Sunday, August 31st – Virginia Tech vs. #13 South Carolina (Atlanta)
Photo Cred: YouTube
The spotlight shifts to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for another marquee ACC–SEC showdown on the final Sunday before the NFL kicks off. South Carolina, fresh off a 9–3 campaign that included multiple top-25 victories, just narrowly missed out on the 12-team College Football Playoff last season. The Gamecocks return with high expectations behind star dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers and rising defensive centerpiece Dylan Stewart, a former five-star edge rusher with NFL potential.
Head coach Shane Beamer faces an especially emotional challenge, squaring off against the program his father, Frank Beamer, built into a national brand. Virginia Tech enters 2025 eager to shake off a frustrating 6–7 season that was plagued by close losses to Vanderbilt, Rutgers, and several ACC rivals. With quarterback Kyron Drones showing flashes of star power and head coach Brent Pry settling into year three, the Hokies view this matchup as a chance to prove they belong back on the big stage. They’ll have little time to rest either—another SEC test looms the following week, when Vanderbilt heads to Lane Stadium for a revenge-fueled rematch of last year’s opener.
#6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami (FL)
Photo Cred: ESPN
Week 1 closes Sunday night with one of the most anticipated top-ten showdowns of the early season: Notre Dame vs. Miami. The Irish, fresh off a national championship appearance, march into South Beach with playoff ambitions and a roster stacked with talent. Running back Jeremiyah Love headlines the offense, looking to follow up his breakout 2024 campaign with another dominant year.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have reloaded in a big way. Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck transferred in to replace Cam Ward, giving Miami one of the most proven arms in the ACC. Paired with a strong returning defense, the ‘Canes see this game as a launching pad for a playoff push. The matchup also stirs echoes of the legendary “Catholics vs. Convicts” rivalry, most famously remembered for Notre Dame’s dramatic 31–30 win over then-No. 1 Miami in 1988. With both programs firmly in the national conversation again, this clash could have enormous playoff seeding implications by season’s end.
Monday, September 1st – TCU at North Carolina
Photo Cred: Youtube
Labor Day night provides one final treat as the curtain closes on opening weekend: TCU at North Carolina, in what will be remembered as the official college football debut of Bill Belichick. The legendary NFL coach takes over the Tar Heels with a rebuilt roster headlined by dual-threat transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, who threw for 2,500 yards and rushed for nearly 500 more at South Alabama last season.
TCU enters Chapel Hill after a 9–4 campaign and remains dangerous on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Josh Hoover nearly reached 4,000 passing yards with 27 touchdowns a year ago, and his connection with explosive receiver Eric McAlister gives the Horned Frogs one of the Big 12’s top aerial attacks. Defensively, TCU boasts experienced playmakers across the field, making them a tough out for anyone.
For Belichick, this game is more than just an opener—it’s a moment of intrigue across the football world. How will his decades of NFL success translate to Saturdays in the college game? With Sonny Dykes looking to reestablish TCU as a playoff threat, and UNC stepping into a new era under one of football’s greatest minds, this Monday night matchup promises drama, strategy, and storylines that will resonate long beyond Week 1.
