Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Oregon vs. Georgia: CFB Week 1 By The Numbers
The college football season launches into Week 1 with a host of intriguing matchups, as well as a couple of titanic tilts.
There are multiple Big Ten showdowns, starting with Penn State vs. Purdue in a special FOX Big Noon Kickoff game on Thursday evening.
On Saturday, the top matchups include No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta, and No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State.
Here are the key stats to know for the marquee matchups in Week 1.
SATURDAY
South Dakota State at Iowa
12 p.m. ET on FS1
36.1: The Jackrabbits ranked 10th in FCS in scoring last season.
+12: Iowa's turnover differential last season, the best in the Big Ten.
20+: The Hawkeyes were 9-0 when scoring at least 20 points last season, 1-4 when held under 20.
31: Iowa led the big Ten with 31 takeaways last season, including a nation-best 25 interceptions.
Sam Houston State at No. 6 Texas A&M
12 p.m. ET on SECN
11-1: Sam Houston went 11-1 in FCS last season. The program joins FBS and C-USA in 2023.
1998: Texas A&M last won any conference title in 1998. That came in the Big 12.
1: The Aggies not only have the top-ranked recruiting class for 2022 but the top group all-time.
15.9: The Aggies were No. 3 in FBS scoring defense last season.
11: They ranked 11th in the SEC in total offense last season and were 2-4 when scoring fewer than 25 points.
Colorado State at No. 8 Michigan
12 p.m. ET on ABC
52-10: Colorado State lost its final game of last season by this score to Nevada, which was coached by Jay Norvell. The Rams then hired Norvell.
2004: Michigan's Big Ten title last season was its first since 2004, the school's longest such drought.
214.4: Michigan led the Big Ten in rushing last season at 214.4 YPG. That is the most under Harbaugh.
9-0: The Wolverines' record when they had 150-plus rushing yards last season.
14: Michigan allowed just 14 sacks, the best mark in the Big Ten.
No. 11 Oregon at No. 3 Georgia
3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
1: Georgia had the nation's top scoring defense in two of the last three seasons under former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who is now the head coach at Oregon.
35-13: Oregon has the best record in the Pac-12 since 2018.
30+: Oregon has averaged at least 30 PPG for 15 straight seasons, the second-longest active streak.
1980: Georgia's national championship last season was its first since 1980.
6.98: The Bulldogs averaged nearly seven yards per play last season, second only to Ohio State among Power 5 schools.
38.9: Georgia averaged 38.9 PPG when quarterback Stetson Bennett started last season.
10.2: Georgia also led the nation in scoring defense.
UTEP at No. 9 Oklahoma
3:30 p.m. ET on FOX
140: UTEP was 6-1 when allowing fewer than 140 rushing yards last season, 1-5 when it gave up more.
1998: That was the last year the Sooners took the field without either Bob Stoops or Lincoln Riley on the sidelines. Brent Venables is now the head coach.
239: Oklahoma has 239 wins since 2000, the most of any FBS school.
39.1: The Sooners' 39.1 scoring average last season was tops in the Big 12 and eighth in the nation.
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas
3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
13: Cincinnati set a school record with 13 wins last season.
22-2: The Bearcats have won 22 games while losing only twice (to Georgia and Alabama) over the last two seasons.
16-0: Cincy's record vs. conference opponents over the last two seasons.
30.9: The Razorbacks' averaged their most points per game since 2015.
227.8: Arkansas also led the SEC in rushing offense at 227.8 YPG, which ranked seventh in FBS.
Rice at No. 14 USC
6 p.m. ET on Pac-12
4: The Owls' four victories last season was their most since 2015.
2: USC coach Lincoln Riley has never lost more than two games in a season.
1: USC notched the best transfer class in the nation, headlined by QB Caleb Williams, RB Travis Dye and WR Jordan Addison.
14+: USC lost six games by at least 14 points last season, the most in school history.
104: The Trojans have more turnovers over the last five seasons than any other Pac-12 team.
31.8: USC's defense struggled last year, giving up 31.8 points a game (the highest mark in school history) and surrendered 175.4 rushing yards and 6.6 yards per play in Pac-12 games.
No. 7 Utah at Florida
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
59: The Utes are the Pac-12's winningest program over the last seven seasons, with 59 victories.
216.8: Utah led the league in rushing offense, at 216.8 YPG.
42: The Utes also led the Pac-12 in sacks.
40-12: New Florida coach Billy Napier was 40-12 at Louisiana.
2-6: Florida's 2-6 mark in SEC play was its worst since 1979.
18: Gators QBs Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson combined to throw more interceptions than any other team in the nation last season.
Albany at No. 10 Baylor
7 p.m. ET on Big 12/ESPN+
184.6: Albany allowed the most rushing yards per game in their league last season.
12: The Bears won 12 games last season, a school record.
31.6: Baylor's scoring average ranked third in the Big 12 last season, compared to the league's second-worst mark (23.3 PPG) in 2020.
219.7: The Big 12's best rushing offense was a big reason for that, a mark that ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Illinois State at No. 14 Wisconsin
7 p.m. ET on FS1
89: Brock Spack is the winningest coach in Illinois State history with 89 wins.
8: The Badgers return only eight starters this season, the fewest in the Big Ten.
23: Wisconsin committed the most turnovers in the Big Ten, 23.
232.1: The Badgers led the Big Ten in rushing YPG after incorporating phenom running back Braelon Allen into the offense in Week 6. That was a big improvement over the 163.3 rushing YPG they averaged in Weeks 1-5. They also averaged about 10 more points per game with Allen in action, 28.4 vs. 18.5.
Utah State (1-0) at No. 1 Alabama
7:30 p.m. ET on SECN
1-18: This is Utah State's all-time record vs. SEC foes, with their lone victory coming vs. Kentucky in 1970.
12: Alabama returns 12 starters this season, including Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young and star linebacker Will Anderson Jr..
3: Alabama could become the first school to produce a Heisman winner in three straight seasons (DeVonta Smith in 2020, Young in 2021).
1: Alabama has reached No. 1 in the AP poll in 15 straight seasons, the longest streak in the history of the poll.
57: The Tide led the nation with 57 sacks last season.
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State
7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
54: Notre Dame's 54 wins over the last five seasons is the most the Irish have totaled in any five-season span ever.
45: The Irish averaged 45 PPG over their last three games of last season.
22: The Buckeyes have won 22 straight season-openers, a streak that dates back to 1999.
29-1: Ohio State's record in its last 30 Big Ten games. A loss to Michigan last season ended a conference-record 29-game win streak.
40+: The Buckeyes have averaged at least 40 PPG for five straight seasons, the longest active streak in the nation.
900: Ohio State was the first team in Big Ten history to have three 900-yard receivers last season (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave).
Kent State at Washington
10:30 p.m. ET on FS1
493.4: Kent State ranked No. 5 in the nation in total yards per game last season.
79-9: New Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer is 79-9 as a head coach, including 67-3 at Sioux Falls and 12-6 at Fresno State.
21.5: Washington's scoring average last season was its lowest since 2008.
142.9: The Huskies had the best pass defense in the nation last season at 142.9 YPG allowed. But their rush defense (194.0 YPG) ranked 109th.
SUNDAY
Florida State at LSU
7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
21: Florida State turned the ball over 21 times last season, tied for most in the ACC.
6: LSU has only six returning starters, the fewest in the SEC.
0-5: New LSU coach Brian Kelly has never won a New Year's Six or BCS bowl game.
26.5: LSU averaged its lowest PPG since 2009.
11: The Tigers ranked 11th in the SEC in both pass defense and takeaways last season.
MONDAY
No. 4 Clemson at Georgia Tech
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
3: Clemson's three losses last season were its most since 2014.
10+: The Tigers have won at least 10 games in 11 straight seasons, a streak that trails only Alabama's 14.
26.3: Clemson averaged only 26.3 PPG last season, the first time they've failed to score 30 or more PPG since 2010.
9: That's Tech's win total over the last three seasons, the school's worst streak since 1979-81.