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During his popular podcast "Two Guys" CBS Sports anchor and notable Iowa Hawkeye fan Chris Hassel uttered a comment that co-host Chris Williams didn't agree with. 

Hassel always has a personal segment on every show titled "Hassel Makes The Case," and he used this one to argue why Week 1 is the best viewing weekend for the entire college football season. 

Williams couldn't believe his friend made the comment, but Hassel's point was simple: the matchups aren't always the best, but this is the only weekend where college football is the main attraction. 

The NFL doesn't resume until next week, and the gap allows college football to own Labor Day weekend. There's going to be five straight days of football beginning Thursday evening and ending on Labor Day night with SMU-Florida State. 

Mixed somewhere that chaos is No. 22 Iowa's season opener against Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon (3:15 p.m., BTN). The Hawkeyes are heavily favored to win the game, with the primary focus being on the ongoing quarterback battle between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown. 

Focusing on your team's game is the goal for every fan when they sit down for a crisp college football Saturday, but there's a lot of other football games Iowa fans should keep an eye on, too. 

Here's your Week 1 viewing guide. 

*All times Central 

Thursday

Colorado @ Georgia Tech 

Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA (7 p.m., ESPN) 

Remember when Coach Prime sold out the spring game a few years ago? That feels like an eternity now, and his job may be in jeopardy if Colorado can't get back to a bowl game this year. Beating a well-coached Georgia Tech in Atlanta is a tall task. 

Friday

Toledo @ Michigan State 

Location: Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI (7 p.m., FS1) 

It didn't take long for Hawkeye fans to despise Pat Fitzgerald when he coached Northwestern because his Wildcats were regularly a thorn in Iowa's side. Fitzgerald is now attempting to revive Michigan State, and he took former Hawkeye special teams coordinator LeVar Woods with him. Toledo is one of the most consistent MAC teams, so this isn't going to be an easy game for Sparty. 

Saturday

Southeast Missouri State @ Iowa State 

Location: Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, IA (12 p.m., ESPN+) 

It's a new era of Cyclone football in Ames. Jimmy Rogers has hyped his team up all offseason, but now it's time to turn that hype into a respectable product on the field. Iowa State beat writers probably have a better idea of what SEMO is going to look like than the team they are paid to cover. If you've got ESPN+, you may want to start scouting the new-look 'Clones. 

Marshall @ No. 18 Penn State 

Location: Beaver Stadium in State College, PA (2:30 p.m., FS1) 

It's probably still weird for people to see Matt Campbell coaching Penn State, but here we are. The Nittany Lions have one of the easiest schedules a first-year coach is ever going to get in the Big Ten, and it begins with a game against rebuilding Marshall. 

Clemson @ No. 11 LSU 

Location: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA (6:30 p.m., ABC) 

Lane Kiffin's move to LSU has generated a ton of controversy, but now it's time to see what his squad can do on the field. Analysts are confident in a bounce-back campaign from Clemson, but they are entering a hornet's next on Saturday. The winner of this game claims the title for having the best Death Valley. 

Sunday 

Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame 

Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI (6:30 p.m., NBC) 

Luke Fickell's tenure in Madison has been a disaster so far, but he's got a chance to finally win the loyal Badger fans over here. Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country and is hungry to get back on the field after it felt it was snubbed from a College Football Playoff berth last year, but it would be something if Wisconsin could pull this one out. 

No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss 

Location: Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN (6:30 p.m., ABC) 

This should be a fantastic matchup in the Music City. Louisville has been an excellent ACC program under Jeff Brohm, while Ole Miss enters the post-Kiffin era. Trinidad Chambliss is back at quarterback, though, so the Rebels should be just fine. Both of these teams can score, so a shootout shouldn't be surprising. 

Monday 

No. 19 SMU @ Florida State 

Location: Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL (6:30 p.m., ESPN) 

Mike Norvell's seat is scorching in Tallahassee, but he couldn't have asked for a better opportunity here. Florida State didn't look great in its Week Zero triumph against New Mexico State, but having a game under its belt may help it give star quarterback Kevin Jennings and his SMU team some fits. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

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