College football kicks off over Labor Day weekend, highlighted by early tests for some of this year's strongest programs. No. 3 Oklahoma will open their season against No. 15 Houston on Saturday, followed by a matchup between No. 1 Alabama and No. 20 USC that will test whether the defending champion Crimson Tide can effectively replace graduated quarterback Jake Coker under center. Also Saturday, No. 6 Ohio State will take the field against Bowling Green, while their hated rivals No. 7 Michigan will start things off against Hawaii.
On Sunday, No. 10 Notre Dame will take on the Texas Longhorns, with the Fighting Irish aiming to perfect their two-quarterback system and test a largely new receiving corps. Meanwhile, No. 11 Mississippi will face No. 4 Florida State — an early championship contender — in a Labor Day matchup.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
A road trip through ZimbabweThe Week Recommends The country is 'friendly and relaxed', with plenty to see for those who wish to explore
-
The assassination of Malcolm XThe Explainer The civil rights leader gave furious clarity to black anger in the 1960s, but like several of his contemporaries met with a violent end
-
Assisted dying bill: is it being rushed?Talking Point Kim Leadbeater's significant changes to her landmark bill have caused consternation
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
