The 2025 college football season is officially underway, with a number of teams kicking off their campaigns this week. Here’s a rundown of the latest headlines and what to watch for on the gridiron.
Division I (FBS)
Thursday Night Kickoffs
Today, August 28, marks the beginning of the season for a number of FBS and FCS programs. Some notable matchups include:
Boise State at South Florida
Jacksonville State at UCF
St. Francis (PA) at UL-Monroe
Wyoming at Akron
Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (at a neutral site in Kansas City)
You can find the full schedule and live updates for these games and more on the official NCAA website and other sports media outlets.
Source: CBS Sports College Football Schedule
Source: USA TODAY Sports NCAA Football Scores
Previewing the Week Ahead
A number of marquee matchups are on the horizon for the rest of Week 1, with a heavy emphasis on top-tier teams facing each other early on.
The ACC’s featured game of the week is a Tigers vs. Tigers battle with No. 9 LSU traveling to face No. 4 Clemson. The game features two of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Cade Klubnik (Clemson) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU).
In another high-profile contest, No. 6 Notre Dame will face No. 10 Miami (FL) on Sunday.
New North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick will make his college football debut on Monday against TCU.
Source: AP News: Clemson-LSU, Notre Dame-Miami Top ACC Slate
3. Historic Headlines
Troy University is celebrating 25 years of FBS football with a feature on former linebacker Carlton Martial, the NCAA’s all-time leading tackler. The article highlights his journey from a walk-on to an NCAA record-holder.
Source: Troy University Athletics: Celebrating 25 Years of FBS Football – Carlton Martial
Division II & III News
DII Season Outlook
Expectations are high for several teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) this season. Minnesota State Mankato, a DII playoff semifinalist last year, is ranked No. 4 in the D2football.com preseason poll. The NSIC is returning to a two-division format this year with the addition of Jamestown (N.D.).
Source: Star Tribune: Expectations high for NSIC and MIAC football teams in 2025
Forum Buzz
The D2Football.com forums are active with discussions as the season kicks off. Topics include Central Washington’s “Rodeo Bowl” game and a discussion about Jamestown’s move to the NSIC.
Source: D2Football.com Forums
This information was researched and curated with the assistance of AI, but reviewed and verified by a human.
