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With 12 matchups involving Southeastern Conference teams on the docket, here’s a list of the player to watch in each SEC game for Week 1 (all kickoff times are for Eastern Standard Time):
noon, Tennessee-Martin at No. 17 Ole Miss, SEC Network
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
This will be Treadwell’s first game back after suffering a gruesome leg injury against Auburn last November. He’s considered one of the best receivers in college football and will look to return to form against the Skyhawks.
noon, Louisiana-Monroe at No. 9 Georgia, SEC NETWORK
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Chubb is one of the nation’s top running backs and a likely Heisman finalist at the end of the year. The Bulldogs will be playing with the lead for most of this game, so it’s a great opportunity for Chubb to start padding those stats.
3:30 p.m., UTEP at No. 18 Arkansas, ESPNU
Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
Collins was phenomenal last season in a time share with Jonathan Williams, compiling 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns. There was supposed to be a similar split in the Arkansas backfield this season, but a season-ending injury to Williams has opened up the door for Collins to be the bell cow in Fayetteville.
3:30 p.m., Louisville vs. No. 6 Auburn (Atlanta, Ga.), CBS
Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn
There’s a ton of excitement in Auburn over the new starting quarterback. Johnson is a much better passer than Nick Marshall ever was for the Tigers. At 6-foot-5, Johnson stands tall in the pocket and has a cannon for an arm to deliver balls on a rope to his receivers.
4 p.m., Southeast Missouri at No. 24 Missouri, SEC Network
Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri
Brothers is a fifth-year senior and the top returning tackler for the Tigers. He’ll be the veteran leader for Missouri on and off the field this season and will look to set the tone early for his team.
4 p.m., Bowling Green vs. No. 25 Tennessee (Nashville, Tenn.), SEC Network
Curt Maggitt, LB/DL, Tennessee
With the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or in a two-point stance, Maggitt is one of the Volunteers most ferocious defenders. He returns as the team’s leader in sacks (11) and will pair up with linebacker Derek Barnett to provide one of college football’s best pass rushes.
7 p.m., No. 15 Arizona State vs Texas A&M (Houston, Texas), ESPN
Kyle Allen, QB, Texas A&M
After winning the quarterback competition in College Station this offseason, many Aggies fans are excited to see how far Allen can take this Texas A&M team. He’ll have plenty of help on offense but an opening game against the Sun Devils isn’t going to be easy.
7 p.m., Louisiana-Lafayette at Kentucky, ESPNU
Patrick Towles, QB, Kentucky
Towles returns as the starting quarterback for the Wildcats as Kentucky tries to build up its football program. The schedule might not give the Wildcats a ton of chances to impress its touted 2016 recruiting class, but the season opener will be a good opportunity to do so.
7:30 p.m., McNeese State at No. 14 LSU, SEC Network
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Fournette is one of college football’s most fun runners to watch because of his bruising style and the ability to still bust long runs. He had a phenomenal start to his college career last season as a freshman and will look to build on that this year.
7:30 p.m., New Mexico State at Florida, SEC NETWORK
Antonio Morrison, LB, Florida
Morrison is another star player that is returning from a serious injury and Gators fans are eager to see if he can pick up where he left off. Morrison’s speedy recovery from his knee injury shows the kind of beast he is and now he will look to display that toughness on the field.
8 p.m., No. 20 Wisconsin vs No. 3 Alabama (Arlington, Texas), ABC
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Henry came to Alabama as the all-time leading prep rusher and has been patiently waiting to be the Crimson Tide’s featured back. Now as a junior, Henry is poised to have a breakout season and be one of college football’s premier running backs.
10 p.m., Mississippi State at Southern Mississippi, FOX Sports 1
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
As if there was really anyone else to pick here. Prescott will begin his Heisman campaign against the Golden Eagles in what is the only road game for an SEC team on opening weekend.
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
