In the last month since the confetti fell on Ohio State’s national championship, the college football world has collectively turned its attention to the season ahead. The transfer portal activity has calmed, the coaching carousel is nearing its final rotations, and the league schedules have put games on the calendar to excite fans for the upcoming season.

The 2025 college football schedule doesn’t have as much uncertainty as the previous season, as we now have seen a year with mega conferences and participated in the 12-team College Football Playoff discussion. Thus, we can evaluate the pivotal points in the playoff race for 2025.

Let’s explore key matchups from Week 0 to Week 14 that will significantly impact the College Football Playoff race.