College Football Opens With Record Week One Matchups

Opening weekend delivers three top-10 showdowns as Arch Manning makes his first start and the college football landscape looks more money driven than ever.

College Football Opens With Record Week One Matchups

College football returns with a historic opening weekend, featuring three top-10 games that mark a new high for Week 1 drama. The spotlight centers on Arch Manning as Texas prepares for a high-stakes debut, underscoring the season’s mix of hype and pressure. A Fox broadcast dispute briefly looms, but a short extension keeps most games viewable for fans.

Beyond the field, the sport shifts under the weight of money and media. The CFP will weight strength of schedule more heavily this season, and the transfer market has produced major roster reshuffles and big spending by programs like Texas Tech. The week also brings off-field storylines, including Bill Belichick’s debut as a college coach and Colorado’s mascot Ralphie VI retiring, while streaming and broadcast deals reshape how fans watch the games. YouTube TV subscribers avoid a blackout thanks to a temporary deal with Fox.

This opening weekend highlights a broader shift in college football: power and prestige are increasingly tied to television revenue and the ability to attract top transfers. The sport is betting on marquee matchups to keep viewers engaged while conference realignment and new payment rules begin to redefine parity and access. That mix raises questions about who benefits most—elite programs and their financiers—versus the traditional colleges that built the sport. The season could accelerate a path where on-field outcomes are inseparable from the business decisions around broadcasting and compensation.

Highlights

The season will test how far spectacle carries the sport and what parity looks like in a money-driven era.