Not even Hollywood’s best soap opera writers could pen a storyline as wild as college football can. After an offseason of conference realignment, court cases and expanded playoff talk, the 2024 season culminated with a juggernaut title game in which Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23.
As for the encore? Buckle up because it’s already madness. Schools are now free to pay athletes and the Big Ten and SEC are openly feuding with the ACC and Big 12. Oh yeah, and we’re 75 days away from the actual games.
As the summer begins, here are five storylines to keep an eye on throughout the 2025 season.
How does the ability to pay athletes affect the game?
NIL opened the floodgates to compensating college athletes. Now, a multibillion-dollar legal settlement that was formally approved Friday allows schools to pay athletes directly.
How does it affect college football? For one, there is a salary cap for schools, estimated to be around $20.5 million. But that’s for all sports and not just football. Schools must decide how to divvy it up. The best college football players could see large paydays. One estimate suggested football programs could receive 75% of the allotted money.
It also changes NIL. Deals must now go through a clearinghouse to ensure there is an actual endorsement or promotional value instead of a booster simply paying a recruit. It’s a new world for college athletics that is being learned on the fly.
Keep an eye on the Big Ten and SEC
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey went there.
“SEC has asked for more autonomy for the four conferences,” Sankey recently said, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports. “I don’t have the authority to just depart (the NCAA). I’ve shared with the decision-making working group that I have people in my room asking, ‘Why are we still in the NCAA?’”
One of the most powerful conference commissioners vocalizing the thought should put everyone else on high alert. The SEC and Big Ten are fighting for more automatic playoff spots and the Big 12 and ACC aren’t fans of it. Certainly, there will be more conversation throughout the season.
Arch Manning’s time is now
The biggest name in college football is finally a starter. Texas quarterback Arch Manning takes over for the departed Quinn Ewers. Manning made 10 appearances and two starts last season, throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns, along with four more TDs on the ground. He and the Longhorns are expected to contend for the national title and could begin the year as the preseason No. 1 team.
What’s in store for Colorado?
Head coach Deion Sanders will be without his son, Shedeur, and Heisman winner Travis Hunter. They were the foundation of his first two seasons in Boulder and at Jackson State. Liberty transfer Kaideon Salter takes the reins at quarterback. There will still be plenty of hype around the program, but it should lessen in year three with two stars gone. Perhaps a quieter atmosphere will aid Sanders and his team.
Chapel Bill
Bill Belichick is making headlines for everything but football these days, and as the season approaches, it feels ominous. Belichick is the first-year head coach of North Carolina, but his relationship with Jordon Hudson is what everyone is talking about. There are so many questions. Will he be the same Belichick we saw with the Patriots? Is there noticeable improvement for the Tar Heels? What role will Hudson play this season? Drama abounds, and kickoff is still months away.
