Latest news with #CFP
Fox Sports
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 College Football Predictions: 10 Matchups that will Shape the Regular Season
Every week, it feels like the college football season is getting just a little closer and closer. I truly can't wait for what's in store for the 2025 regular season. So, I decided to look at the schedule for the regular season again and try to pinpoint which 10 games will have the most impact. These aren't necessarily the 10 best games, although some look to be epic. Rather, they're the 10 games that I think will shape how we view the season and might have the biggest impact on the College Football Playoff. There are plenty of games early in the season that will certainly have some sway in how things get determined in 2025, with a couple of monster matchups taking place in Week 1. Let's start off our list with the one that I'll call for FOX. Texas vs. Ohio State (Week 1) It's a rematch of one of the CFP semifinal games, with Ohio State winning that game en route to a national championship. Both teams look poised to make another deep run in 2025. In fact, there's a chance that Texas and Ohio State might be the top two-ranked teams in the country entering Week 1. At worst, I think this will be a No. 1 vs No. 3 matchup. Not only will this be a monster matchup, but this will also be the first start of the Arch Manning era for Texas. This is his team and program, and he'll get a chance to prove what he's made of on the road against the defending champs. That's pretty awesome. We also don't know who Ohio State's quarterback will be. Is it going to be Julian Sayin? He's incredibly talented and I've enjoyed watching him when I've seen him practice. The Buckeyes will also have new playcallers on both sides of the ball (Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia). As for the coaching battle, Steve Sarkisian has gotten the Longhorns back to where they've wanted to get to for the last decade. He's done a remarkable job, and he's a top-five coach, but it's time for him to take a step forward. He's going against a top two or three coach in Ryan Day, who has to feel he is entering the season with the monkey off his back. That might be beneficial to Ohio State. LSU vs. Clemson (Week 1) Another Week 1 matchup that I think will feature two teams ranked in the top 10. Brian Kelly needs to win this game for LSU. Kelly went all in on the portal this offseason and is returning his quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier. But Kelly has gone 0-3 in season openers during his time in Baton Rouge, and LSU fans need to see this program progressing. It's fair for us to ask when the breakthrough is going to happen for Kelly at LSU. I do think we'll see that this year. Yet, I actually feel better about Clemson between these two teams. Dabo Swinney has bet on himself over the last few years, and it feels like Clemson has reloaded for another run. I've got Cade Klubnik as my No. 1 quarterback entering the season and that defense is really talented. There's also the conference element to this game. If LSU wins this matchup, and Clemson goes on to dominate the ACC en route to a conference title, the SEC will argue that the ACC should only get one CFP participant. But the SEC also needs a giant non-conference win after how the CFP and bowl season played out for the conference last winter. Michigan vs. Oklahoma (Week 2) Michigan needs a bounce-back season in Sherrone Moore's second season after going 8-5 a year ago. The defense was fine last year, the offense was not. We know the Wolverines got Bryce Underwood, who was one of the most sought-after recruits in a long time, and this might be his first major start. This is also right before Moore will serve his self-imposed suspension. Brent Venables also needs a bounce-back season at Oklahoma. Everyone was excited when Venables was hired to be the Sooners' next head coach, but now they need something on the field to feel good about. Oklahoma was able to poach quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, who I expect to help the Sooners take a step forward. But the Wolverines' defense is going to be outstanding, and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale figured things out late last season. The winner of this game will really get a big boost ahead of conference play, and this game could also help establish the perception of the depth between the Big Ten and SEC. Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame (Week 3) This was a great game in College Station last season. We all believe in Marcus Freeman, who led Notre Dame to a national championship game appearance last season. This feels like a program that can compete at the highest level and potentially win a national championship. I'm bullish on them this season. A win against A&M likely gets Notre Dame back into the CFP with how its schedule looks after Week 3. If it loses this game, it's another September loss for Freeman. Notre Dame lost three games at home in September over his first three seasons as head coach. I also really like Mike Elko and his fit at Texas A&M. He gets College Station and I think he'll work out at Texas A&M. But he'll have to win games like this one to prove that he's the guy for the Aggies. A rematch of the Big Ten Championship Game. I think this game is bigger for Penn State than Oregon. I've repeated over and over again that it's time for Penn State to beat someone it's evenly matched with or upset a team with more talent than it has. James Franklin has done a perfect job at winning the games he's supposed to win, which is a talent that shouldn't be underrated. But he and Penn State have to win those matchup games, where you have to beat a team that has equal talent to you. The Nittany Lions got close to doing that last year, playing Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame close. If Penn State can win this game, that would announce to everyone that this group is ready for the big stage and potentially make a run for a title. From an Oregon perspective, this is Dan Lanning's first opportunity to show what his squad is made of after getting blown out by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. There isn't any shame in losing to that Ohio State team, but Oregon has to show that it has turned the page and can continue to play at a high level. If it can win at Penn State, which I think is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten, that would be saying something for Oregon. USC vs. Illinois (Week 5) This is a sneaky, under-the-radar one. This game is important for Illinois because the game gives them an opportunity to show they can be this year's Indiana. Both teams could be 4-0 entering this game. If Illinois wins this game, it'd likely be 5-0, with its game against Ohio State as its only difficult game remaining. That Ohio State game doesn't look as daunting if Illinois handles business against USC. Bret Bielema is building something very special at Illinois. However, they're going to have to fight the chance of being a former afterthought that turns into the apple of everyone's eye. Illinois doesn't have the talent to blow everyone out, but Bielema is building something very sustainable. As for USC, it's pretty obvious: Lincoln Riley needs to stack some good wins. He did great early in his tenure at USC, but things got shaky over the last couple of years. If USC loses this game, it's staring right down the barrel of another possible 7-5 season. USC has one of the best recruiting classes in the country for 2026, so it's building momentum off the field. Now, it needs to build momentum on the field, too. Alabama vs. Georgia (Week 5) This is an obvious one. This game is really always a great game. They could play it in a parking lot, and it would be a great game with high stakes. The winner of this game will likely be in the SEC Championship Game. Then, you get into the implications for both teams. Is Alabama back at the level it was at with Nick Saban? This is a huge early test for Kalen DeBoer in Year 2, and Alabama's schedule after this game is manageable. For Georgia, if it loses this game, we'll wonder if the Bulldogs are slipping. It'd mark two straight losses to Alabama, with a loss in the CFP quarterfinals sandwiched between that. Penn State vs. Ohio State (Week 10) This is likely another top-five matchup, which will present another opportunity for James Franklin to get a marquee win. If Penn State doesn't beat Oregon in Week 5, there will be a ton of pressure on Franklin and the Nittany Lions when they head to Columbus, especially in a year where the Buckeyes are breaking in a new quarterback and coordinators. This is also the most experienced and talented team Franklin has had in his tenure at Penn State. It's a big opportunity for Drew Allar to show what he's made of. The loser of this game will be in a precarious spot in the Big Ten title race. We'll see how it plays out, but Penn State needed a wild loss from Ohio State against Michigan to reach the Big Ten Championship Game last season. LSU vs. Alabama (Week 11) As I got to the later weeks of the season while making this list, I started predicting some outcomes from earlier games. Most of us probably think that Georgia will beat Alabama in Week 5. I think Clemson will beat LSU in Week 1. If those two results happen, the LSU-Alabama matchup in Week 11 will be a monster game with CFP implications. I don't know if the loser of this game can still make the CFP if it also lost its game earlier on this list. It could be a battle for the third or fourth CFP spot among SEC teams. And as I touched on with both teams' inclusions earlier on this list, this is a high-stakes game for both coaches. Brian Kelly needs as many high-profile wins as he can get, and you have to think that Kalen DeBoer doesn't have that long of a runway at Alabama. The way things finished for DeBoer in Year 1 wasn't very Alabama-esque. Ohio State vs. Michigan (Week 14) This game was obviously going to make the list. It's a battle between the last two national championship winners. You've got the backstory of how this game finished last year, with Michigan trying to plant the flag at The Shoe before a fight broke out. Even though Ohio State got its national championship, it still has to listen to Michigan say, "Well, you didn't beat us, and we won our national championship going 15-0." This year's game is going to be epic. Can Michigan actually win a fifth straight game against Ohio State? Thinking back to the COVID year, I didn't think Michigan was going to win The Game for the foreseeable future. Somehow, it's won four in a row. There are some games that were certainly worthy of being mentioned on this list, but these are the 10 that I feel will truly shape the 2025 college football regular season. Maybe I'll touch more on those games at a later date. Joel Klatt is FOX Sports' lead college football game analyst and the host of the podcast " The Joel Klatt Show. " Follow him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the "Joel Klatt Show" on YouTube . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Florida State Football Preview 2025: The Seminoles Hit the Refresh Button
What happened to Florida State? This isn't actually all that program got caught in an all-time bad break perfect storm at the end of 2023 to miss out on the CFP, made worse by a 63-3 Orange Bowl loss to a Georgia team that could've put up 80+ if it tried, and …Because there wasn't enough horrible luck for that Seminole team, it was the last year of the four-team the hits just kept onnnnnnnn coming. X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN Florida State Offense BreakdownFlorida State Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to SeasonAfter suffering the most brutal of gut punches, Florida State seemingly had a good enough team returning to quickly get back on track. Fully motivated, it all instantly fell apart after a last-second loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland. From there, the bad vibes never went away. Oh, and 2024 Florida State played a way harder schedule than it did the year 2023 team was great, starting with a dominant win over Jayden Daniels and a strong LSU team in the opener, but lost in history was how FSU slipped by Clemson because Dabo's 19th-string kicker biffed the game-winning field goal try in regulation. Also forgotten was that the LSU win and the ACC Championship victory over Louisville were the two victories over teams that won ten games. In all, the 2023 team played seven games in the regular season against teams that went bowling. The 2024 team played 11 - Charleston Southern was the lone outlier - including five that won ten games or more. Three of those were against CFP teams, and one was against a Notre Dame squad that played for the national doesn't mean Florida State should've lost to Boston College by 15, or to North Carolina by 24, or to Florida 20, all at home. And now this becomes a wildly interesting experiment. From 12-1, to 1-11, to almost completely starting over, at least with the starters, FSU is loaded with upperclassmen, it's totally reliant on new guys, and that might be exactly what the program should be between 11 to 15 new starters for the opener against Alabama who weren't part of the 2023 fun or the 2024 pity party. Getting Gus Malzahn as the offensive coordinator was a coup, there's a new defensive coordinator, and overall, the refresh should get everything going again. It might be one of those Mike Tyson "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" things with Alabama to kick things off, but there's talent, along with decent depth on the way to a bowl. Remember, FSU has only been to three or those since there's an expanded playoff this time around, just in case head coach Mike Norvell makes it three double-digit winning seasons in four years. But that only happens if he gets a lot more out of his … Florida State Offense BreakdownFlorida State Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State football named in three of Joel Klatt's ten most impactful games of 2025
If you follow us here at Buckeyes Wire, you know we like to check in with Fox's Joel Klatt from time to time. We value his balanced insight, analytical mind, and sensible takes on college football. He doesn't just throw things out there as a company man for clicks, but rather, tries to be unbiased and insightful in his beliefs. We appreciate that in today's day and age, and we're sure you do too. Klatt recently named ten games that will shape the college football season, and contests defending College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State will be involved in are well represented. In fact, three of the ten games will have OSU participating, meaning the college football world might have its eyes fixed on the banks of the Olentangy much of the 2025 season. There are, of course, other games to keep an eye on with some ending up being more impactful than what we see from the Buckeyes, but there's no doubt some of the marquis and most notable tussles between behemoths on the gridiron this season will happen when Ohio State straps it up. There will be some teams and games that ultimately surprise throughout the calendar and end up being a major footnote to the season, but here's the ten most impactful game according to Klatt, with a lot of Scarlet and Gray flair. Week No. 1 - Texas at Ohio State | Aug. 30 It's a rematch of the classic College Football Semifinal in the Cotton Bowl last season and has two of the favorites to win the College Football Playoff in 2025. Both lost some key talent from last year's game, but the Arch Manning era begins in Austin, and Ohio State might have the best offensive and defensive players in the country with Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. There's plenty of talent surrounding both for the Buckeyes to get back to the CFP and have a shot at defending their title. A win here would provide a huge early feather in the cap for one of the two teams, and Texas would like nothing more than to start the season with a win on the road in Columbus. Week No. 1 - LSU at Clemson | Aug. 30 Swinney's Clemson program has been slow to embrace NIL and other progressive changes in the sport, but it looks like he might have a team that has developed into one that can be a College Football Playoff contender again after making it there last season. LSU always has talent, and many think this game will be one where two Heisman contenders square off under center to plant a flag early on in the season when Clemson's Cade Klubnik and LSU's Grant Nussmeir do battle. Week No. 2 - Michigan at Oklahoma | Sept. 6 We're all still waiting to see what happens with Michigan this year after it finished the season on a high note with wins over Ohio State and Alabama, but either way, the intrigue between two giants of the sport is at least something to get everyone excited about. The winner here still has many things to prove, but it'll be a good step in the right direction for one of the two looking to get back to the Mountain top. Week No. 3 - Texas A&M at Notre Dame | Sept. 13 Why It Matters Is there another program in the country that gets less out of its talent than Texas A&M on a year-in, year-out basis? The Aggies will be trying to punch at their weight once again against a program that seems to get its collection of talent to come together more than almost any other. Head coach Marcus Freeman has Notre Dame on the rise, and a win here would set the table and narrative for both teams one way or another. Week No. 4 - Oregon at Penn State | Sept. 27 Oregon has supplanted itself as a program continually competing for league and College Football Playoff titles, yet it hasn't been able to break through on the biggest stage. Penn State has the history, tradition, and might just have the most experienced talent to finally break through this season. This game will not only shape the Big Ten but also have CFP implications as the chess pieces move about the board fairly early in the season. Week No. 5 - USC at Illinois | Sept. 27 Lincoln Riley was supposed to do special things in Los Angeles, but it has yet to come to fruition. The Trojans always have plenty of talent to play with, but defense has been a problem. Is this the year everything comes together? Illinois has had a resurgence under head coach Bret Bielema and is flying a bit under the radar coming into 2025. This game could fall flat with both teams not meeting expectations, or it could be one that produces a surprise run to a Big Ten title and beyond. Week No. 5 - Alabama at Georgia | Sept. 27 There seems to always be a lot on the line when these two play recently, and don't be surprised if that's the case again in a power-packed Week 5. Alabama might not be the Alabama Nick Saban ran out of the tunnel with, but there's still a lot of talent left over, and we all know what kind of skill is on the Georgia sidelines. This one may all come down to quarterback play, with the winner putting itself in a good position in the SEC race. Do well in the SEC, and we all know what that means in the national picture. Week No. 10 - Penn State at Ohio State | Nov. 1 By this time in the season, we'll know a lot more about the landscape of college football and where both of these annual Big Ten contenders stand. Either way, there's going to be a ton of talent on the field in Columbus. Penn State is getting a lot of notoriety for what it might be this year, but it'll have to go into Columbus and slay the defending national champions to get over the hump. It won't be easy, and by this time of the year, Ohio State might just have its act together on both sides of the ball to stamp itself a national title contender again. If things line up like we think they might, this might end up being the biggest of all regular season games in 2025. Week No. 11 - LSU at Alabama | Nov. 8 It's really hard to put your faith in LSU based on what we've seen under Brian Kelly, but this might be a chance to get that big-game monkey off his back. If Alabama can right the ship this year and have a typical Alabama season, and if LSU meets expectations to this point, this one could be for the SEC title -- and more. NFL scouts will be drooling over this one, and we all might join them late in the season. At the least, with the 12-team CFP, you have to think there will be something on the line between these two. Week No. 14 - Ohio State at Michigan | Nov. 29 We never have to build this one up -- definitely not on this site. You know the deal; despite winning the CFP national championship last season, Ohio State still lost to Michigan for a fourth-straight year, and the natives in Columbus won't stand for another one -- defending national champions or not. There's the whole sign-stealing accusations and bad blood surrounding this one, and the Buckeyes would love nothing more than to restore balance in the universe by taking back the Big Ten baton. There's hatred and a crumbling lack of respect between both programs, and there very well might be a spot in Indianapolis and CFP implications on the line. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why the 5 Years Before You Retire Can Make or Break Your Retirement, According to Emily Guy Birken
When retirement is still ahead of you, it often looms with mythic power as an ideal, easy time when you no longer have to work or carry as much stress as during your working years. Find Out: Read Next: The closer you get, however, the more danger you're in for making financial mistakes (typically through a lack of planning), according to finance expert Emily Guy Birken, author of the book 'The 5 Years Before You Retire' and many others. 'Before you retire is the best time to think about retirement,' Birkin said on a podcast with CFP Jeremy Keil of Keil Financial. For a lot of people, retirement doesn't become real until this time window, if you're lucky, and for many others, not until after they already retire and discover their plans aren't foolproof. These five years before you retire are a crucial time because they allow you to 'road-test ideas' for retirement, Birkin told Keil. This is when you can actually practice living as you might after retirement, focusing on how you want to spend your time (in small doses), explore places where you want to live, lean into areas of interest and, of course, start to dial in your financial plans. The importance of these five years is that you still have time to pivot, she pointed out. 'It can be affirming to do this but people put it off because it feels overwhelming,' she said. If your plans don't seem like they'll be ideal, you can change them before the actual end date. Learn More: Birkin said in these five years prior to retirement you should be not just running on common assumptions about how much you need in retirement but actually crunching hard numbers so you don't come up surprised or short. It's important to be looking concretely at your typical 'day, week, month and year' expenditures and then being able to point to where you're saving money concretely, she said. It's also a time to start reducing expenses, or planning to reduce them by the time you retire, and thinking about how to enjoy life in different, or more affordable, ways. It's also important in this five-year window to figure out a 'Plan B,' she said. That means that if the first plan you strategize for is out of reach financially, you should ask yourself 'What is the least you need to be satisfied?' Once you know what that is, by adjusting your expectations, you can still feel like you've succeeded in retirement. Birkin also broke down many practical steps in her book, such as the following: Maximize your current investments: Make sure you're contributing as much as you can to the right types of investment accounts, getting employer matching and not making risky investments. Secure healthcare for the future: She emphasized that it's important to understand Medicare thoroughly before you need to take it and also invest in long-term care insurance if you can afford it to cover what Medicare doesn't. Also, if you plan to work for some time longer, get disability insurance to protect your earning power. Capitalize on pre-retirement opportunities: Generating as much additional income pre-retirement is important. From part-time or freelance gigs, additional revenue streams can beef up retirement savings. The people who are most successful at achieving a retirement of their dreams are the ones who are actively planning for it during this five-year window. More From GOBankingRates I'm a Retired Boomer: 6 Bills I Canceled This Year That Were a Waste of Money This article originally appeared on Why the 5 Years Before You Retire Can Make or Break Your Retirement, According to Emily Guy Birken
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How the Middle-Class Can Protect Their Paychecks From Inflation in 2025
Many households are feeling the pinch at the grocery store, gas pump and beyond, as the price of everyday goods has increased by 2.5% since last year. However, with a few small shifts, it's possible to stay ahead of rising costs. Discover More: Read Next: From reviewing spending habits to parking savings into a high-yield savings account, here are ways the middle class can protect their paychecks from inflation in 2025. One of the most effective ways to stay ahead of rising costs is to have a clear understanding of your spending habits. When consumers review their expenses, they can identify unnecessary expenditures and make more informed financial decisions. 'Audit your subscriptions,' said Michael Rodriguez, certified financial planner (CFP®) and an advice-only financial planner at Equanimity Wealth. 'Most people forget half of what they're signed up for.' 'You can also reduce takeout without giving up convenience by batch-cooking or prepping meals for busy nights,' he added. 'And sharing streaming or family plans with relatives or friends can cut costs without losing access.' Find Out: In an inflationary environment, saving money isn't about putting money aside; it's about where that money lives. 'Save money from every paycheck,' said Melanie Musson, a finance expert at Clearsurance. 'Even if you only save $100, you'll build a savings account, and you'll know you have an extra $100 every month if inflation drives prices up. If you can save more, that's even better.' Consumers should prioritize high-yield savings accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs) that offer stronger returns than traditional bank accounts. Even small differences in interest rates can add up over time. 'Don't let all your cash sit in a traditional savings account,' Rodriguez said. 'Consider high-yield savings, I-Bonds, or even short-term Treasuries if you want to keep it safe but get a bit more return. 'Invest consistently. The cost of waiting can be greater than short-term inflation. Time in the market still beats timing the market.' Automating transfers on payday can help build consistency, and creating separate savings buckets for emergencies, big purchases and future goals adds structure and clarity to financial planning. When inflation hits, essentials like food and household goods are often the first to rise in price. By adopting more strategic purchasing habits, consumers can reduce costs without compromising quality or convenience. 'If inflation happens, things like food, energy and shelter will be affected the most,' said Lucia Lu, a senior business consultant at Nextpins. 'The good thing to do? Purchase in bulk.' 'Non-perishable items and household essentials such as paper towels or canned items cost less when purchased in bulk. To reduce costs on things like fresh vegetables, look into cheaper alternatives like frozen versions or store brands without giving up on quality.' When inflation rises, cutting back doesn't have to feel like a loss. By making thoughtful adjustments, consumers can reduce spending in ways that are both sustainable and satisfying. 'Cutting down doesn't have to mean sacrificing your quality of life,' Lu said. 'Try cooking at home more often, as it's typically more affordable than takeout or dining out. Reducing your grocery bill doesn't require eating less, just being smarter with meal planning and buying in-season produce.' Lu added, 'Another easy win? Use a cashback credit card to offset some everyday costs.' Managing money during inflation doesn't have to be overwhelming. There are plenty of apps designed to simplify the process. Budgeting tools like Mint, YNAB (You Need a Budget) and Rocket Money help track spending, spot trends and stay on target. For saving and investing, apps like Acorns and Digit automate small contributions that add up over time. Cashback and rebate apps, such as Rakuten, Ibotta, or Fetch, can also help consumers stretch their dollars further on everyday purchases. 'I like You Need a Budget for people who want structure and a fresh start,' Rodriguez said. 'It's great for building more awareness around spending. Empower is another one I recommend to clients who want to track net worth and cash flow in one place without overcomplicating things.' More From GOBankingRates These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs This article originally appeared on How the Middle-Class Can Protect Their Paychecks From Inflation in 2025
