Even though September arrives first, most preseason talk discusses what might happen toward the end of college football's regular season.
Who wins each conference? Which programs make the College Football Playoff? Who brings home the national title, and will they be undefeated when it happens?
But that opening month often has a marquee opponent that kickstarts a successful campaign. Knock off that program, and the foundation is officially laid for a championship charge. On the other hand, a loss can substantially complicate that pursuit.
The eight teams highlighted each hold national title odds of +4000 or shorter on DraftKings. Other upsets can happen, but one matchup stands out as the first seemingly major test for these top contenders.
Michigan Wolverines
Title Odds: +4000
Perhaps the kindest introduction to the 2022 campaign belongs to Michigan. Each of the Wolverines' four September games is at home, and none of Colorado State, Hawaii or UConn figure to truly compete with the Maize and Blue.
Maryland could on Sept. 24 if its offense excels immediately, but we'll delay the pick until the ensuing Saturday.
Iowa City, after all, hasn't been kind to U-M.
Sure, the sample size extends well beyond the current personnel's time in college. But the Michigan program has dropped four straight games at Kinnick Stadium.
The good news is Michigan steamrolled Iowa 42-3 in last season's Big Ten Championship Game. The bad news is the Hawkeyes haven't finished worse than 5-2 at home since 2016—yet they upset Michigan that season anyway—and the 2022 squad projects to have a top-tier defense.
This matchup will be much tougher than the lopsided tilt in Indianapolis.
Oklahoma Sooners
Title Odds: +4000
Oklahoma should have a favorable start to Brent Venables' tenure. No reasonable person will argue either UTEP or Kent State is more talented than the Sooners.
As always, mark a disclaimer that weird stuff happens; Tulane took OU to the wire in last year's opener. But the main concern for Oklahoma is a Sept. 17 trip to Nebraska, which fell only 23-16 in Norman last season and also stayed within one score of four ranked Big Ten opponents.
And more importantly, the Huskers have Casey Thompson.
The transfer from Texas is expected to start for Nebraska, and he brings some serious experience to Scott Frost's offense. Thompson threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns against the Sooners in 2021.
It's a safe bet OU won't be overlooking the Huskers this season, even as recent nemesis Kansas State awaits the following week.