WEEK 1
PICK 'EM
The Observer is putting Dr. Bryant Morton on the hot seat this fall – and giving you a chance to Beat the Doc. Each week during the 2026 college football season, Morton – our Pigskin Prognosticator – will make his picks, explain the why behind them, and stack up his record against yours.
AUG. 29
NC State
vs. Virginia
Dang it! First game is going to be one of my toughest picks, and hard to leave my heart out of it. NCSU is where I went to undergrad. I still bleed Red and White. Wolfpack football has always been about as easy to predict as the weather in the Southeastern U.S. Playing a very good Cavalier team in Charlottesville as a 6.5-point underdog is nowhere near the way I wanted to start a season where some “experts” say the Pack could end up with as few as two L’s. Well, I’m gonna give all of you gamers a chance right to start with. Go Pack!
• NC State
AUG. 29
North Carolina
vs. Texas Christian
So I told you I went to NC State. Now you know a little about why I’m laughing. There are a lot of inappropriate things I will leave unspoken about how much I totally dislike the Heels. (Almost as much as any form of gummy candy! My mom’s brother played at TCU many moons ago, and I actually have some Horned Frog merch still at home. It’s all Frogs in Ft. Worth. Bill, his bunch of Baby Blue fans, less-than-average players, and barely legal co-ed girlfriend are about to get their feelings hurt.
• TCU
SEPT. 3
Colorado
vs. Georgia Tech
Trust me, no one wants to play the Rambling Wreck in Atlanta this year. Especially early when they are healthy. This is a young, extremely talented team hosting Primetime and whatever he has attempted to rebuild with those cute little gold-shaded sunglasses. I may be selling him short as a true coach that can develop players with less talent than what just left, but we will all see. This may actually turn out to be a game worth watching, but I’m taking Tech!
• Georgia Tech
SEPT. 4
Miami (Fla.) vs.
Stanford
Has anyone else actually watched the Stanford marching band? Like one of the most entertaining groups of musicians making up a marching band dressed up like a gang of gypsies and renegades you’ve ever witnessed. And you may want to concentrate on the band when you are watching this game because it’s definitely going to be more entertaining than the game itself. Miami looked like the Jimmy Johnson teams of so many years ago, when they made it all the way to the Natty last year, only to come up a little short against the absolute best-coached college team of any era ever! Yeah, I said it. Watching IU last year was as refreshing as a good bourbon mule after weed eating 😆
• Miami
SEPT. 5
Youngstown St.
vs. Kentucky
I’ll keep this short and sweet: Like, what happened to Kentucky? NIL? Things were finally turning around, and the fans were actually starting to admit they were fans before November and basketball season. The Wildcats won’t win many this year, but they will pad Youngstown State's athletics account by hosting them and getting an easy W on opening weekend. If you are attending in your bright blue, enjoy the tailgating and cold brews; your SEC season/cremation starts soon.
• Kentucky
SEPT. 5
Clemson
vs. LSU
Just wow! Saturday night in the Death Valley they don’t call home. Playing against another group of Tigers?! How can it get any better?! If I’m a Clemson Tiger, I’m wondering what positive anything I can find in this whole start to the ’26 season. Playing in Baton Rouge on Saturday night against first-year coach Lane Kiffin. The most controversial coach in college football. The one who everyone else loves to hate and LSU hopes to keep out of the way of stray golf balls and mustard containers from the stands! All said, the coach that I would want to play for or sit down and talk to over a Bud-heavy more than any others is easily Dabo Sweeney. Tons of respect and admiration for his stance on NIL and what he has accomplished at Clemson. I’ll just take the Tigers 😆 – the ones playing at home in Purple and Gold!
• LSU
SEPT. 5
UCLA
vs. California
🥱 The interest is truly something of the past. West Coast football (with the exception of Oregon) is about as exciting as an alumni reception in Chapel Hill. This game is going to be close, and I'm not confidently predicting either way, but come on, Bears, you are at home.
Don’t let me down!
• Cal
SEPT. 6
Louisville
vs. Ole Miss
Sunday night in Nashville! If you don’t have tickets, there may still be a few left. Neutral field, hot and muggy right on the banks of the Cumberland River. Lots of opportunity for the Cardinals to step up and stand out against a huge SEC opponent that is in a rebuild. But with NIL, who isn’t always on the rebuild with the almighty dollar in hand. Hotty Toddy is hard to bet against. You Rebels bring up the co-eds in their leftover prom dresses and get ready for a game of Big Boy football because this is gonna be a thriller. Louisville is no slouch! I’ll take the 6-point favorite and the Rebels, but I have a feeling it’s going to be much closer, if not an upset in the top 10 to start the season.
• Ole Miss
SEPT. 6
Wisconsin
vs. Notre Dame
Well now ... Wendy (my lovely wife and Wisconsin grad) ain’t gonna be impressed with this pick. The NCAA has done everything possible to give Bucky and his Tagalongs a chance. The game is in Green Bay, at the Holy Grail of football, Lambeau Field. They put it off until the summer Midwest heat starts to lose its breath-shortening strain on everyone up there who isn’t accustomed to real summer weather 😆 As much as I’d like to say this game will be worth watching on Sunday, don’t forget Nashville is hosting a good ‘un; just flip the channel. Bucky, this may be about as fun for you as a lower GI study.
• Notre Dame
SEPT. 7
SMU
vs. Florida State
On Monday night in Tallahassee, a week after an easy opener against New Mexico State (Aug. 29), the Seminoles get to do something as common as viewing the Aurora in Tallahassee: They get to host a ranked SMU football team. The Mustangs have slowly but steadily rebuilt a football program after their death penalty so many years ago. So let’s break this down. Seminoles at home as a slight underdog to a team that is still fighting for respect. That ought to be enough to even raise a Bowden’s blood pressure. This is gonna be a great way to finish a strong opening week to College Football 2026 – and an easy game to lose as a pick. Bring ’em out, Osceola, and stomp that spear!
• Florida State
HOW TO PLAY
Each week, the Observer will post a Beat the Doc Pick Sheet featuring games from ESPN’s weekly college football schedule.
Pick the winner of each game and submit your sheet.
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