Five biggest questions for Week 1 of the college football season

After last weekend’s appetizer, college football delivers a full course this week with games spanning the next five days.

With the first full weekend of action upon us, here are five questions we’re monitoring closest.

Football Who’s available?

“I’m just trying to figure out who’s eligible for our games…tomorrow,” Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters a day before the Associated Press No. 25 team in the country’s Thursday kickoff against FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

A St. Louis County Judge recently denied an NCAA motion to dismiss a temporary restraining order brought by Missouri defensive tackle Sterling Webb, who is seeking a fifth season of eligibility as part of the NCAA’s recently implemented five-year eligibility system.

Despite being invited to Buffalo Bills rookie minicamp, Webb never signed an NFL contract, making his case different from tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. They signed as undrafted free agents before being released, and their attempts to return to college football at LSU have been met by widespread blowback. Even politicians have gotten involved, with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr calling for the SEC to dismiss LSU if it adds either player to its game-day roster.

The drama unfolding in courtrooms around the country has taken attention off games heading into Week 1, creating a circus atmosphere. But college football is already wild enough. Put the two together and we may be embarking on the wildest season on record.

Football How does LSU look in Lane Kiffin’s debut?

Oh, yeah. There are games, too.

The most prominent matchup of Week 1 is the second in a home-and-home series between LSU and the Clemson Tigers in LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s debut.

The game is guaranteed to be a media firestorm as the most credentialed in Tiger Stadium history, but after months of people offering their hot takes and analysis of Kiffin’s controversial move from the Ole Miss Rebels, he’ll finally have a chance to shape the narrative based on LSU’s performance. Imagine that.

No coach needs a win in Week 1 more, especially after Kiffin left Ole Miss on the doorsteps of a College Football Playoff run while suggesting LSU gave him better odds of perennially contending. Losing to rebuilding Clemson would be devestating.

Football Does Indiana experience a drop-off at quarterback?

The Indiana Hoosiers ease into the 2026 season against North Texas, but the defending national champions have plenty of questions to address, most prominently at quarterback. Outgoing Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL Draft, has been replaced by Josh Hoover, who struggled with turnovers TCU, throwing a Big-12 leading 13 interceptions as a redshirt junior last season.

Football Can mid-majors make noise?

Five members of the new-look Pac-12 go on the road against ranked opponents, headlined by Boise State‘s trip to No. 2 Oregon. The American, MAC and MWC have two games each versus ranked foes, while the Sun Belt (Marshall at No. 18 Penn State) and Conference USA (Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M) have one apiece.

Those are the marquee games, but the Group of Six have an additional 13 games — 12 on the road — against unranked Power Four opponents that will either shrink or expand the gap between the two sets of conferences.

Football Will Luke Fickell, Wisconsin keep things close at Lambeau Field against Notre Dame?

Wisconsin has gotten progressively worse each season under Fickell, who took the full-time job in 2023. The Badgers went 4-8 a season ago, their worst record since 1990 when coming out of the worst five-year stretch in program history.

Last season, Wisconsin finished No. 135 out of 136 FBS programs in scoring offense (12.6 points per game). Former Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph is set to take over at quarterback and has a daunting first test against the national champion co-favorites.

In 2025, the reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year started against two power conference teams, completing 50 percent of his passes for 96 yards and three interceptions in a Week 1 road loss to Indiana. He fared much better against Virginia Tech two weeks later, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-26 win.

Notre Dame and Wisconsin have operated in two distinct weight classes in recent seasons, making the 2026 opener an immense challenge for the Badgers. Sunday’s game at historic Lambeau Field may be another reminder of just how far they’ve fallen under Fickell.