College Football Saturday Open Thread

After the Opening Weekend to End All Opening Weekends, last week may have felt like a dud, even if it offered plenty of compelling action. But this week? It may challenge the first week in big-time match ups. The good stuff starts early, in fact, starting right about as I post this. So sit down, get your coffee brewing, and plan to watch college football all day.

Here are a few games to keep your eye on:

#2 Florida State at #10 Louisville, 9:00am PDT, ABC. In two games this season Louisville QB Lamar Jackson has passed for 697 yards, rushed for 318 yards, and scored 13 touchdowns through air, land, and... sea? Now, some of you might say, "Ain't played nobody!" And you wouldn't be wrong. But Louisville's playing somebody today, as the Seminoles come to town. The good stuff starts early today, y'all. This is one you don't want to miss.

#1 Alabama at #19 Mississippi, 12:30pm PDT, CBS. Only two coaches have ever beaten a Nick Saban-coached team three times in a row. Lloyd Carr, at Michigan, and Joe Tiller, of Purdue. Both long ago swapped clipboards for fishing poles. This afternoon, Hugh Freeze will attempt to be the third when the Crimson Tide pay a visit to Swag Kelly and the Rebels, who have won two straight against the Tide.

Colorado at #4 Michigan, 12:30pm PDT, Big Ten Network. How will defense-first, physical-minded, borderline psychopath Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh defend Elmer Fudd at the quarterback position? Especially when he has Olive Oil to throw to and Eric Cartman protecting his blind side? You'll have to tune in to find out. But seriously folks! Mike MacIntyre's Buffalo program may be doing something that all down programs hope to accomplish but few ever do: Turn the proverbial corner. Michigan has won their two previous games by 60 and 37, but as you might say again, "Ain't played nobody." Colorado may not be able to pull off another Kordell Stewart miracle in the Big House, but they'll be tougher than Hawaii and UCF.

#12 Michigan State at #18 Notre Dame, 4:30pm PDT, NBC. Notre Dame lost a shootout to Texas in the opener, then beat an overmatched Nevada foe at home. Michigan State looked underwhelming in their opening week victory against Furman. These two midwestern powers with recent histories of being exposed by Alabama in the post-season have future exposure against Alabama in the post-season on the line in a game with playoff implications. Michigan State travels to South Bend after a bye in Week 2.

#3 Ohio State at #14 Oklahoma, 4:30pm PDT, FOX. After a season-opening thudding at the hands of the Houston Cougars, Oklahoma has another chance to impress on the national stage against Urban Meyer's young Buckeye squad, who lost a lot of talent, but perhaps more importantly, still has J.T. Barrett, and this year they're not trying to keep a lesser QB happy. If Oklahoma loses, it could be bad for the entire Big 12 and their bid to be represented in the playoff.

USC at #7 Stanford, 5:00pm PDT, ABC. The Clay Helton experiment takes a trip to Palo Alto, where the team from across town promises to take Stanford "seriously," something they claim not to have done against defending National Champion Alabama and G.O.A.T. Head Coach Nick Saban. Christian McCaffrey, who broke Barry Sanders' single-season all-purpose yardage record last time the Trojan's tried to defend him in a 461-yard performance to win the conference, will test Clancy Pendergast's defense. And finally have a national prime time slot to impress Heisman voters.

Sit back, relax, don't take any phone calls, and tell anyone who asks you're busy: This is your Saturday open thread!

GO BRUINS.