College football is finally here, and after spending the entire offseason listening to predictions, preseason rankings, transfer portal talk and everybody telling us how good teams are supposed to be, we finally get to see some football.

And as I look across the schedule this weekend, there are five things that have my attention.

1. Are LSU and Clemson Even Going to Play?

Forget breaking down the matchup for a minute. The biggest story surrounding LSU and Clemson right now may be whether the damn game gets played at all.

With the SEC making its threat and Clemson’s athletic director saying that if this situation isn’t resolved they’re not playing, suddenly one of the biggest games of opening weekend has become the biggest off-field story in college football.

That is incredible.

If they get everything worked out and actually play the game, then we can start talking football. I want to see what the Lane Kiffin era at LSU looks like. I want to see how Clemson responds after a disappointing season. There are plenty of football questions here.

But first somebody needs to tell us whether we’re actually going to have a football game.

Until that gets resolved, that is the story.

2. Is Oregon Really the No. 2 Team in the Country?

Oregon gets Boise State, and I love this game as an early measuring stick.

Boise State isn’t coming in there to admire Oregon’s uniforms and collect a check. They’re capable of making Oregon work.

I have Oregon as one of the teams capable of winning the national championship, so I’m not just looking for them to win. I want to see what they look like doing it.

There is a difference between looking like the No. 2 team in the country and simply having a No. 2 beside your name.

Saturday we start finding out which one Oregon is.

3. CJ Carr and Notre Dame

You guys already know where I stand on Notre Dame.

They’re my pick to win the national championship, and CJ Carr is my early pick to win the Heisman Trophy.

So obviously I’m watching them closely against Wisconsin.

I don’t need Notre Dame to score 60 points for me to come away impressed. What I’m watching is Carr. Does he command the offense? Is he making good decisions? Does he look like the quarterback capable of taking this team where I think it can go?

And more importantly, does Notre Dame look like a national championship team?

I’ve put my chips on the table with this one. Now let’s see what we’ve got.

4. Alabama — And I’m Watching More Than the Score

Alabama plays East Carolina, and Alabama should win the football game.

That’s not what interests me.

I want to watch Alabama’s offensive line. I want to watch the quarterback play. I want to see how that offense functions after losing some important pieces.

I’ve said all offseason that I think Alabama is vulnerable, and nothing about beating East Carolina by four touchdowns would automatically change my mind.

Sometimes you learn more watching how a team wins than you do looking at the final score.

I’m watching Alabama closely because I want to know if some of those weaknesses I’ve been talking about are actually there.

5. Ole Miss Is Better Than Louisville

Ole Miss and Louisville is one of the better games on the schedule, but I’m probably not as torn about this one as some people are.

I think Ole Miss wins.

I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout, and Louisville is good enough to make Ole Miss earn it. But I don’t think we’re going to be sitting there with two minutes left wondering who’s going to win either.

Ole Miss is the better football team.

What I want to see is whether they look like it.

If Ole Miss goes out, controls the football game and wins comfortably — not necessarily by 30, but without ever really feeling threatened — then I’ll feel pretty good about where I have them.

And One More Thing…

Every opening weekend there is one.

Some highly ranked team plays somebody they’re supposed to beat easily, comes out looking like they’ve never practiced together and has everybody scrambling to rewrite their preseason predictions by Saturday night.

Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M — there are plenty of highly ranked teams playing opponents they should handle.

One of them is going to make us uncomfortable.

The fun part is figuring out which one.

That’s what I’m watching this weekend.

The predictions are over.

Now we finally get some evidence.