College football season is back, which means Nado’s Notions is rolling again. This will be the seventh year of operation. 2024 was another solid season, finishing at 38-33-1.
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Now, it is time to begin a new season. I have nothing on Week 0, but Week 1, here we go!
Auburn Tigers @ Baylor Bears | August 29 | 7:00 PM CT | McLane Stadium
Line: Auburn -2.5 | Total: 57.5
Auburn heads to Waco in what could be one of the most exciting games of the weekend. This matchup includes two potent offenses. On the Baylor side, quarterback Sawyer Robertson returns after throwing 3,071 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. For Auburn, former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold looks to reinvent himself in a new offense.
Robertson will have his favorite target back in receiver Josh Cameron. Cameron led the Bears in receiving yards last season and the duo connected for 10 touchdowns in 2024.
Arnold will have two fantastic targets in Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton. Coleman had a nice freshman campaign which saw him catch eight touchdowns. He also averaged 16.2 yards per reception, which ranked second among returning SEC receivers. Singleton, meanwhile, led Georgia Tech in receiving yards with 754 last season.
These offenses are both capable of making big plays, and the defenses they will face were not formidable a season ago. Baylor ranked 11th out of 16 teams in total defense in the Big 12, a conference not known for its defense. (Apparently not math, either, but that is another conversation)
Last time out, the Baylor defense got torched by Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU offense. Nussmeier finished with 313 yards to go along with 3 touchdowns as LSU rolled to a 44-31 win.
Auburn’s defense was vulnerable against the pass to close out the 2024 season. In their final two games, they allowed 9.4 yards per attempt.
I will refrain from saying shootout due to the locale of this game, but I will say that it should be high-scoring. Give me over 57.5.
Old Dominion Monarchs @ Indiana Hoosiers | August 30 | 1:30 PM CT | Memorial Stadium
Line: Indiana -22.5 | Total: 54.5
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti had an immediate impact in Bloomington, leading the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff in his first season.
While critics can point to the Hoosiers’ soft schedule, the fact is, they simply dominated most of their competition in 2024. Indiana averaged 41.3 points per game, while their opponents only averaged 15.6.
Cignetti, in usual fashion, took on the criticism at Big Ten Media Days.
Cignetti talks the talk, and his Indiana team has walked the walk when not playing College Football Playoff teams.
The Hoosiers will be replacing last season’s starting quarterback in Kurtis Rourke. However, Fernando Mendoza comes in rather accomplished. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards while completing 68.7% of his passes at California last season. Indiana returns their top two receivers from a season ago, Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., which should make for a potent passing attack.
At running back, Indiana will be replacing their top two rushers from a season ago. The Hoosiers will turn to Kaelon Black and Maryland transfer Roman Hemby. Hemby’s best game last season came against Indiana when he had 117 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns.
This new-look Indiana offense will take on an Old Dominion defense that struggled in 2024. The Monarchs allowed 410.4 yards per game, which ranked 102nd nationally.
Offensively, Old Dominion will look to run the ball. The Monarchs ran the ball on 56.65% of plays last season, which was the 34th highest rate in 2024.
The Indiana defense was stout in 2024, especially against the run. The Hoosiers allowed only 80.2 rushing yards per game last season. While they did lose CJ West and James Carpenter along the defensive front, the Hoosiers return significant contributors in Mikail Kamara and Tyrique Tucker.
Look for Cignetti and the Hoosiers to go out and send a message. I am taking Indiana -22.5.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida State Seminoles | August 30 | 2:30 PM CT | Doak Campbell Stadium
Line: Alabama -13.5 | Total: 50.5
After a disappointing 2-10 season, Florida State overhauled their coaching staff and roster. The Seminoles brought in former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn to run the offense and former Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White to run the defense. Along with the new coordinators, Florida State brought in former Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos along with a host of transfer offensive linemen.
Castellanos appears to a nice fit for Malzahn’s offense as a dual threat quarterback. Based on his comments this summer, he appears confident, too.
Castellanos and the rebuilt offensive line will look to re-ignite the Seminoles ground game. Offensive guard Adrian Medley followed Malzahn from UCF to Florida State. Medley was instrumental in helping UCF become one of the nation’s best rushing offenses last season. He will be joined by center Luke Petitbon, who was a two-year starter at Wake Forest, and tackle Micah Pettus, who logged 29 starts at Ole Miss.
Castellanos’ running ability made him a dangerous player in 2023 when he ran for 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last season, he became less of a runner under Bill O’Brien. Expect Castellanos to use his legs more in Malzahn’s offense.
The Alabama defense had problems containing running quarterbacks in 2024. A notable example of that was when Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold ran for 131 yards against the Crimson Tide. Alabama went on to lose that game by a score of 24-3.
At the skill positions, Florida State will have a mix of experienced transfers and exciting freshmen. Their top receiver is likely to be USC transfer Duce Robinson. Robinson is 6’6″, which gives the Seminoles a jump ball threat. Another receiver to watch is freshman Jayvan Boggs, who has drawn compliments from one of Florida State’s top defensive backs.
Another freshman that will be called upon is running back Ousmane Kromah. Kromah has garnered praise in camp, so an immediate impact is certainly possible.
The Florida State defense has some reasons for optimism, too. Tony White has led successful defenses everywhere he has been. Last season at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers were 19th in total defense and 20th in scoring defense.
At Florida State, White will have some good chess pieces he can deploy. That starts up front with senior defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr., who had 3.5 sacks last season. He will be out to prove himself to NFL teams this season.
On the back end, cornerback Jeremiah Wilson expects to play a big role for the Seminoles. Wilson is well-traveled, with stops at Syracuse and Houston. He will now reunite with White, who was his defensive coordinator at Syracuse.
Wilson will likely draw the task of covering Alabama superstar receiver Ryan Williams on a majority of snaps.
Outside of Williams, the Alabama offense could be in flux. Quarterback Jalen Milroe left for the NFL, leaving the position to junior Ty Simpson.
In three seasons, Simpson has attempted only fifty career passes. Milroe’s passing ability was often questioned, but his running ability cannot be denied. Milroe led the Crimson Tide in rushing last season with 726 yards and 20 touchdowns. With Milroe out of the mix, how successful can Alabama be in the run game?
Their top leading rusher from last season is running back Jam Miller. Miller’s rushing output down the stretch was underwhelming. In November, he averaged only 3.13 yards per carry. In the bowl game against Michigan, he had 27 yards on 10 carries. To make matters worse, Miller broke his collarbone and will miss this matchup.
Both of these teams will be out to prove something in the opener. At home, give me Florida State +13.5.
TCU Horned Frogs @ North Carolina Tar Heels | September 1 | 7:00 PM CT | Kenan Stadium
Line: TCU -3.5 | Total: 58.5
TCU quarterback Josh Hoover is not getting brought up enough this offseason, at least not fur for the right reasons. Among returning quarterbacks, only LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier finished with more passing yards than Hoover in 2024.
The Horned Frogs closed out the 2024 season on a positive note, winning their final four games. They will look to carry that momentum into this season.
For North Carolina, this will be the first season under legendary coach Bill Belichick. Things have not exactly gone as smoothly, at least from the outside. Maybe the “Patriot Way” is a thing of the past as distractions have been aplenty this offseason. This CBS interview definitely raised eyebrows earlier this year.
Can Belichick prove he still has his fastball?
On the field, the Tar Heels have yet to name a starter at quarterback. Max Johnson is in his sixth year of college football, while Gio Lopez transferred in from South Alabama. Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener. Lopez showed off his dual-threat ability as he threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for 465 yards and 7 touchdowns.
North Carolina will also have to replace workhorse running back Omarion Hampton. Not only was Hampton the Tar Heels’ leading rusher, he was third on the team in receiving last season. Replacing Hampton’s production will be difficult.
I do not know what to expect out of North Carolina this season, especially in the opener. I am taking TCU -3.5.
OUTTA HERE!
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