Well, here we are, college football fans. The longest offseason in the history of our lives is (sort of) over. Week 1 is officially happening.
The stands might be empty in some cases. In others, they'll be sparse. Bands might not be filling the awkward silences, and the pageantry might be muted. But there will be football, and if last weekend is any indication, the action on the field will be delightfully weird in all the ways we've all grown to love.
College GameDay had a different feel, from Lee Corso's home set with cutouts of his teammates (below) to Kirk Herbstreit's emotional appeal to empathy for the social justice issues about which players are speaking out (above).
Many of our sport's greatest teams are still sidelined, and their return is still hotly debated. But for now, there are players on fields around the country until around midnight. We'll be watching and keeping tabs for you.
Saturday's scores, Monday schedule
SMU 31, Texas State 24
Army 42, Middle Tennessee State 0
Marshall 59, EKU 0
Monday at 8: BYU at Navy, ESPN/ESPN app (Line: BYU -1.5)
Haydel, you're an all-star
Jeremiah Haydel did his best Odell Beckham Jr. impression for Texas State with this insane one-handed touchdown grab.
CATCH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE RIGHT HERE ๐ #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/u8V7N3Pzfc
โ SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 5, 2020
Army strong
How dominant was Army against Middle Tennessee? Army ran one drive from 1:32 left in the third quarter to 4:06 remaining left in the fourth quarter without completing a single pass, and with only one run play that gained less than 2 yards. Is that good?
Yes you're reading this right.
โ Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) September 5, 2020
99 yards on 19 plays.
Army football right here โคต๏ธ pic.twitter.com/6fHnkq9Zdh
Turnover signifier watch
SMU doesn't just have a simple object to celebrate football thievery. They're poppin' bottles.
๐ Welcome to "Club Take Away" ๐ @SMU_Football pic.twitter.com/x3pytlZM9U
โ ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2020
College football's best tradition goes on
For three years, Iowa fans' tradition of waving to patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital represents the best of the sport. And that wasn't going to stop just because the Big Ten season is on hold.
The Wave stops for no pandemic. pic.twitter.com/C4O7ErVXal
โ Mike Hlas (@Hlas) September 5, 2020
Breakfast of champions
Yes, Nick Saban has heard about the new Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies cereal, so quit askin'. The legendary Alabama coach's love for his favorite snack is well-documented, and now, he has another way to indulge. Trust the processed sugar.
This shouldn't be a surprise, but when we asked Nick Saban about the new Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie cereal, not only did he know about it he said he's going to be one of the first to try it. "I'll be their guinea pig." #MartyandMcGee pic.twitter.com/cgeV0FwI1i
โ Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) September 5, 2020
They got Jet Skis?
Clemson got in on "Laugh Now Cry Later" action by making its own video for Drake's song (which features Lil Durk, of course).
Laugh Now Cry Later - @ClemsonFB Edition OUT NOW โผ๏ธ
โ Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 5, 2020
cc @Drake @lildurk
WATCH: https://t.co/XkICvEebGr pic.twitter.com/4PNxWLLZZ5
A real-life uniform reveal
According to Texas State's equipment staff, the team's new uniforms were delayed getting to customs and didn't arrive at the local UPS hub until Saturday morning, just hours before kickoff against SMU. The staffers picked the uniforms up themselves and got back to get them on the shoulder pads at 12:30 p.m., before the players arrived at 1.
Yes it's game day and yes those are our uniforms we just picked up from UPS! #EATEMUPCATS #TEAM pic.twitter.com/XFFHqYtBAp
โ TXSTATE Equipment (@TXST_FootballEQ) September 5, 2020
The Huskers are just wingin' it now
BREAKING NEWS pic.twitter.com/FmJdix00WQ
โ Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) September 4, 2020
What looked like a new Scott Frost video calling for the return of Nebraska football got even saucier on Friday. Frost was relieved by Ander Christensen, the chicken enthusiast who was last spotted asking the Lincoln city council to ban the term "boneless wings" when they're really nothing more than "saucy nugs."
"Just like a wing without a bone is just saucy nug," Christensen said, "a Saturday without Husker football is just a Saturday."
Signs o' the times
College GameDay at home
Can't have a GameDay without the coach. Lee Corso kicked off the first show of the season with his own desk, and the rest of the gang was all there.
Welcome to Coach's crib ๐ pic.twitter.com/qarnPhhwjP
โ College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 5, 2020
That might take some getting used to
The one-season Notre Dame/ACC alliance looks a lot more official with the logo on the turf at Notre Dame Stadium.
Felt cute, might delete next year. ๐#GoIrish x #Rally pic.twitter.com/clnbxNEeOF
โ Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 3, 2020
Nice work, Memphis
The Liberty Bowl won't be packed for the Tigers' season opener against Arkansas State, but it's as packed as we can get to have college football.
Tomorrow night's game against Arkansas State is officially sold out with a capacity crowd of 4,537! ๐๐. pic.twitter.com/CoY3WcS0lm
โ Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) September 4, 2020
Elsewhere in the CFB universe
Big Earl's Flavortown adventures
Earl Campbell has had quite the offseason. Texas honored him by renaming its field Campbell-Williams Field in honor of him and fellow Heisman hero Ricky Williams. Now Campbell is rollin' out, lookin' for America's greatest "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" host with very large gifts. Here's hoping those horns are mounted on the Triple-D Camaro soon.
Omg! One of the greatest gifts from my all time favorite player, Earl Campbell #34. And get this, he drove down 3 1/2hrs to deliver it! #RoseofTyler pic.twitter.com/SIWbtmbqZt
โ Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) September 2, 2020
Dogs and cats, living together
America's mascots must be treasured, even if it means going to extremes, such as Baylor letting the Aggies take care of their Lady.
Aggie vets at @tamuvetmed were able to successfully treat Lady, @Baylor's American black bear mascot, to remove a mass last week. We're glad to hear she's recovering well following the procedure.
โ Texas A&M University (@TAMU) August 27, 2020
Get well soon, Lady! ๐๐ป https://t.co/Zre4dazQFO