Bear Down Pick'Em Week 1: College Football Showdowns Kick Off the 2025 Season

Darnell Sallins

August 30, 2025, 1:49AM

The college football season kicks off with an exciting slate of matchups this weekend! From high-stakes rivalries to intriguing openers, here's our prediction rundown for Week 1 action, featuring insights from Cole Johnson and The Playmaker(myself).

Friday Night Lights:

• Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20

  • Cole Johnson: Colorado Buffaloes

  • The Playmaker: Colorado Buffaloes

  • Takeaway: Despite having three turnovers, quarterback Haynes King led the Yellow Jackets to a big road win in Boulder. King ran the ball 19 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets had 463 total yards and controlled the ball for about five minutes than the Buffaloes. For Colorado, they will look back on the three missed opportunities on offense after the defense forced three turnovers. Coach Prime and the coaching staff will need to revisit how they will manage the clock better in critical moments. The Buffaloes had two timeouts on the final drive with 1:07 to go and did not take them.

• Auburn 38, Baylor 24

  • Cole Johnson: Auburn Tigers

  • The Playmaker: Auburn Tigers

  • Takeaways: Quarterback Jackson Arnold ran for two touchdowns on 16 carries for 137 yards to led Auburn in opening road win in Waco, Texas. As a team the Tigers ran for 307 yards thus controlling the football seven minutes more than the Bears. Turning point of the game happened at the end of the third quarter when Rayshawn Pleasant returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown after Baylor pulled within seven points.

Saturday, August 30, 2025

• Syracuse vs. 24. Tennessee (in Atlanta)

  • Cole Johnson: Tennessee Volunteers

  • The Playmaker: Tennessee Volunteers

  • Prediction: Josh Heupel got an extra year on his contract this week and the Volunteers look to wipe away the stench of Ohio State blasting the Vols out of the college football playoffs. Expert Tennesse to start the season strong.

    
    

• 8. Alabama vs. Florida State

  • Cole Johnson: Alabama Crimson Tide

  • The Playmaker: Alabama Crimson Tide

  • Prediction: Kalen DeBoer's first year in Tuscaloosa didn't according to plan. The Tide missed the playoffs and that did not well with the Alabama faithful. On a worser note, Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles had one the worst season in school's history. They look to bounce back after a dreadful season, but Alabama shouldn't be the first team on the "bounce back" season.

• 9. LSU vs. 4. Clemson

  • Cole Johnson: Clemson Tigers

  • The Playmaker: Clemson Tigers

  • Prediction: A pair of Tigers clash in Death Valley.! ACC's Death Valley! A battle of veteran quarterback as Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik lead their respective Tigers into this Top 10 showdown in South Carolina. The difference however, the coaching battle as Dabo Swinney outcoaches Brian Kelly.

• Utah vs. UCLA

  • Cole Johnson: Utah Utes

  • The Playmaker: Utah Utes

  • Prediction: Utah looks to bounce back from a disappointing debut season in the Big 12. UCLA still trying to adjust being in the Big Ten however, too much turmoil and unknown in Pasadena to have faith in the Bruins as home.

Sunday, August 31, 2025

• Virginia Tech vs. 13. South Carolina (in Atlanta)

  • Cole Johnson: Virginia Tech Hokies

  • The Playmaker: South Carolina Gamecocks

  • Prediction: Virginia Tech is known for putting up fights in season openers against other Power 4 opponents, Sunday should be no different. However, LaNorris Sellers for South Carolina will be the different maker for the South Carolina in the ATL.

• 6. Notre Dame vs. 10. Miami

  • Cole Johnson: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  • The Playmaker: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  • Prediction: Miami turns to Georgia transfer, Carson Beck as their starting quarterback after Cam Ward going to the NFL. Nobody knows which Carson Beck the Hurricanes will get and that's a problem going against a hungry and stout defense in Notre Dame. On the flip side, how will Miami's defense contain running back Jeremiyah Love?

Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day)

• TCU vs. UNC

  • Cole Johnson: North Carolina Tar Heels

  • The Playmaker: North Carolina Tar Heels

  • Prediction: The Chapel Bill era begins on Monday night. Bill Belichick will the North Carolina Tar Heels into a new era in Chapel Hill. TCU struggles against new high-profile coaches, just Coach Prime when Colorado went to Fort Worth two years ago. This game is in Chapel Hill, and the Tar Heels will want to start strong. Plus, it wouldn't be a good start for the Hulu show if Bill loses his debut.

Spotlight Game of the Week: Saturday, August 30

• 1. Texas vs. 3. Ohio State

  • Cole Johnson: Texas Longhorns

  • The Playmaker: Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Prediction: It's the Arch Manning show in Austin. The Heisman favorite finally gets to show what he is about in Texas. However, the reigning champs in Columbus feel disrespected as the talk has been Arch Manning and Texas and not Ohio State. With the game in the Horseshoe, the champs will look to remind the college world who's on top. A clash of college football giants to for sure put on a show.

Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the season unfolds. Make your picks wisely and enjoy the thrilling start to college football 2025!