Three More Big Stories Heading Into 2025 College Football Season

Here are three more big stories in college football for 2025. There are 15 such stories, and there will be five articles. This article will review the story of the Southeastern Conference’s new rivalry, what is next for Colorado Coach Deion Sanders, and why you should expect more chaos in the Big 12 conference this season. These stories made national news, so you need to know. Looking at them, the Sanders story made national news, but the other two flew under the radar. Have you heard of these stories?

Big Story #7: Texas vs. Georgia New SEC Rivalry

For the longest time, the main rivalry in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has been Georgia vs. Alabama. Conference realignment before last season means that Texas will play Georgia. Texas vs. Georgia is the new big rivalry in the SEC. It is not that Georgia playing Alabama has lost its luster, far from that, but Texas joining the SEC means there is a new rivalry to enjoy. Last season, Georgia defeated Texas twice. Texas has a chance to return the favor on November 15 in Athens, Georgia. No matter what happens in that game, the two teams could meet again in the 2025 College Football Playoff or the SEC Title Game.

Georgia has only seven players returning from their 2024 roster. However, there is a bunch of talent in Athens. The Bulldogs have a new quarterback in Gunnar Stockton. Texas also has a new quarterback in wonderkid Arch Manning.  The Longhorns have a great defense and are looking to build on back-to-back trips to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. It seems like Texas will have the advantage this season, but one never really knows.

Big Story #8: What Is Next For Deion Sanders?

Things have taken a turn for the worse for head coach and legend Deion Sanders. It leaves one wondering what he will do for an encore or if he will even be healthy. Gone to the National Football League are both two-way star Travis Hunter and Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Deion’s Son).

Hunter and Sanders will be missed. However, the talent was restocked via the transfer portal to the point where the Buffaloes could again compete for the Big 12 title. The new quarterback for Colorado is Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Get used to that name because the wide receiver and the offensive line room have also been restocked. Similarly, Defensive Coordinator Robert Livingston must deal with losses, but a solid haul from the transfer portal has arrived. Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State all visit Boulder, so this too could be a successful season.

However, the football talent for the Colorado Buffaloes was not the biggest of the stories surrounding the program this offseason. Coach Sanders’ health made national news. It was one of the biggest stories of the year. Sanders had his bladder removed after a cancerous tumor was discovered on it, he announced in a news conference alongside his medical team on July 28 in Boulder. The tumor was described by Dr. Janet Kukreja of the University of Colorado Cancer Center as “very high grade,” having moved through the bladder wall, but not into the muscle layer. College football needs a healthy “Primetime.”

Big Story #9: Expect Big Chaos In the Big 12 Again

In 2024, the new 16-team format was chaotic. Nine teams entered the final week with a chance to play in the Big 12 title game. Four teams finished 7-2 in the conference, and three tied at 6-3. Nine programs went to a bowl game. In 2025, more of the same is in store. Many of the teams will be pretty good again, and add Texas Tech to the mix after its shopping spree.

Conclusion

Three more big stories are the new rivalry of Texas and Georgia in the SEC, the football and health situation in Boulder, Colorado, and the chaos that is likely to ensue in the Big 12 Conference. In particular, Deion Sanders’ health situation is the most newsworthy of these stories. Although the new rivalry in the SEC and the competition in the Big 12 are very interesting.