College Football's Best Matchups of Each Week
- Liam Donnan
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
With the constant addition of new FBS teams (now up to 136!), and conference realignment, we have more intriguing matchups each week. I'll reserve my feelings on realignment, that's a story for another time, but regardless, we have lots of great matchups in this beautiful sport. Starting with week zero and working through the rest of the regular season, let's dive in.
This article is an excerpt from my 2025 season preview magazine, which you can purchase (starting at $1 CAD) here: https://peanutsplaybookcfb.gumroad.com/l/owxur?wanted=true
Week Zero - Iowa State vs Kansas State (neutral)
The college football season will officially kick off with this week zero rivalry matchup, as “Farmaggedon” will take place in Dublin, Ireland. As we have seen in the NFL and in CFB, these overseas games generally produce low-scoring affairs, and these two stout defenses could do the same. It’s a shame that this great rivalry was moved to week zero and off-campus, but here we are. The Cyclones and Wildcats are two of the Big 12's best, and it should be a great game either way.
Matchups to watch: KSU QB Avery Johnson targeting elite Iowa St. CB Jontez Williams, KSU RB Dylan Edwards running against a formidable Iowa State front, headlined by Dominique Orange
Honorable mentions: Sam Houston at Western Kentucky, Stanford at Hawaii
Week One - LSU at Clemson
I know, I know... Texas travels to Ohio State in a likely 1 vs 2 matchup... but I have my reasons.
There are a lot of storylines for this game in a vacuum and as it implies for the remainder of their seasons. It is the battle for the title of “Death Valley,” and many other (more serious) ones to watch for. Unlike other high-profile matchups in week one, most of the stars on these teams are proven commodities, including star QB’s Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson).
LSU head coach Brian Kelly is 0-3 in week one since his 2022 hiring, and Clemson is looking to put their 34-3 loss to Georgia from week one last year behind them. What’s best about this game? It is on campus, not in a dried-out, dull, neutral site, NFL environment.
Unlike years past, there are numerous week one games that are set to be absolutely electric.
Matchups to watch: Brian Kelly vs week one games, Clemsons question mark at RB vs LSU's elite linebackers, Clemson's secondary vs LSU's stable of receivers
Honorable mentions: Texas at Ohio State, Notre Dame at Miami, Georgia Tech at Colorado
Week Two - Michigan at Oklahoma
A matchup that has happened just once in both programs' storied histories, the Wolverines head south to take on the Sooners in a game that could end up as a defensive slug fest. Unless Bryce Underwood catches on really, really fast on the road against a strong defensive scheme.
This could be a measuring stick game for both teams. Michigan will bring their dominant front-seven into Oklahoma to take on what should be a high-flying Sooners offense led by Wazzu transfer QB John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Oklahoma should have a very solid defense as well, combine that with the road environment, and it may be a lot for the nation’s #1 player, true freshman QB Bryce Underwood.
Matchups to watch: Michigan's elite pass rush vs John Mateer, Bryce Underwood on his first big road test
Honorable mentions: Baylor at SMU, Oklahoma State at Oregon, WKU at Toledo, Iowa at Iowa State
Week Three - LSU at Florida
Florida is 1-4 against LSU since the above pictured infamous shoe throw. However, they did win last year's game led by (then) true freshman QB DJ Lagway, who is set to be a star this year.
These are two of the most intriguing teams of the offseason. LSU and Florida should deliver a high-scoring affair in a matchup slated for ESPN/ABC’s number one game of week three. Florida true sophomore QB DJ Lagway is expected to be one of the best QB’s in the nation this year, as is LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier. It is a near-lock for College Gameday to be there, and it is the first of many electric SEC matchups this season, that could go a long way in determining what happens down the road for both teams.
Matchups to watch: Freshman five stars, WR Dallas Wilson (Florida) against CB DJ Pickett (LSU) who are both set to start, DJ Lagway keeping up with Garrett Nussmeier and his elite offensive weapons
Honorable mentions: Clemson at GA Tech, Pitt at WVU, UGA at Tennessee, TAMU at ND, Duke at Tulane
Week Four - Florida at Miami
A rivalry matchup between Florida’s two biggest hitters this season should produce a good game, if Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes can get things up and running with their new-look team. Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck has a lot of pressure following up Cam Ward’s great 2024 season. Florida head coach Billy Napier can right a lot of wrongs from last season following last season’s result, where Miami drubbed the Gators 41-17 in Gainesville. Perhaps Miami fans wil actually fill the stadium past half capacity for this one, but it is highly unlikely the most dull home environment of any high-caliber program will show up. There are a lot of GREAT matchups in week four, and this is just one of them.
Matchups to watch: Florida's pass pro against Miami's elite pass rush, New look Miami secondary against Florida's strong passing attack
Honorable mentions: Illinois at Indiana, Michigan at Nebraska, TTU at Utah, ASU at Baylor, Auburn at OU
Week Five - Oregon at Penn State
Finally, Penn State got a big time game that didn’t get “Big Noon’d” and moved to an early-afternoon game. It will be a true “whiteout” environment in State College, with College Gameday surely on-site. There are a lot of storylines here. Penn State head coach James Franklin still has lots of questions of his ability to win big games, and this would be the one to dispell all of those, if the CFP run last year wasn’t enough. For Dan Lanning’s Ducks, the season shapes up a lot like last year. They had to knock the rust off early on, before taking on a traditional Big Ten heavy weight early in conference play. They won that matchup last season, but this time Oregon has to go on the road to get it done, with a young QB, Dante Moore going on the road to one of CFB’s most raucus environments.
Matchups to watch: Oregon's new look OL vs Penn State's DL, Oregon's front seven vs Penn State's elite OL and running backs, Kenyon Sadiq and Dakorien Moore vs Penn State's secondary
Honorable mentions: Alabama at Georgia, TCU at ASU, LSU at Ole Miss, Auburn at TAMU, USC at Illinois
Week Six - Texas at Florida
Florida’s gauntlet schedule continues with a home game versus Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns. Two of CFB’s premier quarterbacks, Arch Manning and DJ Lagway will face off in a matchup of two very different programs. Texas is proven as a program under Sarkisian, but Florida’s Billy Napier is on the hot seat (pre-season) and Florida has a lot to prove. The Swamp will be rocking for this one, but gameday will likely not be here for this one, as the LSU game in week three is hard to pass up on.
Matchups to watch: Florida's explosive offense against an experienced, talented Texas secondary
Honorable mentions: Boise St. at Notre Dame, Kansas State at Baylor, Texas Tech at Houston
Week Seven - South Carolina at LSU
Week seven may be the best week for the SEC slate overall, and one of the best across the nation, so you can pick your poison. After all, LaNorris Sellers couldn’t be left off this list. Sellers could end up as a one-man show for South Carolina, and if he can go into Death Valley to get the win that should have been his last year.
LSU beat South Carolina last year, 36-33 on the road, a revenge game from my Heisman pick, LaNorris Sellers may be in store.
Matchups to watch: South Carolina's rushing attack against LSU's elite linebackers, Dylan Stewart's ability to disrupt Garrett Nussmeier
Honorable mentions: Oklahoma at at Texas (n), Georgia at Auburn, Indiana at Oregon, Florida at TAMU, Michigan at USC, Ohio State at Illinois
Week Eight - Texas Tech at ASU
Because it can’t be a SEC matchup every week, or because these are the two best teams in the Big 12 looking in from the pre-season? Either way, this should be an elite game.
It is a tale of two different teams, as the storyline of Arizona State is that they return most of last year’s production, and Texas Tech were the transfer portal winners. The number two team in returning production versus the number one transfer portal class. This may not be the last time we see these two teams face off, they could very well meet up again in the Big 12 title game.
Texas Tech defeated Arizona State at home last season, 30-22.
Matchups to watch: Texas Tech's improved front seven getting after ASU QB Sam Leavitt and slowing down RB Kanye Udoh
Honorable mentions: Tennessee at Alabama, Ole Miss at UGA, SMU at Clemson, USC at Notre Dame
Week Nine - Alabama at South Carolina
As there is every week, there are elite SEC matchups all over the place, but this one should be electric. The South Carolina home environment is always electric, but if this game can continue a potential run and push toward the playoff, it will make it even better. Kalen de Boer and Alabama had a few let downs last year, three to be exact, but they managed to beat South Carolina in a 27-25 shootout. Let LaNorris Sellers win this one, and the week seven game on the road against LSU, and his revenge tour is officially official.
Matchups to watch: LaNorris Sellers and Nyck Harbor versus Alabama's talented defense, trying to keep up in a game that could be a shootout.
Honorable mentions: TAMU at LSU, KSU at Kansas, USF at Memphis, Illinois at Washington
Week Ten - Penn State at Ohio State
If James Franklin and Penn State couldn’t get it done in week five against the Oregon Ducks, here is there very real shot at redemption, this time on the road. In 2024, Penn State fell to the Buckeyes 20-13, and the offense couldn’t get anything going. This year, with a revamped and much, much improved receiver room, this game could feel like much more of a shootout. Ohio State has a lot of questions going into the season, but are undoubtedly one of the most talented teams in the nation, and have the two best players in college football. This game is likely to get the Big Noon treatment, robbing us of an elite primetime game. Penn State is 1-12 in their last thirteen matchups with the Buckeyes, and again, can dispell a lot of narratives surrounding their coach, players, and program as a whole.
Matchups to watch: Ohio State's unproven defensive line against Penn State's elite rushing attack, Ohio State tackle Ethan Onianwa versus Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Honorable mentions: South Carolina at Ole Miss, TTU at KSU, UGA at Florida, JMU at Texas St.
Week Eleven - Tulane at Memphis
The group of five needs representation too... There is an ELITE SEC matchup in week eleven, LSU at Alabama, but let's look at the Green Wave against the Tigers. Since 2022, Tulane and Memphis are two of the most consistent teams in the American, and the entirety of the group of five.
There are question marks surrounding both teams entering the season, but this game is sure to have heavy conference championship berth implications, and potentially for the CFP. Along with Navy, Tulane and Memphis are THE teams to watch in the American.
Memphis beat Tulane on Thanksgiving last season, 34-24.
Matchups to watch: A transfer QB matchup, Brendon Lewis (Memphis) and Jake Retzlaff (Tulane).
Honorable mentions: LSU at Alabama, Oregon at Iowa, Indiana at Penn State, Texas A&M at Mizzou
Week Twelve - Texas at Georgia
A rematch of last year’s SEC championship game, a matchup of two of the SEC’s best coaches, and some of the most talented defenses in the nation. Though Texas has only been in the SEC for one full season, it already feels like they have a “Georgia hump” to get over. Texas lost to UGA at home 30-15 last year in a series of odd calls that led to beers and other items being thrown onto the field, and again on a neutral site in the SEC championship game. On paper, Texas appears to be the superior team this year, but were higher ranked going into the first matchup last season. Regardless of the talent on paper, it is Kirby Smart coaching, and the “block G” is the new “script A” in the SEC.
Matchups to watch: Steve Sarkisian vs Kirby Smart coaching chess match
Honorable mentions: OU at Alabama, Florida at Ole Miss, Utah at Baylor, TCU at BYU
Week Thirteen - USC at Oregon
USC is winless against Oregon since 2016, and are 2-7 in their last nine against the Ducks. This matchup typically produces high-scoring affairs in typical Pac-12 fashion, but this is their first matchup as members of the Big Ten. Oregon could potentially be a two-loss team by this point in the year, and will be pushing for a playoff berth late in the year. USC has some dynamic playmakers, and there is a lot of buzz around the team. They could play big-time spoiler here in a pseudo-rivalry game a week prior to the real thing. It would take a lot for USC to reverse their recent losing ways to Oregon, but it is not out of the picture. Either way, this should be a high scoring matchup.
Matchups to watch: Oregon DT Bear Alexander and IOL Emmanuel Pregnon revenge game vs USC, USC QB Jayden Maiava vs a ferocious Oregon pass rush
Honorable mentions: Tenn. at Florida, Louisville at SMU, KSU at Utah, CSU at Boise St., Syracuse at ND
Week Fourteen - Ohio State at Michigan
And then God said... let there be The Game.
The storylines write themselves. The Game. In spite of what too many Ohio State fans will tell you, no amount of national championships can truly make up for losing to your rival – let alone losing three in a row. Starting in 2021, Michigan ended an eight-year run of Ohio State wins, and haven’t looked back since. Even last year, when Michigan was clearly the worse team, they ended up victorious, and led to a brawl midfield after the game. Can Ryan Day’s Buckeyes get over the Michigan mental block on the road and plant their flag on the “M?”
Matchups to watch: Assuming the most entertaining ones are between the whistles, Ohio State's relatively inexperienced offensive line vs a dominant Michigan front seven.
Honorable mentions: Rivalry week, so, all of them, but: Alabama at Auburn, Clemson at South Carolina
Week Fifteen - Army vs Navy (neutral)
For the second year, the Army Navy game is a conference matchup. On paper, Navy is the far superior team this season, as they return most of the key pieces from a very good team in 2024. That doesn’t really matter in this game. Army had more talent last year, led by QB Bryson Daly and RB Kanye Udoh, but Navy bested Army 31-13. It is hard to believe that Navy won’t win this game, as they did every time from 2002 to 2015, but again, anything can happen. Both teams are led by elite head coaches in Army’s Jeff Monken and Navy’s Brian Newberry. Once the “prisoners” are exchanged at midfield, anything can happen in this triple-option affair.
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