Emmitt Smith, Jerome Bettis Among NFL Icons with Sons on 2025 CFB Rosters

Some familiar surnames hit the field when the first full weekend of college football kicked off Saturday.

Notre Dame wide receiver Jerome Bettis Jr., Fresno State quarterback E.J. Warner and Alabama defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. are among the college players this season whose fathers played in the NFL.

FanDuel offered a look at some of the other college football players with NFL ties this season:

Other college football players with parental NFL connections include Notre Dame wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, son of Larry Fitzgerald; Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, son of Anthony Becht; Notre Dame defensive lineman Bryce Young, son of Bryant Young; and Oregon quarterback Akili Smith Jr., son of Akili Smith.

One of the highest-profile family connections in college football this season is claimed by Texas quarterback Arch Manning, nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning.

Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said after Texas suffered a season-opening loss on Saturday that outside expectations on Manning "were out of control" ahead of his first season as starting quarterback.

Other players might not be under quite as much pressure, but expectations will still be high for some of these family members of NFL icons as they head into the 2025-26 college football season.