It’s Monday. Fall is creeping upon us like a opossum on a chicken bone and my pen quill is dampening as I write my first Top 5 Games of the Week article – Week Zero is here. Never mind you that we have NFL players coming back into College Football or there are less rules than the O.K. Corral – no, those things need to be tucked away, deep into your junk drawer. We get a slate that holds a conference matchup that doesn’t count as a conference game, a matchup in Dublin that could end in a coach being left in Ireland, two of the top G6 teams, and most of all…we get football.
Brief Recap of Last Week
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1. North Carolina vs TCU *Dublin, Ireland
The very first game of the season has to be the very first game on the Top 5 game article, and nothing says college football kickoff like, checks notes, Ireland? The land of Green and Guinness will be littered with College Football fans to see the Tarheels and Horned Frogs matchup. UNC is bringing a lot of bad luggage on this international trip as they had a horrific 2025, their General Manager is on administrative leave after some less than desirable conduct, and continuous headlines about the head coach’s love life. Maybe TSA will make the Tarheels leave that baggage behind? TCU loses their QB to Indiana in Josh Hoover, but they get the highly touted Ivy-Leaguer, Jaden Craig by way of Harvard. Johnathan Dwyer is a great RB for the Horned Frogs and if Sonny Dykes is coaching the team, they will have a passing game. This could get ugly quick.
TCU 31 UNC 17
TCU -7.5
Over 47.5
2. NC State at Virginia
Thank the Lord that we only have 1, international game this week as the NC State and Virginia brass decided a trip to Brazil maybe wasn’t the best thing to do – so they moved the game to the Brazil of North America…Charlottesville, Virginia (don’t fact check me on this). NC State is bringing what should be a high-powered offense, led by quarterback CJ Bailey, however, the defense is what held the Wolf Pack back in 2025 – did they do enough to shore up that side of the football? Tony Elliot and Virigina are coming off one of the best seasons in Cavalier history. Although they are able to bring back a lot of key pieces, particularly in the trenches, the leader of the team, Chandler Morris is gone, replaced by Beau Pribula. Pribula plays a similar style to Morris and, also like Morris, has battled some injuries. I think the high of 2025 continues for the Cavaliers – give me UVA in a shootout.
Virginia 38 NC State 36
NC State +5.5
Over 52.5
3. Jacksonville St. at North Dakota St.
Jacksonville St. joined the FBS ranks in 2023 and have now been joined by FCS juggernaut, North Dakota St. The Gamecocks have held their own in the G6 and North Dakota St. should assumedly do the same – naturally their first game will be hosting their old foe in the Fargo Dome. The Bison have a new QB leading them this year in Nathan Hayes, a new RB in Kennesaw St. transfer, DJ Scott, and a inexperienced WR trio. Jacksonville St. lost FBS rushing leader, Cam Cook, to West Virginia, but they keep Caden Creel from their 2025 campaign. Give me the Bison, the Fargo Dome, and beginners luck in this one.
North Dakota St. 23 Jacksonville St. 20
Jacksonville St. +6.5
Under 46.5
4. Hawaii at Stanford
Freshman phenom (now a sophomore), Micha Alejado, returns to the #Bruddahood and many have the Rainbow Warriors as a sneaky team to earn the G6 spot in the College Football Playoff. Stanford is doing everything it can to stop the bleeding since it’s last winning season in 2018. Former Cardinal QB, Tavia Pritchard takes over as the head coach and will look to Michigan transfer, Davis Warren, to turn this offense around. Stud running back, Micah Ford returns for the Cardinal and he looked to have the recipe to defeat Hawaii squad in 2025, before Micah Alejado led a game winning drive on one leg, and another leg from Japanese born kicker, Kansei “the Tokyo Toe” Matsuzawa put the dagger in Stanford’s hopes and dreams. I think the Rainbow Warriors prevent Stanford from getting their lick back and take down their P4 foe again.
Hawaii 27 Stanford 25
Hawaii +5.5
Over 48.5
5. Memphis at UNLV
Dan Mullen is back for year two in Las Vegas, and he brings back Alex Orji and some new competition in QB, Jackson Arnold. 1000+ yard rusher, Jai’den Thomas, should be the real leader of this offense as the receiving weapons are all either inexperienced or unproven. Memphis brings in new head coach Charles Huff who’s known for his defensive prowess, looks to pick up where the new Arkansas coach, Ryan Silverfield left off. QB Marcus Stokes, the former 4-star recruit, comes in to lead the Tigers offense along with 3 former Colorado Buffalo, in RB Dallan Hayden, WR Terrell Timmons Jr., and OT Carde Smith. I won’t be saying “Sko Tigers” this week though as my G6 favorite to make the CFP will be winning this exciting battle.
UNLV 31 Memphis 24
UNLV -5.5
Under 57.5
