TJ Inman

Top Power Four College Football Offseason Successes

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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.
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1. Florida at Miami - September 20

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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

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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

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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

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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.
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5. South Carolina at Missouri - September 20

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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?

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