Biggest Questions with a Month Until Week 1 of the 2025 CFB Season
No matter how much preparation and research happens ahead of a college football season, plenty of unknowns will remain as fall camp begins.
Some topics, quite simply, are entirely out of our control. There are perceived front-runners in quarterback competitions, for example, but a favorite might end up opening the campaign as the backup.
And while nobody likes to talk about it, injuries will happen, too.
We've identified five storylines to watch as teams return to the practice field with a month—only a month!—until Week 1 arrives.
What Impact Will New Coordinators Make?
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The double-edged sword of having a successful team is that other organizations—whether college or pro—might come calling. That was the case for Notre Dame and Ohio State after the 2024 season.
Otherwise, there is room for improvement. Alabama, Clemson and Penn State are among the programs that pursued an upgrade at coordinator.
And now, we're waiting to see those impacts.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is relying on old friend Ryan Grubb to oversee an offense that is shifting away from a hyper-mobile QB. Clemson needs Tom Allen to help fix a shoddy run defense. Penn State is banking on Jim Knowles—who was swiped from Ohio State—elevating its defense in a national title chase.
That's merely the beginning of a long list. Anyone can make a prediction, but we'll soon be seeing the answer to these questions on the field.
Are the Receivers Good Enough at...
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As if being a quarterback isn't already challenging, every signal-caller is subject to more criticism than is probably fair. They control a very important piece of the offensive equation, but few are close to superhuman.
In other words: It sure would help if people get open consistently.
But as programs like Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Ohio State boast a stacked unit, others are still answering that question.
Penn State aggressively went after transfer receivers, but historically it has fallen in this category. Miami needed to replace nearly all of its pass-catching production from an elite offense. Notre Dame's lack of a standout target hurt the team in the national championship. Florida, Michigan and Tennessee are leaning on young and/or transfers to carry the position.
Again, we're scratching the surface of the storyline.
The point is wide receivers tend to play a major role on true contenders, and many programs will begin the season with uncertainty.
What Setbacks Happen in Fall Camp?
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Look, I do not enjoy discussing the topic. But the reality is injuries are a certainty in this final stretch of preparation for the season.
Back in August last year, Texas lost expected top running back CJ Baxter to a season-ending knee injury. Offensive lineman Charles Jagusah returned late for Notre Dame, but he missed a majority of the year due to a setback in camp.
Evan Stewart's injury technically didn't happen in the fall, but Oregon is feeling this issue after a summer knee injury.
Regretfully, more are on the horizon.
Ultimately, the "next man up" phrase is more than a gimmick. It's a necessary mentality to navigate a physical 16-, 17-game campaign.
But as Texas and Notre Dame—two CFP semifinalists—showed last season, a major injury in August does not need to ruin the year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Who's the QB at...
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Fourth on the list, first in our hearts. Something like that, at least.
Easily the most popular topic in fall camp is tracking the remaining QB battles around the nation. This year, marquee competitions are ongoing at Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and Tennessee.
Even if you're not a heavily invested CFB fan—and it's OK if you're not—you might already know those situations.
However, several teams, such as Colorado, Oklahoma State, UCF and West Virginia in the Big 12, are figuring out their QB1. Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky and Minnesota seem to have their answers, though it's unofficial.
There's no guarantee any predictions about the 2025 season will be correct, but knowing who's under center will aid in shaping our final expectations.
Will We Get No. 1 vs. No. 2?
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Speaking of QB competitions, Ohio State may start Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz this season. Head coach Ryan Day might not announce it before the season kicks off, but that's a different story.
The focus here is the opponent of that particular game: Texas.
During this millennium, the regular season has featured just five matchups between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the AP Top 25.
As if that's not enough, never before has Week 1 included this rare contest. The closest case was in 1989 when Michigan opened the season against top-ranked Notre Dame, which had already played a game.
The stakes of the showdown at Ohio State will be immense regardless, but a bit of history could be on the line, too.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
