COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1: THREE TOP-10 GAMES SO EARLY IN SEASON IS A FIRST; TEXAS-OHIO ST IS TOPPER
Until this year, there had never been three top-10 matchups so early in a college football season.
The excitement for Texas-Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday has been building since the teams met in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes went on to win the national championship; the Longhorns are the preseason No. 1 team for the first time.
But there’s more!
No. 9 LSU visits No. 4 Clemson on Saturday night for a matchup featuring Heisman Trophy candidates Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik.
No. 6 Notre Dame plays at No. 10 Miami on Sunday night with the Irish’s CJ Carr making his first career start and Georgia transfer Carson Beck making his 28th but first for the Hurricanes.
Each of the the winners will collect a big pelt for its CFP resume. Each of the losers can take solace that getting beat by a top-10 opponent this early is not a playoff deal-breaker.
Best game
No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State, Saturday, noon ET (Fox)
The storylines are abundant.
It’s a rematch of last season’s CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, a 28-14 Ohio State win.
It’s the highest-ranked opener since No. 1 Alabama beat No. 3 Florida State 24-7 in Atlanta in 2017.
It’s a celebration of Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie, who has sole ownership of the starting quarterback job for the first time and is key to the Longhorns’ hopes of making a third straight playoff appearance.
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It’s the first start for Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who becomes the Buckeyes’ third different quarterback in three seasons.
It’s an anomaly with Ohio State a 2 1/2-point favorite as of Tuesday, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. This would be the first time a preseason No. 1-ranked team would enter its opener as the underdog, according to ESPN.
Heisman watch
Texas’ Manning, Clemson’s Klubnik and LSU’s Nussmeier are the top three early Heisman candidates, and they each have an opportunity to separate themselves from the pack.
Manning is the wagering favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook at 6-to-1. There’s more hype than substance to Manning at the moment, mostly because of his football lineage. His only starts last year were against Louisiana-Monroe and what would be a two-win Mississippi State. Manning’s stock skyrockets if he wins at the Horseshoe.
Klubnik and Nussmeier, both at 9-to-1, go head-to-head at Clemson. Klubnik had an incredible 36-6 touchdown-interception ratio last season. Nussmeier is the nation’s top returning QB in passing yards per game (311.7).
Numbers to know
6 — Total transfers signed by Clemson over the last five portal windows, fewest among power conference schools.
10 — Number of conferences, including all four power conferences, represented on Washington State’s 12-game schedule.
11 — Texas’ nation-best win streak in true road games.
25 — Ohio State’s nation-best win streak in season openers.
1939 — Last time Pittsburgh played Duquesne, whose campuses are two miles apart. They meet Saturday.
Under the radar
Utah at UCLA, Saturday, 11 p.m. ET (Fox)
Nico Iamaleava makes his first start for UCLA after leading Tennessee to the CFP last season. Devon Dampier, the Big 12 preseason newcomer of the year, makes his debut for the Utes after leading the Mountain West in total offense at New Mexico.
The Bruins went 4-2 after a 1-5 start and look to continue building under second-year coach Deshaun Foster. Utah lost seven straight during a 5-7 season and are counting on Dampier and new coordinator Jason Beck to spark an offense that ranked 115th.
Hot seat
It looked like Scott Satterfield had Cincinnati headed in the right direction when it knocked off eventual Big 12 champion Arizona State in mid-October for a 5-2 start. Then came five straight losses to end the season.
The Bearcats are 8-16 under Satterfield in two years. Before that, they were 53-11 with a CFP appearance over five seasons under Luke Fickell. Granted, Satterfield’s job has a higher degree of difficulty. His first season also was Cincinnati’s first in the Big 12 after 10 years in the American Conference.
Still, this is a critical season for him. He has a returning quarterback in Brendan Sorsby and one of the easiest Big 12 schedules. The Bearcats don’t play Arizona State or perennial contender Kansas State, and their toughest game, against Iowa State, is at home. They do have a challenging opener Thursday against Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS: NO. 1 TEXAS-NO. 3 OHIO ST IS THE MAIN EVENT ON TANTALIZING SLATE OF GAMES
The college football season begins in earnest this week, and the schedule features three top-10 matchups that will give a leg up to the winners in the race to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. None is bigger than No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday.
There also are the usual early season mismatches that, barring upsets, will mean nothing in the big picture.
Of the 22 games involving Top 25 teams, nine of the opponents are from the second-tier Championship Subdivision. Overall, 47 of the 91 Week 1 games will involve an FCS team, tied for second most since 2010. There were 59 FBS-FCS Week 1 matchups last year.
The picks for FBS vs. FBS games, with Associated Press Top 25 rankings and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:
No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State (minus 2 1/2)
Arch Manning in the Horseshoe against the defending national champions. Now that’s an opener! And guess what: these two teams might square off again in the postseason. It’s a big stage for untested Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin to start for the first time. Look for Jeremiah Smith to make game-turning plays.
Pick: Ohio State 31-28.
Nevada at No. 2 Penn State (minus 44 1/2)
Don’t expect Drew Allar and the rest of the starters to play much in the second half against the first of three straight lightweight opponents. Nevada lost six straight to end 2024 and is picked last in the Mountain West. The Wolfpack are playing the highest-ranked opponent in program history and will get $1.45 million for their trouble.
Pick: Penn State 52-3.
No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson (minus 3 1/2)
This is the best quarterback matchup of the week. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is the AP preseason All-America first-team QB; LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier is the second-team QB. Both are leading Heisman Trophy contenders. Clemson gets the nod at home against an LSU team that has lost five straight openers.
Pick: Clemson 38-31.
Marshall (plus 39 1/2) at No. 5 Georgia
The only other time these teams met was in 2004. Marshall came in 0-2 with close losses to Troy and Ohio State and Georgia entered 2-0, ranked No. 3 and on its way to a 10-2 season. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped, winning 13-3. Kirby Smart and his guys won’t let it be that close.
Pick: Georgia 45-10.
No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami (plus 2 1/2)
The third, and final, top-10 matchup of the week pits Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck against an Irish defense bringing back seven starters from the team that reached the CFP championship game. CJ Carr, who played a total of four snaps for Notre Dame last season, gets his first start.
Pick: Miami 21-17.
No. 8 Alabama (minus 13 1/2) at Florida State
The Crimson Tide have ample motivation after a late-season slide kept them out of the CFP. Added fuel was added when Seminoles QB Thomas Castellanos said of the Tide: “They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.” Alabama LB Deontae Lawson’s response: “All disrespect will be addressed accordingly.”
Pick: Alabama 35-17.
Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 South Carolina (minus 7 1/2) at Atlanta
A Beamer Bowl of sorts on Sunday. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer’s dad, Frank, was a beloved coach of the Hokies, and VaTech is where Shane played and spent five years as an assistant. Gamecocks won six straight to end last season and bring back rising star QB LaNorris Sellers. Hokies dual-threat QB Kyron Drones also could be a handful.
Pick: South Carolina 27-24.
New Mexico at No. 14 Michigan (minus 34 1/2)
The debut of QB Bryce Underwood makes this game worth watching, at least for a while. The No. 1 national recruit in the 2025 class should provide an immediate spark to what was the country’s worst passing offense outside the service academies. Lobos have their third coach in three years.
Pick: Michigan 55-7.
UTSA at No. 19 Texas A&M (minus 24 1/2)
Like Alabama, the Aggies are smarting from an underwhelming finish to 2024. A&M gets back Le’Veon Moss, who is coming off a knee injury that cost him the last four games. How much he’ll be used against the Roadrunners is to be determined. QB Marcel Reed will be too much to handle for UTSA.
Pick: Texas A&M 42-10.
Old Dominion at No. 20 Indiana (minus 23 1/2)
It’s going to be a while before we know if the Hoosiers have staying power after Curt Cignetti’s breakthrough season. The Monarchs, a middling Sun Belt Conference outfit, are the toughest of Indiana’s three nonconference opponents. Kennesaw State and Indiana State follow. Cal transfer QB Fernando Mendoza makes his Hoosiers debut.
Pick: Indiana 45-10.
Georgia State at No. 21 Mississippi (minus 35 1/2)
No surprise, the Rebels will have a new look. Lane Kiffin had a program-record eight players taken in the NFL draft and he brings back only four starters. His 30-man transfer class was one of the highest ranked in the country. The Sun Belt Conference’s Panthers, who won three games a year ago, get a $1.6 million guarantee.
Pick: Mississippi 55-14.
Syracuse vs. No. 24 Tennessee (minus 14), at Atlanta
Fifth-year QB Joey Aguilar set records in two seasons at Appalachian State, spent the spring at UCLA and moved to Rocky Top to take over for Nico Iamaleava. Aguilar is a dual threat who should be able to exploit a defense that was mediocre against the pass and gave up 5.02 yards per rush. Syracuse brings back only seven starters from its 10-win team.
Pick: Tennessee 31-10.
No. 25 Boise State (minus 6 1/2) at South Florida
The post-Ashton Jeanty era begins Thursday for the Broncos, who open on the road for the fifth straight year. QB Maddux Madsen and 14 other starters return from Boise’s CFP team. USF QB Byrum Brown is one of the American Conference’s best if he can stay healthy. Bulls prioritized upgrading their defense with offseason moves.
Pick: Boise State 28-21.
NORTH CAROLINA’S BILL BELICHICK TURNS TO GIO LOPEZ AS STARTING QB FOR OPENER AGAINST TCU
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina will start South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez at quarterback against TCU on Monday in Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut.
Belichick announced that Lopez would start during a news conference Wednesday. The Tar Heels secured Lopez’s commitment after spring drills and he joined formal team workouts in preseason camp as the expected front-runner for the job.
Belichick — who led the NFL’s New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles as a head coach — said Lopez had “made a ton of progress” and would get the majority of practice reps leading up to a college version of Monday Night Football against the Horned Frogs.
“I feel very comfortable with him and what he’s doing,” Belichick said. “But he’ll get better as we go forward because we just will — we have a lot of practices in front of us, and a lot of games in front of us, and we’ll all learn a lot from those.
“I think he’s ready. But I think he’ll be like everybody: more ready as we go forward.”
Lopez, a 6-foot redshirt sophomore, threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while also running for 463 yards and seven scores last year at South Alabama.
UNC’s quarterback room included veteran Max Johnson, who was battling back from a serious leg injury suffered as the opening-game starter last year; along with freshmen Bryce Baker and Au’Tori Newkirk.
BIG 10 FOOTBALL
WEEK ONE RELEASE
- The 129th season of Big Ten football will commence this week, as Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers and Wisconsin kickoff the season on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights welcome Ohio to Piscataway, N.J., at 6 p.m. ET, while the Gophers host Buffalo at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The Huskers will face Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and the Badgers welcome Miami (OH) to Camp Randall Stadium at 9 p.m. ET.
- Illinois and Michigan State will make their debuts on Friday, as the Spartans play host to Western Michigan at 7 p.m. ET, and the Illini welcome Western Illinois at 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. Twelve teams will open the season with Saturday matchups, highlighted by No. 3 Ohio State hosting No. 1 Texas at noon ET on FOX. The full Week 1 schedule appears to the right.
- The 2025 Discover Big Ten Championship Game will be held on Saturday, December 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and will be broadcast by FOX. The winner will represent the conference as the Automatic Qualifier (AQ) to the College Football Playoff.
- The National College Football Awards Association announced the 2025 watch lists July 28-Aug. 11. All 18 schools are represented with Oregon’s 21 honors leading the way, followed by Ohio State and Penn State’s 20, 18 for Indiana and Illinois with 14. The full list of Big Ten standouts featured on the 2025 NCFAA watch lists can be found on page 2.
- The conference announced its 14th annual football preseason honors list. A media panel selected the 16-member preseason list, with student-athletes representing seven programs. The full list of honorees can be found on page 2.
- The Big Ten will welcome a new coach to the sidelines for the 2025 campaign in Purdue’s Barry Odom.
- The Big Ten claimed back-to-back national championship titles for the first time since 1942 last season as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 34-23, in the 2024 College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Buckeyes brought home their sixth national championship to the Horseshoe in Columbus and first since the inaugural CFP National Championship in the 2014-15 season.
- In 2024-25, the four most viewed college football games of the season featured Big Ten teams, as did seven of the top 10, and 12 of the top 20. Three broadcast television partners – CBS, FOX and NBC – had at least one Big Ten matchup with more than 9.5 million viewers. Twenty-one Big Ten football games had an audience of more than five million viewers.
- The Big Ten finished last season with five teams ranked in the AP Top 25, the second-most of any conference, including four teams ranked in the top 10. The 2025 AP Preseason Poll features six Big Ten teams in No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan and No. 20 Indiana, while Iowa, Nebraska and USC received votes.
- Abbott and the Big Ten Conference are kicking off Season 2 of the We Give Blood drive. The competition starts August 27, with fans receiving a custom Homefield school-specific t-shirt when they donate on Aug. 27 (while supplies last). Every donation can help save up to three lives — and someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds.
WISCONSIN TRIES TO BOUNCE BACK FROM 2024 COLLAPSE AS IT HOSTS MIAMI (OHIO) IN SEASON OPENER
Miami (Ohio) at Wisconsin, Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Wisconsin by 17 1/2.
How to watch: BTN
Key stats
Miami (2024)
Overall offense: 352.7 yards per game (98th in FBS)
Passing: 217.4 yards per game (80th)
Rushing: 135.3 yards per game (91st)
Scoring: 24.1 points per game (96th)
Overall defense: 331.4 yards allowed per game (33rd)
Rushing: 137.1 yards allowed per game (47th)
Passing: 194.3 yards allowed per game (34th)
Scoring: 18.8 points allowed per game (15th)
Wisconsin (2024)
Overall offense: 350.3 yards per game (99th)
Passing: 196.7 yards per game (102nd)
Rushing: 153.7 yards per game (78th)
Scoring: 22.6 points per game (108th)
Overall defense: 342.7 yards allowed per game (41st)
Rushing: 165 yards allowed per game (91st)
Passing: 177.7 yards allowed per game (14th)
Scoring: 23.1 points allowed per game (47th)
Team leaders
Miami (2024)
Passing: Dequan Finn, 307 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 53.5 completion percentage (at Baylor)
Rushing: Jordan Brunson, 299 yards on 53 carries, 4 TDs
Receiving: Kam Perry, 166 yards on 10 catches, 0 TDs
Wisconsin (2024)
Passing: Billy Edwards Jr., 2,881 yards, 15 TDs, 9 INTs, 65.0 completion percentage (at Maryland)
Rushing: Darrion Dupree, 317 yards on 79 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Vinny Anthony, 672 yards on 39 catches, 4 TDs
Last game
Miami beat Colorado State 43-17 in the Arizona Bowl to cap a 9-5 season.
Wisconsin lost 24-7 at home to Minnesota to cap a five-game skid that ended a 5-7 campaign, snapping a string of 22 consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances.
Next game
Miami visits Rutgers and Wisconsin hosts Middle Tennessee on Sept. 6.
NEBRASKA PLAYS CINCINNATI IN SEASON OPENER FOR BOTH TEAMS AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM IN KANSAS CITY
Nebraska vs. Cincinnati at Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Nebraska by 6 1/2.
How to watch: ESPN
Key stats
Nebraska (2024)
Overall offense: 359.0 yards per game (94th in FBS)
Passing: 228.4 yards per game (103rd)
Rushing: 130.6 yards per game (97th)
Scoring: 23.5 points per game (103rd)
Overall defense: 317.9 yards allowed per game (18th in FBS)
Passing: 216.7 yards allowed per game (65th)
Rushing: 101.2 yards allowed per game (8th)
Scoring: 19.5 points allowed per game (17th)
Cincinnati (2024)
Overall offense: 420.6 yards per game (36th in FBS)
Passing: 236.5 yards allowed per game (89th)
Rushing: 184.1 yards allowed per game (36th)
Scoring: 24.6 points per game (64th)
Overall defense: 385.4 yards allowed per game (85th in FBS)
Passing: 228.8 yards allowed per game (74th)
Rushing: 162.7 yards allowed per game (88th)
Scoring: 26.0 points allowed per game (75th)
Team leaders
Nebraska (2024)
Passing: Dylan Raiola, 2,818 yards, 13 TDs, 11 INTs, 67.1 completion percentage
Rushing: Emmett Johnson, 598 yards on 117 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Nyziah Hunter, 578 yards on 40 catches, 5 TDs (at California)
Cincinnati (2024)
Passing: Brendan Sorsby, 2,813 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs, 64.0 completion percentage
Rushing: Tawee Walker, 864 yards on 190 carries, 10 TDs (at Wisconsin)
Receiving: Caleb Goodie, 436 yards on 21 catches, 4 TDs (at Colorado State)
Last game
Nebraska beat Boston College 20-15 in the Pinstripe Bowl to finish 7-6.
Cincinnati lost to TCU 20-13 to finish 5-7 and miss a bowl game.
Next game
Nebraska plays its home opener against Akron on Sept. 6.
Cincinnati plays its home opener against Bowling Green the same day.
MINNESOTA OPENS THE SEASON AT HOME AGAINST BUFFALO AS A 17½-POINT FAVORITE
Buffalo at Minnesota, Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Minnesota by 17 1/2.
How to watch: FS1.
Key stats
Buffalo (2024)
Overall offense: 355.4 yards per game (95th in FBS)
Passing: 186.3 yards per game (110th)
Rushing: 169.1 yards per game (52nd)
Scoring: 28.8 points per game (59th)
Overall defense: 391.8 yards allowed per game (91st in FBS)
Passing: 245.2 yards allowed per game (108th)
Rushing: 146.6 yards allowed per game (62nd)
Scoring: 26.2 points allowed per game (79th)
Minnesota (2024)
Overall offense: 337.8 yards per game (107th in FBS)
Passing: 222.2 yards per game (76th)
Rushing: 115.6 yards per game (109th)
Scoring: 26.2 points per game (80th)
Overall defense: 285.7 yards allowed per game (5th in FBS)
Passing: 176.1 yards allowed per game (10th)
Rushing: 109.6 yards allowed per game (12th)
Scoring: 16.9 points allowed per game (9th)
Team leaders
Buffalo (2024)
Passing: C.J. Ogbonna, 2,381 yards, 19 TDs, 5 INTs, 56.5 completion percentage
Rushing: Al-Jay Henderson, 1,078 yards, 9 TDs (returning)
Receiving: Victor Snow, 651 yards, 55 catches, 6 TDs
Minnesota (2024)
Passing: Max Brosmer, 2,828 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs, 66.5 completion percentage
Rushing: Darius Taylor, 986 yards, 10 TDs (returning)
Receiving: Danny Jackson, 863 yards, 75 catches, 4 TDs
Last game
Buffalo beat Liberty 26-7 in the Bahamas Bowl to finish 9-4 under Pete Lembo for the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
Minnesota beat Virginia Tech 24-10 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to finish 8-5 and improve to 6-0 in bowl games under head coach P.J. Fleck.
Next game
Buffalo plays at home on Sept. 6 against Saint Francis, a Pennsylvania university in its final season in the FCS before moving down to the NCAA Division III level in 2026. Minnesota hosts FCS foe Northwestern State, which is on a 20-game losing streak, on Sept. 6.
RUTGERS LOOKS FOR 6TH STRAIGHT SEASON-OPENING WIN WHEN IT HOSTS OHIO
Ohio at Rutgers, Thursday, 6 p.m. EDT.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Rutgers by 15 1/2.
How to watch: Big Ten Network
Key stats
Rutgers (2024):
Overall offense: 382.7 yards per game (71st in FBS)
Passing: 207.4 yards per game (92nd)
Rushing: 175.3 yards per game (45th)
Scoring: 28.9 points per game (T-55th)
Overall defense: 393.8 yards allowed per game (95th in FBS)
Passing: 231.1 yards allowed per game (87th)
Rushing: 162.8 yards allowed per game (89th)
Scoring: 25.4 points allowed per game (71st)
Ohio (2024)
Overall offense: 405.6 yards per game (50th in FBS)
Passing: 192.4 yards per game (104th)
Rushing: 213.1 yards per game (12th)
Scoring: 29.1 points per game (54th)
Overall defense: 303.1 yards allowed per game (9th in FBS)
Passing: 212.6 yards allowed per game (50th)
Rushing: 90.6 yards allowed per game (4th)
Scoring: 18.1 points allowed per game (13th)
Team leaders
Rutgers (2024)
Passing: Athan Kaliakmanis, 2,696 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs, 53.9 completion percentage
Rushing: Kyle Monangai, 1,279 yards on 256 carries, 13 TDs
Receiving: Dymere Miller, 757 yards on 59 catches, 4 TDs
Ohio
Passing: Parker Navarro, 2,423 yards, 13 TDs, 11 INTs, 66.1 completion percentage
Rushing: Anthony Tyus III, 1,215 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Coleman Owen, 1,245 yards, 78 catches, 8 TDs
Last game
Rutgers lost 44-41 to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl.
Ohio defeated Jacksonville State 30-27 in the Cure Bowl.
Next game
Rutgers hosts Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 6. Ohio hosts West Virginia on Sept. 6.
MAC FOOTBALL
WEEK 1
Week 1 Football Release: http://bit.ly/4mDoM7j
Week 1 MAC Head Coaches Press Conferences: https://bit.ly/4oVQ4ak
2025 MAC Football Team-By-Team Preview Videos: https://bit.ly/3HUwk6l
Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, August 28
Lafayette at Bowling Green 6 PM ET (ESPN+)
Ohio at Rutgers 6 PM ET (BTN)
Wyoming at Akron 7 PM ET (ESPN+)
Buffalo at Minnesota 8 PM ET (FS1)
Miami at Wisconsin 9 PM ET (BTN)
Friday, August 29
Western Michigan at Michigan State 7 PM ET (FS1)
Central Michigan at San Jose State 10:30 PM ET (FS1)
Saturday, August 30
Merrimack at Kent State 12 PM ET (ESPN+)
Ball State at Purdue 12 PM ET (BTN)
Toledo at Kentucky 12:45 PM ET (SECN)
Temple at UMass 3:30 PM ET (ESPN+)
Holy Cross at Northern Illinois 3:30 PM ET (ESPN+)
Eastern Michigan at Texas State 8 PM ET (ESPN+)
Two Minute Drill
• The Toledo Rockets have been selected as favorites to win both the regular season crown and Mid-American Conference (MAC) Football Championship Game title in the 2025 Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll. Head Coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves in the poll. The Rockets received seven first place votes to claim the regular season championship, while notching six votes to win the 2025 conference title game.
• For the first time since 1968, the Ohio football team won the MAC Championship, defeating Miami 38-3 on Dec. 7, 2024. This marked the largest margin of victory in a MAC Championship Game. Additionally, this was Ohio’s first-ever MAC Football Championship Game title.
• The MAC posted five bowl wins following the 2024 regular season, the most in conference history. In total, the MAC had seven teams
appear in bowl games, the most since 2021. This marked the third straight year and the ninth time since 2011 that the MAC has had six or more programs reach bowl eligibility. Additionally, this was the 16th time in MAC history that five or more programs became bowl eligible in a single season.
• Four former MAC student-athletes were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft this past April. Darius Alexander (Toledo) was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round (65th Pick) before Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green) was selected by the Cleveland Browns just two picks later. Western Michigan’s Bilal Kone (Baltimore Ravens, Sixth Round, 178th Pick) and Central Michigan’s Donte Kent (Pittsburgh Steelers, Seventh Round, 229th Pick) rounded out the MAC’s draft picks.
• Six new head coaches joined MAC football programs prior to the 2025 season: Mike Uremovich (Ball State), Eddie George (Bowling Green), Matt Drinkall (Central Michigan), Joe Harasymiak (UMass), Mark Carney (Interim, Kent State) and Brian Smith (Ohio).
• Nick Saban (Toledo, Kent State) and Urban Meyer (Bowling Green) were both named to the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Kent State men’s basketball alumnus Antonio Gates was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of its 2025 Class.
