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College football is back. This is it. And it starts with an epic, unprecedented Kickoff Week inspired in part by the College Football Playoffs emphasis on strength of schedule. There are four games featuring two ranked teams, and while its far too early to draw any conclusions about what the November picture will look like, these games will continue to resonate with the selection committee all season.Every. Week. Matters.So lets kick it off with the Week 1 games that will have the biggest impact on the selection committee:1. No. 15 Houston vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, NRG Stadium (noon ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: The Cougars would gain instant credibility as a playoff contender with a win, starting the season exactly where they left off -- with a marquee win over a Power 5 heavyweight. Its only the first step, though, in what needs to be an undefeated season. An Oklahoma win would separate the Sooners as long as Houston has success in the American Athletic?Conference.The road back for the loser: A Houston loss would end the Cougars playoff hopes. Coach Tom Herman knows, though, the American champ has a great chance to end the season as the highest-ranked Group of 5 team, which means a spot in a New Years Six bowl. If OU loses, dont count it out (remember that loss to Texas last year?) -- especially if its a close game and Houston wins the American.Under pressure: The entire Group of 5. Houston is the best hope to represent the Group of 5 in the top four, but if the Cougars lose, so do the five FBS leagues with it.2. No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss, Camping World Stadium (8 p.m. ET on Monday/ESPN) What it means for the winner: An Ole Miss win would stamp the Rebels as a legitimate playoff contender and set up a monster Week 3 showdown against Alabama. FSU would pad its resume with a win over a ranked SEC West team as it looks toward a showdown with Clemson.The road back for the loser: In addition to Clemson, FSU faces Miami, UNC, Louisville and Florida, and Ole Miss will see Alabama just two weeks later. Neither team wants to start in a hole considering what lies ahead.Under pressure: FSU QB Deondre Francois. The redshirt freshman will take his first collegiate snap because senior Sean Maguire injured his foot early in summer camp.3. No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin, Lambeau Field (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: An LSU win would impress the committee through November and give the Tigers some breathing room for conference play. A Wisconsin win would catapult the Badgers into the national spotlight and likely the first AP top 25 of the regular season.The road back for the loser: LSU would be in a tight squeeze, considering it still has the entire SEC West to get through. And good luck to Wisconsin, which plays Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa consecutively.Under pressure: QB Brandon Harris. LSU is talented enough to finish in the top four this season -- if it gets adequate play from Harris, and this will be his first chance to prove hes capable of leading the Tigers to the top of the SEC West.4. No. 20 USC vs. No. 1 Alabama, AT&T Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: USC could have the best nonconference win of the season on its resume, and shake up the entire playoff picture. An Alabama win would show that the defending national champs are ready to do it again.The road back for the loser: Its not like Alabama hasnt lost before, as the Tide have overcome losses to Ole Miss in each of the past two seasons and still made the playoff. It hasnt had to play from behind, though, before league play even begins. USC wouldnt be penalized for losing to the No. 1 team in the country, but with a nine-game league schedule looming, its an uphill recovery.Under pressure: New QBs. Both Alabama and USC will have new starting quarterbacks; the Tides Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett were listed as co-starters on the latest depth chart, and Max Browne was named the starter for USC.5. No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas (7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, ABC/ESPN3)What it means for the winner: An Irish road win would show they can overcome the off-field headlines and contend for the playoff with two quarterbacks, DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire. A Texas win would prove this year is different, as the Longhorns could be 2-0 (UTEP in Week 2) heading into the Cal game.The road back for the loser: Notre Dame would likely have to run the table -- a slate that includes Stanford and USC -- because it doesnt have a conference championship game. Texas could rebound but would still have much to prove in the Big 12 hierarchy.Under pressure: Texas coach Charlie Strong. After starting last year with a 38-3 loss to Notre Dame, Texas came unraveled and was 1-4 heading into the Oklahoma game. The Longhorns?need a better showing this time.6. No. 2 Clemson at Auburn (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)What it means for the winner: Clemson would reaffirm its position as a CFP front-runner, but an Auburn win would throw the playoff picture out of focus. Auburn would likely sneak into the AP top 25 and Clemson would drop out of the top four, but Auburn would have to sustain that success to be taken seriously as a CFP contender.The road back for the loser: Clemson would likely have to win out because Auburn is its toughest nonconference opponent, and Louisville and FSU are the only ranked ACC opponents. Auburn could be 1-4 before October, as the Tigers also have to play Texas A&M and LSU this month.Under pressure: Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. Considering last years 2-6 record in league play, Malzahn needs improvement fast. The first five games are at home, and that home crowd could be his biggest opponent come October.7. No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)What it means for the winner: A UCLA win would also be a win for the entire Pac-12, and would give the Bruins a marquee nonconference victory to impress the committee. An A&M win? Been there, seen that -- for the past two years. The key is parlaying it into more.The road back for the loser: A road loss to an SEC West team can be overcome, but the problem for UCLA is the grueling nine-game league schedule that follows. The Aggies need this nonconference win because beating up on Prairie View A&M, New Mexico State and UTSA wont light up their resume -- especially if they lose more than one league game.Under pressure:?A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. He hasnt finished above .500 in the SEC since his first year in College Station, but there have also been off-field issues. He needs a signature win.8. No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina, Georgia Dome (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)What it means for the winner:?For Georgia, the coach Kirby Smart era would get off to a great start and the Dawgs would?rise a few pegs in the AP poll. UNC would get a much-needed quality nonconference win that would help offset the two FCS opponents on the schedule.The road back for the loser: Georgia could rebound the following week against Nicholls State, and any team with a shot to win the SEC has a chance at the playoff. Three of the Bulldogs first four league games are on the road, though, including at Ole Miss. If UNC doesnt win this one, its likely out of the CFP conversation because of its weak remaining nonconference schedule.Under pressure: UNCs playoff resume. This is the second season UNC has scheduled two FCS teams, and the Tar Heels have failed to beat a big-time ranked opponent in each of those years.Kickoff Week superlativesGameDay Kickoffs selection committee of one hands out some awards going into Kickoff Week.Player in the spotlight: UCLA QB Josh Rosen He stirred things up this week when he downplayed the intimidating atmosphere at Kyle Field, saying, after about 50,000 people, it all sounds the same. The 12th Man -- and stud pass-rusher Myles Garrett -- will do its best to convince him otherwise, but the talented sophomore has the game to silence the Aggies.Matchup to watch: LSU RB Leonard Fournette vs. Wisconsin front seven The Heisman hopeful was in a walking boot earlier this month after an ankle injury, and now he will face a veteran Wisconsin defense that finished No. 4 in the country in rushing defense and second in total defense last year.Cant-miss tailgate: LSU vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field LSU fans are coming to the football shrine in droves, and there should be no shortage of jambalaya, gumbo and brats. Nearby local businesses have reportedly sold out all of their parking spots.Most intriguing mascot battle: Horned Frogs vs. Jackrabbits TCU shouldnt have much of a problem with South Dakota State, but can the frog even catch the rabbit?Welcome back: Pitt RB James Conner Conner is cancer-free and wont have any limitations against Villanova. He scored 26 touchdowns in 2014, went through six months of cancer treatment, and his oncologist and nurses will be in the stands to keep cheering him on.Upset watch: Notre Dame Texas was embarrassed by last years 38-3 loss in South Bend, and Charlie Strong is a winning quarterback away from turning things around. The Irish return just eight starters and cant seem to escape off-field distractions.Under-the-radar game: Bowling Green at Ohio State With only six returning starters, this is the first chance to see the rebuilt Buckeyes. While there shouldnt be an upset, Bowling Green is a respectable program coming off a 10-3 season and three straight MAC East Division titles.Forgotten storyline: Alabama OC Lane Kiffin game-planning against his former team, USC The Kiffin-USC reunion has been overshadowed by the fact that these two tradition-rich programs havent played each other since 1978.Obligatory Jim Harbaugh prediction After beating Hawaii, Harbaugh lines up a 2017 satellite camp in Honolulu before the Rainbow Warriors even reach the plane. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. LOS ANGELES -- Southern California held its final scrimmage Friday, one day before it plans to name a starting quarterback.Whether it changed or confirmed the decision about redshirt junior Max Browne or redshirt freshman Sam Darnold taking the first snap against defending national champion Alabama, no one would say.Safety Chris Hawkins said the quarterback with the No. 4 on his jersey has the edge, which doesnt exactly help because Browne wears No. 4 and Darnold No. 14.Take it however yall want to take it, Hawkins said.Coach Clay Helton will meet with both quarterbacks and their families Saturday to inform them of his decision before announcing a starter via a statement in the afternoon. A formal depth chart could also be released at that time.Browne had the better performance Friday, unofficially completing 13 of 22 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions leading three scoring drives. Darnold was 10 of 19 with one touchdown and no interceptions, but a perfect 5 of 5 during a two-minute drill against the second-unit defense to conclude practice for his only scoring drive. Browne and Darnold worked equally between first- and second-team, apart from the two-minute drills.Helton said it was one of the better offensive performances of training camp.Both quarterbacks did some nice things, Helton said. Im looking forward to watching the tap tonight and in the morning.The final data point was essentially the reverse of Mondays scrimmage at the Coliseum when Darnold had the more impressive statistics and Browne salvaged the session with a perfect two-minute drill. As Helton pointed out, Browne and Darnold have made the decision on choosing a successor to three-year starter Cody Kessler difficult dating back to spring practices.I think that happens when you have elite quarterbacks competing at this higgh a level, Helton said.dddddddddddd I cant tell you how proud I am of them, the way they competed, but more importantly the camaraderie that they have had in the room and supporting each other and competing against each other. I thanked them today, how they have handled both camps, very proud of both of them and look forward to visiting with them tomorrow.Helton will review film and consult with offensive coordinator Tee Martin, quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast for their input, but said the final decision would be his.It isnt a choice Helton thought he would have to make when he was promoted to head coach last November. Browne arrived at USC as the top pro-style quarterback in his recruiting class and spent the last two seasons backing up Kessler. Darnold bucked the trend and didnt enroll early, spending last season running the scout team.I always knew Max being who he was ... You knew he would perform well. But to Sams credit, just to be this good this fast is remarkable, Helton said.They push each other, Hawkins said. If Max comes out and throws a 40-yard bomb, Sam comes out and does something amazing as well.Linebacker Cameron Smith is glad he doesnt have to pick.Id say it is pretty close, but thats all I can say, Smith said. They got a tough one tonight.Cornerback Adoree Jackson used the same line about jersey numbers as Hawkins, leading the safety to declare he came up with the joke. On a more serious note, Hawkins is optimistic about the quarterback position regardless of whether Browne or Darnold wins the job.But whoever it is I have confidence in both of the guys, Hawkins said. I think they will get it done no matter what. ' ' '