Surprise, surprise.
For the first week of the college football season, all eyes are on the South, in Atlanta.
Georgia, the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the country, is getting all the attention.
But really, everyone knows what kind of state Georgia is: a heavy favorite to not only make the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff, but to be one of the final few teams there.
Quarterback Carson Beck is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
The defense continues to be loaded with NFL prospects, and the Bulldogs are 30-1 in their last 31 games.
The interesting team here is Clemson.
The Tigers are an enigma.
Not that long ago, they were annual title contenders, running the ACC and producing pro players like Trevor Lawrence, Dexter Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr. and Deshaun Watson.
But they missed out on the four-team CFP the past three years and won just nine games last season.
Dabo Swinney has received criticism for refusing to enter the transfer portal.
Another below-average season could lead to a surge in criticism.
But it wouldn't be surprising to see the Tigers win a crowded ACC field, especially if quarterback Cade Klubnick continues to develop.
His team has top running back Phil Mafa, top receiver Tyler Brown and star offensive tackle Blake Miller, so the defense has the potential to be great.
Win or lose, Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium should provide an early indication of whether this once-powerful team is ready to be a threat again.
Other matches to watch this weekend include:
Saturday
No. 8 Penn State vs. West Virginia, noon
James Franklin loses big games all the time, but he rarely loses games like this.
In fact, the Penn State coach has seen the Nittany Lions win 24 straight games in which they have been at least touchdown-dominated, giving them 7.5 points for Saturday's game against West Virginia.
Starting a season on the road is always tough, especially against a strong conference opponent.
Keep an eye out for Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter vs West Virginia offensive tackle Wyatt Milam as two stars at their positions go head to head.
No. 19 Miami vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m.
This is a year that promises big things for both coaches, Miami's Mario Cristobal and Florida's Billy Napier.
In a state packed with talent, they have a combined 23-27 record at their respective schools, with neither ever winning more than seven games in a season.
For Florida, this feels even more significant because of the strength of the conference and the fact it's local.
But Miami should do better, buoyed by the additions of change-making transfers at quarterback (Washington State's Cam Ward), running back (Oregon State's Damien Martinez) and wide receiver (Houston's Sam Brown).
Western Kentucky vs. No. 5 Alabama, 7 p.m.
It'll be weird to watch Alabama without Nick Saban on the sideline, like the Yankees without pinstripes or college basketball without the NCAA Tournament.
During most of Saban's 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide dominated the sports world, winning six titles.
Former Washington coach Cullen DeBoer is currently at the helm.
It's an easy landing spot for him — Alabama is a 31.5-point favorite — but the schedule will get tougher quickly, with a trip to Wisconsin on Sept. 14 followed by a showdown with Georgia on Sept. 28.
No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 20 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m.
Florida State's shaky opening game and uncertainty at USC make this an especially important Week 1 for Notre Dame. These are the other quality teams on the Irish schedule.
The matchup against Texas A&M in College Station will be the first tough test for Notre Dame and new quarterback Riley Leonard.
This may be their toughest opponent throughout the regular season.
The last time Notre Dame beat a ranked team on the road in a season opener was back in 2005.
The opponent at the time was 23rd-ranked Pittsburgh, and the Irish quarterback was Brady Quinn.
Sunday
No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC (Las Vegas), 7:30 p.m.
This will be USC's first high-profile opening game since the 2016 season.
But it didn't work out, as the Trojans were humiliated by Alabama, 52-6.
The Crimson Tide reached the national championship final that season. LSU isn't expected to be a legitimate contender this year after losing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and standout receiver Malik Neighbors to the NFL, but the Tigers are still expected to be a major contender among the SEC powerhouses.
USC is a team of unknowns heading into the Big Ten this year with the departure of superstar quarterback Caleb Williams and the addition of new defensive coordinator Danton Lin.
