NCAAF Week 1 preview: BYU vs. Navy caps off college football's return

In less than a week, the 2020 college football season will commence with a Week 1 schedule that is compact and compelling.

Missing are marquee matchups originally slated for the Pac-12 and Big Ten, after those two conferences cancelled fall football. For the other conferences still competing, there’s cause to celebrate.

To get you ready for college football’s return Sept. 3, check out our Week 1 preview, complete with one key reason to tune into each matchup.

Thursday, September 3

Central Arkansas at UAB, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN 3

Head coach Bill Clark hasn’t had a losing season since he accepted the UAB job back in 2014. Last year, his Blazers (Conference USA) finished 9-5 and will look to begin the 2020 season with a win against FCS competition.

This is no cupcake opponent. Last season, Central Arkansas (Southland Conference) defeated C-USA member Western Kentucky, 35-28, in the season opener. The Hilltoppers later beat UAB, 20-13, in Week 5.

South Alabama at Southern Mississippi, 8 p.m. ET

Another C-USA team, Southern Mississippi, will clash with South Alabama of the Sun Belt.

The Golden Eagles earned a 7-6 record and landed third in the C-USA West last season. South Alabama bottomed out with a 1-7 record in the Sun Belt and had a 2-10 record overall.

The Jaguars owned one of the worst offenses (311.4 yards per game) in college football. Quarterback Desmond Trotter and newly healthy receiver Jalen Wayne — former NFL star Reggie Wayne’s nephew — will attempt to fix that from the get-go in Week 1.  

Saturday, September 5

Middle Tennessee at Army, noon ET

Army (5-9) ranked fifth in rushing yards per game (260.5) last season but lost lead running back Connor Slomka (658 yards) and dual-threat QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr. (710 yards).

Middle Tennessee (4-8) got 1,044 yards on the ground from quarterback Asher O’Hara last year, but no running back topped 300 yards for the season.

Florida State transfer Amir Rasul and West Virginia transfer Martell Pettaway both opted out for the 2020 season, so the Blue Raiders’ rushing attack will again rely on O'Hara on Saturday in the school's first meeting with Army. 

Eastern Kentucky at Marshall, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN

Under first-year head coach Walt Wells, the former offensive line coach at Tennessee, the Colonels of the FCS get a difficult first test against Marshall.

The Thundering Herd hold the series lead (11-8-1) against Eastern Kentucky and last defeated the Colonels, 32-16, in 2018.

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday has been around for a full decade and hasn’t lost a season opener since 2012.

SMU at Texas State, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Since 2014, Texas State hasn’t won more than three games in a season.

Former Texas A&M coordinator Jake Spavital accepted the head coaching job at Texas State in 2019 and could take a note out of Sonny Dykes’ book. The SMU coach turned in a 10-3 season in Dykes' second year at the helm.

The Mustangs lost just twice in the 2019 regular season and cracked the top 15 of the AP poll. The offense ranked eighth in yards per game (489.8) and will return quarterback Shane Buechele, who ranked eighth in the nation in yards (3,626) last season.

Houston Baptist at North Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 3

After a 4-8 season, North Texas head coach Seth Littrell racked up talent through the transfer portal, including former Purdue cornerback Jordan Rucker, left tackle Teeshawn Turpin and left guard Anterrious Gray (both junior college transfers), top 100 JC prospect Davontae McCrae, and former minor league baseball player turned quarterback Austin Aune.

These players could contribute significantly in 2020, after COVID-19 restricted the offseason and made it difficult to work out and develop inexperienced underclassmen.

Arkansas State at Memphis, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Head coach Mike Norvell jumped to Florida State, after his Tigers lost just once in the regular season last year. Ryan Silverfield then got promoted to head coach and guided Memphis to a hard-fought loss to Penn State in the Cotton Bowl.

Look for continued dominance by the Tigers, with the return of QB Brady White, leading rusher Kenneth Gainwell, receiver Damonte Coxie, and seven starters on defense.

Memphis could end up a top 10 program in the nation, and Saturday will be the first chance to showcase just how exceptional the Tigers can be in 2020.

Stephen F. Austin at UTEP, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN 3

UTEP’s lone win last season came in Week 1 against Houston Baptist, in a 36-34 decision. Stephen F. Austin claimed just three victories, against Lamar, Incarnate Word, and Northwestern State.

This battle between Lumberjacks and Miners will probably get ugly fast, but the potential upset by an FCS school makes it worth watching.

Monday, September 7

BYU at Navy, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Midshipmen closed out 2019 with an 11-2 record, a Liberty Bowl win, and a No. 20 ranking in the AP poll. Much of that success was a result of Miami Dolphins rookie Malcolm Perry, who set an FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback (2,017).

He and returning fullback Jamale Carothers (734 yards, 14 touchdowns) helped Navy rank first in the nation in rushing yards per game (355.1) in 2019.

Whether presumed starting quarterback Perry Olsen can carry Navy to the same level of success in 2020 will be the main question heading into this prime-time, Labor Day showdown.

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