Week 0 provided a perfect chance to reintroduce ourselves to the warm college football waters, but now Week 1 gives fans a chance to take a full dive into the action as the 2023 season really gets going. Beginning Thursday and continuing through Labor Day, there is a near constant flow of games to enjoy. And with the arrival of any new year, comes the promise of drama and surprises.
Outside of Saturday’s wall-to-wall coverage, Thursday’s slate is the most comprehensive. In all, 11 games spanning coast to coast will feature a little bit of everything. The marquee matchups, however, will be a pair of 8 p.m. kickoffs featuring power conference programs.
One is a rematch of last season’s thrilling opener between Florida and Utah. After coming up just short against the Gators a year ago in The Swamp, the No. 14 Utes will be looking for revenge. The primary question mark is the availability of Utah quarterback Cameron Rising, who continues to recover from a knee injury he suffered in last January’s Rose Bowl.
At the same time, the Matt Rhule era begins at Nebraska in a Big Ten opener against Minnesota. The Cornhuskers are desperate for a return to glory, and Rhule’s track record as a program builder suggests a competitive game against the Golden Gophers is on deck.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the evening for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games on Thursday of Week 1.
Odds via SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern
Florida at No. 14 Utah
8 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — It doesn’t really matter whether Rising plays for Utah because its defense will keep the Gators offense in check for a full four quarters. Yes, Florida’s running…
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