Thursday Night Football Features 4 AP Top 25 Teams

August 28, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

Tomorrow night, Week 1 of the college football season kicks off with some fantastic primetime games. Four ranked teams will be in action, along with the Colorado Buffaloes, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Minnesota Golden Gophers. It should be a fantastic night of football featuring some of the best players in the country.

The top-ranked team in action is the No. 11 Missouri Tigers. With Brady Cook under center, the Tigers are looking to build on their 2023 season, which saw them reach double-digit wins and defeat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Luther Burden III is one of the favorites to win the Biletnikoff Award as the top wide receiver in college football. The Tigers are heavy favorites against Murray State, and we should see some big offensive numbers posted by Cook and Burden III.

The No. 12 Utah Utes begin another season with Cameron Rising at quarterback, but this time as members of the Big 12 Conference. The Utes are currently the favorite to win the Big 12 and reach the College Football Playoff. Utah boasts a stingy defense, and if Rising can continue to lead the offense effectively after his season off due to injury, the sky’s the limit for the Utes.

The No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks are led by dual-threat quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels missed much of last season due to a back injury, but he is ready to prove that the Jayhawks are a top team in the Big 12. Kansas will face Lindenwood, where they are heavy favorites. The Jayhawks are an interesting team to keep an eye on throughout the season. With Daniels healthy in 2022, the Jayhawks started 5-0 and revived the program. Now, with more skilled players throughout the roster, this team could make waves in the Big 12.

No. 24 North Carolina State faces Western Carolina in another lopsided affair. The Wolfpack have one of the best receivers in the ACC in Kevin Concepcion. NC State should not be overlooked in the ACC, where they could sneak into the 12-team playoff with a solid regular season.

The best game of the night is at 8 p.m. on Fox, featuring the North Carolina Tar Heels traveling north to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This cross-conference matchup is expected to be a close one. The Tar Heels and coach Mack Brown have Max Johnson at quarterback, while P.J. Fleck and the Gophers have New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer. The Tar Heels begin a new era without Drake Maye, while the Golden Gophers are looking to return to the success they had in previous seasons under Fleck. Both teams are projected to finish around the middle of their conferences, and a Week 1 statement victory could propel one of these teams to a great season.

With over 20 games tomorrow, there should be some epic highlights, especially with Coach Prime and company taking the field against North Dakota State. Make sure to download our app, stay up to date on our free picks, and chat with a community of sports enthusiasts.