Hammerin' the B1G: Key storylines to watch in Week 1

Congratulations college football fans, the time has come. Another long offseason is now a thing of the past, and the first full week of the 2024 season is upon us!

Already, the college football world has been greeted with the first upset of the year as No. 10 Florida State tumbled to Georgia Tech in Ireland. Is that a harbinger of a wild, topsy-turvy season ahead of us, or will the rest of the season be dominated by favorites as we embark on the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff?

Part of the fun of a new season is in the mystery and not knowing. In the Big Ten, there’s more mystery than usual as we prepare for the first year with 18 programs in the league.

In typical Week 1 fashion, several of the matchups feature games against FCS and non-power programs, though that’s not the full story for the weekend. A handful of games feature intriguing storylines, even for a few programs that do not face stiff competition.

So, with that being said, let’s get to some key storylines in Week 1!

How does Michigan’s offense look with a new QB?

For the past 2 seasons, Michigan knew what to expect out of the quarterback spot with JJ McCarthy. Consistency, an ability to move the ball with his legs, and elite leadership with an innate knowledge of the offense.

Things take on a level of uncertainty for the reigning national champions when they hit the field for the season-opener Saturday against Fresno State. A trio of Alex Orji, Davis Warren and Jack Tuttle have been fighting it out for the starting job in training camp, but that trio has a combined 32 passing attempts in a Wolverines uniform.

Orji has the highest upside due to his freakish athletic makeup. (He has 3 rushing touchdowns in his career.) But that leaves Michigan with the prospect of starting a QB with 1 career passing attempt.

Offensively, Michigan is unlikely to struggle much against Fresno State. The offensive line is liable to push the Bulldogs around and let the ground game feast, so fans will need to dig past the box score a bit.

How is the passing game in Week 1? Is there a crispness to the connections? Are the young receivers able to gel quickly with whoever is throwing the ball? Are any of the QBs capable of elite accuracy?

If Michigan is able to establish some early consistency in the passing game, it’s a bright sign for the season ahead — and a scary thought for the rest of the B1G. QB is Michigan’s biggest question mark, and it’s something to monitor in the opener.

Can USC hang with LSU in a marquee matchup?

USC is now a B1G member, and the Trojans just happen to be taking part in one of the best matchups of the weekend. One of 3 games between Top 25 opponents, USC will face LSU in Las Vegas in a standalone game in primetime Sunday night.

FanDuel has the line at LSU -4.5, and it’s not surprising USC is the underdog after the 2023 seasons from both teams. However, the Tigers have questions after losing Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and some electric receivers from the offense.

Still, LSU’s losses don’t compare to the questions Lincoln Riley has faced throughout the offseason. And the Trojans get a stiff test out of the gate before they can even think about the B1G season.

Most analysts are siding with Brian Kelly and LSU to get the win in Vegas, so this isn’t automatically a “must-win” type of game for Riley. However, that also means it’s a massive opportunity if the Trojans can pull off an upset.

Either way, USC will have to feel good about its chances this year if the Trojans keep it close in Vegas.

How does Dylan Raiola fare in his first college start?

The long-expected decision in Nebraska’s QB battle came down last week. In the showdown between returner Heinrich Haarberg and star freshman Dylan Raiola, it is Raiola who will open the season as a true freshman starter for the Huskers.

How much will Nebraska learn in the season opener? Not much — hopefully. ESPN Bet has the Huskers -27.5 in the game against UTEP, so it’s unlikely Raiola needs to light up the stat sheet for Nebraska to win big.

However, a cause for concern will arise if Raiola struggles with his accuracy or has some untimely turnovers. Then again, simply running the offense efficiently and guiding a smooth win would be a big moment for a true freshman in his first start, regardless of who the opponent is.

Can Penn State make a statement in a season opener on the road?

Penn State opens the season at West Virginia this Saturday, drawing the 12 pm ET game on FOX to get things started. That’s a primetime slot and prime network for the No. 8 Nittany Lions to get their season started, and the matchup is an intriguing one.

James Franklin’s team was in total control of the 2023 season opener between the two sides in Drew Allar’s first career start. That win by Penn State looked even better at the end of the season with the Mountaineers finishing the year 9-4 overall.

Being a top 10 team vs. unranked opponent, the Nittany Lions are listed at -8.5 via DraftKings for the season opener, so this game is not expected to be particularly close. But Georgia Tech’s win over FSU in Ireland shows that season openers can sometimes go whacky at the worst possible time.

Penn State will want to start the season with a sharp performance, and winning the game by double digits will suffice for a big statement out of the gate. Meanwhile, a final score determined by on possession will leave some fans on edge.

Is any B1G team on upset alert?

Save for USC, every B1G team is a favorite in Week 1 at ESPN Bet, and many of those lines are reaching big numbers. Two close lines that could lend themselves to an upset include Minnesota -1.5 vs. UNC and Northwestern -2.5 vs. Miami (Ohio).

While the Gophers are a favorite, I don’t think anyone would be shocked if the Tar Heels won, even on the road in Minneapolis. However, the Wildcats facing Miami (Ohio) is a different story.

Many fans looking at Northwestern getting a MAC opponent in the season opener would not think twice. But this isn’t a normal opener from what I can see.

Northwestern — an 8-win team a season ago — is viewed by many as a team that outperformed its major numbers. Regression is coming in 2024. Meanwhile, the RedHawks went 11-3 last season as champions of the MAC and a defense that finished top 10 in points allowed per game.

Be careful, David Braun and Co. Week 1 will be no laughing matter, and it should be a dogfight to the very end.