It was weird. Honestly, there is no other way to describe the vibe in Columbus when the sun went down on August 30th. You had the reigning national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, standing in the middle of a literal sea of scarlet, but they weren't celebrating like they just blew the doors off someone. They looked relieved. Exhausted, really.
Week one college football 2025 was supposed to be the "Arch Manning Arrival Party." That was the script. Instead, we got a 14-7 rock fight that felt more like 1925 than 2025.
If you were looking for 500-yard passing performances and flashy TikTok celebrations, you were probably disappointed. But if you like watching two massive defensive lines try to delete each other from existence, it was basically heaven. This wasn't just a season opener; it was a reality check for everyone who thought the new 12-team playoff era would make the regular season feel smaller. If anything, it felt bigger. More desperate.
The Arch Manning Debut and the Shoe’s Noise
Let’s talk about the kid. Arch Manning walked into Ohio Stadium with the most famous last name in sports and a #1 ranking next to his team’s name. Texas was the preseason darling. People were already printing "Arch for Heisman" shirts in Austin.
But Ohio State’s defense is a different kind of monster. Jack Sawyer and Tyleik Williams spent the better part of three hours living in the Texas backfield. Manning finished the day 14-of-26 for 152 yards. He didn’t look bad, necessarily—he just looked like a redshirt sophomore playing his first true road game against a bunch of future NFL first-rounders.
Ohio State won 14-7, but their offense wasn't exactly humming either. Will Howard was efficient, sure, but the Buckeyes leaned heavily on the run. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was exactly what Ryan Day needed to prove his team hadn't grown soft after winning it all.
🔗 Read more: Lawrence County High School Football: Why Friday Nights in Louisa Still Hit Different
Why the Tiger Bowl Actually Mattered
While everyone was staring at Columbus, something arguably more significant was happening down in South Carolina. LSU and Clemson. Two programs that have spent the last few years trying to find their lost "alpha" status.
LSU had this miserable streak of losing five straight season openers. It was becoming a thing. A meme. Brian Kelly probably couldn't walk into a grocery store in Baton Rouge without someone mentioning it. Well, the streak is dead. LSU walked into "Death Valley" (the Clemson version) and escaped with a 17-10 win.
- Garrett Nussmeier looked like the most poised quarterback in the country.
- Harold Perkins was back to doing Harold Perkins things, which mostly involves being in three places at once.
- Cade Klubnik struggled. There’s no sugar-coating it. Clemson’s offense still feels like it’s stuck in second gear, and the fans are starting to get restless.
LSU didn't just win a game; they bought themselves a lot of breathing room. Clemson? They’re already facing "must-win" territory for the rest of September.
Week One College Football 2025: The Upsets You Missed
Everyone loves a "Buy Game" gone wrong. You know the ones—the big Power Four school pays a "smaller" team $1.5 million to come get beat up, only for the smaller team to ruin everyone’s Saturday.
The biggest shocker came on Friday night. Army was hosting Tarleton State. Now, West Point is a tough place to play, but Tarleton State isn't even a household name for most casual fans. Didn't matter. The Texans (the Tarleton ones, not the NFL ones) dragged Army into double overtime and walked out with a 30-27 win. It was the kind of game that reminds you why we watch this sport.
💡 You might also like: LA Rams Home Game Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Then you had Austin Peay going into Middle Tennessee and winning 34-14. Not quite as dramatic as the Army game, but a definitive "get off my lawn" moment for a program that's been on the rise.
The Bill Belichick Era Opens in Chapel Hill
We have to mention the elephant in the room. Or rather, the GOAT in the room. Bill Belichick taking over at North Carolina is still the most surreal storyline in the sport. His debut against TCU on Monday night was the most-watched game of the weekend, and for good reason.
The Tar Heels won, but it wasn't a tactical masterclass. It was a 21-17 grind. Belichick spent most of the night looking exactly like he did in New England—hoodie up, arms crossed, looking slightly annoyed that he had to be there. But the defense? The defense was transformed. They played with a discipline we haven't seen in Chapel Hill in a decade.
The SEC-ACC Power Struggle
There’s this ongoing narrative that the SEC is the only conference that matters. Week one college football 2025 gave us a mixed bag on that front.
- Tennessee vs. Syracuse: The Vols handled business in Atlanta, winning 45-26. Nico Iamaleava isn't there anymore, but Josh Heupel’s offense still moves at light speed.
- South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech: The Gamecocks took down the Hokies 24-11 in the Aflac Kickoff. Shane Beamer’s team looks physical. They aren't going to be a fun out for anyone in the SEC.
- Alabama vs. Florida State: This was the late-night heartbreaker. FSU actually pulled it off, winning 31-17. It turns out life without Nick Saban is still a work in progress in Tuscaloosa.
People love to talk about "conference pride," but honestly? It’s mostly just about survival. If you’re Florida State, that win is a massive golden ticket for the playoff committee. If you’re Alabama, you’ve got zero margin for error now.
📖 Related: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
What Most People Get Wrong About the New Playoff
The biggest misconception heading into this season was that a week one loss wouldn't matter anymore because 12 teams get in. That’s wrong. Totally wrong.
Sure, Texas can still make the playoff after losing to Ohio State. But they just lost their "Get Out of Jail Free" card. One more slip-up in the SEC against Georgia or Ole Miss, and they’re suddenly sweating on Selection Sunday. A week one loss in the 12-team era doesn't kill your season, but it kills your comfort.
Actionable Takeaways for the Rest of the Season
If you're trying to figure out where the money is for the rest of 2025, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Under is your friend: Defensive lines are ahead of offensive lines right now. We saw it in the Texas-OSU game and the LSU-Clemson game. Until these young QBs settle in, points are going to be premium.
- Watch the "New Look" Big Ten: Between Oregon, Washington, and UCLA, the travel schedule is starting to show. UCLA looked sluggish in their late-night loss to Utah. The "jet lag factor" is real.
- The Heisman is wide open: Arch Manning’s stock took a hit, and Dillon Gabriel (now with Oregon) is the frontrunner by default. But keep an eye on Garrett Nussmeier. If LSU keeps winning, he’s going to be the guy in New York.
The dust is still settling from a wild opening weekend. We saw the favorites sweat, the underdogs bite, and a legendary coach start a weird new chapter in the ACC. If this was just the appetizer, the rest of the 2025 season is going to be a feast.
Check the injury reports for Texas’s offensive line before their next game; they looked vulnerable. Also, if you haven't looked at the schedule for Week 2, do it now—some of these "recovery" games are trap games in the making.