​Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, left, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian talk before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (Jay LaPrete/AP)
Despite indications that summer not only isn’t ready to surrender, it’s mounting a counteroffensive, trust me and the Rangers when we tell you that football season is almost here. Not a minute too soon, either. Try not to be discouraged by what’s happening in college football. By that, of course, I mean the fact that the government is getting involved. I suppose someone had to. I wouldn’t trust the people with the keys to college football to run a lemonade stand. The good news is the product on the field has never been better. NIL may bankrupt college sports, as a big-time former Big 12 official told me recently, but it’ll be fun while it lasts. With that, here are nine college football games yours truly will cover this fall, along with my predictions:
FILE – Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson is stopped by the Texas defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio., Aug. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File) (Jay LaPrete/AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Sept. 12, Ohio State at TexasStill boggles the mind that these two heavyweights have only played five times, and 40% of those were last year. Also instructive that when I looked it up, AI told me the series was “currently tied at 3-2 in favor of Ohio State.” Maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about artificial intelligence after all. Anyway, the good news for Steve Sarkisian is he has just as much NFL talent as Ryan Day. The Longhorns managed to hang around with the Buckeyes in Columbus last year even with Arch Manning proving he wasn’t up to the hype. He is now. Texas 24, Ohio State 20 
Sept. 18, Houston at Texas TechWillie Fritz might be the best coach you never heard of, unless, of course, you went to Houston, Tulane, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston, Central Missouri or Blinn College. At this rate, Fritz, 66, will be head coach at Notre Dame when he’s 98. This game tells us the Red Raiders can repeat as Big 12 champs. If the answer had been no, Cody Campbell would have tried to buy the NCAA and set Brendan Sorsby free. Texas Tech 31, Houston 17 
Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) carries for a touchdown against LSU in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert/AP)
Sept. 26, Texas A&M at LSUDo you know why A&M played in Baton Rouge every year from 1960-75? Same reason they played at Rice Stadium annually from 1957-67. Money. One of the nation’s biggest revenue producers once made more off gate splits from larger venues on the road than it did in home games. That’s not why they’re playing at Tiger Stadium for the second year in a row. Simply an SEC scheduling quirk. Love Lane Kiffin’s steal of former Arizona State QB Sam