Top 5 Week 1 college football games: TV info, predictions, start time

As the ball sailed through the uprights in Dublin, Ireland, Georgia Tech's team stormed Aviva Stadium in elation. The winning field goal as time expired sent the Ramblin' Wreck back stateside with a stunning 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State.

College football is so back.

Week 0, though light on games, provided the Yellow Jackets' big upset, along with FCS powerhouse Montana State scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat New Mexico. And, by the way, the Bobcats were paid $360,000 to travel to New Mexico, according to The Albuquerque Journal .

That was just the appetizer. Here comes the main course. Week 1 is full of enticing matchups. Here are the top five, ranked in inverse order:

5: No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia | Saturday | noon ET | Fox

Penn State and West Virginia renewed their rivalry last season after 31 years with the Nittany Lions winning 38-15. This will be Penn State's first trip to Morgantown since 1992. While West Virginia isn't expected to finish in the top half of the Big 12 , anything can happen in rivalry games. However, Penn State boasts a staunch defense and a veteran quarterback in Drew Allar.

Prediction: Morgantown will be fired up for this one, but it won't matter. Penn State wins 27-14.

4: No. 19 Miami at Florida | Saturday | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC

An in-state rivalry that almost always delivers is worth the watch. Miami leads the all-time series 29-27, but the teams have traded wins over the past four meetings. Florida won the last meeting, 24-20, in 2019.

Both coaches have something to prove as Miami's Mario Cristobal tries to get the Hurricanes to the next level of the national conversation, while Billy Napier is on the hot seat in Gainesville.

Prediction: A sold-out Swamp helps the Gators to a massive 31-24 victory. A ridiculously tough SEC schedule awaits, but this win is a step in the right direction for Napier.

3: No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU (Las Vegas) | Sunday | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC

A pair of high-profile coaches entering the third year at their current schools face off in this battle of ranked teams. Brian Kelly has guided LSU to a pair of 10-win seasons while Lincoln Riley's Trojans followed an 11-3 2022 season with an 8-5 mark last year.

Quarterback play is a question mark for both programs. The last two Heisman winners in Caleb Williams (USC, 2022) and Jayden Daniels (LSU, 2023) departed their respective programs. USC turns to redshirt junior Miller Moss as its starting quarterback while LSU tabs Garrett Nussmeier. Both players have stuck to their respective schools despite having to wait to become starters. The bright lights will be on for them in this Sunday night showdown.

Prediction: LSU wins a close one, 38-34.

2. No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson (Atlanta) | Saturday | Noon ET | ABC

The day kicks off with one of the best matchups of the weekend. Kirby Smart and his top-ranked Bulldogs have never lost a season opener in his eight-year tenure, including a win over No. 3 Clemson in 2021. Dabo Swinney and Clemson are looking to quiet the critics after a 9-4 season in 2023.

Quarterback play will be the story of this one. Georgia's Carson Beck is a Heisman contender while Swinney is hoping to see a "big jump" from Cade Klubnik in his second full season as a starter.

Prediction: Georgia is too much for Clemson and wins this one, 35-10. Beck gets an early resume boost for the Heisman and the Bulldogs show why they are the preseason number one team.

1: No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M | Saturday | 7:30 p.m. | ABC

Notre Dame makes the trip to College Station for Mike Elko's debut as A&M's new head coach. The Jimbo Fisher era was never what Aggies fans hoped (46-27 record, including a 12-13 record the past two seasons).

In a loaded SEC, Texas A&M may be a sleeper pick to get into the playoffs. This game will go a long way to that end. Elko is known for his work on the defense, which will face new Irish quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard transferred from Duke, where he played under Elko.

Prediction: It's not easy for the Irish going into Kyle Field. Expect a big Aggies win, 28-20.