The biggest college football teams kick off the 2022 seasons on Saturday. We’ll be updating this story throughout the day with the final scores, highlights, and what you need to know from each game.
Utah at No. 1 Alabama
Starting: 7:30 PM
Television: SEC . network
what do you know: Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young will receive the Heisman Award, from Georgia Tech Transfer Jahmyr Gibbs, helping to make up for the loss of last year’s Player of the Year and best receivers.
No. 5 Notre Dame in No. 2 Ohio
Starting: 7:30 PM
Television: ABC
what do you know: Former Ohio State player Marcus Freeman is back home to start his first season as Notre Dame coach. The Buckeyes brought back quarterback CJ Stroud, trailing TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba from last year’s team who led the nation in scoring.
Crystal ball:Our picks for CFP, National Champion, Biggest Surprises and more
Main matches:Top 10 first week college football matches
Pot predictions:Predict the playoffs and all post-season
new model:What would college football look like if it was set with 32 teams
No. 3 Georgia 49, No. 12 Oregon 3
the summary: The defending champion made a statement Saturday and defeated Oregon as Stetson Bennett led 25-31 for 368 yards and two touchdowns, scoring touchdowns on each of the first seven times they got the ball. The brave defense also harassed Bo Nix all day when he threw two interceptions.
Highlight his knowledge: My Starks play a sports play and pick the Knicks.
Make your reading: Defending champion Georgia is off to a strong start
Next: The Bulldogs plays FCS’s Samford on Saturday. The Ducks offers entertainment from Eastern Washington.
No. 6 Michigan 51, Colorado State 7
the summary: Cady McNamara threw for 136 yards and touched down, and Blake Corum added 76 yards a dash and a point as the Wolverines made an easy run for Colorado State at the Big House in the season opener for both teams. The Rams had only 219 yards of total offense.
Highlight his knowledge: Watch Corum collide with a defender.
Make your reading: Michigan begins to dominate by winning the opener.
Next: Michigan plays at home to Hawaii next week while Colorado hosts Middle Tennessee.
No. 7 Texas A&M 31, Sam Houston State 0
the summary: Delayed weather for about three hours didn’t stop Aggies as such Heinz King threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Ainias Smith added six catches for 164 yards with two touchdowns
Highlight his knowledge: Check one of Smith’s three degrees received, leaving defenders in the dust.
Next: The Aggies will face Appalachian State next Saturday. Sam Houston State plays Northern Arizona
Number 8 in Utah, Florida
Starting: 7 pm
Television: ESPN
what do you know: Utes are attracting the attention of College Football Playoff after last season’s run to the Rose Bowl and the return of most of their starting players led by quarterback Cam Rising and defensive back Clark Phillips. This match marks Billy Napier’s debut as coach of the Gators, who are undergoing a reconstruction.
No. 9 Oklahoma 45, Texas El Paso 13
the summary: Brent Venables’ era got off to a thrilling start as Oklahoma defeated the UTEP behind 233 passing yards and three total touchdowns from quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The Sooners led for 492 yards even though they only had football for 21 minutes.
Highlight his knowledge: Oklahoma running back Marcus Major plows from the yard to the outside.
Make your reading: Brent Venables opened with a win in his first game as coach
Next: Oklahoma plays Kent State next week and UTEP will welcome New Mexico State.
Albany at No. 10 Baylor
Starting: 7 pm
Television: ESPN Plus
what do you know: The Big 12 Bears defending champion is looking to use this opening harmony to crack a slew of new starters, including QB Blake Shapen and a refitted defensive minor.
No. 13 North Carolina 21, East Carolina 20
the summary: Owen Daver missed a field goal from 41 yards five seconds left as the Buccaneers missed an opportunity to score their first 25 upset of the college football season. The Buccaneers appeared in position to tie the score in the fourth quarter after Rajai Harris ran 3 yards ahead by 2:58 from the left, but Daffer went too far for the extra point.
Highlight his knowledge: Watch Daffer miss a potential game-winning kick and leave East Carolina fans in disbelief.
Make your reading:North Carolina survives scary opener
Next: Wolfbeck will open their home fixture list against Charleston Southern. East Carolina returns home to play Old Dominion.
Rice at No. 15 Southern California
Starting: 6 pm
Television: Pac-12 . network
what do you know: Lincoln Riley’s USC era begins with a lot of fanfare as Trojans fans get their first look at the upcoming transfer lineup from QB Caleb Williams and WR Jordan Addison.
No. 17 Miami (FL) 70, Python Cockman 13
the summary: Henry Parish Jr. and Tadeusz Franklin Jr. trailed for five touchdowns while the Hurricanes claimed an easy win on coach Mario Cristobal’s debut. Tyler Van Dyck had touchdown passes for Miami, which outperformed the Wildcats 499-342
Next: Miami faces southern Mississippi at home, while Bethune Cockman, South Carolina, will meet.
Louisiana Monroe at No. 18 Texas
Starting: 8 pm
Television: network of long centuries
What to know: With Ohio State’s Quin Ewers now moving to a quarterback, the Longhorns are looking to make a strong opening statement after coach Steve Sarkisian’s disappointing debut last year.
Illinois is at No. 20, Wisconsin
Starting: 7 pm
Television: FS1
what do you know: Braelon Allen is back to lead the Badgers’ traditional strong running game, averaging 211 yards in 2021.
Miami (Ohio) at No. 21 Kentucky
Starting: 7 pm
Television: SEC Network Plus
what do you know: The Wildcats start the season with their highest pre-season rating ever. But the UK will start the campaign with several players off the suspension, including running back Chris Rodriguez.
No. 23 Arkansas 31, No. 22 Cincinnati 24
the summary: In a game between two ranked teams that were hoping to make it to the New Year’s Six at the end of the season, the Razorbacks made enough plays for a close victory. KJ Jefferson threw three and ran for one to lead Arkansas, forcing the midfield into the fourth quarter and then finding Jefferson Tree Knox for 32 yards to lead 14 points. Ben Bryant shot 325 yards and scored two goals on his debut as the Berkats quarterback.
Highlight his knowledge: Knox’s catch and run last quarter proved crucial to Arkansas.
Next: Arkansas opens SEC’s home game against South Carolina. Cincinnati hosts the state of Kennesaw.
No. 24 Mississippi 28, Troy 10
the summary: On his first start since moving from Southern California, quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 154 yards and a touchdown, while TCU’s Zach Evans had 130 yards off the ground for the Rebels. Ole Miss advances 28-3 through three quarters.
Next: Mississippi hosts central Arkansas next week. Troy opens his home game schedule against Alabama A&M.
No. 25 Houston 37, TX-San Antonio 35
the summary: The Cougars survived a home-and-away game with the Roadrunners with a two-point conversion in triple overtime and was stopped by his defense in the next play. Houston trailed by 14 points in the final quarter before a pair of touchdowns passed by Clayton Tunne and a field goal puts them ahead. UTSA responded with a field goal in the regulation final. The two teams matched each other in the first two additional periods with field goals and relegation.
Highlight his knowledge: Tune’s third overtime run made the difference.
Next: Houston travels to Texas Tech next Saturday. Texas-San Antonio visits the army
Eric Smith, Eddie Temanos and Paul Meyerberg contributed to this report
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