​Former SMU President R. Gerald Turner and SMU mascot Peruna sing the school song on the field after Mustangs bear  Florida State  on September 28, 2024, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It’s the first full week of the 2026 college football season, and we’ve assembled a panel of experts to predict the outcomes of the nation’s top matchups.In addition to a panel of writers from The News and Denton Record-Chronicle, NBC5’s Newy Scruggs and The Ticket’s Corby Davidson are back to participate in our friendly contest. Here are our predictions for 20 top games this week. Be sure to scroll to the side to see all of our picks.SubscribeSign up for the Morning Roundup, a free newsletter delivering the latest North Texas news each morning.This article originally published at Week 1 picks for the 2026 college football season: 20 top matchups from around the nation.