RADIO
Jackson's college football predictions for Week 1 of the 2025 season. He picks the winners for all ranked games, including Texas at Ohio State and more.
Week 1 College Football Predictions
Week 1 of the college football season has arrived, and it’s finally time to make some picks! Picking games early in the season can be difficult since we have limited intel, but many of the nation’s ranked opponents are playing “buy” games in the opening week. That said, we have three exciting top-10 matchups to enjoy, and a handful of other ranked opponents are facing non-conference Power Four foes.
With No. 25 Boise State already completing its Week 1 game, they are the only ranked program that won’t be featured here. Let’s get to it!
No. 24 Tennessee vs. Syracuse (in Atlanta)
The battle of Orange is one of the top games on the Week 1 slate. In Year 1 last season, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown led the program to its first 10-win season since 2001. However, quarterback Kyle McCord is gone, and four of the team’s offensive line starters come from the transfer portal. On the flip side, Tennessee must navigate life without Nico Iamaleava after he departed for UCLA this Spring, trading places with Joey Aguilar.
Both offenses could come out sluggish as they work in new quarterback starters, but the Vols have a strong advantage on the line of scrimmage, especially with their deep and talented defensive line. Expect this one to be tight in the first half, but Tennessee will find enough explosive plays on offense and limit quarterback Steve Angeli.
Prediction: Tennessee 28, Syracuse 13
No. 23 Texas Tech vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Texas Tech just brought in the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country, trailing only LSU. Head coach Joey McGuire has won at least seven games in all three seasons he’s led the program, but the University and its resources are investing in the roster big-time, meaning they clearly want to compete for a Big 12 crown.
With quarterback Behren Morton back at the helm following shoulder surgery late last year, that goal could come to fruition. They start the season off with what should be an easy victory.
Prediction: Texas Tech 45, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10
No. 22 Iowa State vs. South Dakota
Iowa State got warmed up in Week 0 with a three-point win over arch-rival Kansas State. Quarterback Rocco Becht looked shaky at times in Dublin, but he calmed the storm and racked up over 200 yards of offense and three total touchdowns. The Cylones could take some time adjusting from the travel to Ireland, but this is a good opportunity to continue building momentum.
Standout South Dakota quarterback Mark Gronowski is now with Iowa, but the program has won 21 games over the last two seasons and is ranked No. 5 in the FCS. If Iowa State isn’t careful, it could be a dramatic, fourth-quarter contest. We’ll take Iowa State in a semi-close one.
Prediction: Iowa State 31, South Dakota 20
No. 21 Ole Miss vs. Georgia State
Lane Kiffin has turned the Rebels into one of the top programs in the SEC, as shown by the disappointment of not making the College Football Playoff last year. The Ole Miss roster isn’t quite as loaded as last year, but Kiffin continues to retool in the transfer portal, and many believe quarterback Austin Simmons has a higher ceiling than first-round NFL Draft pick Jaxson Dart.
After a 3-9 campaign a season ago, Georgia State feels like the perfect “tune-up” game for the Rebels. Expect Ole Miss to flex its offensive muscles in this one.
Prediction: Ole Miss 52, Georgia State 10
No. 20 Indiana vs. Old Dominion
The Hoosiers were last year’s Cinderella team in Year 1 under head coach Curt Cignetti. Indiana has played football since 1888 and had zero 10-win seasons when Cignetti arrived. Now, they have an 11-win season and a College Football Playoff appearance. Was this a “one-year wonder” situation? With Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza leading the offense, the answer might be no. Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds are also two of the top players at their positions in the country.
The Old Dominion Monarchs have given big programs trouble in the past, but expect IU to come out and send a message in Week 1.
Prediction: Indiana 34, Old Dominion 14
No. 19 Texas A&M vs. UTSA
Believe it or not, Texas A&M was in the race to go to the SEC Championship all the way up until its regular-season finale against Texas. Yet, it feels like several wins were left on the table. Mike Elko wants to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and he might just have the team to do it in 2025. Quarterback Marcel Reed and running backs Le’Veon Moss, Rueben Owens II, and Amari Daniels could run through SEC defenses this season, but UTSA is a solid test.
The Roadrunners ranked 11th nationally in rushing yards per game allowed last year (109.3). Obviously, this SEC offensive line will present new challenges, and A&M has better weapons outside this year to keep defenses honest. This could be a short game if A&M keeps the chains moving like it wants to.
Prediction: Texas A&M 35, UTSA 7
No. 18 Oklahoma vs. Illinois State
It’s a make-or-break year for head coach Brent Venables, which is why he brought in Washington State quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle led elite offenses with Cam Ward and Mateer at WAZU, and the program hopes his offense will carry over into the SEC. A deep stable of running backs featuring Cal transfer Jaydn Ott and Oklahoma veteran Javontae Barnes won’t hurt the cause.
The Sooners should also be much better on defense, as Venables has decided to take over play-calling duties. He was the best defensive coordinator in the nation at Clemson, so it’ll be interesting to see him get back to his roots. Oklahoma wins big here.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Illinois State 17
No. 17 Kansas State vs. North Dakota
Fresh off the heels of a rivarly game loss, Kansas State must turn things around. The Big 12 is sure to be a wild conference with twists and turns, so don’t count the Wildcats out of the College Football Playoff. If K-State were facing North Dakota State, this would be nerve-racking. Instead, it’s NDSU’s in-state rival, who went 5-7 last season.
Avery Johnson needs to take over this game with his legs, and he has all the ability to do so.
Prediction: Kansas State 41, North Dakota 10
No. 16 SMU vs. East Texas A&M
Our trend of ranked teams playing against FCS schools continues here! The last time we saw the Mustangs, it was a tough day at the office for SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. After surprisingly leading the program to the College Football Playoff, Jennings threw three first-half interceptions (including two pick-sixes) at Penn State. The game was over before halftime.
Now, Jennings and the Mustangs have expectations, and they can’t afford a “silly” loss with Clemson and Miami on their schedule this year. Here comes yet another Week 1 blowout.
Prediction: SMU 54, East Texas A&M 7
No. 15 Florida vs. Long Island
If you didn’t know Long Island University in Brookville, New York, had a football team, you probably are not alone. However, they are very real and will face the Florida Gators in the Swamp on Saturday. What a test!
Week 1 will be a chance for quarterback DJ Lagway to prove he is healthy after an offseason of injury reports, but Florida should be able to dominate this one on the ground with running backs Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson behind All-American center Jake Slaughter. It’s a big season for head coach Billy Napier, so there’s no time for shenanigans in this spot.
Prediction: Florida 34, Long Island 7
No. 14 Michigan vs. New Mexico
The Bryce Underwood era in Ann Arbor officially kicks off on Saturday, and a manageable matchup against New Mexico awaits. Underwood must use this opportunity to get his feet wet in college football, because a Week 2 road trip to Norman, Oklahoma, to face a program with its back against the wall comes next.
Offseason distractions, NCAA punishments, and a true freshman quarterback making his first start could set up for a letdown performance. However, New Mexico is just entirely too far undermanned here to put up a fight.
Prediction: Michigan 30, New Mexico 0
No. 13 South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta)
After picking a bunch of snoozefests, it’s time to start digging into more of Week 1’s bigger contests. Shane Beamer takes the Gamecocks to Atlanta to face his father’s longtime school, Virginia Tech, to kick off the new campaign. While Virginia Tech has mostly struggled since Frank Beamer retired, there are plenty of unknowns on both sides of the field, which means anything can happen.
South Carolina lost a lot of talent from its 2024 team, but LaNorris Sellers could be the best quarterback in football this year. Or, at least the most dynamic. When South Carolina is in trouble, Sellers must elevate the team and carry it to victory. This one will be closer than people think, but we’re picking USC to come out victorious.
Prediction: South Carolina 24, Virginia Tech 20
No. 12 Illinois vs. Western Illinois
The last time we saw Illinois, they came out victorious against LaNorris Sellers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is one of the better quarterbacks in the country, so it will be interesting to see if the program can make real noise in the Big Ten this season. The team’s starting lineup is loaded with upperclassmen, so this is the shot for Brett Bielema to win big.
Illinois is roughly a 40-point favorite against the Leathernecks, and for good reason. This will be an easy win for Illinois on Friday night.
Prediction: Illinois 45, Western Illinois 7
No. 11 Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona
After many predicted Arizona State to have a dreadful season in 2024, the Sun Devils won the Big 12, qualified for the CFP, and took Texas to the wire in the quarterfinals. Even with standout running back Cam Skattebo gone, nobody is sleeping on Kenny Dillingham’s squad in 2025. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is expected to take a step forward, and he’ll have plenty of help from potential future first-round wideout Jordyn Tyson. Running backs Kyson Brown and Army transfer Kanye Udoh provide plenty of firepower in the backfield.
Northern Arizona is the No. 19-ranked team in the FCS and would love nothing more than to shock its in-state foe. But we’re going with State’s talent to light up the board.
Prediction: Arizona State 42, Northern Arizona 14
No. 10 Miami (FL) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame
How about this matchup for Week 1? Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will make his first start with the Hurricanes against redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is looking to prove it will be a consistent College Football Playoff contender with Marcus Freeman at the helm instead of a one-year wonder after falling just short in the National Championship a year ago.
Meanwhile, Mario Cristobal is due for a CFP appearance after the Canes choked away a spot in the dance despite having the top offense in the nation with Cam Ward last season. It feels like a lot rides on this early-season matchup, which makes it a ton of fun. These are two of the most talented teams in the country, but we’re trusting the well-coached Irish to deliver in crunch time.
Prediction: Notre Dame 20, Miami 17
No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson
The Battle of Death Valley takes place in the Saturday night primetime spot, and deservedly so. Clemson is looking to re-establish itself as one of the elite teams in college football, while Brian Kelly is hoping to improve to 1-3 in season-opening games at LSU. Unfortunately for him, this is the most difficult challenge he’s faced in Week 1 since leaving Notre Dame. Both teams have ridiculous talent and experienced Heisman-level quarterbacks, so what gives?
While LSU is counting on a ton of transfers, Clemson rarely steps into the portal and has been building toward this year. Clemson’s defensive line might be the best in the country, which will cause trouble for LSU’s new starters up front, especially on the road. Clemson takes this one.
Prediction: Clemson 28, LSU 21
No. 8 Alabama at Florida State
Alabama lost four games last season, which might as well be a losing season based on the standard Nick Saban set for the program. However, Kalen DeBoer’s track record has been excellent in Year 2 at each of his three previous stops, and Alabama arguably has the most talent in the nation. Meanwhile, FSU is looking to bounce back from a disastrous 2-10 campaign.
The Ty Simpson vs. Thomas Castellanos quarterback matchup is intriguing, but the Tide defense will prove to be too much to handle, even on the road.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Florida State 13
No. 7 Oregon vs. Montana State
Many top teams around the country are breaking in new quarterbacks, and Oregon is one of those squads. After rolling out Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, who both had at least three years of experience before transferring to Oregon, redshirt sophomore Dante Moore is QB1 in 2025. Moore began his career at UCLA, completing just over 53% of his passes for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine picks. Luckily for him, he has significantly more talent around him, and sitting out last season was probably good for him.
Montana State is an elite FCS program that has won 47 of its 57 games over the last four years. Don’t expect the Bobcats to roll over early, but this should be another snoozer when it’s all said and done.
Prediction: Oregon 34, Montana State 10
No. 5 Georgia vs. Marshall
With Carson Beck gone, it’s officially Gunner Stockton time in Athens. In limited action a year ago, Stockton threw for 440 yards, one touchdown, and one interception with a 70.3% completion rate. It was bizarre to see the Bulldogs fail to dominate the line of scrimmage on offense a season ago, but the program has quiet confidence in its front five this year.
Sophomore running back Nate Frazier could be the team’s best ball carrier since Zamir White or James Cook, and the pass-catching quartet of Noah Thomas, Zachariah Branch, Dillon Bell, and Oscar Delp gives the passing game more firepower. Marshall won the Sun Belt title game last year, but it has a new head coach and a roster full of new faces.
Prediction: Georgia 51, Marshall 3
No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Texas
This is the one we’ve all been waiting for since the 2024-25 college football season ended. The defending College Football Playoff National Champions will start the new campaign against the next member of the Royal Family of quarterbacks, Arch Manning. Both teams lost key players in bunches to the 2025 NFL Draft, but neither will have any issue backfilling the talent. Steve Sarkisian vs. Ray Day. Arch Manning vs. Julian Sayin. Jeremiah Smith vs anybody. What else could we ask for in Week 1?
It would be a surprise if this becomes a blowout in favor of either team, so let’s hope it lives up to the hype. Despite the Buckeyes enjoying homefield advantage, we’re banking on Manning proving he has what it takes to elevate Texas to the next level. There will be plenty of overreactions aimed toward both teams when this one is over.
Prediction: Texas 21, Ohio State 20
No. 2 Penn State vs. Nevada
If any James Franklin-led Penn State team is going to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, it’s likely this one. Drew Allar and his fantastic duo of running backs decided to skip the NFL Draft and come back for another year, and the Nittany Lions addressed their weakness at wide receiver this offseason. Replacing tight end Tyler Warren won’t be easy, but Trebor Pena, Kyron Hudson, and Devonte Ross will be a part of that effort at wideout.
Nevada is expected to be one of the worst teams in FBS football this year, so Week 1 should be nice and simple for Penn State.
Prediction: Penn State 45, Nevada 0
