College Football Props: 3 Best Player Props for Week 1 (Saturday)

Best College Football Props at a Glance

• Mason McKenzie Under 184.5 Passing Yards (-114)
• Byrum Brown Under 64.5 Rushing Yards vs. Baylor (-114)
• Sam Leavitt Over 264.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Week 1 of the college football season gives us a loaded weekend slate, and the player prop market offers another way to attack some of the biggest games.

The transfer portal has created plenty of uncertainty, but it has also given several established players intriguing new situations.

Via the college football odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, which college football props are the best ones to target this week? Let's take a look.

All college football odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

College Football Player Props for This Week

Byrum Brown Under 64.5 Rushing Yards (-114)

Baylor vs. Auburn (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Brown's rushing ability is a huge part of what makes him such an intriguing addition for the Auburn Tigers, but this number looks a little aggressive.

Brown was outstanding on the ground for USF last season, rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns, before following Alex Golesh to Auburn. That history is presumably baked into a rushing prop sitting in the mid-60s.

However, the market may be expecting too much of his rushing workload in his first game at Auburn. The Tigers have Jeremiah Cobb in the backfield, and Brown shouldn't necessarily need to carry the ball at the same rate he did at USF.

Also, it’s important to remember that college statistics count sack yardage against a quarterback's rushing total, making Brown vulnerable to negative plays that wouldn't affect an NFL quarterback's rushing prop in the same way.

Brown's dual-threat ability should be a major problem for the Baylor Bears, but he can have a strong Auburn debut without reaching 65 rushing yards. This is my favorite player prop of Week 1.

Mason McKenzie Under 184.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Boston College vs. Cincinnati (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

McKenzie is making his Boston College Eagles debut after transferring from Saginaw Valley State, where he was the 2025 GLIAC Player of the Year. He threw for 2,086 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games last season, but he completed just 59.8% of his passes and averaged 189.6 passing yards per game.

The 184.5-yard number therefore doesn't leave us with much wiggle room, particularly with McKenzie stepping up from Division II competition to his first Power Four start. Boston College has also built a deeper running back room around Evan Dickens, who transferred from Liberty after rushing for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025. Dickens averaged 121.7 rushing yards per game last season, giving the Eagles a legitimate way to lean on the ground game.

The matchup isn't particularly friendly for a passing ceiling, either. The Cincinnati Bearcats held opponents to 220.5 passing yards per game in 2025 while allowing 1.5 passing touchdowns per game.

McKenzie is mobile enough to contribute on the ground, and that could actually work against his passing output. He rushed for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, so Boston College has another way to use him without asking him to throw 35-plus times.

Sam Leavitt Over 264.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Clemson vs. LSU (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Leavitt's LSU Tigers debut is one of the more fascinating storylines of Week 1.

The former Arizona State quarterback moves into a Lane Kiffin offense that should give him plenty of opportunities to make plays. Leavitt was limited by injury in 2025, but he finished his season with passing yards performances of 291, 319 and 270 yards, clearing this 264.5-yard line in all three games. He also threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns during Arizona State's run to the College Football Playoff in 2024.

The Clemson Tigers‘ pass defense wasn't particularly imposing last season. The Tigers surrendered 251.2 passing yards per game, up significantly from their 213.5 mark in 2024.

Game script should help, too. While Clemson is a 10-point underdog, this is still a matchup between two ranked teams with a 50.5-point total. If Clemson can keep things competitive, LSU should have little reason to take its foot off the gas.

Kiffin's Ole Miss offense averaged 313.3 passing yards per game last season. Leavitt is a different quarterback in a different situation, but the offensive environment should give him enough volume to make a run clear this yardage prop in his LSU debut.

College Football Prop Betting FAQ

What are college football player props?

Player props are wagers based on an individual player's performance rather than the final score of the game. Common examples include passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and completions.

What should you look for when betting college football player props?

Usage and matchup are two of the biggest factors. Bettors should consider snap share, carries, targets, quarterback tendencies, game script, opponent strength, and whether a player's recent production is supported by a consistent workload.

Are college football player props available for every game?

No. Sportsbooks typically offer more player props for nationally televised games and matchups involving major programs, while smaller games may have fewer markets available. Also, college player props are not allowed in some states where sports betting is legal.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.