College football’s five-day marathon of an opening weekend — at least for most teams — continues Friday with six matchups.
Follow every game in our Week 1 FBS scoreboard here, and check below for everything you need to know to enjoy some Friday night lights.
Louisville at Georgia Tech | 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The Yellow Jackets head a mile down the road for the glitz and glamour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of the Aflac Kickoff Game. Both Louisville and Georgia Tech hold an 0-2 record in the Aflac Kickoff Game, with Georgia Tech coming closest to victory back in 2017 with a thrilling 42-41 2OT defeat to Tennessee.
Life after the triple option has been rough for Georgia Tech, posting just a 14-32 record since the retirement of legendary coach Paul Johnson. However, then-interim coach Brent Key earned the full-time position with a 4-4 mark to close the 2022 season, including ranked road wins over Pitt and UNC, and will look to lead the Jackets bowling for the first time since 2018. For Louisville, it’s year one with alum and ex-Purdue boss Jeff Brohm patrolling the sidelines, and after winning six of their last eight games last season, the Cards now aim to contend atop a newly division-less ACC in 2023.
Tech’s 84th-ranked pass defense in 2022 must take a step up — while Louisville lost star QB Malik Cunningham to the NFL draft, Brohm has reunited with Jack Plummer, who threw for more than 3,000 yards at Cal last season.
Miami (Ohio) at Miami (Fla.) | 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
A bit of college football trivia has evolved into a Week 1 matchup, as the two Miami schools meet in south Florida.
Miami (Fla.) leads the all-time “Confusion Bowl” series 3-0, playing successive games in the years following World War II before the ‘Canes battered Miami (OH) 54-3 in 1987 en route to their second national championship of the decade.
Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s stats took a marked dip after a breakout redshirt freshman campaign in 2021, prompting second-year head coach Mario Cristobal to make a change at offensive coordinator. Fans of “the U” will hope a new offensive look will transform an often stagnant Hurricanes attack, as they take on a Miami (OH) team that finished last season within the top half of FBS for defensive expected points allowed per play.
Missouri State at Kansas | 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Expectations in Lawrence? The Jayhawks are rapidly ascending towards unfamiliar heights in year 3 under Lance Leipold, jumping out to a 5-0 start for just the third time in 25 years and earning their first bowl bid since 2008. After missing a crucial stretch of the 2022 season, star quarterback Jalon Daniels closed the season with a remarkable 540-yard bowl game performance and looks to lead the Jayhawks further beyond their 6-6 mark last season.
Lofty heights can turn Icarian, however, and fans will get their first look at how the 2023 Jayhawks manage these expectations Friday when they host FCS squad Missouri State. The Bears have supplied a couple close calls for FBS schools in recent years, leading Arkansas 24-17 entering the fourth quarter last season and losing to Oklahoma State in 2021 by just a touchdown. Missouri State also added Minnesota transfer Jacob Clark, who is expected to play significant snaps Friday, and will hope to cause an early derailment on Kansas’ most hyped season since 2009.
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