ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It's officially Week 1 for the college football season.
And the Sunshine State will see its share of the action during the Labor Day weekend.
Sure, Florida State was a part of the Week 0 kickoff, albeit a disappointing 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech that has dropped the Seminoles six spots in the AP Top 25 Poll, down to No. 16.
FSU (0-1) will try to get back on track this week; UCF and USF both open up at home this weekend with Football Championship Subdivision teams, and No. 19 Miami and Florida have a highlight spot in the holiday schedule, squaring off Saturday night in Gainesville.
A closer look at the games
Thursday, Aug. 29
New Hampshire at UCF, 7 p.m., ESPN+
UPDATE: UCF won this game, 57-3.
The Knights bring a lot of new looks this season, including offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. and defensive coordinator Ted Roof. Last year's coordinators — Darin Hinshaw and Addison Williams — remain on staff. Overall, the Knights have more than 40 transfers. A new quarterback, fifth-year transfer KJ Jefferson out of Arkansas, will line up behind center. However, RJ Harvey is back to lead a strong running back group for UCF's rushing offense that was ranked fourth in the nation last season with 228.2 yards per game. And coach Gus Malzahn added to that group with Peny Boone out of Toledo and Myles Montgomery from Cincinnati to go with returning speedster Johnny Richardson. New Hampshire went 6-5 last season and is 21-14 under coach Ricky Santos.
Saturday, Aug. 31
No. 19 Miami at Florida, 3:30 p.m., ABC
In the not-so-distant past, this game would have been one of the most heralded in the country, but both teams have struggled to get on track the past few seasons. Florida coach Billy Napier has an 11-14 record, and Mario Cristobal is 12-13 at Miami. Nevertheless, it's an intrastate rivalry, and players who are familiar with one another will want bragging rights, and it's the first game of a home-and-home series. Quarterbacks could play a major role. Miami will start Washington State transfer Cam Ward, who threw for 3,736 yards with 25 touchdowns and ran for eight touchdowns in 2023. The Gators return Graham Mertz, who threw for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns. Napier will bring the most experienced and skilled team since he became coach.
B-CU at USF, 7 p.m., ESPN+
The Bulls begin Year 2 under Coach Alex Golesh with a stellar playmaker in junior quarterback Byrum Brown, who threw for 26 touchdowns and ran for another 11. The Bulls' quick-strike offense also returns top runner Nay'Quan Wright (8 TDs a season ago) and record-setting receiver Sean Atkins (92 receptions and 7 TDs in 2023). Raymond Woodie Jr. is entering his second season as coach after the Wildcats went 3-8 last season. It's unclear if the team has named a starter at quarterback. Tylik Bethea and Luke Sprague are back from last year's team, and Micah Bowens transferred in from Charlotte.
Monday, Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Boston College at No. 16 FSU (0-1), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
The Seminoles will look to bounce back and avoid slipping to 0-2 in conference play. The Seminoles looked listless at times during the loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland, with new quarterback DJ Uiagalelei failing to spark sustained drives. The Seminoles' defensive line was viewed as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's best but did not record a sack and allowed Tech to run at will last Saturday. FSU scored easily on its first drive, but the offensive line could not clear the way for the rushers after that. But the Seminoles can stay in the playoff hunt if they get back on track. "We've got to take a step as a football team and not let this one game define the outcome of what our season will be," FSU coach Mike Norvell said.
