Top 10 College Football Matchups for 2025 Season

It’s now July and that means college football is just a month away and football fans across the country will have their eyes glued to their TV screens and social media every Saturday. With the craziness of the era of college football that is evolving constantly, it has made things very unknown. Conference realignment has allowed for many different matchups in conference play and even in non-conference play as well.

With that said, here’s a look at the top 10 matchups this fall.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Matchups this Fall

10. Florida vs. LSU (Sep. 13)

For the No. 9 game on this list, the Florida Gators will head to Death Valley and take on Coach Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers for a potential “Game of the Week”. The Gators are led by potential superstar sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, who started in seven games, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards with 12 touchdowns, completing 60 percent of his passes. Lagway is slated to have a breakout season and make his name known as not only one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, but in the entire country.

The week three matchup against the Tigers will be a good opportunity for Lagway to make his name known, but the Tigers are an interesting team in 2025. LSU brings back senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and brought in one of the best transfer portal classes, including former Kentucky star wide receiver Barion Brown, who could be serious playmaker for the Tigers.

If both teams show up and are contenders, this game could have serious league title implications down the road.

9. Georgia vs Tennessee (Sep. 13)

Week three is a big weekend for the SEC as alongside the Gators vs. Tigers, the Georgia Bulldogs head up north to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. This game has a unknown factor to it, especially with the Volunteers. When you look at the Bulldogs, you can assume that the defense will be stout, but it is unknown how that offense will preform.

Junior quarterback Gunner Stockton came in when it mattered most late last season in the SEC Championship and in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Stockton had to step into the spotlight after starting quarterback Carson Beck went down with a season ending injury. The Bulldogs did get a new offensive weapon with USC transfer wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who could be a major deep threat and is dangerous out in open space.

Looking at the Volunteers, who knows how they will preform this fall. Tennessee was all over the headlines this offseason because of Nico Iamaleava’s hold out and eventually transferring to the UCLA Bruins. Former App. State and UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar is the expected starter for the Volunteers. Tennessee could be good or bad, but the matchup against the Bulldogs will be a test to see what will happen for both teams this fall.

8. LSU vs. Clemson (Aug. 30)

The battle of the Tigers; The battle of Death Valley’s. This week one matchup is huge matchup to kick off the season, only behind another game that will be later. It will be the first test for the Clemson Tigers, who are a College Football Playoff National Championship contender.

Like mentioned before, the LSU will be an interesting team in 2025 and it will be chance to get its first week one win since 2019 when it went on to win the National Championship with quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.

Clemson is led by Heisman favorite quarterback Cade Klubnik and top target junior wide receiver Antonio Williams. Something to watch though is at running back with Phil Mafah now in the NFL. It could be freshman Gideon Davidson or sophomore Jay Haynes. The defense will be outstanding and will be one of the top groups in the country this fall.

A win in this game for either team will set up a much easier path down the road when it comes time for the CFP.

7. Ohio State vs. Michigan (Nov. 29)

The Buckeyes have lost four straight to the Michigan Wolverines in their storied rivalry and now the Wolverines will be going for their fifth straight this season.

After an eight win season, Michigan will be much improved in 2025, with most of it coming at the quarterback position after landing a commitment from the No. 1 rated prospect with Bryce Underwood, who’s expected to be the starter. However, there is still a lot of unknown with the Wolverines, but the expectation is that they will be back in the mix for the conference title.

The hatred between these two teams has gotten much (much) worse during this losing streak for the Buckeyes. They can’t buy a win against the Wolverines, but even with last season’s loss to them, Ohio State still went on to win the National Championship. This season will be much more important for the Buckeyes to win this game because they cannot lose five straight.

6. Alabama vs. Georgia (Sep. 27)

Alabama beating Georgia last season in the end did not help the Crimson Tide but it was one of the best games of the season and gave the nation one of the greatest moments from last season with sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams. Williams will be a major x-factor for the Crimson Tide once again in this game against the Bulldogs.

This game will also be important for not only Alabama but for second year head coach Kalen DeBoer, who could make a major jump in Tuscaloosa in 2025. It is also important for Kirby Smart as he still can’t buy a win over the Crimson Tide (excluding the 2022 National Championship). This will easily be one of the better games of the season and one of the biggest for the conference.

5. Oregon vs. Penn State (Sep. 27)

The Oregon Ducks were 13-0 going into the Rose Bowl game in the Quarterfinals. Unfortunately for the Ducks, they ran into the Buckeyes. To get that 13th win, they had to take down the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship. Now in its second season in the Big Ten, Oregon gets to go into Happy Valley for the infamous “White Out” game against a very talented Nittany Lions team.

The Ducks now have a new quarterback with either sophomore Dante Moore, sophomore Austin Novosad or redshirt freshman Luke Moga. The expectation is Moore and he will have a very strong running back and wide receiver core with senior running back Noah Whittington, freshman Dakorian Moore, senior Malik Benson and senior Evan Stewart. Defensively, should be fantastic with the likes of junior edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti and junior safety Dillon Thieneman.

Obviously like mentioned above, the Nittany Lions return basically everyone on offense. Senior quarterback Drew Allar returns for another season and is certainly in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Running backs Nichaolas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are back along with USC transfer receiver Kyron Hudson. Defensively, senior edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton and senior defensive tackle Zane Durant are the main returners.

This game is one of the biggest during the Big Ten Conference play and it will be detrimental for both teams to win this game as it will have a major impact in the race for the conference title and CFP.

4. Penn State vs. Ohio State (Nov. 1)

Okay, yes, third straight Big Ten conference game, however, this is an absolute massive game for both teams. Obviously, Ohio State has owned coach James Franklin and Penn State as of late, but this could be a big moment, even if Penn State loses to Oregon earlier on.

This game will ultimately decide at least one of the teams in the Big Ten Championship game. It will be interesting quarterback matchup between Penn State’s Allar and Ohio State’s Sayin but it will be really a matchup against the defenses. Can the Penn State defense shutdown Jeremiah Smith? Last season, Smith was held to 55 yards on only four catches. That will be something to keep an eye on November 1.

3. Notre Dame vs Miami (Aug. 31)

There are a lot of big games during the first weekend of football. Sunday Night in the South Beach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be a tough task to take down the Miami Hurricanes to kick off the 2025 campaign. Both teams will have new quarterbacks. With Cam Ward and Riley Leonard off to the NFL, the Fighting Irish will likely have redshirt freshman CJ Carr as the starter and the Hurricanes will have former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.

However, the Fighting Irish do return superstar running back Jeremiah Love, who is an instant game changer and there is an expectation that junior wide receiver Jaden Greathouse will have a breakout season. Miami is in a weird spot, with the unknown of what the team will look like. Beck could explode and have a All-American season, just as Cam Ward did last season, but he could also have a underwhelming season. Should be something to keep an eye on during that first week.

2. Texas vs. Georgia (Nov. 15)

This is almost the biggest game of the season. The two favorites for the SEC Championship and both are expected to make it to the College Football Playoff. The expectations are sky high for the Longhorns’ sophomore quarterback Arch Manning and he will have a plethora of options for his choosing. The running back room will be tough to stop, even for a Georgia Bulldogs defense. Sophomore running back CJ Baxter and junior Quintrevion Wisner will be a tough duo to stop, right up there with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton for Penn State.

This game feels like it will be a preview for what it will be in Atlanta for the SEC Championship the first week of December and will make it for some good headlines mid-November.

1. Texas vs. Ohio State (Aug. 30)

It is always an interesting opportunity for the two top National Championship contenders play during the first week of the season. On top of it, its a rematch of the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl, which got the Buckeyes into the National Championship.

It will be two brand new starting quarterbacks with freshman Julian Sayin and sophomore Arch Manning. That is already a storyline in itself. Two brick wall defenses facing off is another one. The only thing that would cap it off is it being a primetime night game at the Horseshoe, but of course, it’s a 12 PM EST kickoff for Big Noon Kickoff on Fox.

Whoever wins this game, will have an massive amount of momentum to go on through the season and give either the SEC or the Big Ten to have bragging rights going into the rest of the season. It may also be a preview for the National Championship. Whatever happens, it should be a fantastic game and should give fans what they want for a game like this.