They’ve been teasing NFL football with preseason games for a month, but college football returns like a sudden midfield pileup.
Among the many, many games that kick off the season’s first Saturday are South Florida at Notre Dame (NBC, 3:320 p.m.), Boise State vs. Georgia (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Tulsa at Oklahoma State (FX, 8 p.m.), and in primetime, Oregon vs. LSU in Arlington, Texas.
And don’t forget “College GameDay” (ESPN, 10 a.m.) to kick it all off for the 25th year.
Ryan McPartlin plays a football star who returns to his small hometown on the new TV movie “Game Time: Tackling the Past” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Of the cable films to choose tonight, the one to seek out is Robert Duvall, left, in the underrated “Get Low” (Starz, 9 p.m.), in which he plays a long-bearded recluse who throws his own funeral party. With Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek.
Elsewhere. Will Ferrell and Jonah Hill provide the voices for the frantic “Megamind” (HBO, 8 p.m.). Others lending voices are Tina Fey and Brad Pitt.
And Tom Cruise and Cameron star in the spy caper “Knight and Day” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
Lots of films and their sequels tonight including “The Karate Kid” (Oxyben, 7 p.m.) and “The Karate Kid Part II” (Oxyben, 9:30 p.m.),two of the three Mad Max movies. “Road Warrior” (Syfy, 7 p.m.) and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (Syfy, 9 p.m.); “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” (Fox Movie Channel, 8 p.m.) and “Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie” (Fox Movie Channel, 10 p.m.).
But “Grease” (ABC Family, 6:30 p.m.) runs without “Grease II.” And “Apollo 13” (Encore, 8 p.m.) runs without Apollos 1 through 12 showing first. Director Ron Howard has been sitting in Connecticut without power for a wek probably thinking: “We can put a man on the moon…”
When a boy is frightened about a monster in his closet, he summons “Doctor Who” (BBC America, 9 p.m.). And when it’s over, Matt Smith, who plays the good doctor, stays on that same channel as guest of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
Don’t know Whitney Cummings? You will. She’s behind two sitcoms on two different networks this fall. And tonight, she hosts the “NBC Primetime Preview Show” (NBC, 7 p.m.) in which she shows previews for the NBC shows for which you’ve already been bombarded with promos.
A New England country hosue gets refurbished on a new “Home by Novogratz” (HTV, 10 p.m.).
The great “Sunset Boulevard” (TCM, 8 p.m.) kicks off a night of William Holden, with “Force of Arms” (TCM, 10 p.m.), “Young and Willing” (TCM, midnight), “Picnic” (TCM, 1:30 a.m.) and “Wild Rovers” (TCM, 3:30 a.m.).
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) is a repeat with Zach Galifianakis hosting and Jessie J performing.