The College Football Playoff puts more pressure on the top teams in the country than ever before with an emphasis on winning every single game just to have a shot to make it to the final four. That pressure will certainly be felt with a handful of teams at the top facing tough tests this week. Here is a look at the top five teams on upset alert for week one of the college football season.
#1 Alabama vs. #20 USC
The defending national champion Crimson Tide will be on upset alert in week one when they take on a tough opponent in USC. The Trojans are loaded with talent on both sides of the football and will have had plenty of time to prepare for this showdown with Alabama. Nick Saban and his staff have done a tremendous job reloading at key positions this offseason but a lack of experience and chemistry could factor in to the equation with the Tide facing a legitimate upset alert in week one.
#2 Clemson @ Auburn
Clemson is looking to pick up from where it left off when it nearly pulled off the upset in last year’s national championship game versus Alabama but they can’t afford to overlook a tough test in week one at Auburn. Gus Malzahn’s program has failed to live up to expectations the past couple of years but they can make a statement with an upset against the defending ACC champions in week one. The Clemson Tigers will be tough to stop with star quarterback Deshaun Watson leading an impressive offense but the potential is there for an upset alert on the road in a tough environment against an opponent that has to feel disrespected by the fact that they are being overlooked heading in to this contest.
For Auburn to win, a lot has to go right for them. Their offense – and passing game – was miserable by the end of last season and their defense was horrible. If both of those areas aren’t improved, they’re going to have a really tough time competing with one of the most complete teams in the nation – even if they are at home.
#3 Oklahoma vs. #15 Houston
The defending Big 12 champions Oklahoma will face a tough test in their opener with Houston looking to prove they deserve to be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. The Cougars have the talent to contend for a spot in the playoff but a relatively weak schedule playing out of the ACC will make this arguably the most important game of their season. Houston needs to make a statement against the defending ACC champions with a chance to prove they belong in the playoff conversation. That leaves Oklahoma with a big red bulls eye on its back heading in to week one in a key clash that will have major implications for both sides.
#4 Florida State vs. #11 Ole Miss
The Seminoles are another projected national championship contender facing a tough test in week one with a showdown against the Rebels at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Ole Miss has made a habit out of clinching upset wins against top opponents over the past couple of years and they will be motivated to make a statement with the potential to vault themselves up the rankings. Meanwhile, Florida State will be breaking in a freshman quarterback in Deondre Francois following senior Sean Maguire’s injury and that certainly raises the potential for an upset in their opener.
#10 Notre Dame @ Texas
The Fighting Irish open the season at No. 10 in the rankings but will need to win on the road at Texas to avoid falling. That could be easier said than done with Charlie Strong’s Longhorns potentially primed for a big year. Texas will be motivated to open the season with an upset over a top-10 team and will throw everything they have at Notre Dame in order to get it done. The Fighting Irish are coming off a tumultuous couple of weeks off the football field and it will be very interesting to see if those issues cause problems on the field this week.
