After a busy season in college athletics, the excitement for football is heating up, with many thrilling matchups on the horizon. Fans are looking forward to key games among the top teams and what it will take to chase the national championship.
### College Football Season Kickoff
The college football season begins with a few matchups starting on August 23. One notable game features No. 22 Iowa State taking on No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland. Both teams are seen as strong contenders in a highly competitive conference. Kansas State’s quarterback, Avery Johnson, set a school record by throwing 25 touchdowns last season while also adding seven rushing scores. Meanwhile, Iowa State made it to the conference title game last year.
In the following weekend, several exciting games are lined up, including No. 9 LSU clashing with No. 4 Clemson and No. 6 Notre Dame visiting No. 10 Miami. Defending champions No. 3 Ohio State will host No. 1 Texas. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams last season, teams may have more opportunities to recover from early losses, making these matchups even more significant.
### Favorites for the Championship
According to the AP Top 25 and coaches’ poll, Texas kicks off the season as the No. 1 team and holds the best odds (plus-450, or 9-2) to win the national championship, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Ohio State follows closely behind (plus-525), with No. 5 Georgia and No. 2 Penn State at 7-1, and Clemson and No. 7 Oregon both at 9-1.
### Must-Watch Games
Several key games are on fans’ radars. Preseason No. 7 Oregon will face No. 2 Penn State on September 27 in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten title game. Penn State also has a matchup against Ohio State on November 1. The annual rivalry game between Ohio State and preseason No. 14 Michigan will take place over Thanksgiving weekend on November 29.
Other notable contests include TCU at North Carolina on September 1, Oklahoma vs. Texas on October 11, USC at No. 6 Notre Dame on October 18, LSU at No. 8 Alabama on November 8, and No. 11 Arizona State at Colorado on November 22.
### Insights on the Playoff Format
The College Football Playoff retains its 12-team format this year, but with an important change: conference champions will not receive automatic byes in the first round. However, the top five conference champions are guaranteed spots in the tournament.
Teams seeded 5-8 will host first-round games against seeds 9-12 on December 19 and December 20. The quarterfinals will take place at prestigious venues like the Cotton Bowl on December 1, followed by the Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls on January 1. Semifinal games will be held on January 8 at the Fiesta Bowl and January 9 at the Peach Bowl, culminating in the title game at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami on January 19.
### Heisman Trophy Contenders
As the season unfolds, many will be keeping an eye on potential Heisman Trophy candidates. Early favorites include quarterbacks Arch Manning from Texas, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, and Cade Klubnik from Clemson. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, a standout receiver, is also in the mix, along with Alabama’s Ryan Williams as a potential longshot.
The college football landscape is vibrant and full of potential as teams gear up for a season that promises to deliver excitement and competitive play.
