Forde-Yard Dash: The Most Interesting Week 1 Matchups

There are plenty of mouth-watering nonconference games to feast upon during the first full weekend of college football.

Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news in college football (outrage over South Carolina chickening out of calling its mascot Cock Commander sold separately):

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FOURTH QUARTER

A MONSTER WEEK 1

The Third Quarter ran long, since conferences themselves are running long these days, but The Dash is not skimping on Fourth Quarter content. We’re just going overtime to get everyone ready for what should be a great Labor Day weekend of games. Let’s break down the most interesting:

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is facing his alma mater in his first regular season game in charge of the Irish :: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame at Ohio State (34). How big: It’s large now—they’re both in the preseason top 10—and in historic terms. Two of the five all-time winningest programs in the sport meet for just the fifth time ever on campus, and the first time since 1996.

What’s new: Notre Dame’s head coach—Marcus Freeman got a bowl game under his belt last season, but this is the first time we will see a team that has had extensive time being molded in the 36-year-old’s vision. Also, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator—the Buckeyes threw a pile of cash at Jim Knowles to hire him away from Oklahoma State and revamp a unit that was gashed more than it should have been last year.

Key matchup: Fighting Irish offense with a new starting quarterback (Tyler Buchner) and a dinged-up offensive line leader (Jarrett Patterson) vs. the noise of The Horseshoe at night. Can Notre Dame make calls at the line, get snaps off on time and execute in a deafening atmosphere?

Spread: Ohio State favored by 15.

Dash pick: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 14.

Oregon vs. Georgia (35). How big: Bulldogs begin defense of their national championship against a top-15 opponent and a coach who knows their personnel and tendencies. Both teams could be favored in every game hereafter, which means an undefeated regular season is not an outlandish goal for the winner.

What’s new: Dan Lanning went from Georgia’s defensive coordinator to head coach of the Ducks. He brings someone else familiar with the Bulldogs as his (presumed) starting quarterback in Auburn transfer Bo Nix. He hasn’t had much success against Kirby Smart, going a combined 72-for-128 passing for 639 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in three losses. For Georgia, a vaunted defense gets a bit of a makeover.

Key matchup: Can Georgia’s mauler offensive line neutralize an Oregon front seven that has some big-time talent? Linebacker Noah Sewell and end Brandon Dorlus present problems. And if linebacker Justin Flowe can stay healthy, he could have a long-awaited breakout season.

Spread: Georgia favored by 17.

Dash pick: Georgia 24, Oregon 10.

Utah at Florida (36). How big: With dreams of the College Football Playoff dancing in their heads, folks in Utah are calling this the biggest opener in school history, with some justification. (Walloping Texas A&M in 2004 to start an undefeated season and launch Urban Meyer’s career would also rank.) The Gators are a home underdog in a home opener for the first time since 1978, per the Gainesville Sun.

What’s new: Florida’s head coach, Billy Napier, arrives from Louisiana and inherits a roster not in keeping with the talent of the past 30 years. He will do what Gators fans implored Dan Mullen to do last year and start physical specimen Anthony Richardson at quarterback.

Key matchup: Utah’s running game against Florida’s massive defensive linemen. The Utes are the smashmouth team of the Pac-12, leading that league in both rushing yards per game last year and rushing yards allowed. Can 238-pound back Tavion Thomas again poised to be the hammer in the ground game, or will he be swallowed by 415-pound (not a misprint) nose tackle Desmond Watson and 313-pound Gerson Dexter?

Spread: Utah favored by two.

Dash pick: Utah 28, Florida 24.

Can Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell and the Bearcats sustain national relevance after last year’s CFP breaktrhough? :: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati at Arkansas (37). How big: Following years of building, the No. 19 Bearcats are now in the business of sustaining after crashing the CFP in 2021. Win this, and they could vault all the way back into the top 10. The Razorbacks are still in the building stage in year three under Sam Pittman, but believe they might have the team to beat any SEC West opponent not named Alabama.

What’s new: Cincy will wait until pregame before tipping its hand on a new starting quarterback, either veteran Ben Bryant (who transferred to Eastern Michigan last year, then came back) or dual-threat sophomore Evan Prater. The two teams will each unveil a gigantic transfer receiver—6'6" Hawaii transfer Nick Mardner at Cincinnati and 6'5" Toledo transfer Matt Landers at Arkansas. Mardner averaged 19.9 yards per catch last year, and Landers (a one-time Georgia Bulldog) averaged a whopping 25.7.

Key matchup: Cincinnati’s rebuilt defense against the arm and legs of Arkansas QB K.J. Jefferson. Getting the 245-pound Jefferson on the ground will be a key task for the Bearcats, both via the pass rush and when Jefferson takes off as a runner.

Spread: Arkansas favored by seven.

Dash pick: Cincinnati 24, Arkansas 23.

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Florida State vs. LSU (38). How big: This Sunday nighter in New Orleans is the dawn of a new era for the Tigers, and the opportunity for a We’re Back statement win for the Seminoles.

What’s new: Many big things are new at LSU, from the coach to the coach’s accent to the quarterback. It’s a big change going from blustery Cajun son Ed Orgeron to wiseacre New Englander Brian Kelly. Against overmatched Duquesne Saturday, the Seminoles broke in a new offensive coordinator (Alex Adkins) and some flashy transfers—receivers Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman, and edge rusher Jared Verse.

Key matchup: Florida State’s three 100-yard rushers from Week Zero (Treshaun Ward, Trey Benson and Lawrence Toafili) against an LSU run defense that occasionally laid down in 2021. The Tigers have some huge interior talents, though, in 2021 five-star recruit Maason Smith and Jaquelin Roy—who could be a high 2023 draft pick. And end B.J. Ojulari is a star.

Spread: LSU favored by three.

Dash pick: LSU 34, Florida State 28.

COACH WHO EARNED HIS COMP CAR THIS WEEK

Pat Fitzgerald (39), Northwestern. What his Wildcats did to Nebraska to end the game in Ireland on Saturday was a smashball masterpiece. Northwestern ran on its last 17 offensive snaps, pounding in the go-ahead touchdown and then protecting the lead with a methodical, ball-control toughness. It was a Ferentzian performance from Fitz, who won this game as he has many in his Northwestern career—weather a storm or two, let the other team make mistakes, capitalize on them, walk away with a victory.

COACH WHO SHOULD TAKE THE BUS TO WORK

Scott Frost (40), Nebraska. He wins in a landslide. And this is the only thing Frost has won in a long time.

POINT AFTER

When thirsty in the underrated city of Fort Worth, The Dash recommends a drink at Thompson’s Bookstore (41)—which isn’t a bookstore. It’s a lounge in a library-like setting, with a downstairs speakeasy. An excellent vibe. Order an Easy Peasy IPA (42) from Deep Ellum Brewing Company and thank The Dash later.

MORE DASH: Desperate Times | Board Geniuses | Power 3 Realignment