Best Opening Week Game?

[GatOrlando]

I know it's softball and baseball season, but we're only a few months away from week zero in football. The biggest opening week game imo is Texas vs Ohio State. Anybody have any other games they're looking forward to?

Edited April 9 by GatOrlando

[JabbaNoBargain]

Hard to top that one!

 

Depends on how they’re defining week zero this year  There are several games on 8/23, but there are quite a few good/interesting first games (on paper at least) a week later.

Alabama@FSU and Auburn@Baylor are the types of games that could lead to some very hot seats or some big program turnarounds.

 

GaTech@CU very interesting game, ditto LSU@Clemson.

 

[GatOrlando]

On 4/8/2025 at 9:00 PM, JabbaNoBargain said:

Hard to top that one!

 

Depends on how they’re defining week zero this year  There are several games on 8/23, but there are quite a few good/interesting first games (on paper at least) a week later.

Alabama@FSU and Auburn@Baylor are the types of games that could lead to some very hot seats or some big program turnarounds.

 

GaTech@CU very interesting game, ditto LSU@Clemson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Clemson vs LSU game is the 2019 championship rematch. Both teams have Heisman contending QBs coming back. Dabo has gone again nst his nature and hit the transfer portal to plug some holes. Brian Kelly *gave up a million dollars of salary to help the school retain some talent. Is he feeling the heat?

 

Alabama vs FSU is a complete crapshoot. Who's starting at QB for both programs. DeBoer got his offensive coordinator back this year as Grubb spent a year coaching in the NFL with Green Bay. How much impact will that play?

 

Nebraska is playing at Cincy. Will Rhule build off his first bowl win? I think he has to be on the hot seat if they don't win at least 8 games.

[JabbaNoBargain]

Didn’t scroll down far enough on the list of games, ND@Miami pretty epic on multiple levels

Edited April 9 by JabbaNoBargain

[Nevada Dawg]

I don't see Bama-FSU as a crapshoot. Though I can't say who will be under center (is anybody actually there anymore) Bama's roster is loaded with elite talent and I don't believe that FSU's is so blessed. I'd guess Bama wins this one comfortably.

[JabbaNoBargain]

On 4/8/2025 at 10:15 PM, Nevada Dawg said:

I don't see Bama-FSU as a crapshoot. Though I can't say who will be under center (is anybody actually there anymore) Bama's roster is loaded with elite talent and I don't believe that FSU's is so blessed. I'd guess Bama wins this one comfortably.

After last season, I think the crap shoot really is what happens if FSU loses by 28 at home to open the season? Lose by 50 get fired on the sideline?  

 

 

Great thread, gimme some football!

Edited April 9 by JabbaNoBargain

[GatOrlando]

FSU hit the transfer portal hard last off-season and thought they could build a roster instead of of supplement one that way. As far as Alabama goes, if Saban was the guy on the sidelines I wouldn't question the Tide at all. The way a very talented and deep Tide squad lost at Vanderbilt, crapped the bed vs Oklahoma and Michigan has me concerned.

 

Was there a more Jekyll &Hyde QB than Milroe? I haven't seen more people divided on a NFL prospect than that guy. I wouldn't take him before round five, same thing for Dart. But I've seen some mocks that have both guys as first to early second. Probably the Browns and Raiders tbh. But back to Alabama and FSU, I think the game will be closer than most assume. If the line is anything above a four I would be shocked.

 

I'm no gambler but I'd take the under on that. Opening week is tough, actually opening month is. Who would've seen NIU beating Notre Dame a week after the Irish beat Texas A&M? Idaho gave Oregon their third hardest game all year. Many Duck fans and fans nationally thought Gabriel wasn't going to be able to handle B1G defenses after the first two weeks. He did far more than handle them though. 

 

I never root for Alabama, except of course if they are playing the chop chop shop boys. I'll root for anybody over them. If Alabama plays up to their talent level I see a beating. I'm just not sold on them being able to do that in week one. I hope they prove me wrong for one week at least.

 

As far as Notre Dame vs Miami? I see a clubbing of the candy canes. Freeman is a far better coach.

[30Duck]

I was hoping that Penn State would have a bit of a test before OBD invade Happy Valley, but it doesn't look like it, though that could be a good thing; Nevada, FIU and Villanova provide the competition. The Trojans open with Missouri State, Washington starts with Colorado State. Indiana? Old Dominion.

[GatOrlando]

Is that Oregon vs Penn State game at night? I heard it was the whiteout game since they aren't hosting Ohio State this year.

[Jon Joseph]

 

Week 5 for OBD at Penn State is B1G for OBD. Penn State is one of two preseason ranked teams on the 2025 schedule. The other opponent is Indiana in Autzen. 

 

PSU and Indiana in Week 7, are back-to-back B1G games for Oregon. After consuming three huge cupcakes in Happy Valley, PSU has the week off before playing the Ducks. Before traveling to Beaver Stadium to play PSU, OBD plays the Beavers in Autzen. Both OBD and the Hoosiers are off in Week 6. OBD will be PSU's first test of the season.

 

To the chagrin of PSU fans, last season's game vs. Ohio State was a B1G Noon kickoff in Beaver Stadium, not a Whiteout. If FOX stays with the same broadcast 'strategy' it used in 2024, the Oregon game will kickoff at Noon Eastern. 

 

CBS had dibs on the B1G 3:30 KO time it had in the SEC. NBC generally batted clean up with the best B1G late game. This 'strategy' led to the B1G being blown away by ESPN's coverage of the SEC. Wisely, the most impactful SEC game of the week occassionally kicked-off  at 3:30 PM Eastern but on most occasions the SEC's prime games were played in prime time, 7:30 Eastern KO. 

 

In Week 5, the next B1Ggest game is Michigan at USC. I expect this game will KO at 7:30 Eastern. 

 

If as I expect, conference revenue distribution in the B1G, as it is now the case in the ACC, will be based on the number of viewers who watch a team's games. If this is the case and the B1G stays with FOX for the next media deal, B1G commissioner Petitti best negotiate more control over KO times. More folks would turn into a Penn State matchup at 12:30 or 4:30 Pacific rather than at 9 AM Pacific. 

 

For the greatest impact on both teams, I'm going first with LSU at Clemson. Brian Kelly in his four seasons at LSU has not won an opening game. Like Ole Miss last season, LSU opened up the wallet and is 2025's No. 1 ranked portal picker. With Dabo generally eschewing the portal, this is a prove-it game for Dabo and Clemson. Both teams come into this game with experienced QBs, which is rare in CFB in 2025.

 

The Clemson Tigers close with the rivalry game at South Carolina and need to notch a win over the SEC in Clemson's Death Valley.

 

Next, I think the game with the second longest season impact will be Notre Dame at Miami. Will Beck be all that for the Canes? Will Freeman be able to find a quality QB. Has Miami's D improved under the new DC hired away from Minnesota? Can Miami recover from an opening home loss? It better be able to because Florida visits in Week 4.

 

Texas at Ohio State is the headliner, no doubt. But if the game is competitive I don't think the loser will be penalized up to and including Selection Sunday.

 

Great topic. Thank You! Enjoy the CBB Championship. 

 

[30Duck]

On 4/9/2025 at 9:20 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Brian Kelly in his four seasons at LSU has not won an opening game.

BK has had a tough time since he left Notre Dame because he felt he had a better chance at a Natty in the SEC. He tried to affect an accent to go with his new environment, that didn't go well, after a particular loss he butchered John McKay's classic, "What do you think of your team's execution?"

 

 

 

[GatOrlando]

On 4/9/2025 at 9:20 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Week 5 for OBD at Penn State is B1G for OBD. Penn State is one of two preseason ranked teams on the 2025 schedule. The other opponent is Indiana in Autzen. 

 

PSU and Indiana in Week 7, are back-to-back B1G games for Oregon. After consuming three huge cupcakes in Happy Valley, PSU has the week off before playing the Ducks. Before traveling to Beaver Stadium to play PSU, OBD plays the Beavers in Autzen. Both OBD and the Hoosiers are off in Week 6. OBD will be PSU's first test of the season.

 

To the chagrin of PSU fans, last season's game vs. Ohio State was a B1G Noon kickoff in Beaver Stadium, not a Whiteout. If FOX stays with the same broadcast 'strategy' it used in 2024, the Oregon game will kickoff at Noon Eastern. 

 

CBS had dibs on the B1G 3:30 KO time it had in the SEC. NBC generally batted clean up with the best B1G late game. This 'strategy' led to the B1G being blown away by ESPN's coverage of the SEC. Wisely, the most impactful SEC game of the week occassionally kicked-off  at 3:30 PM Eastern but on most occasions the SEC's prime games were played in prime time, 7:30 Eastern KO. 

 

In Week 5, the next B1Ggest game is Michigan at USC. I expect this game will KO at 7:30 Eastern. 

 

If as I expect, conference revenue distribution in the B1G, as it is now the case in the ACC, will be based on the number of viewers who watch a team's games. If this is the case and the B1G stays with FOX for the next media deal, B1G commissioner Petitti best negotiate more control over KO times. More folks would turn into a Penn State matchup at 12:30 or 4:30 Pacific rather than at 9 AM Pacific. 

 

For the greatest impact on both teams, I'm going first with LSU at Clemson. Brian Kelly in his four seasons at LSU has not won an opening game. Like Ole Miss last season, LSU opened up the wallet and is 2025's No. 1 ranked portal picker. With Dabo generally eschewing the portal, this is a prove-it game for Dabo and Clemson. Both teams come into this game with experienced QBs, which is rare in CFB in 2025.

 

The Clemson Tigers close with the rivalry game at South Carolina and need to notch a win over the SEC in Clemson's Death Valley.

 

Next, I think the game with the second longest season impact will be Notre Dame at Miami. Will Beck be all that for the Canes? Will Freeman be able to find a quality QB. Has Miami's D improved under the new DC hired away from Minnesota? Can Miami recover from an opening home loss? It better be able to because Florida visits in Week 4.

 

Texas at Ohio State is the headliner, no doubt. But if the game is competitive I don't think the loser will be penalized up to and including Selection Sunday.

 

Great topic. Thank You! Enjoy the CBB Championship. 

 

Thanks Jon!! I hope the Gator football boys take some inspiration from the basketball program. If we could win two out of three vs Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas I would expect a playoff appearance as long as business gets taken care of vs LSU, Miami and South Carolina.

 

As for the Penn State vs Oregon game I think Big Noon is doing a disservice to B1G fans. Oregon is at Penn State for the first time. This is a rematch of an entertaining B1G title game. Both programs should be top 5. How is this not the primetime whiteout game? It's a beautiful sight at night and you know Oregon would probably have Darth Vader type uniforms to offset all that white.

 

Throw Ohio State on Big Noon. Michigan vs USC could be an afternoon game leading up to Oregon at Penn State.

 

What do I know though? I hope you get a chance to go to this game Jon. If not I hope you and all the great Duck fans who can't take Charles up on his invitation get to watch it with friends and family.