TJ Inman

Top Power Four College Football Offseason Successes

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25084286-e1748882247374-768x432.jpg

The Miami Hurricanes announced their arrival on the national stage last season with a 41-17 thumping of Florida in Gainesville. The Swamp was outraged with the performance, and Billy Napier seemed likely to be headed for the unemployment line. However, the Gators turned things around as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-lagway/44049">DJ Lagway</a> showed his superstar ability at quarterback. Miami and Florida both enter the 2025 campaign with high hopes, and this is an early opportunity for both teams to deliver a heavy blow to their rival. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/carson-beck/22644">Carson Beck </a>versus Lagway is a critical College Football Playoff resume game for both programs and head coaches.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/newsletter/?utm_source=msn_feed&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter">Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.</a>

1. Florida at Miami - September 20

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_25038744-scaled-e1748882280557-768x432.jpg

College football analysts, podcasts, and preseason preview content tend to try to figure out which teams can break through and surprise by making the College Football Playoff. Some ask, “Who will be this season’s Indiana?” Which team will come out of nowhere, take advantage of a favorable schedule, and reach the CFP? The answer for many analysts this offseason has been Illinois. The Fighting Illini return 18 starters, avoid Oregon and Penn State, and get Ohio State at home. The most challenging road game for the Illini might be the September 20 meeting against the team they are expected to replicate: Indiana. Curt Cignetti’s squad is not going to disappear from the stage. They return three All-Americans on defense and add <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fernando-mendoza/49656">Fernando Mendoza</a> at quarterback. This will be a major showdown with a very hyped crowd because IU should almost certainly be 3-0 heading into this game.

2. Illinois at Indiana - September 20

https://web.sportsgrid.com/assets/images/AZ_FanCash_Day_Affiliates.webp

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_24892114-e1748882311287-768x432.jpg

Last year was disappointing for the Oklahoma Sooners and the Auburn Tigers. Head coaches Brent Venables and Hugh Freeze enter this season on the hot seat and under pressure to produce, and both fan bases feel like this is the year they will return to their rightful place as upper-echelon teams in the conference. These two proud programs have only played three times, and Auburn has yet to knock off the Sooners, with OU winning last year’s game 27-21. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/john-mateer/20580">John Mateer</a> takes on former Oklahoma quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jackson-arnold/21212">Jackson Arnold</a> as Auburn’s new quarterback returns to Norman. Auburn begins the season with a trip to Baylor and then matchups with Ball State and South Alabama, while Oklahoma has a game with Michigan ahead of this one, so either team could be in real trouble after four weeks. Or, they could be 4-0 and nationally ranked!

3. Auburn at Oklahoma - September 20

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_24778238-scaled-e1748882345839-768x432.jpg

It is Year 3 under Matt Rhule. Historically, that has been a season where everything clicks and his team wins double-digit games. That happened at Temple, and it happened at Baylor. There is hope from Lincoln's starved Nebraska fan base that it could also happen for the Big Red. The Cornhuskers begin the season with a game against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium. Then, they host overmatched Akron and Houston Christian before getting their first real test against Michigan at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska’s schedule sets up nicely, but this is the kind of game they need to win and have failed to do so in recent years. This could be a showdown between <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-raiola/37686">Dylan Raiola</a> and Michigan freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bryce-underwood/87125">Bryce Underwood</a>.

4. Michigan at Nebraska - September 20

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_24780421-scaled-e1748882372199-768x432.jpg

Did you know Missouri and South Carolina play for a trophy called “The Mayor’s Cup”? That sounds like something that belongs in the Big Ten (the king of obscure trophy games)! Missouri and South Carolina are both in cities named Columbia, and each meeting between these teams has the trophy on the line. The two schools have played annually since 2012. Missouri won five in a row before South Carolina nipped the Tigers 34-30 last season in the southern version of Columbia. There are bigger stakes than just a trophy, as both teams see themselves as College Football Playoff contenders and fringe SEC title hopefuls. The winner gets a leg up on achieving those goals, while the loser will be behind the eight ball against demanding schedules.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/">SportsGrid</a>.

5. South Carolina at Missouri - September 20

2025 College Football Season: Ranking Best Week 4 Games

Get key RBC Canadian Open updates with Cam Stewart! He delivers top picks, previews, and predictions for this major golf event. Join as we break it down!

Exciting Preview and Picks for the RBC Canadian Open

Mookie Betts is out tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the New York Mets. All eyes are on Freddie Freeman, whose chances to hit a homer are now highlighted.

Mookie Betts Benched Tonight: Dodgers Game Lineup Changes

Gabriel Morency is going over his top anytime home run props for the late games in MLB on Wednesday night focusing on the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tonight's Best MLB Home Run Picks and Betting Odds

LATEST VIDEOS

Auburn Tigers,Auburn  AL,SEC,I-A,Florida Gators,Florida  FL,Illinois Fighting Illini,Illinois  IL,Big Ten,Indiana Hoosiers,Indiana  IN,Miami (FL) Hurricanes,Miami (FL)  FL,ACC,Michigan Wolverines,Michigan  MI,Missouri Tigers,Missouri  MO,Nebraska Cornhuskers,Nebraska  NE,Oklahoma Sooners,Oklahoma  OK,South Carolina Gamecocks,South Carolina  SC

keywords

twitter:card

twitter:title

https://sg-images-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumnbail-webp/article/2094120-1920x1080.webp?v=1749119100

twitter:image

thumbnail

google

The 2025 college football season is rapidly approaching, and every week is filled with great games. What are the five best games for Week 4 of the season?

description

expires

robots

og:locale

og:site_name

og:type

og:title

og:description

og:image

og:image:type

og:image:width

og:image:height

og:image:secure_url

article:published_time

article:modified_time

Ranking the Top 30 College Football Tight Ends for 2025

Ranking the Top 30 College Football Cornerbacks for 2025

Ranking the Top 75 College Football Safeties for 2025

Top 35 Available Players in College Football Spring Transfer Portal

College Football Top 25 Rankings According to ESPN's Computer Generated FPI

Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 25 Players in the CFB Transfer Portal

45 Breakout College Football Stars to Know for the 2025 Season

NIL 2025 College Football Top 80 Rankings

Top 30 Available Players in College Football Spring Transfer Portal

College Football 2025 Spring Transfer Portal: Top 55 Committed Players

SportsMillions: Pick'em, Blitz'em and Social Casino

Big Ten Football

SEC Football

Group of Five Football

Top College Football Sportsbook Promos

Heisman

Comment

Home

Articles

SportsGrid is your source for the best sports bets today. Watch SportsGrid for live sports news coverage, scores, odds, moneylines, sports betting tips & more.

sportsgrid.com

Ferrall Coast To Coast

College Football Today

NFL Pro Football Today

Bare Knuckle Fighting Main Event

The Early Line Live

SportsRage Tonight Live

NewsWire Live

The Bostonian Vs. The Book

Bare Knuckle Fighting Knuckle Up

MODUS Super Series Darts

Gametime Decisions Live

Fantasy Sports Today

The Smylie Kaufman Show

NHL Today

2025 NFL Draft Special

Ferrall Coast To Coast US Open Special

OUR SHOWS

Gabriel Morency is trying to nail his home run prop in Game 3 of the series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets for the second consecutive night.

Dodgers vs. Mets Series Highlights with Mookie Betts Insight

LATEST SPORTSGRID VIDEOS

Wherever you are, SportsGrid can be there too. Here are all of the platforms and subscription services you can find us on and how to watch SportsGrid today.

Where to Watch SportsGrid | How to Watch SportsGrid | SportsGrid

Samsung TV Plus

Roku TV

FireTV

LG Channels

Vizio

Xiaomi

VIDAA

SportsGrid is free to watch on any of the following Connected TV’s

FREE ON MY TV

Amazon Prime Video

YouTube TV

FuboTV

Plex

Sling Tv

FreeCast

Local Now

Stremium

Rad TV

Free Live Sports

SportsGrid is free to watch on any of the following Streaming services

LIVE STREAMING SERVICES

Sirius XM

Sports.Tv

YouTube

Download the new SportsGrid app, watch on SportsGrid.com or our YouTube Channel

WEB/MOBILE

SportsGrid is free to watch on any of the following platforms

ALL PARTNERS

Wherever you are, SportsGrid can be there too. Here are all of the platforms and subscription services you can find us on:

MORE ARTICLES

Sports Betting

Sportsbook Promos

Social Casinos