pm on FSN Affiliates - the first meeting between the preseason FCS #14 Jackrabbits and the #13 FBS Horn Frogs, who are coming off a 11-2 season and 47-41 3 ot win over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl ...
• Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech 7:00 pm on FSN Affiliates - the Red Raiders are coming off a 7-6 season in 2015; while the Lumberjacks were 4-7 in FCS play and are 0-2 in this series ...
• #2 Clemson at #37 Auburn 8:00 pm on ESPN - the Auburn Tigers own a 14-2 record in this series, but the Clemson Tigers have won two straight, including a 26-19 outcome in the 2012 season on a neutral field ...
• Arizona vs. #38 BYU (Glendale) 9:30 pm on FS1 - Rich Rodriquez enters his fifth season in Tucson, while the Cougars, coming off a 9-4 record, welcome Kalani Sitake era, as the former Utah and Oregon State DC returns to coach his alma mater ...
• Northern Illinois at Wyoming 9:30 pm on CBSSN - the first two seasons for Craig Bohl have ended in 4-8 and 2-10, quite the contrast from his winning ways leading North Dakota State to FCS titles; while Rod Carey has slipped off to 8-6, after 12-2 and 11-3 leading the Huskies to early MAC titles ...
• Northern Arizona at Arizona State 10:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - after back to back ten game win seasons, Todd Graham's Sun Devils fell to 6-7 in 2015; while the Lumberjacks were 7-4 in FCS play ... the FBS power has won nine straight in this series, including a 63-6 victory in the 2012 season opener!
• Abilene Christian at Air Force 1:00 pm on MWC Video / SLC Video / Livestream Video - the Falcons are coming off a 8-6 season in 2015, while the Wildcats were 3-8 in only their third season at the FCS level ...
• Alabama A&M at Middle Tennessee 6:00 pm on $CUSA Video - the Blue Raiders were 7-6 last season, while the Bulldogs were 3-8 in FCS play; it is the first meeting in this series, as sophomore QB Brett Stockstill leads his father's team, as Dad enters his eleventh season ...
• Alabama State at UTSA 6:00 pm on KMYS-CW 35 (cable) - the Hornets were 6-5 in FCS play, while the host Roadrunners were 3-9 in their fifth season in FCS play, as the Frank Wilson era kicks off in San Antonio ...
• Austin Peay at Troy 5:00 pm on espn3 - the Trojans are coming off a 4-8 season, in Neal Brown's first season leading the program; while the Governors come to down, with a 1-34 record the last three seasons, including a 0-6 record against FBS programs ...
• Florida A&M at #32 Miami-FL 5:00 pm on WatchESPN - the Hurricane welcome the Mark Richt era, coming off a 8-5 season; the Rattlers were only 1-10 last year in FCS play ...
• New Hampshire at #27 San Diego State 7:30 pm - coming off an 11-3 season, the Aztecs under Rocky Long are hoping to move up the non-Power 5 ladder and into a New Year's Bowl 6 game, if the right dominoes can fall in 2016 ... the Wildcats were 7-5 last season and have played in 12 straight FCS playoffs, the active leader, though #1 North Dakota State has won five straight titles ...
• NC Central at Duke 5:00 pm on WatchESPN - the Blue Devils won 55-0 last year, over the Eagles, who finished 8-3 in FCS, while Duke finished 8-5, including a 44-41 OT win over Indiana to close out 2015 ...
• Savannah State at Georgia Southern 5:00 pm on espn3 - the Eagles were 9-4 last season and have a 11-0 record in this series; while the Tigers were 1-9 last year in FCS ...
• SEMO at #45 Memphis 6:00 pm on espn3 - after a 10-3 season in 2014, the Tigers fell to 9-4, as Mike Norvell takes over the helm at Memphis, while the Redhawks were 4-7 last year in FCS ...
• South Carolina State at UCF 6:00 pm on espn3 - the Knights were 0-12 last season and have brought Scott Frost in, as OC at Oregon, to lead the program; the Bulldogs were 7-4 in FCS play last season, but lost in the only meeting in this series 17-0 in 2008 ...
• Southern Illinois at Florida Atlantic 5:00 pm on $CUSA Video - the Owls and Salukis each only won three games last season, in the FBS and FCS, respectively, as they meet for the first time in Boca Raton ...
• Villanova at #33 Pittsburgh 12:30 pm on WatchESPN - Pat Narduzzi lead the Panthers to a 8-5 season, two games better than previous year, in his first season as head coach; while the preseason #22 ranked FCS program, the Wildcats were 6-5 last year and looking to finish stronger ...
• VMI at Akron 5:30 pm on espn3 - the Zips were 8-5 last season, as Terry Bowden pulled off his first winning season and a 23-21 bowl win over Utah State, in his fourth season leading the MAC program; the Keydets were 2-9 in FCS play last year ...
• Western Carolina at East Carolina 5:00 pm on espn3 - the Pirates dropped to a 5-7 record in Ruffin McNeill's final season over six years, as Scottie Montgomery takes over the program, after serving as OC at Duke the past three seasons; the Calamount's were 7-4 in FCS, but they have lost seven straight in this series, last played in 1981 ...