Week 0 College Football: LA Daily News Game Previews and Predictions

Week 0 Kicks Off the College Football Season

Week 0 college football is here, and the LA Daily News has put together a full breakdown of previews and predictions for every game on the opening slate. For fans eager to get a jump on the 2024 season, this early round of games serves as the first real test for programs across the country before the traditional Week 1 kickoff.

The Week 0 schedule typically features a handful of matchups, often involving teams looking to get an extra week of game action or programs paired in neutral-site contests. While the number of games is smaller than a standard week, the stakes are real. A loss in Week 0 can reshape a team's early-season trajectory before conference play even begins.

The LA Daily News, which covers Southern California football closely, has broken down the key storylines heading into each contest and offered predictions on which teams are expected to come out on top.

What to Watch in the Opening Games

Early-season games carry a different energy. Rosters are still settling, depth charts haven't been stress-tested, and coaching adjustments from the offseason get their first live look. For that reason, predictions in Week 0 carry more uncertainty than later in the year.

The LA Daily News coverage focuses on helping readers understand what each team is working with heading into the game, including roster changes, new coaching influences, and positional strengths. That context matters, especially for programs that saw significant transfer portal activity during the offseason.

Southern California fans have particular interest in any local programs featured on the Week 0 card, and the Daily News previews give those matchups added detail, reflecting the paper's regional expertise.

Why Week 0 Matters for the Bigger Picture

Week 0 results can carry weight well beyond the scoreboard. For teams on the fringe of national rankings, an early win builds momentum and can influence poll voters before the bulk of the country plays. Conversely, an unexpected defeat can put a program in catch-up mode heading into a packed nonconference schedule.

For bettors and fantasy football players, the previews published by the LA Daily News offer a structured look at each game's likely flow, including which offenses may have an edge and where defensive units could be tested early.

The full set of previews and predictions is available through the Los Angeles Daily News, which has been a consistent source of Southern California sports coverage throughout the college football season.