Western Carolina Falls 52-45 in High-Scoring Season Opener

The 2025 college football season has kicked off with notable matchups and storylines across several teams. Western Carolina, ranked #19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, suffered a surprising 52-45 loss to Gardner-Webb after blowing a large first-half lead, despite strong performances from running back Patrick Boyd Jr. South Carolina Gamecocks return home to face South Carolina State, with both teams showing promising offensive and defensive stats in their season openers; Gamecocks are expected to leverage more weapons offensively against the Bulldogs. Ole Miss and Kentucky have developed a competitive football rivalry, with recent games marked by close and high-stakes contests, though Ole Miss experienced an upset loss to Kentucky in the 2024 season. UCLA football endured a tough 43-10 loss to Utah but is preparing for their upcoming game against UNLV. In Tennessee, multiple levels of football—including high school, college, and professional—are underway, highlighted by matchups involving the Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores, and the NFL's Tennessee Titans, who are beginning their season with first overall pick Cam Ward as quarterback.