2025 cbhsports 9/13 College Football Preview

Image Courtesy: Knoxville News Sentinel

AP Top 5
1.Ohio State 2-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Ohio (1-1) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, Peacock)
2.Penn State 2-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Villanova (1-0) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, FS1)
3.LSU 2-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Florida (1-1) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
4.Oregon 2-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: @ Northwestern (1-1) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
5.Miami 2-0 (0-0) ACC This week: 18.South Florida (2-0) (Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, The CW Network)

Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:

Risers
10.Florida State 2-0 (0-0) ACC Week 2: #14 (Defeated East Texas A&M 77-3)
13.Oklahoma 2-0 (0-0) SEC Week 2: #18 (Defeated 15.Michigan 24-13)
15.Tennessee 2-0 (0-0) SEC Week 2: #22 (Defeated East Tennessee State 72-17)
20.Utah 2-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 2: #25 (Defeated Cal Poly 63-9)

Fallers
12.Clemson 1-1 (0-0) ACC Week 2: #8 (Defeated Troy 27-16)
23.Michigan 1-1 (0-0) Big Ten Week 2: #15 (Lost to 18.Oklahoma 24-13)

Dropped Out
Arizona State 1-1 (0-0) Big 12 Week 2: #12 (Lost to Mississippi State 24-20)
Florida 1-1 (0-0) SEC Week 2: #13 (Lost to South Florida 18-16)
SMU 1-1 (0-0) ACC Week 2: #17 (Lost to Baylor 48-45)

New
18.South Florida 2-0 (0-0) American Week 2: NR (Defeated 13.Florida 18-16)
24.Auburn 2-0 (0-0) SEC Week 2: NR (Defeated Ball State 42-3)
25.Missouri 2-0 (0-0) SEC Week 2: NR (Defeated Kansas 42-31)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)

Saturday, September 13
12.Clemson (1-1) @ Georgia Tech (2-0)
12 PM ET, ESPN
A huge ACC battle takes place in Atlanta this week as rivals Clemson and Georgia Tech battle for their first conference win of 2025. The Tigers have struggled to say the least to open up another season under veteran head coach Dabo Swinney. After a trip to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals in 2024, they have gone 1-1, losing to LSU 17-10 in week 1 before struggling to beat Troy 27-16 on Saturday in week 2. The Yellow Jackets won an entertaining week 1 match up against Colorado before coming home to destroy Gardner Webb 59-12 in week 2.

Pre-season All-American quarterback Cade Klubnik’s play must improve if Clemson is going to head on the road and defeat Georgia Tech. The Tiger quarterback must get the ball down the field Bryant Wesco Jr., Tyler Brown, and TJ Moore and avoid turnovers. Adam Randall’s running game must aid Klubnik’s performance as well if the Tigers want to come out victorious against skilled defensive lineman Akelo Stone and linebacker Kyle Efford.

Georgia Tech starting quarterback Haynes King’s status remains unclear ahead of Saturday’s match up against Clemson. King suffered a lower-body injury against Colorado before sitting out in their game Gardner Webb. His status will be determined this weekend according to head coach Brent Key. If King cannot play, it will be Aaron Philo behind center for the Yellow Jackets. He threw for a touchdown and an interception last weekend but much more will be expected from him if he were to face Clemson. Pass rusher Will Heldt and Ronan Hanafin lead one of the nation’s best defenses in the nation. Tailback Jamal Haynes and receivers Bailey Stockton, Dean Patterson, and Jordan Allen will have to help either King or Hanafin succeed if they want to achieve victory and protect their home stadium.

A second loss for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers would mean having to go undefeated the rest of the season to make the College Football Playoff. Key’s team would love the chance to make that happen. But, because of King’s uncertainty to play Saturday, Clemson should beat Georgia Tech by a touchdown.

Projected Score: Clemson 28, Georgia Tech 21

6.Georgia (2-0) @ 15.Tennessee (2-0)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
ESPN’s College GameDay heads to Knoxville for a huge SEC match up between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers. Georgia has not lost to Tennessee since back to back defeats in 2015 and 2016. But, the Volunteers believe they have the roster and the home crowd environment to finally beat the Bulldogs for the first time in almost a decade.

If Tennessee is finally going to beat Georgia, quality quarterback play will be crucial. Most Tennessee fans think Joey Aguilar has been the best quarterback for head coach Josh Heupel since Hendon Hooker played behind center in 2022. But, Aguilar has had turnover problems previously in his career at Appalachian State. The Volunteers’ also must depend on its offensive line, tailback Star Thomas, and receiver Chris Brazzell II to help Aguilar against Glenn Schumann’s defense, led by linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson.

Georgia looked as if they were saving most of their playbook for Tennessee in a 28-6 win over Austin Peay last Saturday. Much more will be expected of quarterback Gunnar Stockton. The Bulldog receivers struggled with drops last season but receivers Zachariah Branch and Colbie Young are trying to make sure those problems do not continue into this fall as their SEC slate begins. The Bulldogs’ run-game was not as efficient as it should have been last season. But the offensive line must continue to let running back Nate Frazier build on his two touchdown season by continuing to create holes for him on the line of scrimmage and down the field.

Playing at home, the Volunteers must take a chance at their gold opportunity and finally beat Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. But, eight consecutive losses in the series makes it doubtful that they can achieve a victory in this SEC series with a long history. Georgia’s defense is the reason why they will win a ninth consecutive time against Tennessee.

Projected Score: Georgia 27, Tennessee 17

18.South Florida (2-0) @ 5.Miami (2-0)
4:30 PM ET, The CW Network
Can South Florida go 3-for-3? The Bulls defeated AP no. 25 Boise State (34-7) and no. 13 Florida (18-16) to begin their season. They attempt to beat their third consecutive AP top 25 opponent with a win over no. 5 Miami. The Hurricanes started their season with a victory over then no. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 before a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman in week 2.

Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown has help lead his team to two incredible wins to begin the season. But he has only thrown one touchdown pass this season and has relied more on the ground game, with 109 yards and 2 touchdowns thus far on the season. If Alex Golesh’s offense must move the ball through the air to succeed against Miami via Brown’s down the field passing to wide receivers Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod. Miami’s secondary must step up and defend Singleton and Nimrod and prevent Brown from having his first great game passing the football of the 2025 season. Defensive backs Xavier Lucas and Keionte Scott will be key for Miami to stop the Bulls’ offensive attack.

Carson Beck will look to continue his first season at Miami against South Florida by leading a second consecutive dominant performance. The Bulls will definitely be more difficult competition and Bethune-Cookman but if Beck is able to deliver passes successfully to Malachi Toney, Elija Lofton, and tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. builds on his 152 yard, 2 touchdown season, it will be hard for the Bulls to keep up and win this game. Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler’s 21 tackles so far this season will be the biggest challenge in front of Miami’s offensive success on Saturday afternoon.

A victory for South Florida would put them atop discussions for the Group of Five’s spot in the College Football Playoff. One for Miami would give them even more momentum as they enter games against Florida and Florida State the next two weeks. This game could be competitive for all four quarters but Miami will outlast South Florida and move to 3-0.

Projected Score: Miami 34-South Florida 24

16.Texas A&M (2-0) @ 8.Notre Dame (0-1)
7:30 PM ET, NBC
Texas A&M heads to South Bend as they attempt to avenge their 2024 week 1 loss against Notre Dame. The Aggies struggled in a 42-24 victory over UTSA in their opener before a similar score in week 2 against Utah State (44-22) but with a better performance overall. The Fighting Irish struggled to begin their week 1 match up against Miami before a come back came up short late in the fourth quarter and a 27-24 defeat. Marcus Freeman’s team was off during week 2 so they are fresh for a second battle with Mike Elko’s team on Saturday night.

For the Aggies to go on the road and beat the Fighting Irish, there needs to be consistency from both the passing attack and the run game. It all starts with improvement from the ground game with Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens II only having a combined 164 yards combined this season. Signal-caller Marcel Reed has helped in that area, rushing for 105 yards and a score and throwing for 509 yards and 7 touchdowns. Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are turning into one of the nation’s best receiving duos and they will be tough for any defense they face. Notre Dame’s defense is a tough match up for anyone especially because the difficulties Jalen Stroman and defensive lineman Boubacar Traore pose for them.

Mike Elko’s defense faces new Irish starting quarterback CJ Carr in his second game as the full time starter. Linebacker Tauren York, cornerback Will Lee II, and safety Marcus Ratcliffe lead a quality defense themselves. They will look to prove it against a running back duo that is off to a slow start, just like Texas A&M’s. Carr must hope that Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price help him out in the backfield after they combined for only 78 yards on the ground against Miami. Eli Raridon shined as the next great tight end for Notre Dame against the Hurricanes as well. More of the same will be expected if the Fighting Irish want to beat the Aggies.

This game will be close. Something has to give with both of these running back rooms failing to gain much success so far this season. So, it will be up to the Notre Dame defensive line to continue to contain Moss and Owens and Texas A&M’s unit to do the same against Love and Price. I believe the Fighting Irish will do it better and they will win a close game on Saturday night over the Aggies.

Projected Score: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 21

Florida (1-1) @ 3.LSU (2-0)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
What many thought would be college football’s top game in Week 3 was dampened by Florida’s disappointing loss to South Florida—the Gators’ first home loss to an in-state opponent other than Florida State or Miami since 1938. Another loss for Billy Napier’s team against rival LSU could mean the end of the road for him in Gainesville. It’s not as if the Tigers’ second appearance of the season—a 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech—was nearly as impressive as their opener, a 17-10 victory over then-No. 4 Clemson. No matter what happens in this game, it will have SEC implications as both teams begin their conference slates.

Winning in “Death Valley” at night in Baton Rouge is always tough but it will be even more difficult for struggling Florida. The Gators must hope for a better offensive performance this week after putting up just 16 in their loss to South Florida last Saturday. To do this, DJ Lagway must step up behind an offensive line that protects him consistently. In addition, running back Jaden Baugh’s ground game must set up the pass to receivers Vernell Brown II, Eugene Wilson, and tight end Hayden Hansen. LSU has given up just 17 points on the young season and linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr are a big reason why. The tough Tiger environment and defense will be hard for the Gators to get by on Saturday night.

LSU must hope for a better offensive performance as well on Saturday night. Playing in front of their home crowd, Garrett Nussmeier needs to get the ball down the field to top receiver Aaron Anderson and make this game a blowout as soon as possible to put away a Florida team that could become pesky without much to lose the rest of the season if they fall on Saturday night. Florida linebacker Jaden Robinson and end Tyreak Sapp will have the job of stopping tailback Caden Durham and the rest of LSU’s playmakers on offense.

This old permanent cross-division rivalry under the SEC’s East-West divisional model has come down to the wire many times. If LSU does not put Florida away with early scores, the Gators could stay in the game and potentially get a win Billy Napier desperately needs to survive and keep his job. But, the Tigers will win but the score will be closer than many think.

Projected Score: LSU 31, Florida 17

Vanderbilt (2-0) @ 11.South Carolina (2-0)
7:45 PM ET, SECN
Vanderbilt heads to Columbia to face South Carolina as both teams open SEC play. Both the Commodores and the Gamecocks have faced and defeated ACC foe Virginia Tech. South Carolina used a dominant fourth quarter to beat the Hokies 24-11. Then Vanderbilt did the same six days later, coming back from a 17-7 deficit and defeating Virginia Tech 44-20. A week before the Commodores dominated Charleston Southern while the Gamecocks struggled through weather delays and failed to score an offensive touchdown until the third quarter against South Carolina State, but still winning 38-10.

Diego Pavia has been electric this season behind center for the Commodores and he will look to keep things going in a game he and his team desperately want to win. The Vanderbilt quarterback has the weapons in wide receivers Tre Richardson, Junior Sherrill, and tight end Eli Stowers to win games in the SEC. DQ Smith, Myles Norwood, and Brandon Cisse and the rest of the Gamecock secondary will be trusted to defend against them. The Vanderbilt offensive line will be tasked with protecting against the pass rush of linebackers DQ Smith and Dylan Stewart on passing downs. That is where the run game of Sedrick Alexander must come in and help Pavia and the passing game.

South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers was seen as a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the season as he entered his second season behind center in Columbia. But he has only accounted for three touchdowns so far this season. If the Gamecocks want to protect their home field, Sellers must step up and deliver passes to Nyck Harbor, Donovan Murph, and Vandrevius Jacobs and improve the passing game. Sellers must also trust Oscar Adaway III and Rahsul Faison to create openings in the pass game against a Vanderbilt defense that gave up just 20 points last week against Virginia Tech. Defensive lineman Zaylin Wood and linebacker Bryce Cowan will pose the biggest threats to Mike Shula’s offense.

In what could be a back and forth game, South Carolina’s continued offensive struggles will result in losing to Vanderbilt for the first time since 2008. Diego Pavia and the Commodores will win this game and go into next week’s game looking for revenge against Georgia State after losing to them last season.

Projected Score: Vanderbilt 31, South Carolina 28