College Football Season Buzzes with Transfer Insights and Week 0 Previews

LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 22, 2025 (AP) -strong> - The college football world focused today on the latest transfer-portal news and Week 0 game previews. Teams are getting ready to start the 2025 season.

Coach and insider talk took center stage in The Athletic’s first “Portal Buzz.” The article looks at how offseason moves will affect depth charts and early matchups. Notable highlights include:

  • Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin: Iowa State’s eight newcomers have changed the Cyclones’ depth chart. This Saturday at Aviva Stadium, four portal transfers will start. They are wide receivers Chase Caldwell and Carroll Townsend, linebacker Mato McDonough, and cornerback Tre Bell. Kansas State adds five key players: wideouts Aaron Tipton and Bradley Purdum, guard JB Ennis, and free safety Qua Moss. These moves aim to strengthen a defense that brings back all four starters in the secondary.
  • Big 12 Quarterback Watch: Power 4 programs focus on Group of 5 quarterbacks. These players could step up as playoff contenders. Portal Buzz identifies rising talents whose performances in Week 0 openers could quickly put them on the national radar.
  • Quarterback Domino Effect: Changes from BYU to Stanford to Tulane show how fast the portal drives turnover at this position. Freshman Cade Bachmeier is moving to BYU. Stanford is seeing changes during its interim era. Tulane is in a quarterback battle. These shifts show how teams are changing their identities before the season starts.

Meanwhile, Big Sky Conference outlets today previewed their FCS kickoff action:

  • FCS Kickoff Classic: No. 8 UC Davis opens against No. 11 Mercer at 5 p.m. MT in Montgomery, Ala., with ESPN carrying the telecast. Davis head coach Tim Plough and preseason offensive MVP Adam Jones from Montana State led today’s event. ““This Week in Big Sky Football” show, assessing how the league’s top talents will fare when the season begins.
  • Portland State vs. Tarleton State: The Vikings take on the Texans at 2:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2. This game highlights two of the conference’s top offenses.
  • Idaho State at UNLV: Idaho State kicks off at 2 p.m. MT. It’s a rare Mountain West game as the Bengals visit Las Vegas.

As teams wrap up their plans for Saturday, fans will get a sneak peek. They’ll see how new players from the portal and strategic changes shape the upcoming season. Tomorrow, August 23, kicks off the FBS season. Key matchups include Iowa State vs. Kansas State at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN and Baylor vs. Auburn at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.