Preview Roundups
September 03, 2015
North Carolina at South Carolina 6:00 PM ET
Wait and see has been the mantra of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier leading up to his inexperienced team’s season-opener. The waiting is almost over, and the Gamecocks will see what they have when they take on border-rival North Carolina on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.
Florida International at Central Florida 6:00 PM ET
UCF has plenty of holes to fill if it is to reach a bowl game for the fourth straight season and should get an early test from visiting Florida International of Conference USA on Thursday. Quarterback Justin Holman and two-time All-American Athletic Conference running back William Stanback key the Knights against an experienced FIU defense, which recorded 33 takeaways in 2014.
Oklahoma State at Central Michigan 7:00 PM ET
Oklahoma State was the youngest team in the country a year ago and it showed during a five-game skid, but the Cowboys proved resilient in the end as the school made a bowl game for the 10th straight season. With Mason Rudolph giving the team its first clear-cut starter at quarterback since 2011 and three preseason all-conference selections spearheading the defense, the Cowboys hope to rebound from a trying season starting on Thursday when they travel to Central Michigan.
Elon University at Wake Forest 7:00 PM ET
Wake Forest attempts to remain unbeaten against Elon when it hosts the Phoenix in Thursday's season-opening contest. The Demon Deacons are 9-0-1 against Elon, an FCS school located about 50 miles east of Winston-Salem.
Alcorn State at Georgia Tech 7:30 PM ET
There is little mystery surrounding how Georgia Tech plans to succeed in 2015, and as the Yellow Jackets kick off the season at home Thursday against Alcorn State, their high-powered rushing attack is ready for another huge year. The No. 17-ranked Yellow Jackets, directed by dual-threat quarterback Justin Thomas, led FBS in rushing last season and has accumulated 200-plus rushing yards in 14 consecutive games – the longest streak in the nation.
Villanova at Connecticut 7:30 PM ET
With the first 10-loss season in school history safely in the rear-view mirror, Connecticut hopes to gets its program moving in the right direction this year, starting with Thursday's home clash against Villanova. The game offers an interesting matchup of quarterbacks between Huskies sophomore Bryant Shirreffs and Wildcats senior John Robertson.
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt 8:00 PM ET
Derek Mason's first season at the helm in Vanderbilt did not go well,
and the second-year coach will have a tough test in the Commodores'
season opener Thursday against dangerous Western Kentucky. While
Vanderbilt was winless in SEC play for the first time since
2009 and barely eked out its three non-conference victories, the
Hilltoppers used a high-powered passing attack to produce their first bowl win and are tabbed to claim the Conference USA East Division title in 2015.
Michigan at Utah 8:30 PM ET
Expectations are modest in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season, but Michigan expects a gradual return to greatness with the mercurial former quarterback at the helm. Harbaugh will get his first chance to lead his alma mater when the Wolverines visit Utah to open the 2015 campaign on Thursday.
Texas Christian at Minnesota 9:00 PM ET
Second-ranked TCU is aiming for a spot in the national championship game and begins its journey with a visit to Minnesota on Thursday. The Horned Frogs garnered the highest preseason ranking in school history after going 12-1 last season and narrowly missing a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff.
Duke at Tulane 9:30 PM ET
Duke is making itself into an offensive power under head coach David Cutcliffe, and the Blue Devils plan on taking another step forward in 2015. Duke will try to get off to a strong start when it visits Tulane in the season opener on Thursday.
Texas-San Antonio at Arizona 10:00 PM ET
Arizona received a major scare from UTSA last season at the Alamodome, but things figure to be much different when the teams meet Thursday in Tucson. While No. 22 Arizona has many key players back to defend its Pac-12 South title, UTSA faces a rebuilding year with just six returning starters.
Colorado at Hawaii 11:59 PM ET
Colorado has not enjoyed a winning season since 2005 and went 0-9 in the Pac-12 in 2014, but third-year coach Mike MacIntyre remains optimistic in advance of the Buffaloes' 2015 season opener in Hawaii on Thursday. MacIntyre went 6-18 over his first two years in Boulder and with the other five teams in the Pac-12 South Division winning at least nine games last season, the talent-rich opponents Colorado will soon face could create impatience among fans and boosters if the losing continues.