While the high school season gets started in a week, the college season gets underway in two weeks and your Saturday’s will be filled with Texas High School players making impact around the country. There are some big games in the opening weekend, so let’s take a look at the best games of week one featuring Texas colleges. TCU and Baylor both play FCS teams so we had to dive look to some group of five match-ups before the heavyweight match-ups.
5. Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech
This game probably wasn’t on your radar but the FCS vs FBS showdowns between Texas schools are always interesting. Guys on SFA believe they have been looked over, so they are out to prove a point against a big time program. For Tech, head coach Kliff Kingsbury finally has the quarterback he has always wanted in Patrick Mahomes II as they look to take a giant step forward in 2016.
4. SMU at North Texas
A revenge game for North Texas as they start a new era under Seth Littrell. SMU defeated the Mean Green 31-13 last year for one of their two wins in 2015. Chad Morris had an offense that could score last year for the Ponies, but the defense wasn’t up to par. This clash between two teams looking to bring new life to their programs will be big in recruiting in the North Texas area.
3. UCLA at Texas A&M
In a make or break year for Kevin Sumlin, he gets a tough task in week one. Sumlin has had trouble beating ranked teams at Kyle Field (1-7) and UCLA is ranked #24 in the preseason standings. This will be the first time Aggie fans will be able to see new QB Trevor Knight as he takes the reins from Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen. For UCLA, they have one of the best QBs in the country with Josh Rosen and they will challenge that A&M defense.
2. Notre Dame at University of Texas
When the two played last year, the Fighting Irish destroyed the Longhorns 38-3 in South Bend last year. That season opener loss sent Texas in a tailspin and another losing season under Charlie Strong. Quarterback questions surround both teams, as there is a battle between senior Tyrone Swoopes and freshman Shane Buechele. The Fighting Irish are ranked 9th in the coaches poll and head coach Brian Kelly said he will play QBs, Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer. Two blue bloods going at it, and it should be better than last year’s game.
1. Oklahoma vs Houston
This is technically a neutral site game, but it will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston. Both teams have national title aspirations and both are ranked inside the top 13. Houston coming off a 13-1 win season and a Peach Bowl win looks to prove they belong on a national stage. QB Greg Ward Jr. will be the player to watch for the Cougars and the offense goes when he goes. The Sooners look to bounce back from a playoff semifinal lost to Clemson and they return the best running attack in college football along with their QB Baker Mayfield. Both teams will spread it out so points should be aplenty inside NRG.
