College Football Is Back: Catch Up On 6 Key Storylines Ahead Of Week 1

Week 1 is here. The offseason is officially over. And, naturally, that means it’s time for the chaos to begin!

In case you’ve been a little checked out of college football, we get it — there’s been a lot going on. The World Cup took over this summer, and with college football somehow evolving into a nearly six-month commitment, everybody needs a break. 

But now it’s time to tune back in. For those who’ve been away from the college football universe, here are six quick storylines — in no particular order — to get you caught up before Week 1 kicks off this weekend with a full slate of games across five days. From Heisman Trophy favorites and College Football Playoff contenders to coaches at new programs, we’ve got you covered. 

Texas quarterback Arch Manning enters his second season as the Longhorns’ starter. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

What does success look like for Texas this year? It’s national championship or bust. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian enters his sixth season in Austin, and over these last five years, his team has already done everything outside of winning a national title: The Longhorns won the Big 12 before leaving the conference, they’ve played for an SEC title and they’ve made two College Football Playoff semifinals. Last season was a dud by program standards after getting off to a shaky start before ending the year with wins over rival Texas A&M and Michigan and finishing 10-3. The Longhorns didn’t make the CFP, which is where this season’s retooled team comes into play.

Quarterback Arch Manning has a full year of starting experience under his belt. While Texas is a top preseason team and Manning is in the Heisman Trophy conversation, the hype and expectations surrounding him aren’t nearly as intense as they were a year ago. His growth, along with all the talent Sarkisian picked up in the transfer portal on both sides of the ball, is enough to get anyone believing in the Horns. 

Now, can they get it done?

Can Curt Cignetti lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back CFP national championships? (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Last season, the Hoosiers were the best story in the country. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman and led Indiana to a perfect season and its first-ever national championship before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Can Curt Cignetti’s program captivate the college football world again? It would not be smart to doubt this coach who turned the losingest program in college football history into a national champion. The Hoosiers have reloaded in the transfer portal, adding former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh, among others. And Indiana has several elite playmakers returning from last year’s team.

But repeating the magic — particularly an undefeated run — will be a much tougher task. Indiana faces Ohio State and Michigan on back-to-back weekends in October, followed by USC and Washington on consecutive Saturdays in November. If Cignetti can navigate that gauntlet, maybe Indiana really is a dynasty in the making.

Lane Kiffin is set to begin his first season as LSU’s head coach. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

This is obviously the blockbuster storyline of the season: Lane Kiffin’s debut at LSU after ditching Ole Miss before last year’s CFP. Since his arrival in Baton Rouge, every move has been watched. From the FBI reportedly sweeping the Rebels’ football facility for potential Kiffin bugs to the Tigers’ interest in pursuing former NFL players who want to return to college, Kiffin has owned recent headlines.

LSU will undoubtedly remain at the center of attention, especially if it wins. The Tigers have a challenging schedule, opening with Clemson at home in prime time before a trip to Oxford to play the Rebels on September 19. Get your popcorn ready for that one. LSU has five preseason top-25 teams on its schedule, including a rough November when it plays Alabama, Texas and Tennessee in three straight weekends.

James Franklin is set to take over at Virginia Tech.  (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

Penn State famously fired James Franklin last October after 12 seasons, just one year removed from a CFP appearance. The 2025 campaign didn’t go as planned and quickly unraveled. After an epic double-overtime loss to Oregon at home in late September, the Nittany Lions lost six straight games. Franklin was fired after the third, following inexplicable losses to UCLA and Northwestern.

In November, Franklin was given a second chance when Virginia Tech named him its next head coach. After reloading in the transfer portal — which included luring former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to Blacksburg — Franklin is reinvigorated by a new challenge. 

The Hokies’ schedule, however, won’t make the transition easy. They play Clemson, SMU, Miami and Virginia, though they avoid Louisville. It might take time for Franklin to get Virginia Tech where he wants it, but he brings a proven track record as a recruiter, gets a clean slate and has a passionate fan base hungry to see the program matter on a national stage.

Dante Moore returns for his second season as Oregon’s starting quarterback. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It’s the Big Ten’s world right now with the conference claiming the last three national championships. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana are the most recent winners and there’s a good chance the league contends for a fourth. 

Oregon is certainly a favorite with Dante Moore at quarterback. If the Ducks make their third consecutive CFP appearance, can they avoid getting blown out like they have in the past? If not, Indiana is motivated to defend its title, Ohio State has a ton of firepower and USC is anxious to make its first CFP.

The SEC hasn’t won it all since Georgia did it twice in a row in 2021 and 2022. Early prognosticators predict the conference might produce the most playoff teams with some combination of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama making runs. 

Jeremiah Smith will look to lead Ohio State back to the College Football Playoff. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While there’s been plenty of chatter regarding another CFP expansion, the field remains at 12 this season. 

However, there are some small changes. The Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 champions will receive automatic bids. Notre Dame will be guaranteed a spot, as long as it finishes in the top 12 of the final CFP rankings. 

Then, the highest-ranked Group of 6 team — regardless of whether it’s a conference champion — will also receive an automatic bid. In previous years, the five highest-ranked conference champions received automatic bids. 

And as we’ve grown accustomed to, the first round will still be played on campuses. Then, the quarterfinals this year will be hosted by the Fiesta Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl and the semifinals will be in the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl. 

The CFP national championship game will be played on Jan. 25 in Las Vegas.

‘Fear Arch Manning’ 👀 USC a CFP sleeper, can Indiana repeat as National Champions, Notre Dame | FTF