Will 2025 Be The Greatest College Football Season Ever?

The position of quarterback is unique in American sports.  A position that requires such an intense combination of mental and physical skills that when viewed in NFL terms there are maybe 12 (?) humans on the planet that perform at an acceptable level according to their fanbases.  The quarterback represents one player amongst a roster of dozens that can singlehandedly make or break your championship dreams.  Truly a position without peer. Once we understand this; we can then turn our gaze to college football and a fascinating picture begins to form.  One in which many of the favorites are welcoming new faces, while a gaggle of veteran challengers beat at the gates trying to barge their way in.  And it all begins with perhaps the single biggest week 1 battle we’ve ever seen.

Michael Reaves. Getty Images.

With Julian Sayin officially named Ohio St’s starter the heavyweight matchup or our dreams is officially set.  Sayin and THE Ohio St Buckeyes against Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns.  Though I am no expert nor am I a historian, I would venture to say that this is the most hyped matchup of two first time starters in college football history.  We are talking two supremely talented five star prospects taking control of arguably the two best programs in all of college football.  Sayin has to try and guide the defending national champions back to the promised land while inheriting a half decade of no golden pants, and Manning takes on a team coming off of back to back semi final appearances carrying a multi decade championship drought.  Two young princes, scions of great houses, who seek to gain eternal glory on the field of battle.  At least twenty million people will watch who will rise and who will fall and I CANNOT WAIT.  

CFP. Getty Images.

But it is not just Manning and Sayin assuming leadership of the great houses… Thanks to the fantastic work of Bill Connelly of ESPN I’ve noticed an interesting dynamic in this year’s edition of college football.  Many of the traditional college football powerhouses are working in new quarterbacks, while a lot of the teams that are trying to assume their spot amongst the CFB’s top tier bring back accomplished veterans. 

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Let us look at the AP top 25 

• 1. Texas: Arch Manning 

• 3. Ohio St: Julian Sayin

• 5 . UGA: Gunnar Stockton 

• 6. Notre Dame: CJ Carr

• 7 Oregon: Dante Moore 

• 8. Alabama: Ty Simpson 

Six of the top 8 teams in the country will be working in first time full time starters at the previously established single most important position in all of sports.  Penn St and Clemson are the exceptions which is, in part, why their potential seems so incredibly high this season.  However, behind these new faces there is a seemingly endless procession of experienced quarterbacks ready to supplant these young greenhorns.   

• 9. LSU: Garret Nussmeier 

• 10 . Miami: Carson Beck 

• 11. Az St: Sam Leavitt

• 12. Illinois: Luke Altmeyer 

• 13. South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers 

• 15. Florida: DJ Lagway 

• 16. SMU: Kevin Jennings

• 17. Kansas St: Avery Johnson 

• 18. Oklahoma: John Mateer 

• 19. Texas AM: Marcel Reed

• 20. Indiana: Fernando Mendoza 

• 22. Iowa St: Rocco Becth

• 23. Texas Tech: Behren Morton

Ron Jenkins. Getty Images.

Now, let me be clear.  I am no soothsayer.  I do not possess the talent of foresight.  I cannot pretend to know who of this group will succeed and who will fail.  Who will achieve immortality and who will disappear into the sands of time.  What I think I can confidently predict, is that these elements create a combustible mixture. A powder keg of narrative that will EXPLODE in ways that we cannot yet imagine.  When you have this level of uncertainty, this legion of storylines hanging in the air, it all adds up to show that this is going to be an incredible College Football season!  So join me friends, as we raise our glasses once more to the greatest sport in the world.  Let the Chaos begin!  

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.