Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner preview the first week of the 2025 season, with notes on dozens of games that will make your Week 1 more interesting. A brief selection of the games we talk about this week:

* Boise State vs. USF is the Bulls’ biggest moment in years

* Nebraska vs. Cincinnati is a major interior pressure test for Dylan Raiola

* Auburn vs. Baylor and Georgia Tech vs. Colorado headline Friday night

* Northwestern vs. Tulane features a Big Ten team as a justified underdog in a Group of 5 stadium, but who’s playing QB for the Green Wave?

* TEXAS VS. OHIO STATE, one of the biggest Week 1 games ever. (Don’t lose sight of how big this thing is just because both teams will make the playoff)

* Syracuse vs. Tennessee: There will be orange

* Toledo vs. Kentucky: The MAC’s best chance to beat the SEC

* Alabama vs. Florida State: The Seminoles probably can’t win, but what about their performance will offer hints of the future? Read Alex’s story about Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit here.

* LSU vs. Clemson: We like the Tigers to prevail in Death Valley

* Sacramento State vs. South Dakota State is an unusual FCS showcase

* Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina: The Beamer Bowl presents many questions, most of them about the Hokies

* TCU vs. North Carolina: Welcome to CFB, Bill Belichick

Did we just forget Notre Dame vs. Miami? Of course not. For this week’s main course, Jessica Smetana, cohost of the Notre Dame-focused “Echoes” podcast with Mike Golic Jr., joins the podcast to talk about the Irish’s big challenge.

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Producer: Anthony Vito

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Week 1 CFB Tasting Menu: Time to Eat