While many of us continue suffering through the “dog days of summer,” I often reminisce about this special time of year — the beginning of a new school year.
Typically, the first week of August always meant my baseball season was over, and we would begin our family’s annual vacation either to Canada to see my father’s side of the family or a random trip in the lower 48 for some educational vacation and camping.
This week also signified the next school year was between two to three weeks away and the college football season was right around the corner. I remember it just like it was yesterday when I would think to myself, “This is the year that the Air Force Academy will beat Notre Dame.”
While the Air Force Academy is only 6-24 all time against Notre Dame, these thoughts would give me anticipation and hope for the new college football season. And this year is no different, although my allegiance has switched from the Air Force Academy to my alma mater, the University of Illinois.
Because I have always cheered for the underdog — hence my infatuation with the Air Force Academy and my attendance at a basketball school — I try to stay attentive to preseason polls and who is projected to excel. It is time for learning, right?
Which brings us to this upcoming Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) season and several of the preseason projections. And just for your reading pleasure, I will include my preseason picks to make it to the FBS semifinals and subsequent 2025/26 NCAA FBS Football National Champion.
Most prognosticators believe the team from the school about an hour to our south is going to be the one hoisting the National Championship trophy at the end of the season. Yes, I just vomited in my mouth a little bit when I typed this, but many think the University of Texas, led by phenom quarterback Arch Manning, will win the 2025/26 title.
I agree that the University of Texas is a solid football team — and why shouldn’t they be? They have some of the best football players from across the great state of Texas.
Penn State University, The Ohio State University, The University of Alabama and the University of Georgia make up the rest of the consensus Top-5 teams, with any one of the latter teams capable of winning the title. Penn State has been the sweetheart of those teams with many pundits stating how complete a team they have.
The remaining Top 25 teams are your typical big-name schools — Notre Dame, Clemson University, Louisiana State University, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, Texas A&M University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Tennessee, just to name a few.
And to my pleasure, my University of Illinois Fightin’ Illini are beginning the year in the Top 20 in most polls, but considering their resurgence last season, this is not that far-fetched. The Fightin’ Illini’s head coach, Bret Bielema, wins wherever he goes and this season, the College Football Playoff is not out of the question.
Let learning begin!
Oh, and don’t let me forget to tell you who the final four college football teams battling it out this season will be.
My prediction is as follows: The teams playing in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will be the University of Texas Longhorns and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs. In the Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl, the University of Georgia Bulldogs will meet The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
After the reigning National Champions, Ohio State, defeat Georgia in a tightly contested national semifinal (which also will be the Bulldogs’ first loss of the season), they will repeat as National Champions by defeating the Longhorns by two touchdowns.
And that completes your lesson on this year’s college football season.
As always, be safe!