Focusing on the College Football Playoff on the first day of September might not seem like a worth-while experience, but Week 1's games could make an impact on the playoff rankings and more immediately the AP Top 25 given the significance of the contests.
While the majority of the title contenders face easy opening weekend matchups, there's one top-10 showdown that will alter the positioning of teams and potentially shift the perception of one power-five league.
No. 6 Washington and No. 9 Auburn participate in Saturday's most meaningful contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and if the Tigers leave Atlanta with a victory, the Pac-12 will have yet another disadvantage in the rankings.