The Scarlet and Gray

[djp73]

Drew Allar, Penn State

he's about to say "spread your cheeks and bend over" to the whole conference

[ShireNiner]

Browne put up big numbers against me but Purdue is awful. I like the rest of the rankings based on what you know IRL. Dante Moore is going to be the best pro from this group

[Count]

that pre-season media sleeping on Mendoza and Dante Moore

[toysoldier00]

not a fan of those rankings

I feel like they're very Preseason 2025 vibes. And if we learned anything in real life this year, its that preseason QB rankings are about as wrong as they could be.

18. Ryan Browne, Purdue
Browne is the least proven starter in the league, and Purdue is projected to finish near the bottom of the conference. Any breakout would be a surprise.

Ryan Browne lead Purdue to the National Championship and graduated as the NCAA all time touchdown leader in my USC chise last year

lmao. Is the Purdue resurgence on?

Drew Allar, Penn State

he's about to say "spread your cheeks and bend over" to the whole conference

WELLLLLLLLLL...........

Browne put up big numbers against me but Purdue is awful. I like the rest of the rankings based on what you know IRL. Dante Moore is going to be the best pro from this group

Moore or Sayin imo

that pre-season media sleeping on Mendoza and Dante Moore

I have a sneaky feeling Mendoza might win the heisman

[Soapy]

Never got the Drew Allar hype

[toysoldier00]

Week 1 Preview: Texas–Ohio State Headlines a Loaded Opening Saturday in College Football

Marissa Bleday
August 28, 2025


The wait is almost over. In just two days, the 2025 college football season kicks off with one of the strongest Week 1 slates in recent memory, a Saturday stuffed with playoff implications, heavyweight quarterback battles, and cross-country showdowns that will shape the narrative for months to come.

Here’s a look at the biggest games of the weekend.

No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State
The marquee matchup of Week 1, and maybe the entire regular season, features a rematch of last year’s national semifinal, where Ohio State beat Texas 28–14 on its way to the national championship. Now the Longhorns come to Columbus with revenge on their mind and the preseason No. 1 AP ranking to justify.

Both teams enter with new quarterbacks, but the hype surrounding each couldn’t be higher. Texas hands the reins to Arch Manning, the most talked-about quarterback prospect in modern recruiting history and the early Heisman favorite. Ohio State counters with Julian Sayin, the former five-star who won the Buckeyes’ quarterback job less than two weeks ago.

“This is why you come to play college football,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of the matchup. “You’ve got blue-chip quarterbacks, superstar skill guys, and NFL players all over the field.”

Texas brings back one of the nation’s most talented defenses, highlighted by preseason All-Americans Anthony Hill Jr.at linebacker and Colin Simmons off the edge, as well as safety Michael Taaffe, corner Malik Muhammad, and linebacker Trey Moore. It’s a unit experienced enough to challenge any scheme in the country.

Ohio State, however, counters with two of the sport’s elite talents: Jeremiah Smith, arguably the nation’s top offensive player after a 1,300-yard freshman season, and Caleb Downs, the game’s premier defensive back. Both were named First-Team Preseason All-Americans by the AP, joining Hill and Simmons.

“This game is going to show us exactly where we’re at,” said one anonymous NFL scout. “There might be 20 future pros on that field. It’s playoff-level football in August.”

No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 12 Miami
Few matchups on the Week 1 slate are more intriguing than Notre Dame heading to South Florida to face a Miami team under enormous pressure to break through in Year 4 of the Mario Cristobal era.

Notre Dame returns Jeremiyah Love, the nation’s top running back and a preseason All-American, but breaks in a new quarterback in CJ Carr, the highly touted freshman expected to lead an offense full of veterans. The Irish defense should again be among the nation’s best, but after losing both its coordinator and starting quarterback from last season’s national runner-up team, Saturday will be a telling first test.

Miami, meanwhile, opens what many believe is a make-or-break season. The Hurricanes missed the playoff last year despite having Cam Ward, who became the Heisman winner and No. 1 overall pick. They responded aggressively, landing Georgia transfer Carson Beck, a proven SEC quarterback with the experience to maximize the Hurricanes’ loaded roster.

“This is a game Miami has to win if they want to be taken seriously,” Kirk Herbstreit said. “They’ve got the quarterback, they’ve got the roster — no excuses.”

No. 8 LSU at No. 7 Clemson
Two playoff hopefuls meet in a top-10 showdown where the quarterbacks are the clear headliners.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, a First-Team Preseason All-American, leads an offense that also features elite receiver Antonio Williams, dominant offensive tackle Blake Miller, and defensive anchors Peter Woods and TJ Parker. After sneaking into last year’s playoff, Dabo Swinney enters a pivotal season where expectations are nothing short of a return to national relevance.

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, the Second-Team Preseason All-American quarterback, brings a strong resume into 2025 and has the Tigers positioned as one of the SEC’s most stable preseason contenders.

“This is a quarterback battle you circle,” said an SEC defensive coordinator. “Two pros. Two top-10 teams. No fluff.”

Other key Week 1 matchups
- Virginia Tech at No. 11 South Carolina: The Gamecocks carry top-15 expectations and an aggressive defense into a tricky opener.
- No. 22 Tennessee at Syracuse: The Vols must prove they can reload after heavy losses to the NFL.
- TCU at North Carolina: Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels debut in Chapel Hill, drawing massive national attention.
- No. 9 Alabama at Florida State: One of the most unpredictable games of the weekend with major playoff implications.
- Nebraska at Cincinnati: Dylan Raiola begins Year 2 against a quietly dangerous Bearcats team.
- Auburn at Baylor: Both programs enter with momentum, and something to prove.

With star quarterbacks, playoff-caliber programs and cross-conference clashes dominating the slate, Week 1 is shaping up to be an opening Saturday worthy of the offseason hype. Football is back, and it’s starting with a bang.




[The JZA]

HFA against #1 Tex, should be a good game

[Captain Canada]

Go Tigers

[The Sauce]

This could really set the tone for you guys. A nice resume booster and probably a turning point for becoming the favorites to bring home the Natty.

[djp73]

Go Arch