Seven Big 12 teams open the 2019 season against an FCS opponent, and only one team plays another Power Five foe. That, however, doesn't mean Week 1 won't be entertaining (and challenging).
Here are the 10 Week 1 games in the Big 12 ranked from worst to best.
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10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at TCU
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Arkansas-Pine Bluff returns some skill-position talent and could score several touchdowns against a lot of Power Five teams. TCU isn't one of them. The Horned Frogs will roll in the opener.
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9. Indiana State at Kansas
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Kansas has lost three FCS games in the last nine seasons, and while a fourth loss is possible against decent Indiana State team (and first games for first-year coaches are always intriguing), this is a can-miss game in Week 1. It's only ranked above Pine Bluff-TCU because Kansas wins are a novelty.
MORE: The Day Kansas Football Died
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8. Stephen F. Austin at Baylor
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Colby Carthel did a brilliant job at Texas A&M-Commerce — 35-6 and one Division-II national championship over the last three years — but he has some work to do at Stephen F. Austin. This game is all about Charlie Brewer's 2019 debut and Matt Rhule's continued rebuild.
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7. Montana State at Texas Tech
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Here's where the dangerous FCS foes begin for Big 12 teams in Week 1. An experienced Montana State team visits a transitioning Texas Tech program in a game that should be closer than many assume.
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6. Nicholls at Kansas State
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Nicholls seeks a second straight Power Five win (Kansas last year) with a trip to Manhattan for Chris Klieman's first game as Kansas State head coach. It's one of the least sexy games on the Big 12's Week 1 schedule, but Nicholls will be good again and the Klieman storyline is interesting enough to tune in.
5. Northern Iowa at Iowa State
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Northern Iowa isn't reeling off 10-win seasons as they did earlier in Mark Farley's tenure, but the Panthers are still a fringe top-25 FCS team with Power Five talent at a few spots, including tight end (Briley Moore). More importantly, it's the first look at the Cyclones' offense in the post-Hakeem Butler and David Montgomery era and a defense filled with All-Big 12 talent.
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4. Oklahoma State at Oregon State
Date: Friday, Aug. 30
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
The Big 12's only Power Five vs. Power Five game of Week 1.
The story in Corvallis: Oklahoma State's offense under new coordinator Sean Gleeson, whom Mike Gundy plucked from Princeton. It's the latest kickoff on Friday night.
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3. Louisiana Tech at Texas
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
One year after facing Texas as Oklahoma outside linebackers' coach, Bob Diaco gets another shot at the Longhorns. The former Notre Dame defensive coordinator and UConn head coach is Skip Holtz's new defensive coordinator, his fourth position (at four different schools) in the last four years.
There's no chance of a Week 1 stumble, but there are some delectable matchups, including Bulldogs' cornerback Amik Robertson vs. Longhorns' receiver Collin Johnson.
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2. James Madison at West Virginia
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
In his first game as James Madison head coach, Curt Cignetti has a winnable Power Five game in Morgantown. The Dukes are ranked No. 1 in the HERO Sports Preseason Top 25
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1. Houston at Oklahoma
Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Dana Holgorsen back in Norman? Sign me up.
This game, the only Sunday FBS game all season, is oozing with storylines, among them: Jalen Hurts' first game, and D'Eriq King vs. the Sooners' Alex Grinch-led defense.
MORE: OU Dominates Big 12 NFL Earnings
