Ohio State vs Texas: College Football Week 1 Betting Odds
College football fans, get ready. The 2025 season kicks off with a wild slate of games, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel a little hyped.
We’re looking at three top-10 matchups right out of the gate. That’s not something you see every year.
The biggest headline? Defending champs Ohio State take on preseason No. 1 Texas. That’s the kind of game you clear your weekend for.
This showdown, along with a handful of other big-time clashes, basically guarantees Week 1 will be a rollercoaster.
Top-10 Showdowns to Watch
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Everyone’s talking about Ohio State versus Texas. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 3, have a slight edge at home, but the odds say it’s going to be close.
Ohio State’s new quarterback, Julian Sayin, steps into the spotlight—he’s got to fill Will Howard’s shoes after Howard and 13 others headed to the NFL.
At least Sayin gets to throw to Jeremiah Smith, who might just be the most electric wideout in college football right now.
Arch Manning’s Road Test
All eyes will land on Texas QB Arch Manning, who’s already the Heisman favorite. That’s a lot of pressure for his first road start.
Manning barely played last season—he filled in for an injured Quinn Ewers and, well, didn’t exactly shine in a home loss to Georgia. This is a huge moment for him, no way around it.
Other Notable Week 1 Games
Ohio State-Texas might steal the spotlight, but there’s plenty more to watch. Thursday brings 17 games, including No. 25 Boise State heading to South Florida and Nebraska meeting Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Both Boise State and Nebraska are favored by about a touchdown, so don’t expect blowouts.
Friday Night Lights
Friday adds 11 more games with FBS teams in the mix. Auburn visits Baylor as a slight favorite, and Georgia Tech travels to face Deion Sanders’ Colorado squad.
Those matchups should set a pretty lively tone for Saturday.
Saturday’s Marquee Matchups
Saturday is stacked. Besides Ohio State-Texas, No. 8 Alabama heads to Florida State.
Alabama’s a heavy favorite, but Tallahassee isn’t an easy place to win, even if FSU went 2-10 last year.
Primetime Showdown: LSU vs. Clemson
The primetime slot features No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson. Both teams bring back their starting quarterbacks—Cade Klubnik for Clemson, Garrett Nussmeier for LSU—which should make things interesting.
Clemson’s got the home-field edge, but honestly, this one feels like a toss-up.
Sunday and Monday Action
With the NFL sitting this one out, college football owns Sunday and Monday. Sunday afternoon, Virginia Tech faces No. 13 South Carolina in Atlanta.
Later that day, No. 6 Notre Dame takes on No. 10 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. The Irish are slight favorites, but that rivalry always brings drama.
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Monday Night Football
Monday night, TCU visits North Carolina. Neither team is ranked, but there’s a twist: Bill Belichick makes his debut as the Tar Heels’ head coach.
The former Patriots boss has taken over for Deion Sanders as college football’s biggest headline. TCU’s favored, but let’s be honest—everyone just wants to see what Belichick does next.
Complete Week 1 Schedule for Top 25 Teams
Here’s the full Week 1 schedule, spotlighting every AP Top 25 team along with a few other games worth a look:
- No. 25 Boise State at South Florida – ESPN
- Nebraska vs. Cincinnati – Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., ESPN
- Western Illinois at No. 12 Illinois – Peacock
- Auburn at Baylor – FOX
- Georgia Tech at Colorado – ESPN
- No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State – FOX
- Syracuse vs. No. 24 Tennessee – Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, ABC
- Old Dominion at No. 20 Indiana – FS1
- Nevada at No. 2 Penn State – CBS
- Marshall at No. 5 Georgia – ESPN
- No. 8 Alabama at Florida State – ABC
- South Dakota at No. 22 Iowa State – FOX
- Montana State at No. 7 Oregon – Big Ten Network
- Illinois State at No. 18 Oklahoma – ESPN+
- Long Island at No. 15 Florida – ESPN+
- North Dakota at No. 17 Kansas State – ESPN+
- UTSA at No. 19 Texas A&M – ESPN
- No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson – ABC
- New Mexico at No. 14 Michigan – NBC
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 23 Texas Tech – ESPN+
- Georgia State at No. 21 Ole Miss – SEC Network
- East Texas A&M at No. 16 SMU – ACC Network
- Northern Arizona at No. 11 Arizona State – ESPN+
- Utah at UCLA – FOX
- Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 South Carolina – Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, ESPN
- No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami – ABC
- TCU at North Carolina – ESPN
For more details and up-to-date odds, check out the New York Times.
Honestly, this season opener looks wild—top teams clashing right away? Feels like football fans have been waiting forever for a Week 1 like this.