2025 College Football: Week 1 Takeaways
The NCAA football season has finally arrived. We shouldn’t have as much chaos concerning the college football paradigm this year. Realignment has largely settled down for now, and the CFP’s biggest change was a shift to straight seeding. In case you weren’t with us last year, in these weekly posts, I discuss everything that happened during the week’s games, including player/team analyses, CFP discussions, and NFL draft ramifications where applicable. To start off, we’re talking about three top-10 brawls with major potential implications. So let’s get to it! Here are my week 1 takeaways for the 2025 college football season.
(3) Ohio State Tops (1) Texas in Biggest Week 1 Matchup in Years
Rarely do you see two top-3 teams face off this early in the season. Some complained about Texas being ranked #1, but these were the rankings, so the statement holds. However, those naysayers probably feel pretty justified right about now. The headlines were predictable: Texas QB Arch Manning versus the Buckeyes. That doesn’t address a very important point though, i.e., that Manning and OSU counterpart Julian Sayin, while both 5-star recruits with much hype, are largely unproven. As much as people expected a QB showcase, we probably should’ve anticipated much more of a defensive struggle, especially in Week 1.
It should be noted that although both teams lost talent to the NFL (26 drafted players between them to be exact), they also have very expensive and replenished rosters. Each team committed a turnover on downs to start the game, with Sayin in particular getting little help. On Ohio State’s second drive, WR Jeremiah Smith (6/43), widely considered the nation’s best, committed two extremely rare drops. The Buckeyes also ran for just 2.3 yards per carry, though RB CJ Donaldson Jr (19/67/1) earned some hard yards. OSU finally broke a 0-0 tie on their third drive with a great TD march that consumed 8:01 of clock.
For Texas, RBs CJ Baxter (10/40; 5/25 receiving) and Quintrevion Wisner (16/80) both did well, and it was especially nice to see Baxter back. The 2023 freshman sensation missed last season with a torn ACL, and he looked powerful in his return. Honestly, Manning (17/30, 170 yards, TD, INT; 10/38 rushing) was the main culprit for the Longhorns’ 14-7 loss. He seemed tentative all game, holding the ball before firing inaccurate passes. Texas finally had a good drive (one of only two on the day), but Manning failed to convert a run on 4th and goal at the 1. He threw a nice TD to WR Parker Livingstone (2/47/1), but it was too late by then.
Sayin (13/20, 126 yards, TD) played a game manager role, but he did what he needed to do in his first start. His key play was a 40-yard deep-strike TD to WR Carnell Tate (2/49/1). We need to talk about the defenses though. Both teams were exceptional on that side of the ball, but it wasn’t the names you might’ve expected. Texas LB Liona Lefau (9 tackles) was a complete menace, while OSU LB Arvell Reese (9 tackles, sack) had the only sack of the game for either team because both offensive lines played well. The Buckeyes were just a touch better, and that may have been thanks to excellent new DC Matt Patricia.
NFL player Kyle Van Noy made a great point, saying that Patricia shut down Texas with the same defense he used against Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian in the second half of Super Bowl LI when Sark was the OC of the Falcons. I’m willing to chalk this up to a great defensive performance rather than a letdown by Manning. In last year’s CFP semifinals, with different players and a different DC, the Buckeyes did the same thing to Texas. OSU has now won 26 straight season openers, and I believe they should vault to #1 in the rankings. Texas can definitely still compete, and Manning can be great. They just have work to do.
(9) LSU Overcomes Week 1 Woes in Battle of the Tigers vs. (4) Clemson
Most of these heavyweight contests became defensive contests, which I suppose we should’ve seen coming. These defenses are all very talents, but a team’s defense is usually ahead of its offense in terms of synergy at the start of the season. The difference between these Tigers was that one team eventually woke up. Neither team looked sharp offensive in the first half. Each burnt two timeouts in the first quarter because they were out of sorts. Clemson had the better first half but only because LSU fumbled twice, including one occasion when they failed on 4th down following some dubious clock management.
A sequence to begin the second half really changed the game. Clemson K Nolan Hauser missed a field goal, and LSU drove to tie the game at 10. QB Garrett Nussmeier (28/38, 230 yards, TD) finally found a groove, and RB Caden Durham (17/74/1; 3/22 receiving) emerged as a potential star. Conversely, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (19/38, 230 yards, INT) fell apart while under constant duress and threw an INT on the very next drive. LSU could’ve buried Clemson, but a beautiful throw from Nussmeier to UK transfer WR Barion Brown (5/25) was wrongly overturned from a first down to an incompletion. It was really a TD.
To add insult to injury, K Damian Ramos missed the subsequent FG attempt. LSU didn’t flinch though, and they allowed 0 points the entire second half. LB Harold Perkins (5 tackles, sack), who returned after missing most of last year with a torn ACL, became the focus of Clemson’s plans. CB PJ Woodland added another sack, CB Mansoor Delane notched the crucial INT, and the Tigers allowed just 1.6 yards per carry. Losing WR Antonio Williams to an early injury-related exit really hindered Clemson, but LSU’s smothering defense made life miserable regardless. One more TD drive by LSU’s offense was all they needed for a 17-10 win.
Clemson made a last-ditch effort at the end of the game, but fittingly, pressure wrecked their 4th and 4 attempt. Their defense was up to the task, but the offense had no answers. You can blame Klubnik if you want, but the offensive line failed in all phases. LSU finally broke a curse: HC Brian Kelly had been 0-3 in openers since joining the school, and he finally got a win. With his ultra expensive roster, he’s under pressure to win this year, and this was a great out of conference win to start. I would say that Clemson is still the favorite to win the ACC, but this game showed why the SEC considers itself a superior conference.
(10) Miami Salvages Win Over (6) Notre Dame After Nearly Blowing It
All 3 lower-ranked teams won these top 10 matchups! Notre Dame, with QB CJ Carr starting for the very first time, went surprisingly pass-heavy to start the game. Perhaps they expected Miami to key on RB Jeremiyah Love and tried to throw a curveball, but the plan went poorly. Even on the second drive when Carr completed a pass, WR Malachi Fields (3/48) fumbled away possession. No points were scored off the turnover though, as Miami had a bad snap on the ensuing FG attempt. As Carr settled in, both defenses played very well, allowing no first-quarter points. At that point, Miami’s new QB got to shine.
Carson Beck, much maligned at Georgia, came to Miami to prove his worth. He quickly found a new best friend in freshman WR Malachi Toney (6/82/1). The man who is somehow not related to Kadarius Toney broke open all game and gave Beck easy answers, including his first TD of the game. Notre Dame’s offense responded but not because of Love (10/33; 4/26 receiving). Fellow RB Jadarian Price (6/45) looked much better and full of burst. The preseason All-American was surprisingly irrelevant in this game, with Price and even Carr providing more in the running game. It makes me wonder if Love is still hurt.
Miami exhibited some poor clock management at the end of the first half. However, WR CJ Daniels (5/46/1) saved them with an amazing TD grab. It would’ve been picked off had he not reeled it in. The call on the field was “upheld”, which is apparently our new word for “confirmed”, and the Hurricanes doubled up after halftime with a 7:37 drive. Up 21-7, Miami had the Irish on the ropes, but they took their foot off the gas. I lost count of how many times they ran the ball up the middle. RBs Mark Fletcher (15/66) and CharMar Brown (15/54) were both good, but the predictable calls grew stale, and the offense became stagnant.
That, along with the officiating, let ND back into the game. Late in the 3rd quarter, the zebras gifted the Irish with a TD via some questionable penalties called on Miami. Those calls infuriated the home fans even more when they missed a PI call on Miami’s subsequent drive. Hurricanes star DE Rueben Bain Jr stopped the madness with an INT, which Miami turned into a field goal. The play calling stayed poor though, and the defense crumbled. A 65-yard bust and two drives later, and the Irish tied the game at 24. Carr (19/30, 221 yards, 2 TDs, INT; 16 yards rushing, TD) showed serious moxie and surprising athleticism. He should be fine.
Ultra-conservative calls miraculously got Miami into FG range, and new K Carter Davis drilled a go-ahead 47-yard FG. At that point, the pass rush ended things. Akheem Mesidor and Bain sacked Carr and forced an intentional grounding penalty, and the Canes won 27-24. Notre Dame lost to NIU last year and made the championship game, so they’ll be alright in the long run. Carr just needs some more seasoning and an active Love. Miami has a good QB in Beck (20/31, 205 yards, 2 TDs), but he isn’t Cam Ward. I need to see some more creativity on offense, but the defensive improvements are highly encouraging.
South Florida, Florida State Announce Returns to the Grand Stage
On Thursday, we got ourselves a result that was certainly plausible but not expected. South Florida, a 7-6 team last year, was expected by many to take a leap this year. They got their first test in the form of (25) Boise State, a playoff team from a year ago. This game seemed likely to be influential as far as the Group of 6’s playoff race. Perhaps recognizing that fact, USF steamrolled the Broncos. Boise State led 7-0 after 1 quarter; they got outscored 34-0 the rest of the way. The Broncos’ loss of elite RB Ashton Jeanty to the NFL cost them dearly. His replacements combined for just 3.2 yards per carry against the Bulls defense.
Aside from the lack of production, turnovers doomed Boise State. Three rushers, RBs Sire Gaines (9/44) and Malik Sherrod (11/27) and QB Maddux Madsen (25/46, 225 yards, TD; 11/31 rushing), lost a fumble each. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing: you won’t win many games with a 3-0 turnover differential. For USF, QB Byrum Brown (16/24, 210 yards; 14/43/2 rushing) did fine as a passer but really broke out as a runner, refusing to go down on first contact. The Bulls fared so well that they snuck a backup QB onto the field for fake punt TD in a bit of coaching domination. I think this team is going to be a ton of fun in the AAC.
Two days later and a bit to the north, (8) Alabama made their first ever trip to Tallahassee to take on Florida State, a team that drastically underperformed last year. FSU transfer QB Tommy Castellanos made some extremely bold comments prior to the game, which most thought would come back to haunt him. Instead, he completely backed them up against a surprisingly feckless Alabama team. Facing completely different expectations this year, the Seminoles ran over and through the Crimson Tide to the tune of 230 yards (4.7 YPC) and 4 TDs. Castellanos (9/14, 152 yards; 16/78/1 rushing) keyed an inspired offensive attack.
New Alabama starting QB Ty Simpson (23/43, 254 yards, 2 TDs) finished with decent enough stats and no turnovers, while WR Germie Bernard (8/146) looked fantastic, even outperforming phenom Ryan Williams (5/30). The problem was consistency, as Alabama couldn’t sustain drives. A muffed punt by FSU seemed to be the break Alabama needed, but the Crimson Tide scored no points off the turnover. Whenever Alabama made the game close, the Seminoles responded. A backbreaker came when FSU, up 24-17, faced 4th and 1 at their own 34. RB Roydell Williams, an Alabama transfer, converted to keep the drive going.
FSU scored a couple of minutes later, and they won 31-17. Alabama had no chance to get the ball back because they were low on timeouts. One got charged to them when a player limped off with a late injury. We may have more discussion on this topic at some point, as this is at least the second time I’ve noted where a legitimate injury cost a team a crucial timeout. It didn’t matter though. FSU demolished Alabama in an unfamiliar way. You never see Alabama be the less physical team, but they were in this game. Florida State controlled the lines of scrimmage, even overpowering future first-round draft picks.
I’m sure we’ll talk about Alabama more later, but I’ll say two things now. First, their 23-opening-game winning streak is over. Second, fans growing impatient with HC Kalen DeBoer are only going to get louder. This story is really about FSU, who looked like the team we thought we were going to get in 2024. Beating any Alabama team in any location is a big deal, as evidenced by the fans storming the field after the game. It means more for this squad though. They exorcised some demons and put themselves back on the map. In an unpredictable AFC, maybe the Noles can make the run everyone expected them to make last season.
Tarleton State Shocks Army on the Road in FCS-FBS Upset
Full disclosure: I usually pull for the service academies. Those kids are incredible. I don’t know how they manage training, schoolwork (actual classes by the way), and practice. When an FCS team plays an FBS opponent though, sometimes it’s hard not to pull for the little guy. This shouldn’t have really been a competitive game. Despite the loss of QB Bryson Daily to graduation, Army was still the reigning conference champion of the AAC. They won that title in their first season as a member of the conference. Conversely, Tarleton State was a solid (10-4) team from the UAC in 2024 who Army paid $250,000 to play this game.
All of that means nothing once you get on the field. Sometimes, the underdog just plays their hearts out and pulls off a miracle. The Black Knights implemented their typically dominant rushing attack, taking 66 carries for 280 yards and 3 TDs. However, the Texans ran well too, with RBs Caleb Lewis and Tre Page III combining for 193 yards and 2 scores on 36 carries. Passing always favors the team playing a service academy, but Army QB Dewayne Coleman exacerbated the issue with 2 INTs. In total, the Black Knights had 3 turnovers (they also fumbled once), which let Tarleton State hang around despite falling behind 24-10.
The Texans scored 14 unanswered points while allowing 0 to Army during the 4th quarter. Army had a chance to win the game, but K Dawson Jones missed a 43-yard FG. In OT, both teams made FGs, but Jones missed again from 40 yards in 2OT. Texans K Brad Larson didn’t miss his 37-yard game winner (or any of his 3 FG attempts in the game), sealing the 30-27 stunner. I’m not in favor of these pay-to-play games. What’s the upside? If you win, nobody cares; it’s expected. A loss is derided and can be devastating. Army’s faint CFP hopes are already dead as a result. For Tarleton State though, this is a triumph they may never forget.