2025 College Football Season Update
The third week of the 2025 college football season is underway, and it’s an interesting time to review which teams are trending up and which are, well, not so much.
Last week, Clemson managed to put together a solid comeback—scoring 27 unanswered points for a 27-16 win—only to face a disappointing 16-0 defeat against Troy. The comeback ranked as one of the largest in their program’s history.
After that victory, head coach Swinney reflected on the team’s performance, noting, “There’s only a few moments like that. When you start to slip, it’s usually tough to recover.” It seems, though, that lessons might not have been fully learned.
In their game against Georgia Tech, Clemson fell behind 13-0 but rallied to grab a 14-13 lead in the second half. Sadly, that wasn’t enough this time. Aidan Barr booted a 55-yard field goal that sealed a 24-21 victory for Georgia Tech, leaving Clemson in a precarious spot.
Swinney’s tone after the game shifted noticeably. “It’s my responsibility to ensure we can make plays when we need them. Losing is incredibly disappointing. We’ve faced tough teams, but we need to stick together.” His comments revealed a depth of concern as he acknowledged that they had dropped out of the AP Top 25, now sitting with just six votes.
As for the Tigers, both losses have certainly hurt their chances for a playoff spot, with odds reportedly plummeting to 16%. There are even murmurs about whether Swinney’s job is somehow at risk.
Shifting focus to Georgia Tech, Brent Key is seeing encouraging results. Since taking over in 2022, he’s amassed a solid record, including bowl appearances in both 2023 and 2024. His win against Clemson marked his seventh victory against a ranked ACC opponent, pushing his overall record to 7-1 in such matchups. This performance helped the Yellow Jackets leap into the AP Top 25, debuting at No. 18. At 3-0 this season, fans are starting to feel hopeful about what’s next, eagerly anticipating their upcoming matchups.
Meanwhile, Texas also saw action last Saturday, pulling off a 27-10 win against UTEP. That victory was a bit of a mixed bag, however. Despite the win, there were concerns over their performance. The Longhorns were favored by a hefty margin of 40.5 points, yet struggled to get into a rhythm. They barely managed to put points on the board before halftime and the overall execution was shaky, with their young quarterback, Arch Manning, finishing 11 of 25 for 114 yards, along with a touchdown and an interception. They’ve slipped one spot in the AP rankings to No. 8 and will look to improve against Sam Houston next week before diving into SEC play.
Meanwhile, in another tough matchup, Georgia faced off against Tennessee. The Bulldogs fell behind early, trailing 21-7 after allowing three quick touchdowns. Still, they clawed their way back, finishing the half just four points down after 10 unanswered points. The game ultimately went to overtime, where Georgia’s defense managed to secure a victory with key plays, allowing them to push forward with a touchdown run to seal it.
In a surprising turn, South Florida had a rocky experience against Miami after starting the season strong. They fell to a tough 49-12 loss, with Miami dominating much of the game. Although not yet started in AAC play, South Florida’s initial hopes are seeing a hard hit.
Lastly, Vanderbilt pulled off a noteworthy win against No. 11 South Carolina. Despite the Gamecocks losing their quarterback early due to an injury, they couldn’t negate Vanderbilt’s performance, which showcased Diego Pavia’s solid play. He led the Commodores to a convincing 31-7 victory, pushing their own record to 3-0. Their recent success has garnered some recognition, earning them additional votes in the AP Top 25.
