Week 1: D'Eriq King vs. Jalen Hurts
D'Eriq King, in his first game under head coach Dana Holgorsen and new offensive coordinator (and quarterbacks coach) Marquel Blackwell, faces Oklahoma's new Alex Grinch-led defense. On the other side, one of the best transfers in college sports history makes his first start for the best offensive mind in the country.
I'm hyperventilating.
Week 2: Kellen Mond vs. Trevor Lawrence
The best quarterback in college football hosts an improving one who threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns in Texas A&M's loss to Clemson last September in College Station.
Week 3: Trevor Lawrence vs. Tommy DeVito
A four-star recruit in the 2017 class, first-time starter Tommy DeVito replaces Eric Dungey and hosts Trevor Lawrence as Syracuse seeks their second straight home upset of Clemson.
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Jake Bentley and Nate Stanley vs. Brock Purdy deserve mention, but Lawrence-DeVito is the can't-miss matchup of Week 3.
Week 4: Ian Book vs. Jake Fromm
Two years ago in South Bend, Jake Fromm made his first career start and led Georgia to a 20-19 win on their way to a playoff appearance. This year, he hosts Ian Book and Notre Dame to close out the home-and-home series.
Week 5: Justin Fields vs. Adrian Martinez
The great news: Two rising, unlimited-potential quarterbacks in Lincoln.
The bad news: Missing two elite, proven quarterbacks in Denton.
Fields vs. Martinez is the right call, but it's painful to pass on D'Eriq King and Houston visiting Mason Fine and North Texas in the best Group of Five quarterback matchup of the season.
Week 6: Jordan Love vs. Joe Burrow
Utah State at LSU
Week 6 lacks star power but features delectable depth.
In addition to Love vs. Burrow: Sam Ehlinger visits Austin Kendall and West Virginia, Jacob Eason makes his first Pac-12 road trip to play K.J. Costello and Stanford, Nate Stanley vs. Shea Patterson, and Brian Lewerke vs. Justin Fields.
Week 7: Jalen Hurts vs. Sam Ehlinger
Barring mass chaos amongst the Big 12's pile of mediocrity, the Red River Shootout winner should earn a spot in the Big 12 championship. That means Jalen Hurts vs. Sam Ehlinger with huge implications.
Also: Tua Tagovailoa vs. Kellen Mond, Jacob Eason vs. Khalil Tate, Jake Bentley vs. Jake Fromm, Feleipe Franks vs. Joe Burrow, and James Blackman vs. Trevor Lawrence.
Week 8: Justin Herbert vs. Jacob Eason
Oregon at Washington
The first and (spoiler) only Pac-12 matchup on this list, two NFL-bound quarterbacks will make midseason impressions in Seattle as potential No. 1 pick Justin Herbert visits Jacob Eason.
Justin Fields vs. Hunter Johnson should be interesting, but it's miles behind Herbert vs. Eason.
Week 9: Ian Book vs. Shea Patterson
Right now, Ian Book vs. Shea Patterson is the best matchup, but look out for a potential beauty in Columbus: Graham Mertz vs. Justin Fields. If Mertz wins the Wisconsin job and plays well entering Week 9, it'll be the first huge road test of a potentially program-altering career.
Shane Buechele vs. D'Eriq King is the best Group of Five matchup of Week 9, and Anthony Brown vs. Trevor Lawrence could be fun (as could Khalil Tate vs. K.J. Costello).
Week 10: Jake Fromm vs. Feleipe Franks
Feleipe Franks labored through an up-and-down October and piled up strong November numbers vs. bad teams. Still, he turned a corner in year one under Dan Mullen and should turn another one in year two.
If so, and if Florida's defense is playing well in November, Jake Fromm vs. Franks could be wildly entertaining.
Week 11: Brock Purdy vs. Jalen Hurts
I'm passing on Joe Burrow vs. Tua Tagovailoa and other matchups, including Zac Thomas vs. Jake Bentley and Kelly Bryant vs. Feleipe Franks, to showcase Brock Purdy in Norman, where the Cyclones stunned Oklahoma two years ago.
Week 12: Sam Ehlinger vs. Brock Purdy
Texas at Iowa State
Even without mistake-erasing Hakeem Butler, I like Brock Purdy. A lot. And I'm not missing Texas in Ames for a potential College GameDay matchup.
It's far sexier than Brian Lewerke vs. Shea Patterson, Jake Bentley vs. Kellen Mond or Feleipe Franks vs. Kelly Bryant.
Week 13: Kellen Mond vs. Jake Fromm
If Khalil Tate finds his 2017 form (and Utah is in legitimate playoff contention), the pick is Khalil Tate vs. Tyler Huntley in Tucson.
For now, Kellen Mond vs. Jake Fromm is the safe pick. Other matchups to note: Anthony Johnson vs. Ian Book, Sean Clifford vs. Justin Fields, and Sam Ehlinger vs. Charlie Brewer.
Week 14: Justin Fields vs. Shea Patterson
Surprisingly, it's the only second appearance for both Justin Fields and Shea Patterson. Michigan's reloaded defense will have an opportunity to atone for last year's 62-point debacle.
