As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday

5:30: Boise State @ South Florida (ESPN): It’s starting to feel real. With the Braves pretty thoroughly Out of It™, I’ve (yes, I’m switching back to first person here, deal with it) been looking forward to the start of the season. Of course, that’s also because one of the biggest games of the weekend also involves the Jackets. Anyway, in this one, good on USF for scheduling this Boise but boy howdy I do not like their chances.

6:00:

• Ohio @ Rutgers (BTN): Someday, Rutgers is going to have to figure out how literally anyone else other than Greg Schiano can make Rutgers even competent. Fortunately for the Scarlet Knights, that hasn’t happened yet.
• Lafayette @ Bowling Green (ESPN+)

7:00:

• East Carolina @ North Carolina State (ACCN): This is a low-key sorta rivalry, in that ECU absolutely hates the Tobacco Road schools. I don’t like their chances to win, but in terms of “game most likely to feature a brawl” this weekend, this is almost certainly #1.
• Delaware State @ Delaware (ESPN+)
• Saint Francis @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)
• Wyoming @ Akron (ESPN+)
• Jacksonville State @ Central Florida (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Central Arkansas @ Missouri (SEC)
• Elon @ Duke (ACCNX/ESPN+)
• Tennessee-Martin @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)

8:00:

• Buffalo @ Minnesota (FS1): Okay, Thursday doesn’t have a lot of intrigue so far. Let’s see what we have next…
• Stephen F. Austin @ Houston (ESPN+)
• Alabama State @ Alabama-Birmingham (ESPN+)

9:00:

• Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (@Kansas City, MO): Oh hey there! Nebraska, are you feeling good about this season? Well, you had better hold serve in a nominal neutral site game (but will totally be 90% Cornhuskers) against a Bearcats team that figures to be spicy.
• Miami @ Wisconsin (BTN): On Wisconsin, and on to Friday.

Friday

6:00: Tarleton State @ Army (CBSS)

7:00:

• Western Michigan @ Michigan State (FS1): This is definitely a MAC vs. B1G game that is happening.
• Appalachian State vs. Charlotte (@Charlotte, NC; ESPNU): It’s a little head-scratching that Charlotte is playing this game in the Panthers’ stadium and not next week’s game against UNC. Either way, the 49ers will not be favored in either contest.
• Kennesaw State @ Wake Forest (ACCN): It’s been a tough road so far in FBS for Kennesaw, and it’s going to be tough once against in 2025.
• Bethune-Cookman @ Florida International (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Western Illinois @ Illinois (Peacock)
• Wagner @ Kansas (ESPN+)

8:00:

• Auburn @ Baylor (FOX): There may be no hotter seat in college football at the start of 2025 than the one on the Plains. And the reason isn’t so much that Auburn doesn’t have talent (though they’ve been weirdly bad at QB as of late), it’s more that they don’t play well. This is a bit of a statement game for both teams, but one gets the feeling it’s going to be a bit bigger of a deal for the Tigers. I like the Bears.
• Georgia Tech @ Colorado (ESPN): Whoo boy. It’s been a minute since we came into a season with what I would call “a reasonable amount of hype”. This isn’t a 2015-style situation where we’re coming in ranked, but I would say the consensus is that we’re favored in this one. We certainly have a lot less roster turnover than Colorado, who is coming into the season down their two (well, three, really, depending on how you count Travis Hunter) most important players and the raft of transfers that has so far marked Coach Prime’s tenure. Is this the year the Buffs are finally fielding Power 4-quality offensive and defensive lines? Maybe! But also, maybe not! We’re going to find real quick on Friday night who is moving who in the trenches, that I feel pretty good about saying.

9:00: Nevada-Las Vegas @ Sam Houston State (CBSS): I don’t know if UNLV is good, but I like them over SHSU.

10:30: Central Michigan @ San Jose State (FS1): It’s year two for Coach Ken in Silicon Valley, and honestly I think they’re going to be okay? This one is certainly manageable for them.