College football kicks off with unprecedented hype. Three top-10 matchups in Week 1 mark a historic start. Arch Manning's debut for Texas against Ohio State is a major highlight. The season features numerous high-stakes games, driven by lucrative TV deals and a new player compensation system. Strength of schedule now heavily influences playoff rankings. Transfer portal activity has reshaped many teams, and a TV dispute between Fox and YouTube TV is resolved temporarily, avoiding a potential blackout for millions.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.