Week 1 CFB Tasting Menu: Time to Eat

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner preview the first week of the 2025 season, with notes on dozens of games that will make your Week 1 more interesting. A brief selection of the games we talk about this week:* Boise State vs. USF is the Bulls’ biggest moment in years* Nebraska vs. Cincinnati is a major interior pressure test for Dylan Raiola* Auburn vs. Baylor and Georgia Tech vs. Colorado headline Friday night* Northwestern vs. Tulane features a Big Ten team as a justified underdog in a Group of 5 stadium, but who’s playing QB for the Green Wave?* TEXAS VS. OHIO STATE, one of the biggest Week 1 games ever. (Don’t lose sight of how big this thing is just because both teams will make the playoff)* Syracuse vs. Tennessee: There will be orange* Toledo vs. Kentucky: The MAC’s best chance to beat the SEC* Alabama vs. Florida State: The Seminoles probably can’t win, but what about their performance will offer hints of the future? Read Alex’s story about Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit here.* LSU vs. Clemson: We like the Tigers to prevail in Death Valley* Sacramento State vs. South Dakota State is an unusual FCS showcase* Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina: The Beamer Bowl presents many questions, most of them about the Hokies* TCU vs. North Carolina: Welcome to CFB, Bill BelichickDid we just forget Notre Dame vs. Miami? Of course not. For this week’s main course, Jessica Smetana, cohost of the Notre Dame-focused “Echoes” podcast with Mike Golic Jr., joins the podcast to talk about the Irish’s big challenge.Thank you to our subscribers and partnersBecome a paid subscriber today to get a lot more SZD, and check out www.nokiantyres.com/szd and www.homefieldapparel.comAlso, welcome our new partner, Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off.Producer: Anthony Vito This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe