College Football 2018 Week 1: TV Channels, Start Times For Michigan-Notre Dame, Auburn-Washington

Michigan Football — Jim Harbaugh head coach of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a touchdown in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 25, 2017 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to Week 1 of the 2018 college football season. Every top-25 team is scheduled to be in action, and we’ve got a full slate of Saturday games for the first time in 9 months. But two matchups, in particular, stand out among the rest.

Of the 64 contests set to be played Saturday, only two feature a pair of ranked opponents. No.6 Washington faces No.9 Auburn in the afternoon, and No.14 Michigan visits No.12 Notre Dame later at night. The first game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC, while the second matchup of Top-25 teams starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC.

All four of those teams can conceivably be in the national championship discussion later this year. No one’s title hopes will be completely dashed in the season opener, but the teams that lose Saturday will certainly have a difficult time in trying to make the 2018-2019 College Football Playoff.

In the four years of the CFP’s existence, no team has ever reached the postseason with two losses. If Auburn, Washington, Michigan or Notre Dame lose in Week 1, they’ll likely have to go undefeated the rest of the way in order to have a shot of contending for the national title.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of the four teams come out on top. Auburn is just a two-point favorite over Washington at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks, according to OddsShark. Michigan is a 1.5-point underdog against Notre Dame, though the betting line is down to a pick’em at some sportsbooks.

Notre Dame has the biggest advantage since they are playing at home. Washington and Auburn will do battle on a neutral field, though the Tigers will be much closer to home at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Both Michigan and Washington had top-five defenses a season ago. Auburn had the highest-ranked offense of the group. All three of Notre Dame’s losses came against ranked opponents, including a one-point defeat at the hands of eventual national champion runner-up Georgia.

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