College football Week 1 players to watch: How will TCU transfer Josh Hoover do in his first start at Indiana?

College football Week 1 players to watch: How will TCU transfer Josh Hoover do in his first start at Indiana?

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College football Week 1 players to watch: How will TCU transfer Josh Hoover do in his first start at Indiana?

We've made it to Week 1.

After a limited slate of games in Week Zero, the 2026 college football season has officially arrived with games across five days during the Labor Day weekend. Here are your players to watch on the real opening weekend of the season.

  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri, 8 p.m. ET Thursday (SEC Network/DIRECTV)

Roberts was one of the best backup running backs in the country in 2025 behind All-American Ahmad Hardy. Roberts rushed for 753 yards on just 124 carries and scored seven touchdowns. With Hardy recovering from a spring gunshot wound to his leg, Roberts is Missouri's lead back to start the season. Expect a big game from him, even if he only ends up playing the first half. Missouri is favored by 54.5 points and is the biggest favorite of Week 1.

  • North Texas at No. 6 Indiana, Noon ET Saturday (Fox/DIRECTV)

Don't be surprised if Hoover puts up big numbers in his first game with the Hoosiers. North Texas is a completely different team in former West Virginia coach Neal Brown's first season and brings back just three starters from a defense that allowed 5.4 yards per play in 2025.

Hoover has thrown for over 70 TDs in his college career and tossed 29 in 2025. The three-year starter was one of the most experienced quarterbacks available in the transfer portal and could challenge Fernando Mendoza's passing numbers with a wide receiver room that includes Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh.

  • East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama, Noon ET Saturday (ABC/DIRECTV)

The former five-star recruit is set to make his first career start after he was named Alabama's starting quarterback ahead of Austin Mack in August. Russell was the team's No. 3 QB as a freshman in 2025 and got limited playing time. He's a dual-threat quarterback with a playing style that's more like Jalen Milroe's than Ty Simpson's and Michigan QB Bryce Underwood was the only QB in the high school class of 2025 who was ranked higher.

Russell could help jumpstart an Alabama run game that sputtered at times in 2025. And if he can forge a connection with Ryan Coleman-Williams, the junior receiver could be primed for a bounce-back season after a rough sophomore campaign.

  • Oregon State at No. 23 Houston, Noon ET Saturday (ESPN/DIRECTV)

Could the 2026 season be a redemption year for the former Tulane and Oregon running back? Hughes was one of the best rushers in college football in 2024 and 2025 for the Green Wave, as he rushed for 2,779 yards and 22 scores as a freshman and sophomore.

He transferred to Oregon in 2025, but had just 17 carries for 70 yards across six games with the Ducks. Hughes is now reunited with Willie Fritz, who recruited him to Tulane and coached Hughes during his freshman season. With QB Conner Weigman back after the best season of his career, Hughes could rush for over 1,000 yards again this season.

  • Ball State at No. 1 Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Big Ten Network/DIRECTV)

The son of former West Virginia and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry will make his college debut on Saturday. And he could be the latest in Ohio State's long line of star wide receivers. The 6-foot-5 Henry was the No. 11 prospect in the class of 2026 and the top wide receiver recruit in the country.

As defenses focus on trying to stop Jeremiah Smith in Ohio State's passing game, there will be plenty of opportunities for Henry to make an immediate impact. He should see the field a lot against the Cardinals and could only see his share of playing time grow as the season goes on.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 02: Evan Stewart #7 of the Oregon Ducks plays against the Michigan Wolverinesat Michigan Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 02: Evan Stewart #7 of the Oregon Ducks plays against the Michigan Wolverinesat Michigan Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Gregory Shamus via Getty Images

  • Boise State at No. 2 Oregon, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS/DIRECTV)

The former Texas A&M transfer was set to be an integral part of Oregon's offense in 2025 after he had 48 catches for 613 yards and five scores in his first season with the Ducks. Instead, Stewart's preseason knee injury sidelined him for the entirety of the season.

Fully healthy entering the 2026 season, Stewart could become Oregon's top receiver as the Ducks are in position to make a run to the national championship. New Oregon safety Koi Perich said that Stewart has the best feet he's ever seen from a wide receiver, and new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer has also said that Stewart had an "unbelievable" fall camp.

  • Texas State at No. 5 Texas, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN/DIRECTV)

Coleman's arrival in Austin was one of the biggest moves of the transfer portal season. After starring in his first two seasons at Auburn with less-than stellar QB play, Coleman is now paired with Heisman favorite Arch Manning. He could easily end up as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Coleman was only behind Jeremiah Smith among wide receivers in the high school class of 2024 and has produced his own share of highlight-reel catches.

  • Western Michigan at No. 16 Michigan, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (NBC/DIRECTV)

Jordan Marshall opens the season as Michigan's lead back after rushing for over 900 yards in 2025. But Hiter is going to play a big role as a true freshman and could see a lot of action on Saturday.

Hiter was the top running back recruit in the class of 2026 as a five-star prospect and was the No. 13 player in the country. He's drawn rave reviews all through preseason practices, including from new Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham. The former Utah coach said that Hiter is a "complete back" and also said that fans will be "really pleased" with what they see from Hiter.

Given the rushing offense that Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck had with the Utes in 2025, Hiter could be an immediate star.

  • UCLA at Cal, 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN/DIRECTV)

The sophomore decided to stay at Cal after Tosh Lupoi was hired as the Bears' head coach and has a chance for a breakout season in 2026. Sagapolutele completed 64% of his throws for 3,454 yards across 13 games and threw nearly 500 passes as the Bears went 7-6. Only five more players threw more passes than JKS in 2025.

Cal has a chance to make a leap in its third year in the ACC and its Week 1 game against a UCLA team looking to do the same in the Big Ten is a great first test. The Bruins brought in former James Madison coach Bob Chesney and has an experienced defense full of transfers.

  • Washington State at No. 17 Washington, 4 p.m. ET Sunday (NBC/DIRECTV)

Williams nearly left Washington in the offseason, but returned to the school after his $4 million contract would have had to been repaid had he entered the transfer portal and found a new school. Williams completed nearly 7% of his passes in his first season as a starter while also averaging 8.7 yards an attempt. Oh, he rushed for 611 yards, too.

The Apple Cup has lost a bit of its luster with Washington's move to the Big Ten and it's now in Week 1 instead of being in the final week of the season. But Williams threw more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3) in last year's rivalry game while also rushing 13 times for 88 yards and a score.

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