The wait is over as the 2025 football season has officially commenced, bringing with it the familiar sounds of colliding helmets and roaring crowds. The action began with the NFL’s traditional curtain-raiser in Canton, Ohio, setting the stage for a packed schedule of professional and collegiate gridiron drama.
The preseason kicked off with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 1, where the Los Angeles Chargers faced the Detroit Lions. The game, which serves as a prelude to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, saw the Chargers jump out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Backup quarterback Trey Lance made his presence felt with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly. The contest provided an early look at roster depth, as both teams rested their primary starters. The weekend’s festivities will celebrate the induction of the Class of 2025, featuring legendary Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. In a nostalgic touch, broadcasting icon Brent Musburger, this year’s recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, was slated to join the NBC broadcast booth, as reported by Digital Trends Today.
Following the Canton classic, the first full week of NFL preseason action runs from August 7-10, featuring intriguing storylines across the league. A notable matchup on Saturday, August 9, pits the New York Giants against the Buffalo Bills. The teams are employing starkly different strategies; the Giants plan to start newly acquired quarterback Russell Wilson, offering a first glimpse of their new offensive era. Conversely, the Bills will rest star quarterback Josh Allen, allowing Mitch Trubisky to start and make his case in the backup competition, according to a report. The weekend concludes with a doubleheader on the NFL Network on Sunday, August 10, featuring the Miami Dolphins at the Chicago Bears, followed by the New Orleans Saints visiting the Los Angeles Chargers.
While the NFL warms up, the college football season is set to explode out of the gates with a series of high-stakes, landscape-defining contests. The action begins internationally on Saturday, August 23, with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, where Iowa State will face Kansas State.
However, the first full weekend of the NCAA season is loaded with monumental non-conference clashes that could have immediate playoff implications. On Saturday, August 30, the schedule is highlighted by several blockbuster games. The Texas Longhorns will travel to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a noon kickoff on FOX. Later, the Alabama Crimson Tide visits the Florida State Seminoles for a 3:30 p.m. showdown, and the LSU Tigers will battle the Clemson Tigers in a primetime evening game. The day also sees defending national champion Michigan open its season against New Mexico, while Penn State hosts Nevada, as detailed on the schools’ athletic sites, mgoblue.com and gopsusports.com. The weekend of titans continues on Friday, August 29, with Georgia Tech visiting Colorado, and concludes Sunday, August 31, when Notre Dame travels to face Miami.
Fans will have ample opportunity to catch the action, with ESPN, ABC, FOX, and NBC broadcasting the major college games. The NFL preseason will be covered extensively on the NFL Network, and once the regular season begins, fans can stream local Sunday games on services like Paramount+. From early roster evaluations in the pros to championship-caliber matchups in the college ranks, the 2025 football season is starting with unparalleled intensity.
