The 2025 college football season has had no shortage of stories developing. Though just three weeks into the season, there are teams battling for their playoff lives, hot starts nobody predicted and questions surrounding numerous big names in college football. All this is happening before most teams open the conference portion of its schedule. With that in mind, here are the biggest headlines through the first third of the college football season.
The flip in expectations for Florida schools.
Entering week one, many expected then-No. 8 Alabama to be the same old Crimson Tide. Instead, the Florida State Seminoles, after a historically terrible season, shocked the football world, dominating Alabama, to which quarterback Tommy Castellanos’ preseason comments, which once seemed foolish, became prophecy. FSU followed that up with a 73-0 win, entering week four at No. 7 in the country.
Starting the season with three straight ranked opponents, USF’s non-conference games seemed like ones that could be chalked up as losses. Instead, the Bulls dominated No. 25 Boise State, before going into the swamp and stealing a game from the No. 13 Florida Gators. The Bulls got a reality check after facing No. 5 Miami, but with the ability to enter conference play with the new-found swagger of two ranked wins under its belt.
As for the aforementioned Gators, its season might be all but over, despite having nine regular season games left. Following the USF loss, Florida lost its national ranking and had to face No. 3 LSU, losing 20-10, with starting quarterback DJ Lagway tossing five interceptions. The task moving forward doesn’t get any easier, with seven of the nine games remaining being against ranked opponents, including facing No. 4 Miami this weekend and ending the regular season with the No. 7 Seminoles.
Which leads to the final school: Miami. With two ranked wins already, this Hurricanes team, which had its playoff hopes spoiled by Syracuse last season, seems on track to return to its first ACC championship since 2017. The Hurricanes were in the same scenario through three weeks, but the quality of wins is much more this year.
Are Notre Dame’s title hopes gone after starting 0-2?
After its first National Championship berth since 2012, Notre Dame’s expectations for 2025 were exponentially high. The expectations and the reality have been diverse through the Fighting Irish’s first two games. As one of just a few independent college football teams, there is minimal margin of error, in which Notre Dame may have exceeded that margin already. After losing on the road to No. 10 Miami by three points and following an early season bye, Notre Dame opened its home schedule hosting No. 16 Texas A&M. The Irish took a 40-34 lead on a late score, failing to convert the extra point. The failure would be the backbreaker, as the Aggies would score just before time expired and make its point-after attempt to hand Notre Dame its second loss in as many attempts.
Any team that starts the season 0-2 is virtually finished in regards to making the playoffs. Add the independent factor and you could basically bookmark it. However, Notre Dame might still have life, though the mountain might still be too tall to climb. When addressing the losses, it’s by a combined four points to a pair of top ranked teams in the nation, which the playoff committee takes into account. Notre Dame has a favorable schedule the remainder of the way, which is important to get wins. However, it’s not so easy as to say the Irish don’t play anybody. Some of the big matchups include: @ Arkansas, a SEC opponent on the road; NC State, which sits at 3-0; No. 25 USC, which has barrolled opponents to start the season; and Navy, which started 3-0 and hasn’t suffered a loss since Nov. 16. Is the task easy for Notre Dame? Not in the slightest. If the Irish can find a way to win out, with a handful of dominating victories, the Irish could once again have life come playoff time.
Could Vanderbilt football be relevant and competitive in the near future?
Aside from the early 2010s James Franklin era, Vanderbilt football is flooded with rather forgettable results. As tough as it is to compete in the SEC, it seemed that Vanderbilt would never have any true positives in regard to its program. However, last season seemingly turned a corner. After giving Missouri fits to open conference play, the Commodores shocked Alabama, which ranked No. 1 in the nation at that point. The team that used to be a free win in the conference turned into a constant upset watch. Texas, LSU and Tennessee grinded their ways to victory instead of the dominating fashion that each program had gotten familiar to.
Across two weeks of the 2025 season, Vanderbilt dominated both games, leading into its bout with No. 11 South Carolina, having to be the visitor in the contest. After scores from both sides to start the game, Vanderbilt controlled the game, clinching a ranking-rattling win, 31-7. Though the Gamecocks were without starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers for the majority of the game, Vanderbilt still took care of business in a harsh environment. The win resulted in the Commodores being ranked No. 20 in the nation. With a pair of non-conference games upcoming, Vanderbilt could move into the heart of conference play 5-0 and playing its best ball in program history. With Kentucky being the lone SEC opponent that doesn’t hold a ranking, the Commodores will need to be on their game, but the last season-plus has shown that Vanderbilt isn’t a team that can be taken lightly.
Has family legacy produced another dud prospect who gained hype because of his name?
In recent years, nepotism has run more rampant in sports than ever. Starting with basketball, Bronny James being a NBA draft pick, despite barely being a solid college prospect is the most prominent example. In football, Shedeur Sanders gained first round draft hype from draft analysts, due to his father, before stumbling down the draft board. Now, both of these players are yet to gain legitimate playing time, so the verdict is still out, but college football might have its newest nepo-baby.
Arch Manning has had unbelievably high hype around him since moving to college. The anticipation of his talent has definitely been a source for the hype. However, the professional success from his uncles, Eli and Peyton, as well as his grandfather, Archie, have been the biggest source of the hype. Through three games, Manning has looked somewhat lackluster. Though it was on road against the reigning champions, Manning struggled mightily against No. 1 Ohio State. He had a much better game in Texas’ first win of the season, but the team’s win against UTEP was rough. Manning ran two touchdowns in, but passing wise, he looked lost, throwing for a 44% competition percentage and 114 yards, against a team that issued a 68.9% percentage and 253 passing yards per game against its previous two opponents. Manning and Texas have one more “tune up” game before starting SEC play.
Could Joey Aguilar for Nico Iamalaeva be the most lopsided trade in football history?
Now, let’s be clear here: college football doesn’t have trading yet, though the way the transfer portal has evolved the sport, it might become a thing soon. Though Joey Aguilar never played a snap for UCLA, there was plenty of anticipation after his two seasons at Appalachian State. However, plans were diverted when Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee to join the Bruins. With the quarterback abandoned for the Volunteers, Aguilar went into the portal once more and headed for Rocky Top.
For the Vols, this move couldn’t have benefitted any more. Aguilar has been one of college’s best quarterbacks, tossing for 906 yards and nine touchdowns across its first three games. If it hadn’t been for Georgia’s late comeback, Tennessee could be 3-0 and ranking in the top-10 in the nation. Even still, Tennessee is positioned to be a playoff caliber team. On the other hand, Iamaleava and the Bruins have had a brutal start to the year. Iamaleava has as many passing touchdowns as he does interceptions, while UCLA is 0-3, leading to the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster. Given how both teams are set up for the remainder of this season, the quarterback exchange between UCLA and Tennessee seems to favor the Volunteers heavily.
All stats from ESPN as of Sept. 15.
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