What We Learned About College Football in Week 0

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North Carolina is better – but probably not very good

Hats off to Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels for topping TCU 15-10 in week 0, after being completely dismantled by the Horned Frogs to kick off the 2025 season. The defense has shown signs of improvement, especially along the defensive line. However, TCU’s offense seems to be a bit of a mess, and were held scoreless after scoring 10 points in their first two possessions. UNC also has some work cut out for them on offense and needs to find ways to generate more explosive plays. It was a nice start, but not sure UNC will go very far in year two of the Belichick experiment.

USC and Florida State had similar outcomes, but very different games

USC took down San Jose State, 42-26, while Florida State earned a week one victory over New Mexico State, 34-17. Neither outcome looks all that impressive, but the final scores are a bit deceiving. The Trojans built an early lead, then took their foot off the gas in the second half. The starters were out of the game by the fourth quarter, helping San Jose State come away with a 23-7 output in the final stanza. Meanwhile, Florida State could not pull away from New Mexico State and were forced to play four quarters. USC sure looked like they are a playoff contender, while Florida State may finish with yet another losing season – and be searching for a new head coach at some point this fall.

Virginia may be sticking around for a while

Virginia just missed out on the playoffs last season after losing to Duke in the ACC Championship Game. It was a nice story, but many dismissed the Cavaliers as a one-year wonder. In fact, they only appeared on one ballot in the preseason AP poll. However, it sure looks like they will have a number next to their name soon, and could be in the thick of the race for the ACC crown again. The offense looked sharp and the defense completely dominated NC State in what was expected to be a competitive contest. In case you were wondering, Beau Pribula had an enticing stat line while leading the team in passing and rushing – 9 of 11 for for two touchdowns and no interceptions, with another 110 yards on the ground on 15 carries.

Memphis has an early lead on the playoff race

Both UNLV and Memphis had their sights set on the playoffs this year – and the Tigers got a huge boost with their 27-21 victory over the Rebels. This will set up a huge showdown on Sept. 12 when Memphis visits Boise State. Charles Huff has been working his way up the coaching ranks, and may be a P4 head coach in 2027.

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