Week One TV Schedule: Do. Not. Leave. Your. Couch.

It’s finally here! Week 1 is upon us and after all the transfers and commitments, position battles and late coach poachings, it is finally time to warm up the buffalo chicken dip and find your lucky socks. There’s football all weekend and we don’t have to worry about what to do on a Saturday for the rest of the year. We made it! 

Here’s your Week 1 TV Preview

THURSDAY

#25 Boise St at South Florida ESPN 4:30pm CT

I still remember the 2011 loss to Boise State, mostly because of those godawful helmets, but also that Boise came out swinging against a known power and got us right in the mouth. I don’t know what helmets they’ll be wearing, but Boise should be careful not to fall into their own trap. 

Boise State looks to make good on their first college football playoff appearance in Tampa. Despite losing generational talent (and generally fun dude to watch) Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos retain most other skill positions. It will be an early test for a returning South Florida defense that ranked 99^th last year. We’ve got a great official kick off for the 2025 season.

Nebraska v Cincy ESPN 9:30pm CT (Kansas City)

The late-night game gives us a glimpse of one that never was for the ’Dawgs in Dylan Raiola. He’ll be at the helm of a Cornhuskers offense with weapons at WR and downfield arm strength. Nebraska will seek to start their season with a decisive showing against a Cincy defense that allowed nearly 30 points per game last season. 

FRIDAY

Auburn at Baylor FOX 7:00pm CT

Auburn’s got a brand new (to them) QB in Jackson Arnold. The Sooner transfer will pair his speed with WR Cam Coleman’s production as the tiger-eagles-plains persons make their way to Waco. In a Big XII that feels more like the wild west every season. Baylor has a chance to make an early name for itself against my least favorite orange team.

Georgia Tech at Colorado ESPN 7:00pm CT

Georgia Tech gave us quite a scare last year. Brent Key has the wreck running smoother than I’d prefer. The Yellow Jackets return more than they lost for a road trip to Colorado where Coach Prime has more questions than answers. Kaidon Salter will take the reins for the Buffalo offense that lost Sanders at QB and Travis Hunter just about everywhere else.  This looks to be a “prove it” game for both sides. 

SATURDAY

#1 Texas at #3 Ohio St FOX 11:00 CT

The weekend’s main event gets an early start in Columbus. The* defending national champion Buckeyes are dogs against a #1-in-preseason-pole-for-the-first-time Longhorn team that just mightfinally be back (from where? we still don’t know). The Longhorns made their entrance into the SEC with authority last year, only stumbling against one conference opponent (twice. Go Dawgs). After two years of previews, the Arch Manning show will finally be in full swing as the 3^rd generation QB startsfor the first time as a Longhorn. Expectations are sky-high for both sides with the winner in control of their destiny and the loser playing catchup to a demanding fan base.

Marshall at #5 Georgia ESPN 2:30pm CT

Our beloved Dawgs will host Marshall in an afternoon home opener. It’ll be Gunner’s job to lose this year, and he has more potential targets to throw to than on-field positions! The Thundering Herd is coming off its first 10-win season in nearly a decade and will look to returning all SBC TE Toby Payne for plays against a mean-looking defense.  

What’s shaping up to be an all-time wide receiver room bodes well for Stockton. It should be a lot of fun this season to see who gels and who makes the plays when we need them. UGA was missing a playmaker like Ladd last year and I’m excited to see who steps up. 

#8 LSU at #4 Clemson ABC 6:30pm CT

It’s Tigers vs Ti-guhs in Death Valley for the marquis evening game. Garrett Nussmeir will wear LSU prestigious #18 in his second season, starting at QB. The red-shirt senior is already a Top 10 passer in several areas and he’s in range of some all-time records in Baton Rouge. The Bayou Bengals are underdogs against ACC power Clemson’s current iteration. This game is also a clash in portal philosophy as Brian Kelly’s squad added 18 portal players to Dabo’s 3. We’ll see who has the better argument Saturday night.

Cal at Oregon State ESPN 10:30pm CT

Pac2 vs ACC West (way west). The late-night game has potential for chippiness as the Beavers will host their former conference mates. History gives Cal a slim advantage with a 40-37 all-time record, and they’ll start true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at QB. Last year, the Golden Bears trounced the Beavers in Berkeley, 44-7. In Corvalis, Senior RB, Anthony Hankerson will lead a retooled but still run first offense, as the Beavers look to respond. 

SUNDAY

Virginia Tech vs South Carolina (Atlanta) ESPN 2:00pm CT

After church, you’ve got time to hit the buffet before the Hokies face the Gamecocks in Atlanta. Shane Beamer enters his fifth season with the Gamecocks after winning the AP’s coach of the year with a 9-4 record (I guess they must spread that around rather than let the best coach win every year). Hokies have two brand new coordinators under coach Brent Pry and after losing 4 of the last 5 games in 2024, that chair must be at least warm by now.  

#6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami ABC 6:30pm CT

Notre Dame travels south to face Miami in a reboot of the historic rivalry. Carson Beck gets another crack at a stout Fighting Irish defense, though he’ll be wearing a different shirt. Morbid curiosity about our former QB’s game would be plenty enough reason for the petty dawgs (like me) to tune in, but Irish RB, Jeremiyah Love, has potential to put up big boy numbers this year. Week one is a great place to start. 

MONDAY

TCU at North Carolina ESPN 7:00pm CT

The Horned Frogs have trended towards a reliably well-rounded offense under head coach Sonny Dykes. Returning QB, Josh Hoover, had a monster year last year and is poised to build on his success with the addition of Jordan Dwyer and Joseph Manjack IV to his list of potential targets. The defense returns key players and has record-setting potential this year. The Tar-Heels will host this non-conference match up and give all of us a chance to see what, newcomer to the college game, Bill Belichick has dialed up for the boys in Carolina blue. We’ll likely have to wait all the way until kick off too. As of August 26, he has not named a starting QB.