Week 1 Thursday and Friday college football TV schedule and open thread

If last Saturday was college football’s appetizer, then I suppose you could consider today and tomorrow as the soup and salad courses.

Most of this week’s college football action will take place on Saturday, but there are a smattering of games scattered throughout Thursday, Friday, and even Sunday and Monday. So, try and forget about your orange and blue shaded troubles, if you can, and enjoy the bountiful beginnings of the long-awaited 2017 college football season.

Feel free to hang out in this thread while watching any of today or tomorrow’s games.

There are only later afternoon and evening games on deck for the next two days, so instead of viewing windows, here are your picks to watch each day:

Thursday, August 31

Florida International at UCF (6:00 p.m., CBSSN): Two sunshine state teams take the field in Orlando. If you’re looking for a Gator connection, Feleipe Franks’ brother, Jordan Franks, is a tight end for the Knights. Butch Davis will be making his FIU coaching debut.

Tulsa at Oklahoma State (7:30 p.m., FS1): The No. 10 Cowboys were solid a year ago, and should be more improved this season. Tulsa is favored in some circles to win the AAC West, but you would think that Oklahoma State shouldn’t have much trouble scoring in this one.

Ohio State at Indiana (8:00 p.m., ESPN): The No. 2 Buckeyes open on the road against the Hoosiers, a team which has been known to occasionally give the upper echelon of the Big Ten fits. Indiana is breaking in a new head coach, Tom Allen, and their former one - Kevin Wilson - will actually be on the opposing sideline, as he is now Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and tight ends’ coach.

Friday, September 1

Washington at Rutgers (8:00 p.m., FS1): The No. 8 Huskies were last seen on the wrong end of an Alabama thrashing in the College Football Playoff. This year, they begin their season across the country in New Jersey. Washington’s defense lost several players to the NFL, but the Huskies still have quarterback Jake Browning and a productive run game.

Navy at Florida Atlantic (8:00 p.m., ESPNU): Watch the Lane Kiffin era begin at FAU when he and his crew of multiple Power Five transfer players take the field against visiting triple-option team Navy.

Colorado State at Colorado (8:00 p.m., PAC12): The 89th edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown takes place on Friday night. This is actually the second game of the season for the Rams, as they trampled Oregon State 58-27 in their opener last Saturday. The Buffs have won two straight in the rivalry and have the overall series advantage. Jim McElwain, former head coach at Colorado State, once got pretty mad that Denver’s Mayor didn’t know his name after a Rams’ win.

Utah State at Wisconsin (9:00 p.m., ESPN): The No. 9 Badgers open their season at home with the visiting Aggies. Utah State only managed three wins a season ago, and faces Wisconsin coming off an 11-win campaign. The Badgers return a lot from that team and will likely cruise to an easy victory.

And here’s your schedule tables.