America’s (and a very small portion of Canada’s) long national nightmare is almost over. And more importantly, my nightmare is over. That nightmare being not having college football on every Saturday. Oh don’t get me wrong. I have other nightmares. And dreams. Basically when I go to sleep that’s when the circus starts.
So let us rejoice! Later today is the first set of college football games and yes it’s Week Zero and yes it’s a small schedule and yes it’s not a very good schedule. But it’s college football. Embrace it.
Saturday Early
| US | Canada | ||
| Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (in Dublin, Ireland) | Noon |  |
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An interesting ACC conference game to start the season. When’s the last time a conference game has started the year? That would be an interesting question but it wouldn’t be surprising if the answer was never. The start of the year is supposed to be for huge non-conference games, right? Well, the recent scheduling unofficial rules have been thrown out the window. Case in point, this game. Among the pubs and breweries and distilleries and, I’m sure, other sites not related to drinking, Dublin will host the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets to start the season. The Ramblin’ Wreck could start the season by turning it on its head a bit if they win here.
Saturday Afternoon
| US | Canada | ||
| McNeese State at Tarleton State | 3:30 |  |
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The FCS gets their season started and why is this game on during Week Zero? Honestly, the Hawaii exemption and neutral-site FCS game exemption aren’t the only ways to get a game scheduled during this week. This is one of those other exceptions. They just wanted a national audience. Or ESPN wanted to give them one. Which is fine. But if that’s the case, why don’t they show games all day from the FCS level? Have like ten games, put Gameday at an FCS site, go the whole nine yards with it. Do I have to come up with all the ideas?
Saturday Primetime
Now there are the exemptions I talked about above. The first two games are neutral-site FCS games. Kind of like the old school Kickoff Classic (which they might as well bring back at this point). Or the Hawaii exemption which allows Nevada to play in Week Zero. They host ACC newcomer, SMU. And yes, get ready, once again, for TSN+ to show games that are also on ABC. Does it make sense? Not really but it’s not a huge deal.
Finally, you will have noticed I have a Hawaii Fighting Rainbow Warriors helmet at the top of this post. That is because Week Zero will contain the very first Hawaii Test of the season. Now, if you have read this blog before, you probably have a good idea of what the Hawaii Test is. If not, well get a load of this.
*clears throat*
Hawaii plays their home games in the state of Hawaii. I know, shocking. They are played in Honolulu. Again, no surprise. However, if you didn’t watch over the past few years you would think they play their games at the Aloha Bowl, where the Pro Bowl used to be. Nope. They now play at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. It is a much smaller stadium. Holds about 17,000 fans. It’s on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa which is their flagship campus. Maybe we should be calling them UHM going forward. Something to think about. Anyway, why do they play there? Because the Aloha Bowl makes Legion Field look like the most solid structure on Earth. It’s ready to collapse. Just a matter of when. The place is condemned. Yes, they will have a new Aloha Stadium that will be built there once they can tear the current one down. It won’t be ready until the 2026 season at the earliest.
OK, you know where they play. Now let’s talk about when they play. A lot of times, their games start around Midnight here. Yes, midnight. They are six hours behind the Eastern Standard Time Zone. They start many of their games at 6:00 local time and to be honest, that is so that people on the mainland can watch their games. They have started games at 7:00 local time in the past and we will get to that in a bit. So, Midnight start time. Start. Meaning the game will last to about 3-3:30 in the morning unless something crazy happens or they go to overtime. Meaning it could go to 4 in the morning EST. It is the ultimate in insane college football viewing. That’s one reason it is called the Hawaii Test. The other reason is because it’s usually a test to just find the game. The Team1 Sports app has made it easier to watch their games. Download it on your laptop or phone or tablet or Commodore 64 and you can watch the game just after you close Streameast (I know some of you do). So there you go…the Hawaii Test. Oh and those 1:00 in the morning start times? I would consider that the Ultra Hawaii Test. The Ultimate Football Viewing Test is an Ultra Hawaii Test followed by a morning London/Germany game. Crazy.
No other sections for this Week Zero post. Too few games. They will return soon. Do you want my picks for these games? OK, fine. Florida State, Tarleton State, SE Missouri State, Florida A&M, SMU and Hawaii. Done.
So later today, it begins. Nearly five months of that sweet, sweet college football. INJECT IT INTO MY FUCKING VEINS!
As for the NFL, I will be doing my annual prediction post and I am sure I won’t pick the right Super Bowl winner but I can tell you that the Carolina Football Panthers will not. I can pretty much guarantee that. The season is commencing. Get yourself prepared. And have a great weekend everyone!