A look at the biggest College Football matchups through September

The college football 2025 season is more than six weeks away, but the preparation has begun in anticipation of the most exciting time and betting opportunities. The AP College Football Top 25 poll is also more than a month away, but insightful experts beyond media reporters and analysts have already provided their insight and college football preview guides to assist you when wagering at top online sportsbooks. That includes Phil Steele with his early NCAA football Top 25 rankings along with in-depth team and player guides with information you can bet on. 

Award-winning handicapper & Vegas Insider well before US #SportsBetting legalization in 2018, @philsteele042 #NCAAF preview is the most anticipated, insightful & informative college football guide. Steele's early Top 25 & more @On3sports https://t.co/FOmzd96kRQ pic.twitter.com/YpSZjczAuS

— Fairway Jay (@FairwayJay) July 7, 2025

The college football Week 1 lines have been out for months, and there are some notable adjustments in odds with some of the key games mentioned below.

Also, BetOnline has some of the biggest early-season Games of the Year available for September as the major conference top teams battle in the most anticipated contests and biggest bet games.

Week 1 - August 29-30

Texas at Ohio State (-3), 51 - Buckeyes opened -3.5 in January
Auburn (-2.5) at Baylor, 56.5 - Auburn opened -1.5 
Georgia Tech (-4) at Colorado, 56 - GT opened -1
Tennessee (-12.5) vs. Syracuse, 55.5 (Atlanta)
Alabama (-13.5) at Florida State, 50.5 - 'Bama opened -8.5 
LSU at Clemson (-3), 56.5 - Clemson opened -1
Virginia Tech at South Carolina (-9.5), 46 (Atlanta)
Notre Dame (-3) at Miami, 54
Nevada at Penn State (-44), 60.5
Colorado State at Washington (-18.5), 52.5
UNLV (-13.5) at Sam Houston State, 58.5
Hawaii at Arizona (-13.5), 54.5
Utah (-5) at UCLA, 50.5 - UCLA opened -1.5, now 'Dog
TCU (-2.5) at North Carolina, 59 - NC opened -3, now 'Dog - Sept. 1

Aug. 28
Nebraska (-7) at Cincinnati, 50.5 
Boise State (-9) at South Florida, 63.5
Miami, Ohio at Wisconsin (-17), 41.5 
Buffalo at Minnesota (-17.5), 45 
Wyoming (-9) at Akron, 49.5 
Ohio at Rutgers (-10.5), 47.5

Week 0 - Aug. 23
Sam Houston St. at Western Kentucky (-10), 61
Stanford (-1.5) at Hawaii
Iowa State at Kansas State (-3) - Dublin, Ireland
Fresno State at Kansas (-13.5)

BetOnline notes that some sharp bets in Weeks 0-1 so far include on Western Kentucky and Arizona.

Game of the Year odds released June 4 by BetOnline and changes noted. 

Week 2 - Sept. 6
Michigan at Oklahoma (-2) - opened -1.5

Week 3 - Sept. 13
Georgia (-8.5) at Tennessee (up from -5.5)
Florida at LSU (-5) - (down from -7)
Texas A&M at Notre Dame (-7)

Week 4 - Sept. 20
Florida at Miami (-4)
Michigan (-3) at Nebraska

Week 5 - Sept. 27
Alabama at Georgia (-4)
LSU at Ole Miss (-1) - down from -2.5
Oregon at Penn State (-5) - up from -4

We'll review additional big games in Oct-Nov. as the season approaches and more key conference games, matchups, stats and information you can bet on. That includes scheduling situations and note that teams with the toughest schedules in 2025 according to Phil Steele include Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Arkansas, South Carolina and Syracuse

Bet on College Football at one of these Elite-rated sportsbooks!

College Football Top 25 And QB's

Phil Steele's early Top 25 includes many of the annual power teams. One notable situation to watch and evaluate is that these five top teams (in bold) all have new first-time starting quarterbacks. Oklahoma dual-QB John Mateer was Washington State's starter last year with 44 total TD's passing for 3,100+ yards and rushing for 800+ yards. 

Mateer (+2200) is top-10 in odds to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025 behind Texas QB top choice Arch Manning (+600), LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (+800), Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (+800), Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (+1600), Oregon QB Dante Moore (+1800) and Penn State QB Drew Allar (+2500). Georgia's projected new QB is Gunnar Stockton, who replaces Carson Beck after he transferred to Miami. Alabama turns to 22-year QB Ty Simpson as starter this season and he's been in the Crimson Tide program for four years. 
 
1. Penn State
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Alabama
8. Oregon
9. Oklahoma
10. Michigan
11. LSU
12. SMU
13. Baylor
14. Miami
15. Boise State
16. Illinois
17. Florida
18. Utah
19. Texas A&M
20. Indiana
21. Iowa State
22. USC 
23. Arizona State
24. Kansas State
25. Toledo

Next group of teams to watch for rankings and performance include: Ole Miss, Memphis, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Florida State, James Madison, Iowa, Louisville, North Carolina, TCU, Pittsburgh, UTSA, Liberty, San Jose State, NC State, Minnesota, Tulane, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Florida, Washington, Georgia Southern, UNLV, Air Force.

Check back for more college football updates and information you can bet on while following MLB key games in July for the American League and National League. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.