College football fans, rejoice! Week 1 has finally arrived, and it’s one of the greatest opening weekends in the history of the sport. We’ll be able to watch one Top 5 matchup, two Top 10 matchups, and various other out-of-conference Power 4 matchups. If you enjoy watching college football, then this is the weekend you dream of. Let’s take a look at three marquee matchups to watch on Saturday.
Ohio State vs. Texas
Location: Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio
Spread: Ohio State (-1.5)
Over/Under: 47.5
ML: Ohio State (-125), Texas (+105)
Ohio State WRs versus Texas DBs
Ohio State is hoping to have a three-headed monster at the WR position with Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss. These WRs will be looking to make new starting QB Julian Sayin comfortable in his first start. Across from them will be arguably the best secondary in college football. Texas’s DB group consists of elite players and recruits such as Jaylon Guilbeau, Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad, Derek Williams Jr, Jelani McDonald, Kobe Black, and Xavier Filsaime.
In last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal, Texas was able to limit Jeremiah Smith to 1 catch for 3 yards. The downside to focusing on Smith was that Carnell Tate caught 7 receptions for 87 yards. Texas will likely use a similar game plan during Saturday’s game and force Julian Sayin to throw to Tate, Inniss, and others.
The Texas secondary doesn’t have a DB less than 6′ tall, and it has 3 CBs who are 6’2. Meanwhile, the Ohio State WR corps doesn’t have a player less than 6′ tall and has multiple WRs standing at 6’3 or taller, including Smith and Tate. These are two of the longer rooms in college football at their respective positions. These two groups like to play physically, and Julian Sayin needs to be prepared to throw into tight windows.
Ohio State OL versus Texas Front 7
Ohio State has just recently made some adjustments to its starting five. Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa was supposed to win a starting job at LT or RT; however, it seems that Onianwa has struggled. Projected starter at RT, Austin Siereveld, is now moving to LT. This will be Siereveld’s first season not playing on the interior OL. Now, Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels is stepping into the starting role at RT. Daniels made just three starts for Minnesota last season. Can this unit perform at a high level despite the recent shuffles in the starting five? Can the LT and RT hold up against an extremely talented Texas EDGE position?
Texas will have arguably the best LB in college football, Anthony Hill Jr, and arguably the best pass rusher in college football, Colin Simmons. Last season, Texas ranked 12th in both opponent yards per carry and opponent rushing yards per game. Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski is widely considered one of the nation’s best defensive play callers. However, Texas has one major question on the defensive front- IDL. Texas brought in five transfers at NT and DT. If these transfers don’t pan out as Texas is hoping, then the interior run game is a spot that Ohio State will be able to take advantage of.
Florida State vs. Alabama
Location: Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida
Spread: Alabama (-13.5)
Over/Under: 50.5
ML: Florida State (+425), Alabama (-650)
Florida State OL versus Alabama Front 7
Florida State will be starting four transfers on the OL. In a game that will most likely be run-heavy due to rain, the OLs are the most important units on the field. There should be no concern as to whether the OL can remember assignments and understand the scheme. Every member of the OL is a 5th-year senior with plenty of experience. The main concern for Florida State is obvious. Do these transfers boom like they did in 2023, or do they bust like they did in 2024?
Breaking news on the Alabama front was announced just a couple of hours ago. NT Tim Keenan III is going to miss this game due to tightrope surgery. His replacement will be Jeremiah Beaman, a former Top 100 recruit who stands at 6’4 315 pounds. The Tide returns multiple starters from last season, such as LT Overton, James Smith, Qua Russaw, and Deontae Lawson. Justin Jefferson also returns after being LB3 behind Lawson and Jihaad Campbell. Of the players on the front four who will start or rotate, five of them were 5-star recruits. This will be a tall task for an offensive line that has never played together. Look for Alabama’s front 7 to use different formations to force this brand new offensive line to communicate.
Alabama OL versus Florida State Front 7
As stated previously, the matchups to watch are in the trenches, considering the projected weather forecast. Florida State fans have been concerned with the recent depth chart release for the Noles’ defense. FSU will be running the 3-3-5 defense. Of the 6 defensive linemen in the FSU 2-deep rotation, only one is above 300 pounds. Like the OL, the DL doesn’t lack experience. The entire 2-deep contains redshirt juniors and seniors who possess playing experience. Last season, this FSU defense ranked 98th in opponent yards per carry and 111th in opponent rushing yards per game. Head coach Mike Norvell made some transfer acquisitions in the offseason, and he’s hoping they can provide a boost to his front 7. This defense will be replacing its top 3 sack leaders. It will need to find a quick solution to the pass rush if the rain allows Alabama to throw the ball consistently.
PFF’s #1 preseason OL will be without one starter for this game. Starting RG Jaeden Roberts will miss this game while in concussion protocol. In a game decided in the trenches, Alabama will miss possibly the nation’s strongest player. Geno VanDeMark will be starting in place of Roberts. VanDeMark brings plenty of experience, although his run blocking is not on the level of Roberts. Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford are the All-Americans on this OL, and they will need to set the tone early. This team ranked 42nd in yards per carry last season, but a more traditional offense is expected to increase that number. RT Wilkin Formby will be looking to prove himself, as many spectators across the country still doubt his abilities at RT. If Florida State wants to make an impact at the line of scrimmage, the right side of Alabama’s OL is likely where they will target.
Clemson vs. LSU
Location: Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina
Spread: Clemson (-3.5)
Over/Under: 57.5
ML: Clemson (-175), LSU (+150)
Clemson DL versus LSU OL
If you haven’t heard of TJ Parker and Peter Woods, then you will learn their names on Saturday. These two combined for 14 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in 2024. Now, Clemson has added DE Will Heldt, who totaled 5 sacks and 10 TFLs for Purdue last season. This front four averages 6’4 280 pounds, and does not lack explosiveness off the snap. Even the backups for this DL will potentially cause problems for LSU’s OL. Vic Burley and Amare Adams are both former 5-star recruits, and each of them is 6’4 300+ pounds.
LSU is replacing four starters from last year’s OL. Head coach Brian Kelly acquired two highly rated transfers in Braelin Moore and Josh Thompson, who are expected to start at C and RG. Tyree Adams and Weston Davis, the two other new starters, have little playing experience. The Clemson DL will be their first major playing time. Last year’s OL was elite in pass protection, as QB Garrett Nussmeier was sacked only 16 times in 13 games. For most of LSU’s offensive linemen, Parker and Woods will be the two best opponents that they have blocked. Not everything about this matchup is negative for LSU. The players starting on this OL are still extremely talented players who were highly rated recruits. But four new faces opposing this caliber of DL in their first game together is not a promising concept.
Dabo Swinney versus Brian Kelly
This is a matchup of two great coaches who have each had their own kryptonite over the last few seasons. Dabo Swinney is 0-4 versus ranked SEC opponents in the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Brian Kelly is 0-3 in his season openers with LSU. One of these two statistics will have to break. The 2025 Clemson team should be Dabo’s best roster since 2020, and 2025 LSU should be Brian Kelly’s best overall roster, as LSU has its highest-rated roster since Kelly arrived in Baton Rouge.
Each coach is under immense pressure to reach the College Football Playoff and compete for a national championship. For Dabo Swinney, he must take advantage of a slew of NFL talents that will depart after this season. Cade Klubnik, Antonio Williams, TJ Parker, Peter Woods, and Avieon Terrell are all projected to go in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Other players, such as Blake Miller, DeMonte Capehart, Khalil Barnes, and Tristan Leigh, have also received draft grades. On the other side, Brian Kelly is now under pressure to win with an 18-million-dollar roster. LSU boosters and fans will not accept another disappointment after their investment in the 2025 roster.
