Thursday night kickoff of the 2016 College Football season

Cedar Rapids, IA -- Well, here's our projected Final 4 for the College Football Playoff, we can dream, can't we, for the 2016 College Football gods can give a little love for the home team?

• Clemson
• LSU
• Oklahoma
• Stanford or Iowa (actually, I said Washington from the Pac 12, since the 2016 Rose Bowl is history) ...

It is hard to pick two from the same conference, but with the strength throughout the Pac 12 and Big Ten, we may see a chance for the ACC and SEC will argue for two programs from the same division, as the season plays out?

Now, a look at the first kickoff in Week 1, Thursday, September 1st : 

Rankings are from Stassen.com preseason consensus polls. Forty-eight teams were picked in at least one Top 25 poll heading into the 2016 College Football season.

Popular tradition in the State of Utah:
The Beehive Boot.

• Charlotte at #21 Louisville 6:00 pm on FSN Affiliates / (ACC-RSN) - The bottom of the C-USA East travels to take on the #3 projection in the ACC Coastal ... pick the favorite!
• Maine at UConn 6:00 pm on (NESN+ / CSCA) / espn3 / ASN (affiliates) - Kirk Ferentz at Iowa got his first head coaching start at Maine in 1989. UConn coach Bob Diaco is a former Iowa player, so the Huskies should take care of business here! 
• #42 Appalachian State at #7 Tennessee 6:30 pm on SECN - Can the #1 choice in the Sun Belt upset the #7 ranked Volunteers ... is this 2007 and Ann Arbor ... we can only dream right?
• Indiana at Florida International 6:30 pm ESPNU - The Big Ten kicks off the 2016 College Football season, with two games on tap this evening. IU took care of business in Bloomington, but how will an early road test be for these Hoosiers? The Hoosiers are coming off a bowl season, for the first time, since 2007. FIU is picked #6 in the C-USA East ... 
• Rice at #41 Western Kentucky 7:00 pm on CBSSN - A conference opener against cross-division opponents in Conference USA ... Go WKU!
• South Carolina at Vanderbilt 7:00 pm on ESPN - Kickoff the 2016 SEC East season for the Gamecocks and the Commendores in Nashville ... both teams are picked by many to fight it out for the cellar in the East!
• Southern Utah at #40 Utah 7:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - It is the battle for the Beehive Boot tonight in Utah ... well, not quite, since Southern Utah isn't BYU, Utah or Utah State, but they are the #23 program in the FCS heading into 2016 ...
• Montana State at Idaho 8:00 pm ALT / espn3 - Could this be a FCS upset over a FBS program tonight?
• Oregon State at Minnesota 8:00 pm on BTN - One talking head over at ESPN suggests the Golden Gophers could be the #1 team in 2016 in the Big Ten West race. The Beavers are picked for the cellar again in the Pac 12 North in 2016 ... Pac 12 vs. B1G!
• South Dakota at New Mexico 8:00 pm on RSNW / RSRM - Another, FCS vs. FBS match up ...
• Jackson State at UNLV 9:00 pm on on MWC Video - The Rebels need to win games against programs only receiving votes in the FCS ...
• Presbyterian at Central Michigan 6:00 pm on espn3 - The Chippewas kickoff 2016 at home against an FCS program ...
• Tulane at Wake Forest 6:00 pm on WatchESPN - Tulane is picked last in the C-USA West, while Wake Forest is picked second to last in the ACC Atlantic ahead of Syracuse ...
• UT Martin at Cincinnati 6:00 pm on espn3 -The Bearcats are picked #3 in the AAC East heading into 2016 ...
• Weber State at Utah State 7:00 pm on MWC Video / Twitter Video - Clearly, this would be a disappointing FCS upset over a middle of the road MWC Mountain opponent ...
• William & Mary at North Carolina State 6:30 pm on WatchESPN - A #10 FCS program against an ACC Atlantic program picked #4 in the division ...

College Football Eve: Thursday, September 3rd kicks of the 2015 season in CFB

Thursday, September 3rd

Little Brown Jug
Michigan vs. Minnesota

No, the Little Brown Jug will not be on the line in Week 1, but Michigan and Minnesota will be the first Big Ten teams to kickoff the 2015 College Football Season in Week 1

Michigan 5 Jabrill Peppers tackles Utah WR 2 Kenneth Scott
in last season's 26-10 win by the Utes over the Wolverines
in Ann Arbor. New season, new coach for Maize & Blue in '15.

• Michigan at Utah 7:30 pm on FS1 as the Coach Jim Harbaugh era kicks off ...

Michigan vs. Utah series 

 • This will be the fourth meeting between the Wolverines and Utes 

 • Michigan will be making its first visit to Salt Lake City and Rice-Eccels Stadium

 • Utah maintains a 2-1 advantage in the series, including victories in the past two games
(2008 and 2014)

Minnesota CB 29 Briean Boddy-Calhoun and a teammate tackle TCU QB
2 Trevone Boykin during last year's 30-7 Horned Frogs win over the Golden Gophers.

#2 TCU at Minnesota 8:00 pm on ESPN as Golden Gophers open 5th season under coach Jerry Kill ...

Minnesota junior QB
7 Mitch Leidner
leads Gophers O!

• 
  

Minnesota vs. TCU series
• TCU is the highest-ranked opponent that Minnesota will face to start the season since the Associated Press began ranking teams in 1936
• The Gophers traveled to TCU last year and the teams met at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Sept. 13, 2014. The Horned Frogs won 30-7.
• The schools are now 1-1 against one another all-time, as Minnesota won the first meeting, 9-7, on Sept. 28, 1974, in Minneapolis

Other Games to Kickoff Week 1 Thursday

• Florida International at UCF 5:00 pm on CBSSN in this CUSA vs. AAC showdown, as Knights shutout Golden Panthers on road in '13
• North Carolina vs. South Carolina (from Charlotte) 5:00 pm on ESPN - 57th meeting in this series & first neutral site game, since the 1955 season
• Oklahoma State at Central Michigan 6:00 pm on ESPNU - Chippewas are 0-4 vs. Power 5 at home, so this is a long-shot for the MAC in '15
• Alcorn at #17 Georgia Tech 6:30 pm on FSN Affiliates - The Yellow Jackets host last year's SWAC title winner in the first meeting between the FCS and FBS programs
• Villanova at UConn 6:30 pm SNY / espn3 - This is ripe for a FCS pick over the FBS, as Huskies are coming off 2-10 season against a FCS Quarter-finalist from '14
• Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt 7:00 pm on SEC Network 
• Duke at Tulane 8:30 pm on CBSSN - The Blue Devils are only 5-15 in road openers ... and lost in '64 in only previous visit to New Orleans
• UTSA at Arizona 9:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - The Wildcats won 26-23 last year on the road, in this one, so coach Rich Rodriguez needs the be ready in Tucson
• Colorado at Hawaii 11:59 pm on CBSSN - These teams combined for 2 and 4 wins in '14; and visitor is 0-4 in this series, but it is time for the Buffaloes to reverse that trend ...

• Abilene Christian at Fresno State 9:00 pm on MWC Video - First meeting, since '63, but Bulldogs are 14-2 in Bulldog Stadium openers
• Elon at Wake Forest 6:00 pm on espn3 - The Demon Deacons have never lost in this series at 9-0-1
• New Hampshire at San Jose State 9:00 pm - First meeting in this series. Spartans are 13-1 vs. FCS foes, losing in '10 to UC-Davis. New Hampshire is coming off FCS Semifinals
• Ohio U at Idaho 8:00 pm on espn3 - The visitor in this series is 0-3, but look for Frank Solich's Bobcats to reverse the trend
• Southern Utah at Utah State 8:00 pm - The Aggies are 3-0 in this series, winning 34-3 in last game in series in 2012
• Stony Brook at Toledo 6:00 pm on espn3 - First meeting in this FCS vs. FBS game, as Rockets seek to build on 17-0 record over FCS programs
• UC Davis at Nevada 9:00 pm on MWC Video - 54th meeting in this series, but 2nd game, since 1989 and first, since 2013, when Wolf Pack won 36-7
• VMI at Ball State 6:00 pm on espn3 - Pete Lembo's squad is coming off a 5-7 record last year, as they face a first time FCS opponent to kickoff the 2015 season. Cardinals are only 3-3 vs. FCS in last 6 played, but 4-0 under Lembo

Saturday Week 4 of College Football

Florida A&M at #4 Ohio State 11:00 a.m. BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - Buckeyes final tune up before Big Ten play

Florida International at Louisville 11:00 a.m. (ESPN-GP / espn3) *2 / WHAS-11 (cable) - The Cardinal are playing well lead by QB Teddy Bridgewater

Louisiana Tech at Kansas 11:00 a.m. FS1 (HD) - Can Jayhawks defend the home field?

Marshall at Virginia Tech 11:00 a.m. ESPNU (HD) - This could be a good game for the visitors, if Hokies take them lightly.

Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic 11:00 a.m. CSMA *5 / CSS (cable) - C-USA showdown as Owls plays first season in new conference.

North Carolina at Georgia Tech 11:00 a.m. ESPN (HD) - Yellow Jackets in big ACC battle.

San Jose State at Minnesota 11:00 a.m.ESPN2 (HD) - Can Golden Gophers open non-conference undefated in '13?

Toledo at Central Michigan 11:00 a.m. ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable) / espn3 - MAC play for both teams... Chippewas host Rockets.

Vanderbilt at UMass 11:00 a.m. ESPN News (HD) - The Commodores should take care of business on the road.

Wake Forest at Army 11:00 a.m. CBSSN (HD) / $ULive Video - The Cadets should have better chance at home vs. Demon Deacons than last week vs. #2 Stanford.

Western Michigan at Iowa 11:00 a.m.BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - WMU is playing third game with B1G opponent this season, while Iowa is 0-2 vs. Broncos in series, so third is a charm for someone today. Pick: Iowa 38, Western Michigan 20.

North Texas at Georgia 11:21 a.m. SEC TV / ESPN-GP / espn3 - Mean Green and Coach McCarney have tough road in Week 4 in Athens!

Pittsburgh at Duke 11:30 a.m.NESN / (ESPN-GP / espn3) *2 / ACC Network (HD) - Pitt hits road in new ACC.

Tulane at Syracuse 11:30 a.m. FSN Affiliates / RSN (HD) / (ESPN-GP / espn3) *2 - The Orange looking for some success vs. FBS opponents.

Idaho State at Washington 2:00 p.m. (PAC-12 Network (HD) / Pac-12 Video) - Huskies wrap up OOC in Week 4.

Rice at Houston 2:00 p.m. FSN Affiliates (HD) - Battle of Houston!

Stony Brook at Villanova 2:00 p.m. CSNE / SNY / NBC Regional / CSS (cable, JIP) - Where's former Iowa RB Marcus Coker?

Arkansas at Rutgers 2:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) - Bret Bielema will start a walk-on at QB with former Iowa player A.J. Derby on road in Piscataway.

Delaware State at North Dakota State 2:30 p.m.ESPN-GP / espn3 / ND NBC (cable) - ESPN Gameday enjoys morning with FCS # 1

Kent State at Penn State 2:30 p.m.BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - Nittany Lions looking to rebound in OOC play.

Maine at Northwestern 2:30 p.m.BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - Pat Fitzgerald and Wildcats look to stay undefeated before opening Big Ten season in showdown in Evanston vs. Ohio State.

Maryland vs. West Virginia (Baltimore) 2:30 p.m. ESPNU (HD) - ACC vs. Big 12 match up in September before the heart of conference play.

Michigan State at Notre Dame 2:30 p.m.NBC (HD) / NBC Video - Fighting Irish doesn't make it two seasons in a row vs. sweeping Big Ten to open season?

Purdue at Wisconsin 2:30 p.m.(ABC / WatchABC or ESPN2 / WatchESPN) (HD)) - Big Ten opener for 2013 in Madison as Boilermakers-Badgers square off.

South Dakota State at Nebraska 2:30 p.m.BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - Bo Pelini has had a tough week in Lincoln as his team will take field with Redshirt Frosh Tommy Armstrong making first start at QB with Taylor Martinez nursing a turf toe.

Tennessee at Florida 2:30 p.m.CBS (HD) / CBS Video - Could Volunteers pull an upset off in the Swamp?

Utah State at USC 2:30 p.m.(ABC / WatchABC or ESPN2 / WatchESPN) (HD)) - Lane Kiffin needs to take care of business in non-conference in September!

Louisiana Monroe at Baylor 3:00 p.m.FS1 (HD) - How good is the Big 12 this season?

Arizona State at #2 Stanford 6:00 p.m. FOX (HD) - Time for Pac 12 play to begin for these two clubs.

Colorado State at #1 Alabama 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD) - Crimson Tide get back to OOC play.

SMU at Texas A&M 6:00 p.m. ESPNU (HD) - Battle in the Lone Star State, not quite.

Texas State at Texas Tech 6:00 p.m. FSN Affiliates (HD) / FCSP (cable) - Lubbock host another Lone Star battle in FBS.

Oregon State at San Diego State 6:30 p.m. CBSSN (HD) - Beavers need a quality FBS win in the OCC after losing season opener at home vs. FCS opponent.

Troy at Mississippi State 6:30 p.m. FS South (HD) / (ESPN-GP / espn3) - Could SEC have an upset alert in Week 4 as Troy comes to town?

Auburn at LSU 6:45 p.m.ESPN (HD) - Battle of SEC Tigers in Baton Rouge!

Kansas State at Texas 7:00 p.m.ABC (HD) / (ESPN-GP / espn3) - The Longhorns have been having trouble on defense, as Wildcats-Longhorns open Big 12 play for 2013!

Michigan at UConn 7:00 p.m. ABC (HD) / (ESPN-GP / espn3) - The Wolverines have only won 7 of last 21 on the road in Big Ten play, but UConn isn't a Big Ten program.

Missouri at Indiana 7:00 p.m.BTN (HD) / BTN2Go - Battle of SEC vs. Big Ten, but tradition favors road team.

UTSA at UTEP 7:00 p.m. DirecTV: 623 / FCSA (cable) - Another Long Star State showdown in the new C-USA line-up.

Utah at BYU 9:15 p.m.ESPN2 (HD) - Popular football game in the State of Utah!

Wyoming at Air Force 9:15 p.m. ESPNU (HD) - Mountain West opener for Cowboys as Falcons opened last week at Boise.

Idaho at Washington State 9:30 p.m.(PAC-12 Network (HD) / Pac-12 Video) - The Cougars need to take care of business in OOC after 1-0 start in Pac 12.

New Mexico State at UCLA 9:30 p.m.(PAC-12 Network (HD) / Pac-12 Video) - Bruins return to Rose Bowl after scoring 38 unanswered points in Lincoln last week.

Games online only or not scheduled for nationally available networks:

Arkansas State at Memphis 3:30 p.m.espn3 - Sun Belt vs. AAC teams in Memphis!

Austin Peay at Ohio U 1:00 p.m. espn3 - Many Cornhusker fans at Nebraska are missing Frank Solich this week after pains with Bo.

Ball State at Eastern Michigan 12:00 p.m. espn3 - Battle in MAC!

Bethune Cookman at Florida State 5:00 p.m. espn3 - Mismatch!

Cincinnati at Miami-OH 3:00 p.m.espn3 - The Bearcats looked solid in Week 1, but not in Week 2 vs. B1G, so are they ready to take care of business in Ohio in this AAC-MAC match up?

The Citadel at Old Dominion 5:00 p.m.CST (VA cable) / $Video - ODU is on quest upward to FBS.

Eastern Illinois at Northern Illinois 6:00 p.m. espn3 - Huskies return to DeKalb undefeated in 2013!

Hawaii at Nevada 7:00 p.m.MWC Video? / Oceanic PPV - Who wins in this MWC game?

Jacksonville State at Georgia State 1:00 p.m. espn3 - Could FCS pull off another FBS victory in Week 4?

Louisiana Lafayette at Akron 5:00 p.m.espn3 - The Zips return home without the prize they nearly took in the Big House last week.

Morgan State at Western Kentucky 6:00 p.m. espn3 - FCS vs. FBS game!

Murray State at Bowling Green 2:30 p.m. espn3 - BG licking wounds after return home from Bloomington.

Northern Iowa at Northern Colorado 2:30 p.m. Big Sky Video - Will UNI continue to flood gates or will they face a dam?

Northwestern State at UAB 2:00 p.m. $ULive Video - FCS vs. FBS alert!

Savannah State at Miami-FL 6:00 p.m. espn3 - Mismatch FCS at FBS in this game!

VMI at Virginia 2:30 p.m. espn3 - FCS vs. FBS showdown in the State of Virginia!

Western Illinois at UNLV 8:00 p.m. - Beware of the FCS?