2025 College Football Highlights: Most Entertaining Teams and Week 0 Schedule
The 2025 college football season is here, and everyone—fans, analysts, you name it—seems to be buzzing with anticipation. The latest *Until Saturday* newsletter from The Athletic throws out a sprawling preview, covering upcoming games, predictions, and all sorts of storylines that could shake things up.
From national title hopefuls to rumors about coaching shakeups, the newsletter dives deep into college football’s wild world. Here’s a look at the highlights and some of the more interesting tidbits from this week’s edition.
College Football Season Opener: Key Matchups and Predictions
Table of Contents
- 1 College Football Season Opener: Key Matchups and Predictions
- 2 Season Predictions: National Title Contenders and Potential Surprises
- 3 Coaching Carousel: Who’s on the Hot Seat?
- 4 Most Entertaining Teams to Watch
- 5 Expert Opinions: Most Entertaining Teams
- 6 Strength of Schedule and Conference Changes
- 7 Staying Informed: How to Watch College Football
- 8 Conclusion
Opening weekend is stacked with high-stakes games. *The Athletic* points to the Kansas State vs. Iowa State game as the most anticipated matchup of Week 0, kicking off at noon on ESPN.
Kansas State’s giving up a home game to play in Ireland, which adds a quirky, international twist to the start of the season.
Other Notable Games
Besides that Kansas State–Iowa State showdown, a handful of other games should be fun to watch:
- Idaho State at UNLV – 4 PM, MWC
- Fresno State at Kansas – 6:30 PM, Fox
- Sam Houston at Western Kentucky – 7 PM, CBSSN
- FCS No. 7 UC Davis vs. FCS No. 11 Mercer – 7 PM, ESPN
- Stanford at Hawaii – 7:30 PM, CBS
Each matchup brings its own flavor and, honestly, the potential for an early upset. Week 0 might surprise us all.
Season Predictions: National Title Contenders and Potential Surprises
The newsletter digs into season predictions and the teams readers expect to make a splash. Texas comes up most often as the national title pick, with Penn State, Clemson, and Ohio State right behind.
It’s funny how these choices line up almost exactly with the AP’s top 10.
Teams to Watch
While the usual big names dominate the title talk, a few other programs have people talking:
- Miami – Despite sitting at No. 10 in the AP poll, a lot of readers doubt Miami can hold that spot all year.
- LSU – Projected for an 8-4 finish, but if they drop another game, they could be out of the rankings.
- Utah, Iowa, Tulane, Georgia Tech, and Nebraska – These unranked squads are getting some dark-horse playoff buzz from readers.
Coaching Carousel: Who’s on the Hot Seat?
Coaching drama is just part of the college football experience. Readers have LSU’s Brian Kelly at the top of the hot seat list this year.
Other coaches under the microscope include Lincoln Riley at USC, Brent Venables at Oklahoma, and Hugh Freeze at Auburn.
Coaching Drama
The newsletter even pokes fun at Bill Belichick’s first college football season. Some readers imagine him getting doused in Duke’s mayo or popping the question at the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It’s a silly break from the usual coach-watch anxiety.
Most Entertaining Teams to Watch
Some teams just have that extra spark. According to readers, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, and Tulane top the list for pure entertainment value.
South Carolina especially gets attention, thanks to quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Folks think he could be one of the country’s best showmen this year.
Why These Teams?
What draws people to these teams? A few things come to mind:
- South Carolina – Last year, they were always in the thick of the action. Every one of their power-conference games could go either way, which keeps things spicy.
- Texas Tech – Their offense is wild, and they have a knack for nail-biters.
- Vanderbilt – The ultimate underdog. Their games are unpredictable, sometimes in the best way.
- Tulane – On the rise, with a style that’s just plain fun to watch.
Expert Opinions: Most Entertaining Teams
The Audible podcast crew (now on YouTube, if you’re into that) also chimed in on this year’s most entertaining teams. Bruce Feldman, Ralph Russo, and Stewart Mandel all had their picks.
Bruce Feldman
Feldman’s betting on LSU for most entertaining, mostly because of the sky-high expectations and all the pressure on Brian Kelly. Their schedule is brutal, starting with Clemson and featuring six other ranked teams. Should be a wild ride.
Ralph Russo
Russo goes with Auburn. He points to the program’s constant chaos and Hugh Freeze’s unpredictable style. With Jackson Arnold at quarterback and a tough schedule, Auburn could be a rollercoaster.
Stewart Mandel
Mandel chooses Oklahoma, mostly because of John Mateer—formerly of Wazzu. The guy plays with a Johnny Manziel vibe, which means you never really know what’s coming next.
Book Your Dream Vacation Today
Flights | Hotels | Vacation Rentals | Rental Cars | Experiences
Strength of Schedule and Conference Changes
The College Football Playoff is adding a schedule-strength factor into its decisions. In response, the SEC will tack on a ninth conference game.
This move should make schedules tougher and, maybe, shake up who gets into the playoff.
Protected Rivalries
One cool part of the SEC’s new plan: they’re keeping protected rivalries front and center. These games matter—to the fans, to the schools, to the whole vibe of college football.
It’s nice to see tradition sticking around, even as the rest of the sport changes.
Staying Informed: How to Watch College Football
Trying to watch college football these days can be a headache. With all the logins, apps, and streaming services, it’s easy to lose track.
The Athletic puts out a yearly guide to help fans navigate the chaos. Whether you’re on cable, streaming, or your phone, the guide tries to make sure you catch every snap.
Arch Manning’s Future
In a twist, Arch Manning recently pushed back on his grandfather Archie’s claim that he’s already decided to stay at Texas another year. That’s added a bit of intrigue to the season, as fans speculate about what Manning’s next move could mean for Texas football.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football season feels like it’s going to be wild—maybe even a little chaotic. So many high-stakes matchups are on the horizon, and honestly, I’m expecting some real upsets.
Coaching drama seems inevitable, and a few teams just look downright entertaining this year. If you’re curious about the latest twists and turns, *The Athletic*’s *Until Saturday* newsletter should keep you in the loop.
Want to dig deeper? You can check out the full newsletter here.