College football is back in full swing. There are always things to watch every week of the season. Here are 5 things to watch in college football week 1.
In one of the best season-opening games fans could ask for, Texas travels to Ohio State in a matchup of heavyweights. Arch Manning has a lot of hype, but has just started a few games in his college career, while backing up Quinn Ewers. He now gets a tough start on the road against a talented team to open up his time running the team.
Texas has national championship aspirations after making the semifinals the last two seasons. Manning will have three returning starters on offense to work with, while the defense is expected to be one of the best in the country, as they bring back five starters. The Buckeyes will also have a new starter in Julian Sayin, who will have his work cut out for him against the Texas defense. After winning the national championship last season, Jeremiah Smith is back, but there will be a lot of new faces for Ohio State. Can Arch Manning win a big game? Or will Ohio State protect their home turf?
The first prime time game of the season features two great teams: LSU and Clemson. LSU returned quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. While the offensive line is still unproven, he will have a ton of talent at the skill positions. The offense should be high-powered, while the defense should be much improved under defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Returning players Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks will be joined by plenty of transfers, which should make them a great unit.
Clemson made the CFP last season and returns a lot of key members of that team. Cade Klubnik took a huge step forward last season and is back under center in 2025. The wide receiver room has plenty of talent and so too does the offensive line. Defensively, they could be one of the best in the country. They have a great defensive line and solid players at every level. Whoever wins the game will be a step ahead of a lot of other schools vying to make the CFP.
In the season opener, Notre Dame will play Miami on Sunday night. The Fighting Irish are coming off a year in which they made the national championship. C.J. Carr takes over at quarterback and will have one of the best offensive lines in the country in front of him. He’ll also have star running back Jeremiyah Love and an improved receiving core. The defense lost a lot from last season up front, but has plenty of talent on the back end to make a run at the CFP again.
Miami won 10 games last season, but Cam Ward is now in the NFL and Carson Beck is in at quarterback after transferring from Georgia. They have a lot of new skill position players that need to step up, but the offensive line should be solid to support Beck. The defense had some major issues last season, but Rueben Bain being healthy could really help, as he can get after the quarterback. Miami has high expectations for the year and this could be a major win for their program.
One of the biggest stories of the offseason was Bill Belichick taking the head coaching job at UNC. He will get a prime-time game on Monday Night against TCU to open up his tenure. The Tar Heels only have six returning starters from last year’s team and Belichick put together a roster, but the quick turnaround could be tough early in the season.
They will have a tough matchup against TCU, who won nine games last season. The Horned Frogs return starting quarterback Josh Hoover, but his top two receivers went to the NFL. They should have a solid offensive line and defense, as eight starters return from those groups. It will be a standalone game that most fans can watch, so the spotlight will be big for Belichick in this tough game.
Last season, Boise State made the CFP as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion. They start this season off with a big game at USF. Ashton Jeanty is now in the pros, but Maddux Madsen is back at quarterback for the Broncos. He’ll be joined by six other returning starters on offense and six more on defense. They have plenty of talent to make a run at another CFP, but this is a tricky game.
USF won seven games last season, but that was also while dealing with health issues to quarterback Byrum Brown. When healthy he has been a dynamic playmaker who can pick up yards with his legs and arm. He will have an experienced offensive line in front of him and some interesting pieces on offense to work with. The Bulls also have six starters back on defense, which means the unit could improve. It could be a tough game on opening night for Boise State, as they adjust to the post-Jeanty era.
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