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Writer's pictureRaymond Gorvie

A Quick Look at College Football Week 1 Top-25 Matchups

Updated: Aug 27

 After a summer filled with surprising transfers, retirements, realignment, and expansion, week one of college football has finally arrived. Fans from all over have shared their excitement for this upcoming season after many changes to the sport of college football l, leaving many fan bases with newfound hopes for their programs for this upcoming season and future. With us fans being treated to three top-25 matchups to kick off this season, let’s take a quick look at these games as we enter a new era of college football. # 1 Georgia vs # 14 Clemson

Week one is kicking off with a rivalry game with the number one team in the country, The Georgia Bulldogs going against the 14th-ranked Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. With the schools being separated by nearly 70 miles, Georgia and Clemson are bitter rivals dating back to the late 1800s. The universities have not played annually since 1987, having only met 10 times since. Clemson is coming off a 9-4 season, going 4-4 in the ACC and missing the conference title game. Dabo Sweeny was very vocal in the off-season about his concerns for the future of college football, causing the media to call out Sweeny for not adapting. Georgia had a very troubling off-season due to many off-the-field related issues with caused concerns about if Kerby Smart has full control over the program. Georgia has arguably the best roster in all of college football with a great mixture of experience and talent. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships and finished in the top 5 in four out of the last five seasons. Both teams enter the game with experienced quarterbacks under center with Carson Beck and Cade Klubnik. For Clemson, a win in week one over Georgia would immediately give them contender status, something that the program hasn’t had since the days of Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. For Georgia, the threat of Nick Saban is no longer there to potentially play spoiler like he and Alabama have done to the Bulldogs in the past. Georgia has the opportunity to become the next great SEC dynasty, and a win over Clemson would kick-start that. # 13 LSU vs # 23 USC


On Sunday, we get treated to a match-up between two storied programs, with LSU vs USC in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Both programs will be entering this game without their former Heisman-winning quarterbacks under center as both have now moved on to the NFL. This will be USC’s first game as members of the Big 10 with the school moving following the collapse of the PAC 12. Lincoln Riley decided to fire former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after the Trojans finished the season ranked # 117 in points allowed and # 114 in yards allowed. Riley was able to land former UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn who helped guide UCLA to a top-15 finish in points allowed. LSU also hired a new defensive coordinator this offseason with the return of former assistant Blake Baker after two years at Missouri. LSU's defense finished the season 80th in the country in points allowed last season, something that hurt the Tigers as they had the number one offense in the country. With both teams coming into this top-25 match-up looking to improve on the defensive side of the ball, both teams have the firepower to give both new coordinators and their defense a good test.  

# 7 Notre Dame vs # 20 Texas A&M 


To close out Saturday, all eyes will be on college station as the Aggies officially enter the Mike Elko era with the third top 25 matchup of the week when Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Texas A&M decided to move on from former Head Coach Jimbo Fisher after six seasons and hired former assistant Mike Elko after an impressive stint as Head Coach at Duke. Elko returns to A&M as the head man this time around and takes over what many believe to be a sleeping giant in college football with the financial resources that Texas A&M provides, especially with NIL. As for Head Coach Marcus Freeman, who is now entering his third season at Notre Dame and is now looking to compete for a national championship after a 10-3 season with a top-15 finish. The Fighting Irish will also have a new Quarterback under center after Duke transfer Riley Leonard arrived at the program during the winter transfer window adding experience to a key position. Leonard and Elko have a history together, as Elko coached Leonard at Duke last season. Now both are on new teams and both are looking to kick the season off with a win. 


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