Arkansas State , Buckeyes , Cincinnati , Clemson , Ducks , Florida , Georgia , LSU , Nebraska , Northwestern , Oklahoma , Ohio State , Oregon , Texas , USC

2022 Season Set To Open August 27

Although the first week of the season starts with a very abbreviated schedule, the opening weekend on August 27 is upon us. Highlighted by Nebraska and Northwestern squaring off in Dublin Ireland, the opening weekend shows a scant schedule of less than 15 games with only 7 between FBS versus FBS opponents. Labor Day weekend, week two on the schedule is the traditional opening weekend and offers a King's feast of highly anticipated games. Thursday September 1 kicks off the party with the renewal of an old rivalry between West Virginia hosting Pittsburgh. The series between these two rivals dates to 1895 with the Panthers holding a 61-40-3 lead. They have not met since the 2011 season. The fireworks kick off full force on Saturday September 3 as Cincinnati looks to extend their national prominence by travelling to SEC country to face Arkansas. I can hear the HOG CALL already reverberating through the Ozarks. Oregon and Georgia face off in Atlanta while Utah, the pre-season PAC 12 favorite, visits the Swamp to tackle Florida. In the prime time night game the most highly anticipated match finds Notre Dame travelling to the Horseshoe to battle Ohio State. These two college football king pins have only met 6 times, with the last two being in Bowl Games. The Fighting Irish won the first two way back in 1935 and 1936, with the Buckeyes taking the last 4. With both teams being highly ranked, Notre Dame #9 and Ohio State #8, the winner is likely to jump at or near the top of week 2's Billingsley Report due out the Tuesday after Labor Day. The Sunday night game finds Florida State at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge to face new LSU head coach Brian Kelly. The Monday night Labor Day game features Clemson at Georgia Tech. Needless to say the 2022 season should be an interesting one, full of upsets and surprises. Will someone be able to knock the SEC off their perennial perch? Perhaps Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson, Utah, or maybe even a rebuilt Oklahoma or upstart Texas? Hmmm…. maybe the hyped up USC? Time will tell. Let the games begin!     

Ole Miss , LSU

Late TD Lifts Ole Miss Over LSU

In the highest scoring game in this long storied rivalry Mississippi edged LSU 55-49. The Rebels now stand at 4-1 with the lone loss at Alabama. The Tigers fell to 3-2.  Around the Nation: Duke came alive in the 4th quarter to take a 14-13 lead over Notre Dame only to see the victory slip away on a late Irish TD. Notre Dame prevailed 21-14. Surprising Louisville moved to 5-0 with a 13-10 win over NC State. Clemson rebounded with a 31-14 win over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Maryland moved to 5-0 by blasting Indiana 44-17. The Terrapins play #1 Ohio State next week. Texas and Oklahoma nicely set up next week's Red River Rivalry with big wins over Kansas and Iowa State respectively. Both teams will go to Dallas undefeated at 5-0. Washington survived a scare at Arizona, nipping the Wildcats 31-24. Oregon State kept pace in the race for the PAC 12 crown by cruising past previously unbeaten Utah 21-7. USC survived a furious second half rally by Colorado, hanging on for a 48-41 win. Auburn took Georgia to the wire but a late score by the Bulldogs lifted Georgia to a 27-20 win in the Deep South's oldest rivalry. Missouri is now 5-0 after pummeling Vanderbilt 38-21 as well as Kentucky who beat Florida 33-14. Billingsley Projections post Monday.