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College football Week 1 schedule and predictions

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Western Michigan Broncos at No. 4 USC Trojans

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 2, 5:15 p.m., Pac-12 Network

After winning nine straight games to close the 2016 season, expectations are sky high for Southern Cal in 2017. However, the Trojans face a Western Michigan squad that tasted success on a national level last year.

Western Michigan at USC: Three Things to Watch

1. USC QB Sam Darnold

The favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, USC quarterback Sam Darnold wasn’t even the starter for the Trojans until Week 4 last season. Nevertheless, Darnold quickly became one of the most feared signal callers in the country.

Darnold threw 3,086 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes, along with nine interceptions a year ago. He completed an impressive 67.2 percent of his passes, and added 250 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. The redshirt sophomore is now widely considered a future No. 1 NFL draft pick.

2. New Western Michigan Head Coach Tim Lester

P.J. Fleck took over at Western Michigan prior to the 2012 season, and though he went 1-11 in his first season with the Broncos, Fleck breathed new life into the program. Fleck upgraded the talent level on the roster, guided the Broncos to the MAC title, and helped the program earn an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game. However, Fleck is now the head coach at Minnesota.

Tim Lester, a former WMU quarterback, was the quarterbacks coach at Purdue last season, and served the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Syracuse. He inherits a roster that must replace its starting quarterback and three leading receivers, but with 1,300-yard rusher Jarvion Franklin and a core group of experienced defenders back to make a run at a second straight conference crown.

3. Elite Talent

The Tennessee Titans selected Corey Davis No. 5 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Davis, who caught 97 passes for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, was one of the best offensive playmakers in the country last season and the top receiver drafted. He also played for Western Michigan.

Though tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has an NFL future, there is no Davis-like pro prospect on the Broncos roster this year, and USC has a huge edge in overall talent. Led by Darnold, who comes in with seven of the top 132 players listed on NFL.com’s Top 150 players list.

Prediction:

Western Michigan was a lot of fun to watch in 2016, and though Fleck, Davis and quarterback Zach Terrell are gone, the Broncos will still be competitive this season. But USC is a national championship contender, and should make quick work of the Broncos in the season opener.

USC 41, Western Michigan 14

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