Weekend Watch Guide: An OSU Fan’s Guide to Week 1 of the College Football Season

College football is back in full swing this weekend with five straight days of action.

Oklahoma State kicks off its season at 6 p.m. Saturday with a game against Central Arkansas, but here are a boatload of other games to keep an eye on from now through Monday.

Big 12 Schedule

UCF vs. Kent State — 6 p.m. Thursday on FS1
Kansas vs. Missouri State — 7 p.m. Friday on ESPN+
No. 17 TCU vs. Colorado — 11 a.m. Saturday on FOX
No. 20 Oklahoma vs. Arkansas State — 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN
Iowa State vs. Northern Iowa — 1 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+
No. 11 Texas vs. Rice — 2:30 p.m. Saturday on FOX
Cincinnati vs. Eastern Kentucky — 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+
No. 16 Kansas State vs. Southeast Missouri State — 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+
Baylor vs. Texas State — 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+
Houston vs. UTSA — 6 p.m. Saturday on FS1
Oklahoma State vs. Central Arkansas — 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+
West Virginia at No. 7 Penn State — 6:30 p.m. Saturday on NBC
Texas Tech at Wyoming — 6:30 p.m. Saturday on CBS
BYU vs. Sam Houston — 9:15 p.m. on FS1

The big one here for OSU fans is obviously the Cowboys’ season-opener against Central Arkansas, but there is plenty of good stuff before that game. And if you have a multi-screen setup, there is other good stuff going on during the Cowboys’ game.

We’ll get our first look at the Big 12 version of the Bounce House on Thursday night when UCF hosts Kent State. Then Friday, Jalon Daniels and the Jayhawks start their highest-anticipated season in years with a game against Missouri State.

TCU’s matchup with future Big 12 foe Colorado ought to be a fun one in the morning time slot Saturday. It’s the reigning national runner-up vs. the start of the Deion Sanders era.

Houston and UTSA ought to be interesting for the multi-screen viewers. The Cougars are also set to wear Houston Oilers-inspired jerseys.

The Mountaineers heading to Happy Valley will either be fun or a slaughter. Then we’ll get one of our first looks at #Big12AfterDark when BYU hosts Sam Houston late on FS1.

Thursday Night Fun

Kent State at UCF — 6 p.m. Thursday on FS1
Florida at No. 14 Utah — 7 p.m. Thursday on ESPN
Nebraska at Minnesota — 7 p.m. Thursday on FOX
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Tulsa — 7 p.m. Thursday on ESPN+
Southern Utah at Arizona State — 9 p.m. Thursday on Pac-12 Network

Along with UCF kicking off its life in the Big 12, there are some fun games Thursday night.

Florida and Utah are obvious headliners, and Brett McMurphy has tweeted out some interesting stats Thursday morning regarding that game. On the Florida side, this will be the Gators’ first nonconference road game outside of Florida since losing to Syracuse in 1991, per McMurphy. For Utah, the Utes have lost five consecutive games against nonconference Power Five teams, per McMurphy.

There is also a little Week 1 Big Ten football with Nebraska heading to Minnesota. Can Matt Rhule turn the Huskers around?

Then the Kevin Wilson era of Tulsa football gets kicked off with a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Golden Hurricane’s roster includes a handful of former Pokes, as well, with Braylin Presley, Ben Kopenski, Kanion Williams and Demarco Jones all making Tulsa’s two-deep.

Lastly, if you can track down the Pac-12 network, you can get a look at OSU’s Week 2 opponent Arizona State as the Sun Devils start their season by hosting Southern Utah.

Other Saturday Samplers

No. 3 Ohio State at Indiana — 2:30 p.m. Saturday on FOX
Boise State at No. 10 Washington — 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC
No. 21 North Carolina at South Carolina — 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC
South Alabama at No. 24 Tulane — 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPNU

Most of these are fairly self-explanatory. The most intriguing of that bunch to me is North Carolina at South Carolina. It’s Drake Maye vs. Spencer Rattler. It’s Mack Brown vs. Beamer Ball.

Another interesting watch is South Alabama (OSU’s Week 3 opponent) at Tulane. This has to be the Group of Five game of the week with Tulane being ranked and South Alabama receiving votes in the polls. If the Jaguars can overcome the Green Wave, South Alabama’s trip to Stillwater becomes even more interesting.

Sunday Funday

No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 Florida State — 6:30 p.m. Sunday on ABC

This is the game of the week. The winner will be a legit contender for the College Football Playoff.

Monday Night (College) Football

No. 9 Clemson at Duke — 7 p.m. Monday on ESPN

Week 1 closes with an ACC clash between Clemson and Duke as the Tigers look to climb back up the college football pecking order after two years away from the College Football Playoff.