College football is back, but the opening is staggered. FCS action begins Thursday, Aug. 27, while the FBS season starts Saturday, Aug. 29.
NCAA's Week Zero list includes Mercyhurst at Youngstown State, Maine at Towson, Stony Brook at Delaware State and several other FCS matchups.
Opening-week analysis should put extra weight on returning starters, coaching continuity and confirmed depth charts. There is less current-season data, so preseason assumptions should be treated carefully.