Overview

• Boise State opens at South Florida on Thursday and is being billed as the Group-of-5 favorite to secure an automatic CFP berth, with sportsbooks listing the Broncos around a 5.5-point road favorite.
• Tulane hosts Northwestern in a matchup framed as an early building-block opportunity for another Group-of-5 playoff contender.
• New eras begin on multiple fronts, with Charles Huff debuting at Southern Miss against Mississippi State and Matt Drinkall coaching his first game at Central Michigan at San Jose State.
• FBS newcomers take the field as Delaware makes its debut against in-state FCS rival Delaware State, which hired DeSean Jackson as head coach, and Missouri State opens at USC.
• Early returns are already shifting expectations, with Fresno State coming off a 31-7 loss to Kansas in Matt Entz’s debut, UNLV edging FCS Idaho State 38-31, and betting markets now favoring Georgia Southern at Fresno State as Kent State targets an end to its 21-game skid against Merrimack.