While the Kansas State/Iowa State game in Dublin, Ireland is getting the majority of the attention during the limited slate during the opening weekend, there are other interesting storylines to keep an eye on. Here is a quick look at a few of these:
Idaho State at UNLV
The skinny: With the outcome of the game likely not in doubt, as the Rebels are a 24.5-point favorite, the storyline revolves around Dan Mullen’s return to head coaching. Barry Odom surprisingly turned the Rebels into a winner, so will Mullen be able to continue the trend? Plenty of eyes will be watching the Rebels this season to see how his return to the sidelines goes.
Fresno State at Kansas
The skinny: After two straight bowl appearances, the Jayhawks took a step backwards in 2024 with a 5-7 finish. They’ll be looking to start the season on a positive note against Fresno State, who finished 6-7 last season. Both teams enter with a good amount of question marks so this is a legitimate test that should provide some answers.
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky
The skinny: Kansas State/Iowa State isn’t the only conference game during Week 0, as the Bearkats and Hilltoppers kickoff the Conference USA season on Saturday night. Since Sam Houston made the jump to FBS football, they’ve lost the first two games against Western Kentucky, including a 31-14 loss at home in 2024. Both teams finished 6-2 in CUSA last season, so this is an important opener for both teams and the conference.
Stanford at Hawaii
The skinny: Stanford underwent a great deal of turmoil during the offseason, which resulted in the firing of head coach Troy Taylor in late March. Frank Reich has taken over on an interim basis in hopes of rejuvenating a program that has not won more than four games since the 2018 season. Hawaii has had its own difficulties in recent years, going without a bowl since 2020. Former star quarterback Tommy Chang is beginning his fourth season as a head coach and needs to start winning games to keep him off the hotseat.
FCS
The skinny: There are only four FCS vs. FCS games on Saturday, but each has its fair share of intrigue. Incarnate Word, Tarleton State and UC Davis are preseason Top 10 teams, but all three start on the road on Saturday. The most interesting of the three is UC Davis at Mercer, who starts the season just outside the Top 10 at No. 11. The fourth FCS vs. FCS game is a HBCU matchup between North Carolina Central and Southern in Atlanta, which will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
