In the ever-changing college football landscape, even the scheduling has become a zero-sum game.
For years now, the sprinkling of FBS contests we were treated to on the Saturday ahead of Labor Day weekend were officially grouped under the ambiguous “Week 0,” to the amusement of some, indifference of others and confusion of many.
But just when it appeared the college football viewing world had come to embrace Week 0, it was unceremoniously stripped from us. Starting this year, the NCAA no longer acknowledges Week 0 and has decided the more practical route involves grouping all FBS games that take place on each of the first two college football weekends under the all-encompassing umbrella of Week 1.
Fair enough. With all due respect to the five contests taking place on the first Saturday of Week 1, we’ll take a look at the unofficial main event the following week. This features the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes hosting the top-ranked Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Aug. 30 (Noon ET kickoff).
It’s the first time in modern college football history that the country’s top-ranked team is an underdog in its season opener but, for those with a basic sense of how oddsmakers work, it’s no surprise coming against the third-ranked Buckeyes.
The clubs met in the semifinals of last year’s College Football Playoff, with Ohio State notching a 28-14 victory that saw the Longhorns’ self-destructive ways ruin what was an otherwise respectable performance.
Of course, this rematch will hardly resemble the memorable battle that took place in January. The Buckeyes had 14 players taken in April’s NFL Draft, including star receiver Emeka Egbuka and flashy running back TreVeyon Henderson, both of whom are expected to make an immediate impact at the pro…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-2025-looking-ahead-to-marquee-week-1-showdown-between-texas-and-ohio-state/
Author : Josh Nagel
Publish date : 2025-08-22 16:42:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
