College football’s Week 1 is among the best extended weekends of the calendar year — five days of games. And with the NFL regular season not starting for another week, there will be dozens of NFL general managers, coaches and execs traveling across the country to see prospects, especially those taking part in these big-time showdowns:

Despite these two programs combining to have 26 draft picks in April, the NFL talent well is far from dry. And, led by Arch Manning and Jeremiah Smith, the star power in this game is as big as it gets in college football.

Highest-ranked draft-eligible prospects: Arch Manning, QB, Texas; Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Coming in at No. 2 overall and as QB1 in my preseason top 50, Manning faces high expectations, despite having only two starts on his collegiate résumé. Will he live up to that hype immediately, or will it take time? Will Steve Sarkisian open up the offense in the opener or keep the play calling conservative to protect his inexperienced quarterback? Overreactions are inevitable, but NFL scouts will be looking for Manning to show that he belongs.

Downs (No. 4 on my top 50) is the top-ranked prospect for Ohio State. I wish there were more examples of him playing single high or deep coverage, but as a rover or downhill player, Downs is the prototype. He plays with an instinctive sixth sense, and his tackling angles and finish are outstanding. With Matt Patricia taking over as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, what will Downs’ role look like? Given how Sarkisian relies on the tight end, I’m eager to see Downs’ matchup with Texas’ Jack Endries.

NFL prospects with the most to prove: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas; Ohio State edge Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Texas has to replace four starters on its offensive line, including left tackle Kelvin Banks, a top-10 pick. Goosby stepped in when Banks was hurt late last season, though, and played well against Arizona State, Clemson and Texas A&M — well enough that he earned a spot in my early top 50. Now, we’ll see if he lives up to that promise as a full-time starter.

Jackson also grabbed a spot in my top 50, despite not yet having proved himself as a full-time starter. At 6 foot 6 and 265 pounds with long arms, he plays with power and will be expected to be the Buckeyes’ ace pass rusher. Goosby versus Jackson will be a “prove it” matchup Saturday.

Prospect matchup that might determine the outcome: Texas RBs vs. Ohio State LBs Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese

Texas has one of the best running back depth charts in college football, especially with the return of CJ Baxter, who was receiving Bijan Robinson-level hype before getting hurt and missing the 2024 season. Quintrevion Wisner stepped in as the starter last season and eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing.

It won’t be easy stopping that duo, but Ohio State has arguably the best linebacker tandem in the country. Both Styles and Reese are exceptional size-speed athletes who are developing at the position in terms of reading keys and defeating blocks. Styles ranked No. 24 on my summer top 50 — and I had one scout tell me Reese “should have been on there, too.”

Florida State has nowhere to go but up after last year’s embarrassing 10-loss showing, while Alabama is hitting something of a reset in Year 2 under Kalen DeBoer. I expect both teams to improve in 2025, led by the NFL talent on their rosters.

Highest-ranked draft-eligible prospects: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama; Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

My eyes will be on the trenches in this matchup. Proctor, Alabama’s left tackle, was the No. 3 prospect on my initial top 50. Listed at 6-7, 360, the Des Moines, Iowa, native is a massive human with rare explosiveness for his size. After a rough end to last season, Proctor needs a strong start to show scouts that his conditioning is at an NFL level.

Jackson is also a rare specimen, boasting first-round measurables: a robust 6-5 1/4, 341 with 35 1/4-inch arms, 11 1/8-inch hands and an 86-inch wingspan.

NFL prospects with the most to prove: Micah Pettus, OT, Florida State; Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama

Again, back to the trenches. A transfer from Ole Miss, Pettus has draftable talent with his explosiveness off the ball and mauling mentality. He is a massive individual (6-6 7/8, 353 with 34 1/4-inch arms) but is surprisingly raw for a three-year starter and receives poor character feedback from NFL scouts. Pettus needs to mature to sway scouts, although his technique should improve under the tutelage of offensive line coach Herb Hand.

Lawson is a favorite of multiple scouts from the Southeast area. A tall, slender athlete with good length, he possesses outstanding awareness and processing ability, backed by the confidence to read, drive and finish. However, he’s returning from an ACL tear suffered in November, and there were already questions about his long speed, which is why he still has something to prove despite scouts really liking the football player (as a potential top-75 pick).

Prospect matchup that might determine the outcome: Alabama C Parker Brailsford vs. Jackson

Despite losing Tyler Booker, the interior of the Alabama offensive line remains a strength. Right guard Jaeden Roberts isn’t a top-tier athlete, but he is a large, powerful mover of people. At 6-4 1/8, 323 with 34-inch arms, Roberts matches up physically with Jackson, which would make for a fun Godzilla-King Kong type of battle if Roberts can play (he suffered a concussion in a mid-August scrimmage).

However, it is the opposite with Brailsford, listed at a generous 6-2, 290. His quickness gives him an advantage, especially in the run game, but his play strength and sustain skills are in question for his transition to the next level. Any matchups with Jackson will be scrutinized closely by NFL teams.

LSU at Clemson (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC)

For the first time since 2009, Clemson didn’t produce a top-100 draft pick in April, but no program had more players ranked in the top 30 on my preseason board. That talent is the main reason Clemson is a preseason favorite of many to reach the national championship. LSU has more questions than its Week 1 opponent but is similarly stocked with next-level talent.

Highest-ranked draft-eligible prospects: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson; Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Not only is Woods the top Clemson prospect entering the season, but he is No. 1 in my top 50. With his movement skills and play strength, Woods deconstructs blocks and wrecks shop against both run and pass. He can be a 90 percent version of Jalen Carter, and I don’t say that lightly.

Nussmeier likely would have been the second quarterback drafted in April had he declared, but he returned to Baton Rouge as the Tigers’ top 2026 prospect. There is no question that he needs to take better care of the football and dial back his reckless decisions, but Nussmeier’s command of the offense and operation should translate well to the NFL.

NFL prospects with the most to prove: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson; Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

Who is the top quarterback prospect in this matchup? The “Nuss Bus” has the early lead in the eyes of NFL teams, but Klubnik has improved each season, and that should continue during his senior year. Klubnik is my preseason pick for the Heisman Trophy, and he will benefit from a lackluster ACC schedule (similar to Cam Ward last season). Klubnik starts the season at No. 30 on my board, but he can rise if he continues to show development.

There are more than a few LSU candidates for this category, including several wide receivers. However, I will go with Perkins, who possesses first-round athleticism, even if his film reveals fifth-round consistency. Listed at 6-1, 222, Perkins already faced questions about his NFL role, and now needs to prove himself as he comes back from an ACL tear suffered last October.

Prospect matchup that might determine outcome: Clemson WR Antonio Williams vs. Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane

Williams, Clemson’s top receiver, is a polarizing prospect among NFL scouts. Some see a top-60 draft pick and future NFL starter; others see a more limited player who shouldn’t be drafted until the mid-rounds. However, as the most targeted player in the Tigers’ offense, Williams will have plenty of chances to sway doubters.

And any time we see him line up against Delane, it will be a must-watch for NFL scouts. A transfer from Virginia Tech, Delane has only average size and length by NFL standards, but he is competitive, with an instinctive nature that earns him starting-level grades.

The third game of opening weekend, featuring two top-10 teams, is always a fun rivalry. Both teams are replacing draft picks at quarterback (and several other key positions), but there are still a few projected first-rounders on each roster.

Highest-ranked draft-eligible prospects: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame; Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Only one Notre Dame prospect cracked my early top 50, making this a clear-cut choice. With his athletic burst and body control, Love is one of the top playmakers in the country and has the talent to follow Ashton Jeanty and Robinson as top-10 picks at the position. With a first-year quarterback, Notre Dame will be relying on the ground game for much of the season, so it will be interesting to see how the Irish walk the fine line of giving Love touches while making sure he stays healthy into December.

Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit, has started all 26 games at right tackle the past two seasons. With his play strength and movements, his skill set might be better suited to kick inside to guard in the NFL. Regardless, he looks like an NFL starter.

NFL prospects with the most to prove: Carson Beck, QB, Miami; Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami

It feels like the potential for Miami to make a playoff run hinges on the performances of two players: Beck and Bain. After a well-publicized (and well-funded) transfer from Georgia, Beck will be looking to revive his NFL Draft stock following a disappointing last season with the Bulldogs. He enters the season with Day 3 draft grades because he struggles to create second-reaction throws.

Bain is the much more promising NFL prospect, although we didn’t see enough of that promise last season. He earned a spot on my preseason top 50 but needs to put better consistency on film to secure his status as a first-rounder.

Prospect matchup that might determine the outcome: Notre Dame WRs Malachi Fields and Jaden Greathouse vs. Virginia’s secondary

Notre Dame has NFL-level talent at wide receiver, but how consistently will first-year quarterback CJ Carr be able to distribute the football?

Fields transferred to South Bend from Virginia with his eyes on becoming a top-100 pick. At 6-3, 215, he is a good-sized athlete with outstanding ball skills on the outside, although he’s unlikely to surpass 94 targets as he did each of the past two seasons at Virginia.

Meanwhile, Greathouse has been Mr. Reliable for the Irish passing offense, working almost exclusively out of the slot. Whether in space or traffic, he catches the ball with tremendous focus and should be in the Day 2 mix when he jumps to the NFL. He’s looking to push into the top-50 conversation.

(Top photo of Garrett Nussmeier: Sean Gardner / Getty Images)