After a long offseason, college football returns this week. There are always things to watch every week of the season. Here are 5 things to watch in college football week 0.
1. Dorian Thompson-Robinson‘s Performance
One of the more intriguing matchups of week 0 features Hawaii traveling to Los Angeles to take on UCLA. The spread on the game is favoring the Bruins by 17.5 points, so the outcome of the game may not be in question too much. The game should be high-scoring and fun to see. In terms of what to watch in the game, Dorian Thompson-Robinson will have a chance to show off his skills in front of a national audience (with only five games on the schedule for week 0).
Thompson-Robinson will be entering his senior season with a lot of experience under his belt. Through his first three years on campus, he has passed for 5,132 yards, 40 touchdowns and 20 interceptions on 60.2 percent completion. He has also rushed for 572 yards and seven touchdowns. Even though he missed some time in camp, he is expected to have a big senior season. In a game where Hawaii will be throwing the ball a lot, Thompson-Robinson has a chance to use his dual-threat abilities to put on a show of his own.
2. Can Scott Frost Improve Nebraska?
Scott Frost, a former Nebraska player, was brought in to help bring the Cornhuskers to glory in 2018 after successfully leading UCF to an undefeated season. He is heading into his fourth year in charge at Nebraska and has yet to have a winning record, going 12-20 overall at the school. Things need to turn around this season or his seat could get really warm by the end of the season.
Last season, the Cornhuskers went 3-5. They have 14 returning starters from that team, including eight on the defensive side of the ball. After ranking 101st in scoring last season, they really need the offense to improve under quarterback Adrian Martinez. Nebraska plays Illinois in week 0 and is favored by 6.5 points. The Cornhuskers have to go on the road, but should be able to beat Bret Bielema in his first game as head coach at Illinois. A win in week 0 could be the difference in bowl eligibility and Frost being on the hot seat by the end of the season.
3. Nick Starkel and San Jose State’s Encore
Nick Starkel has bounced around the country during his college career. He started off at Texas A&M for two seasons and transfered after Kellen Mond won that quarterback job. He went to Arkansas for a year, which ended up not going well. The Razorbacks won two games and Starkel transfered to San Jose State. After leading San Jose State to a 7-1 record in 2020 and is now returning for the 2021 season.
Starkel passed for 2,174 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 64.2 percent completion. The Spartans had an undefeated regular season last season and will want to get that momentum going early in 2021. They play Southern Utah, an FCS opponent, in week 0 so the Spartans likely won’t have too many issues, but it is always fascinating to see the first step of any team’s journey to replicate what they did the season before.
4. Can Fresno State do Some Damage in the MWC?
Last season, Fresno State had an average season and finished the year 3-3. The Bulldogs lost to Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico, but won games against Colorado State, UNLV and Utah State. While it was an erratic season in 2020, there is some hope for Fresno State in 2021.
The Bulldogs return 19 starters from their team last year. The new COVID rules granting an extra year of eligibility really helped Fresno State’s talent pool and depth. They will be opening up against Connecticut, which should be a relatively easy win. The game can show fans how serious of a contender the Bulldogs can be in the MWC. With the MWC having several good teams this season, Fresno State could shake things up. Getting off to a good start against Connecticut could set the tone for the entire season.
5. Is it a Make or Break Year for Dana Dimel at UTEP?
In four years at UTEP, Dana Dimel has just a 5-27 record. He inherited a team that wasn’t very good, but at some point he needs to show he can turn the program around. With another bad season, UTEP is likely going to go in a different direction with their program.
There is some reason for hope at UTEP. They won three games last year, which was more than Dimel has won in his other years at the school combined. From the 2020 team, 16 starters return as well. The schedule is relatively easy, so there is a chance that UTEP could be within range to fight for a bowl birth. It all starts with a rivalry game in week 0 against New Mexico State. If they can win the Battle of I-10, it would really help Dimel’s chances to stay on at UTEP.
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