NFL Draft Scouting Notebook: Week 1

Before the 2025 college season starts, we’re diving in deep on the upcoming schedule plus rumors and news we’ve heard in preparing for the season.

Each week, our Scouting Notebook will get you ready for the week ahead while taking a deep dive look into the games that just happened. Nowhere else will you find the level of detail and insight we’re bringing each week as our staff watches all the games and talks to all the sources.

Each week we’ll give you our updated Scouting Notebook—only for subscribers—with a look at the games that were and what’s coming up on our schedule.

Let’s get into it.

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1. Lead Item: Week 1 Schedule = A Scout’s Dream

The 2025 season kicks off with one of the best Week 1 schedules we can remember. Get your to-do list done before the weekend. You’re gonna need a full weekend of couch sitting with the schedule the CFB gods have given us.

Thursday, August 28:

Boise State vs South Florida (5:30pm ET, ESPN)

Why you should watch: Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen is the cream of the crop in the Mountain West. Kage Casey (OT) and Mason Rudolph (C) are legit NFL draft prospects. And South Florida QB Byrum Brown is a fun player with NFL potential.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati (9:00pm ET, ESPN)

Why you should watch: Does Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola take the next step for a team many are predicting as a playoff contender? New wide receiver Dane Key will help him. Raiola also gets to play this one at Arrowhead Stadium, the home office of his idol Patrick Mahomes II. For Cincinnati, defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (no relation to Michael), is one of the best defensive tackles in the country. Fellow prospects include linebacker Jake Golday, tight end Joe Royer (in the running for the best TE in the country), and quarterback Brendan Sorsby who has impressed coming into his junior season.