College Football Predictions: Picks for Week 1's Biggest Saturday Games

Saturday’s slate for Week 1 in the 2026 college football season features several big-time matchups. The showdown between Clemson and LSU is the top game on Saturday, but UCLA-California, Boise State-Oregon, UNLV-Hawaii and Baylor-Auburn in Atlanta are also high on intrigue. The Week 1 slate is filled with one-sided matchups, but Saturday’s games are still an opportunity to learn about several contenders, including Ohio State (Ball State), Alabama (East Carolina), Texas (Texas State), Texas A&M (Missouri State), Indiana (North Texas) and Georgia (Tennessee State).

With those contests on tap, along with over 60 other games this Saturday, the Week 1 slate is sure to produce plenty of surprises.

Which teams will emerge with a victory in some of Saturday’s biggest contests? Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan and Kyle Wood preview and predict the biggest games for Saturday’s slate in Week 1.

College Football Week 1 Predictions for Saturday’s Biggest Games

1. Clemson at LSU

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Spread: LSU -10.5

Steven Lassan: So many intriguing storylines are set to unfold in this one on Saturday night. How do the Bayou Bengals and quarterback Sam Leavitt look in coach Lane Kiffin’s debut? And did coach Dabo Swinney push the right buttons to get Clemson back on track after last year’s 7-6 season? Swinney’s Tigers have one of the nation’s top receiving corps, but will the offensive line hold up and quarterback play deliver to consistently push the ball downfield? With new faces all over the depth chart and new schemes, it may take a half for LSU to get on track. However, the defense will be the difference, as the Bayou Bengals go to 1-0 in the Kiffin era.
Prediction: LSU 27, Clemson 17

Kyle Wood: It’s refreshing to talk about this game through the lens of what will happen on the field as opposed to everything else going on. LSU’s run game should be more dynamic behind a reworked offensive line with the threat of Sam Leavitt at quarterback, but Clemson has the bodies in the front seven to hold its own. Blake Baker’s disruptive defense is a tough test for Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina in his second career start. If he can get the ball out to his playmakers and avoid mistakes, Clemson stays within striking distance.
Prediction: LSU 27, Clemson 17

2. Baylor vs. Auburn (Atlanta)

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Auburn -7.5

Lassan: Auburn is one of the SEC’s biggest wild card teams under new coach Alex Golesh. Baylor is also intriguing with coach Dave Aranda on the hot seat, along with the arrival of Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway. Transfer quarterback Byrum Brown and a handful of other players that followed Golesh from South Florida to the Plains should help the Tigers improve to 1-0.
Prediction: Auburn 31, Baylor 24

Wood: A worse Auburn team beat Baylor on the road in the opener a year ago. While these are not the same Tigers, there’s familiarity among the contingent who followed head coach Alex Golesh over from South Florida. That goes a long way against a Bears team afflicted by turnover and led by a coach on the hot seat.
Prediction: Auburn 31, Baylor 20

3. Boise State at Oregon

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Oregon -24.5

Lassan: It’s a national title or bust type of season for Oregon with quarterback Dante Moore and a handful of key defenders passing on the NFL Draft for one more season in Eugene. Boise State was the projected top Group of 6 team, but this a tough spot for coach Spencer Danielson’s team.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Boise State 17

Wood: Boise State nearly beat Oregon in Eugene two years ago. While there are some holdovers from that CFP-bound Broncos squad, this team is not quite as talented. The Ducks, on the other hand, are flush with stars. Look for Dante Moore to tee off on this defense.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Boise State 13

4. UCLA at California

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: UCLA -1.5

Lassan: Old Pac-12 rivals are getting back together when UCLA and California meet on Saturday night. Additionally, this is a terrific matchup between quarterbacks Nico Iamaleava and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. A win here would be a nice boost to either of the new coaches (Bob Chesney at UCLA and Tosh Lupoi at California).
Prediction: UCLA 27, California 24

Wood: This might be my favorite game of Week 1. While I believe that Bob Chesney was the hire needed to revitalize UCLA, my conviction on Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is even stronger. The Golden Bears beat a lot of teams they probably shouldn’t have last season because of JKS, and they could take another step forward under new coach Tosh Lupoi. That starts by defending home turf against a former Pac-12 rival.
Prediction: California 27, UCLA 24

5. UNLV at Hawaii

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. ET
TV: TheCW
Spread: UNLV -3

Lassan: It’s only Week 1, but this is a critical game for positioning in the Mountain West. Both teams are vulnerable on defense, and this matchup features two of the top Group of 6 quarterbacks in Hawaii’s Micah Alejado and UNLV’s Jackson Arnold. Expect points.
Prediction: UNLV 34, Hawaii 31

Wood: Neither UNLV nor Hawaii got off to the start they hoped for. These high-powered offenses can rebound from 0-1, but 0-2 with a loss in conference play would be tough to swallow after an offseason of hype now that powerhouse Boise State is out of the Mountain West. Expect UNLV coach Dan Mullen’s offense to look better in Honolulu.
Prediction: UNLV 34, Hawaii 28

Other Top Games on Saturday in Week 1

Liberty at James Madison

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at Noon ET
TV: ESPNU
Spread: James Madison -6

Lassan: There’s a ton of intrigue here with both teams featuring uncertainty at quarterback and plenty of new faces overall. I like the Flames to bounce back in CUSA play in 2026. But I’ll take the Dukes to get a victory in new coach Billy Napier’s debut.
Prediction: James Madison 27, Liberty 24

Wood: This is a measuring-stick game for Liberty after the Flames bottomed out while James Madison reached a new high. The Dukes still have a talent advantage, but they’ll have a ton of new faces starting. Among those to watch is JMU wide receiver Jeremiah Harrison, who followed offensive coordinator Cam Aiken from East Tennessee State.
Prediction: James Madison 30, Liberty 23

Tulane at Duke

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network
Spread: Duke -7.5

Lassan: I’m curious to see how both of these teams look on Saturday. New Tulane coach Will Hall was hired to keep this program on track after a College Football Playoff trip last year. However, Hall’s tenure at Southern Miss left plenty to be desired, and this team lost several key cogs from that playoff squad. Duke suffered a late setback when quarterback Darian Mensah transferred to Miami and entered ‘26 with question marks on defense after giving up 29.4 points per game last year. This will be a good test for new Blue Devils’ quarterback Walker Eget.
Prediction: Duke 24, Tulane 17

Wood: Can we call this the Darian Mensah bowl? The talented quarterback has now left both Tulane and Duke, the defending champions of the American and ACC, respectively. With both offenses breaking in new quarterbacks, expect them to lean on the ground game. I like Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard to lead the way to a win.
Prediction: Duke 27, Tulane 20

Oklahoma State at Tulsa

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Spread: Oklahoma State -13.5

Lassan: Tulsa’s win over Oklahoma State last season spelled the end of the Mike Gundy era in Stillwater, so it’s appropriate these two teams meet again in the debut for new coach Eric Morris. A fresh start should help the Cowboys rebound in a big way this year, especially with a handful of transfers including quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins following Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State. Tulsa is a team on the rise in the American under second-year coach Tre Lamb. I think it will be tough for the Golden Hurricane to pull off another upset.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 38, Tulsa 24

Wood: Oklahoma State was one of the few teams Tulsa beat last season. But with the core of North Texas’ high-flying offense — quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young — now playing in Stillwater, the Cowboys will get their revenge in a rout.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 38, Tulsa 20

East Carolina at Alabama

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at Noon ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Alabama -27.5

Lassan: New Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is one of my must-see players in Week 1. East Carolina has a ton of new faces all over its starting lineup, but coach Blake Harrell’s team will give the Crimson Tide a few headaches for a half.
Prediction: Alabama 38, East Carolina 13

Wood: It might take Alabama’s offense a few drives to find its footing with Russell learning the ropes behind a new-look offensive line. Luckily for the Crimson Tide, their defense is so stout they’ll keep East Carolina at bay until their talent wins out.
Prediction: Alabama 41, East Carolina 10

Texas State at Texas

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Texas -29.5

Lassan: With Ohio State next Saturday, I expect the Texas offense to use this game as a tune up. Expect some fireworks from quarterback Arch Manning and receiver Cam Coleman.
Prediction: Texas 45, Texas State 13

Wood: Texas underperformed in non-conference play early last season. The Longhorns’ new and returning talent should be overwhelming enough to prevent that from happening again. But Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson can keep this game from getting too far out of hand with Texas looking ahead to top-ranked Ohio State.
Prediction: Texas 45, Texas State 17