Three Top 10 Matchups Headline Week 1 of 2025 College Football Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season fires off with remarkable energy as Week 1 brings not one, but three Top 10 showdowns before any conference championship or bowl game.
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The preseason AP Top 25 reveals that Texas, ranked No. 1, will travel to No. 3 Ohio State, while No. 9 LSU will play at No. 4 Clemson, and No. 6 Notre Dame is headed south to play No. 10 Miami.
This is a rare slate of elite matchups beyond the postseason spotlight. Only three times since 2000 has a non-bowl/conference championship week featured three top-10 games: Week 11, 2017; Week 5, 2016; and Week 8, 2002, according to AP’s Josh Dubow.
These games mean more than just rankings. They represent early tests for coaches, breakouts for quarterbacks and a narrative that could shape the entire season. Let’s break down what lies ahead.
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Texas at Ohio State Rematch Brings Arch Manning Spotlight
The Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes play in their Week 1 rematch in Columbus, a second chance for the Longhorns after their loss in the Cotton Bowl, last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Longhorns enter with their first preseason No. 1 ranking, led by 21-year-old quarterback Arch Manning, a redshirt sophomore with Heisman buzz whose arm strength and football-famous last name have sparked national chatter.
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College football analyst Paul Finebaum has been hyping Manning and the Longhorns for most of the offseason.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian leans into a potent defense sharpened in fall camp, which features one of the best freshmen in the country, cornerback Graceson Littleton.
The Arch Manning era at Texas truly begins in Week 1 against the Ohio State Buckeyes.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Ohio State counters as defending national champion with playoff pedigree. The Buckeyes lost more than just players from 2024, but injected key experience into the roster, such as tight end Max Klare from the Purdue Boilermakers and EDGE Beau Atkinson from the North Carolina Tar Heels. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left for the Penn State Nittany Lions, while Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL.
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Kickoff is set for noon Aug. 30 in Columbus, and the outcome here could tilt the playoff picture before autumn even begins.
LSU at Clemson Could Reset Playoff Trajectories
Under the bright lights of Death Valley East, LSU and Clemson open with a prime-time matchup that carries playoff weight.
The Bayou Bengals, led by veteran quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, arrive with the nation’s No. 1 transfer class in 2025 and a top-10 recruiting haul.
LSU and Brian Kelly face the challenge of shaking off past Week 1 misfires and proving their “all-in” investment under coach Brian Kelly.
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Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik will be tested in Week 1 in a matchup against LSU Tigers.Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Clemson, fresh off an ACC title and returning 80 percent of its production, counters with stability and confidence under head coach Dabo Swinney.
QB Cade Klubnik enters the season fresh off his best season yet. In 2024, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. Nussmeier was also dominant a year ago, passing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for LSU.
Kickoff is scheduled for prime time on Aug. 30 on ABC, and analysts have rightfully highlighted this showdown as a true measuring stick for both programs.
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Notre Dame at Miami Reignites Rivalry with Questions to Answer
The Fighting Irish head to Miami Gardens on Aug. 31 for the ABC spotlight game, which revives a classic rivalry that developed in the 1980s and continued into the 1990s.
The Hurricanes’ rough-and-tumble reputation provided the backdrop for a burgeoning rivalry, highlighted by an infamous “Catholics vs. Convicts” game in 1988 when Notre Dame came back to win 31-30 against Miami.
For Notre Dame, this year’s focus lies on a quarterback battle between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey, with both hoping to lead coach Marcus Freeman’s offense in 2025.
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The Irish enter 2025 coming off a 14-2 run and a national championship game appearance last season, but questions linger about whether last year’s success can be duplicated.
Marcus Freeman will be out to prove in Week 1 that Notre Dame’s 2024 national championship game appearance was no fluke.Michael Clubb, USA TODAY Sports
Miami, led by coach Mario Cristobal, seeks a signature win to shift the national narrative that has kept the Hurricanes away from the elite tiers of college football.
Odds give the edge to Notre Dame as a 2.5-point favorite.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck is seeking a bit of redemption after transferring in from Georgia. He seeks to start his own era for the Hurricanes in the wake of Cam Ward’s departure to the NFL.
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This isn’t just nostalgia for the old rivalry between the two teams. It’s a statement game. Both teams understand how Week 1 momentum can set the tone for the entire season.
Each top 10 matchup brings drama, spotlights storylines and offers the chance to carve a path toward College Football Playoff glory in Week 1.
Related: “That’s a Joke”: College Football Fans React to AP Top 25
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
