Welcome back.
After a bit of an appetizer in terms of Week 0, largely eschewed for fantasy-related matters when it comes to college football, we have arrived at Week 1. That means I have returned for another season of Start vs. Sit.
Things have changed, as they always do in college football. I will have a section for the Pac-12 again after a couple of years without that conference in play. A couple more FCS teams have become FBS teams, and every team is playing in a conference that totally makes sense geographically speaking. Here are my players to start and players to bench for Week 1.
Obviously, a lot of FBS teams have FCS opponents this week. I generally try to avoid those early in the year when they are to be expected. You don't need me to tell you that the Georgia Bulldogs are good plays against the Tennessee State Tigers, you know?
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Michael Van Buren, QB, South Florida vs. Florida International
I immediately backed myself into the corner with the whole FCS opponent thing, because in Week 1 the AAC is mostly a mix of teams playing FCS schools or teams on the road serving as resume-boosting opponents that aren't too challenging to teams like Florida or Duke. South Florida, though, is hosting another school from the Sunshine State, Conference USA's Florida International. The Panthers allowed 249.9 passing yards and 30.0 points per game in 2025. Van Buren took over as
Welcome back.
After a bit of an appetizer in terms of Week 0, largely eschewed for fantasy-related matters when it comes to college football, we have arrived at Week 1. That means I have returned for another season of Start vs. Sit.
Things have changed, as they always do in college football. I will have a section for the Pac-12 again after a couple of years without that conference in play. A couple more FCS teams have become FBS teams, and every team is playing in a conference that totally makes sense geographically speaking. Here are my players to start and players to bench for Week 1.
Obviously, a lot of FBS teams have FCS opponents this week. I generally try to avoid those early in the year when they are to be expected. You don't need me to tell you that the Georgia Bulldogs are good plays against the Tennessee State Tigers, you know?
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Michael Van Buren, QB, South Florida vs. Florida International
I immediately backed myself into the corner with the whole FCS opponent thing, because in Week 1 the AAC is mostly a mix of teams playing FCS schools or teams on the road serving as resume-boosting opponents that aren't too challenging to teams like Florida or Duke. South Florida, though, is hosting another school from the Sunshine State, Conference USA's Florida International. The Panthers allowed 249.9 passing yards and 30.0 points per game in 2025. Van Buren took over as LSU's quarterback down the stretch last season, including throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns in the bowl game against Houston, which may have secured him the South Florida job.
SIT
Jahiem White, RB, North Texas at Indiana
White was a good back for West Virginia for a few years, until a knee injury cut his 2025 season off early. The North Texas exodus left an opportunity for a Big 12 back to drop down a bit in terms of level of competition, but there are questions about White's health, and also why he is now playing for an AAC school undergoing massive turnover. Plus, while the defense isn't exactly the same of course, Indiana only allowed 77.2 rushing yards per game last year, so it would have to get a lot worse before this would be a matchup not to avoid.
ACC Starts and Sits
START
Adam Mohammed, RB, California vs. UCLA
A classic ACC vs. Big Ten matchup for you here in Week 1. Mohammed's role with Washington last season was erratic, but in the last four games of the season he had one with three touchdowns and two others with over 100 yards. One of those games with over 100 yards? It came against the Bruins, who allowed 190.4 rushing yards per contest in 2025.
SIT
Bryant Wesco, WR, Clemson at LSU
It's pretty clear that the toughest situation for any ACC offense in Week 1 is Clemson having to travel to Baton Rouge for a battle of Tigers. LSU's defense was good last year, and if you are a believer in the assessing power of SP+ (which I, by and large, am), LSU was third in defensive SP+ in the last preseason ranking. Wesco was playing some excellent football before a concerning neck injury last season, and he may get back to that point, but he's also playing in his first real game since suffering a concerning neck injury last October.
Big Ten Starts and Sits
START
Turbo Richard, RB, Indiana vs. North Texas
Richard ran for over 100 yards with two touchdowns in each of his last two games with Boston College. This may have paved the way for his move to the defending champs, and while he is not guaranteed to be the lead back, he's in the mix, and this matchup is enticing. Generally speaking, people agree North Texas will be worse this year. Neal Brown is a good coach, but he's offensively inclined, and North Texas allowed 215.7 rushing yards per game last season.
SIT
Abu Sama, RB, Wisconsin at Notre Dame
It's probably telling that Sama's two best games in 2025 came against Colorado and Oklahoma State, two lousy defenses. Luke Fickell used the money boosters promised him to bring Sama over from Iowa State, but Wisconsin starts the season with a brutal Sunday matchup. A lot of people are picking Notre Dame to win the title, and while that is some wisdom-of-the-crowds stuff, Notre Dame finished in the top 12 in rushing yards and points allowed per game last year.
Big 12 Starts and Sits
START
Isaiah Marshall, QB, Kansas vs. Long Island University
I couldn't really avoid FCS opponents with the Big 12, so I figured I'd use this as a chance to make a note of Kansas' new quarterback. He was a backup last year and didn't really play, but now the job is his. Long Island University is your favorite cupcake's favorite cupcake, so this is a great chance for Marshall to ease into being a college starter.
SIT
DJ Lagway, QB, Baylor vs. Auburn
The flipside of a bunch of matchups with FCS teams is there aren't many offenses to avoid come Week 1 in the Big 12. Given that, Baylor facing Auburn, even at a neutral size, stands out. Lagway got two seasons at Florida and, frankly, showed he can't really hack it as a high-level college quarterback. If you remove games against FCS opponents, Lagway threw more interceptions than touchdowns with the Gators.
Conference USA Starts and Sits
START
Roman Gagliano, QB, Middle Tennessee State vs. Murray State
It is my contention that Gagliano saved Derek Mason's job last year. As a redshirt freshman, he started the last three games of the season, totaled eight touchdowns against zero turnovers, and led the team to two of its three wins. Now, it's Gagliano's job from the get-go, and he starts the season against an FCS school in Murray State.
SIT
Jmariyae Robinson, WR, Missouri State at Texas A&M
Generally speaking, the Conference USA teams that didn't schedule an easy opponent are the easy opponent. Robinson impressed in his first FBS season, picking up 44 catches for 632 yards and seven touchdowns. All in all, he may be fine, but this is a trip to Texas A&M. It's not likely to go well.
MAC Starts and Sits
START
Nick Devereaux, WR, Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
Here's an interesting matchup as both of these teams played in Week 0. San Jose State's defense was torn up by USC's offense. I grant you Eastern Michigan is not as good as USC, but there is an opportunity here at home against SJSU. In EMU's opener, Devereaux had six catches for 71 yards and a score, and that comes after he finished last season with 34 catches for 510 yards and seven scores.
SIT
Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan at Michigan
Buckley has been a star for Western Michigan. In two of the last three seasons he's finished with over 1,000 yards, and he's had at least nine rushing touchdowns in all three campaigns. Of course, being a MAC team often means tough road games early, and being a Directional Michigan team often means having to visit a Big Ten team looking to score an easy win. Buckley will probably be fine, but Week 1 is likely to be brutal.
Mountain West Starts and Sits
START
Tama Uiliata, WR, Hawaii vs. UNLV
Hawaii lost to Stanford in Week 0, but led in the fourth quarterback, and this isn't about winning or losing anyway. The Rainbow Warriors threw the ball 52 times, and Uilata had eight catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. That was on the mainland, and playing in the islands tends to offer a real home-field advantage to Hawaii. UNLV had a below-average defense last season, and in its home opener in Week 0 allowed 418 total yards and 27 points to Memphis.
SIT
Taron Dickens, QB, Northern Illinois at Iowa
Here's a nice reminder that Northern Illinois is now a Mountain West team. Dickens put up video-game numbers last season…at West Carolina. Not only is he moving up to the FBS level, his first start will be on the road against Iowa. The Hawkeyes only allowed 172.7 passing yards and 16.1 points per game last season, and this defense is likely to be reliable until Kirk Ferentz retires.
Pac-12 Starts and Sits
START
Javen Jacobs, RB, Utah State vs. Idaho State
Welcome back, Pac-12! Jacobs started his college career with Arizona State, so he's back in the Pac-12, now with Utah State. Last year he averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored five rushing touchdowns. Though that was in only 65 carries, he also caught 43 passes for 379 yards and three scores. The Aggies' first game in their new conference is against an FCS school in Idaho State.
SIT
Kirby Vorhees, RB, Washington State at Washington
An Apple Cup right out of the gate! Wazzu has been through a lot of turmoil, on the conference and coach fronts, the last few years. Vorhees has stuck around after managing 576 yards and five touchdowns last season. Washington's defense was stout last year, though, especially against the run. The Huskies only allowed 100.1 rushing yards per game.
SEC Starts and Sits
START
Anthony Evans, WR, Mississippi State vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Evans joined Mississippi State from Georgia, where he didn't make much of an impact. That changed quickly, as he had 67 catches for 831 yards and four touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2025. Louisiana-Monroe was interesting last season, not particularly bad against the pass or the run, but still allowing 31.9 points per game. The program tends to be one of the lesser lights of the FBS, and certainly the kind of team Mississippi State expects to light up at home.
SIT
Dilin Jones, RB, LSU vs. Clemson
Not a single SEC team is playing on the road in Week 1, and only Mississippi is playing a ranked team, 24th-ranked Louisville. Lane Kiffin seems to have settled on Wisconsin transfer Jones as his lead back, but Jones only averaged 3.9 yards per carry last season. Given that Clemson only allowed 105.5 rushing yards and 20.5 points per game in 2025, I think Jones' LSU debut will be spoiled.
Sun Belt Starts and Sits
START
Jordan Lovett, RB, Troy vs. Sam Houston
Troy's offense wasn't very good last year, but this matchup is too good to avoid. Somebody should be able to take advantage of it, why not presumed lead back Lovett? He only had one good game last year, but in that game he ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana. Sam Houston was a disaster defensively in 2025, arguably the worst defensive team in the FBS. The Bearkats gave up 483.5 total yards and 37.8 points per game.
SIT
Dominic Knicely, RB, Coastal Carolina at West Virginia
Knicely averaged 5.7 yards per carry in a supporting role for the Chanticleers last season. That could bode well this year…but there's an issue in the fact Jevon Edwards is also back and also averaged 5.7 yards per carry in a supporting role last year. Who will be the lead back, and will it matter in this matchup? West Virginia was bad against the pass in 2025, but allowed 143.8 rushing yards per game. Now, that isn't good, but it's good enough to be worried about a Sun Belt back on the road who is fighting with his mirror image for carries.
