College football is back!
As the 2025 season rolls along, so will our weekly previews of games and NFL prospects to watch. This will come in addition to our NFL Draft coverage over the course of the fall and winter. Whether you’re a fan of the draft or just a college football fan, this series looks to give you an idea of what to watch each week.
Windy City Gridiron’s Lead Draft Analyst, Jacob Infante, will be taking a look at what to expect in Week 1 of this year’s college football campaign.
Blue-chip of the week
No. 3 Ohio
State S Caleb Downs vs. No. 1 Texas, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, 11:00 a.m. CST
My top overall prospect heading into the 2025 season, Caleb Downs is up there with Kyle Hamilton, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Jamal Adams as the best safety prospects I’ve ever watched.
Downs is as well-rounded as they come for his position. He’s a versatile defender with a high football IQ who can cover as a deep safety, in the slot, and in the box. His quick processing of route concepts, natural nose for the football, and fluidity in space make him a menace in coverage, and he plays with ideal effort and physicality as a downhill tackler. Downs and the Buckeyes be playing in the biggest college football game of the week on Saturday, and a strong performance against Texas would only strengthen his case as the top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Prospect matchup to watch
No. 9 LSU EDGE Patrick Payton vs. No. 4 Clemson OTs Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CST
Patrick Payton showed encouraging flashes as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, tallying seven sacks for Florida State and looking the part of a potential early-round pick. However, he didn’t live up to expectations in 2024, which was a trend within the Seminole program that season. Now an incoming transfer at LSU, the explosive edge rusher is looking for more down-by-down consistency in 2025.
He’ll be tasked with facing off against two talented Clemson offensive tackles in Week 1. Blake Miller was seen as a potential late Day 2 draft pick last year but opted to stay in school another year. He has a refined use of his hands with proper strike timing and placement, along with a high motor. Tristan Leigh is a little less nasty than Miller but brings superior pad level, similar hand fighting expertise, and arguably a higher athletic ceiling. Watching those two battle against Payton will be intriguing to watch.
Sleeper highlight
North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance vs. The Citadel, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, 11:00 a.m. CST
The brother of Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance, Bryce Lance also comes out of North Dakota State as a draftable prospect. His expertise, however, comes at wide receiver.
A breakout star in 2024, Lance had 75 catches for 1,069 yards and a program record 17 receiving touchdowns. He enters 2025 with a career drop rate of just 2.6%, and he has an impressive build for his position at 6’3” and 204 pounds. What he currently lacks in the depth of his route tree, he makes up for with tremendous ball skills, impressive deep speed, and a large catch radius. His deep-threat potential and physical attributes should have him firmly on NFL radars in the new year.
