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The 2023 college football season gets its “official” start this week. Games start on Thursday and will be played through Monday.

The matchup between no. 8 Florida State and no. 5 LSU headlines the long weekend. The Sunday night competition sees two teams that are coming into the season with momentum. 

Last year, The Seminoles had their first 10-win season since 2016. With a senior quarterback in Jordan Travis and an experienced personnel group on both sides of the ball, there are high expectations for the Florida State football program.

LSU comes into the season as 2022 SEC West champions. Senior quarterback and Heisman favorite Jayden Daniels leads the team under head coach Brian Kelly in his second season at the helm. The Tigers have a squad loaded with NFL talent, and fans will expect them to play like it. 

The Tigers and Seminoles kick off in Orlando on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

National Championship favorites and No.1 ranked Georgia opens the season against UT Martin. The Bulldogs are in little threat of losing the game, but it will play an important role in giving clarity to the quarterback room. 

Georgia goes into the season losing three-year starting quarterback Stetson Bennet IV. The Dawgs had a legitimate quarterback battle over the summer, and shades of that competition are expected to leak into the regular season. 

Fourth-year junior Carson Beck was announced as the starting quarterback for week 1. Head coach Kirby Smart is confident with his decision but is keeping an open mind about an ongoing position battle.

“We’ve kind of been operating that way,” Smart said about Beck as the QB1. “The other guys have done a tremendous job in terms of competing, and they’re going to continue to do that.”

Games to watch

#8 Florida State vs #5 LSU, Sunday, 7:30 p.m., ABC

#1 Georgia vs UT Martin, Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN+ and SEC Network

South Carolina vs #21 North Carolina, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ABC

#4 Alabama vs Middle Tennessee State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network

Florida vs #14 Utah, Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN

Auburn vs Massachusetts, Saturday, 3 p.m., ESPN

#12 Tennessee vs Virginia, Saturday, 12 p.m., ABC