College football rankings: 5 Top 25 teams that will lose first in 2022

2. No. 23 Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (Week 1, Sept. 3, 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff)

It is a shame that one of these two teams will have to lose in Week 1, but this is the sort of thing that happens when two quality teams are slated to play each other on Labor Day Weekend. Although the Cincinnati Bearcats have not lost a regular-season game since 2019, they might start the year out 0-1 when they take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville on Sept. 3.

Playing in Razorback Stadium will be a step up for Cincinnati, but the real big issue in this game will be at quarterback. Ben Bryant has the near impossible task of replacing Desmond Ridder, while Sam Pittman knows exactly what he has in KJ Jefferson. If this game were played at Nippert, we might side with the Bearcats in this one. But with it being in Arkansas, it is all about the Hogs.

If you were looking for the third best game on the Labor Day Weekend slate, this one has to be it.

1. No. 11 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (Week 1, Sept. 3, 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff)

While Cincinnati at Arkansas is clearly third, No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta is easily a top-two game on Labor Day Weekend. It features not only a Pac-12 power going up against the defending national champions, but Georgia’s former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning takes on his mentor right from the jump inside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. What could possibly go wrong?

Although Oregon might be the best team Georgia faces during the regular season, Oregon is going to be very much up against it vs. the Dawgs. The Ducks may have Bo Nix at quarterback, but he is 0-3 to date vs. Georgia from his days quarterbacking Auburn. While Oregon is capable of pulling off the monumental upset, but Georgia is too deep and too ferocious to take its foot off the gas.

This game will be closer than expected, but Georgia should win this one comfortably over Oregon.

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