A Dramatic College Football Season

The 2025 season was an all-time, chaotic, historical and unpredictable season. It was a direct of the expanded playoffs and NIL. But it also introduced all new names to the great story of a football season. Including the rise of Indiana football and the fall of Penn State. Freddie Falcon’s 75th Birthday and an official team cat, to NFL legends coaching teams at The Linc. Each week had dramatic games that made the season genuinely a roller coaster as it developed. Continue on to see how each weekend added a more spice to the chaotic season.

Week 1: Meet your newest mas”cat,” Pudge

Bowling Green defeats Lafayette, 26-7

The start of the season saw some fantastic stories surround Bowling Green football. To kick off, The Falcons made a home run hire in hiring Heisman trophy winner Eddie George as the new head coach. However, there was a new mascot with plans to take over the Falcon world.

Bowling Green’s long snapper, George Carlson, brought in a persian cat, Pudge, to the locker room during fall camp. One viral tiktok later, Pudge became a viral sensation, where he was proudly hoisted in the air during the season-opening win against Lafayette. Later in the week, Penn State kicked the door down to start the season after a 46-11 stomp against Nevada.

Nevada v Penn State

Nittany Lions defeat the Wolfpack, 46-11

Week 2: The Nittany Lions Survive a Panther Scare

Penn State escapes FIU, 34-0

The Penn State Nittany Lions offense struggled in the second game of the season. After being held to only 10 points in the first half against FIU, the defense steps up as Chaz Coleman makes a strip-sack fumble, recovered for a touchdown to close out the game against the Panthers, 34-0.

Week 3: A Bowling Green Homecoming, Freddie Falcon’s 75th Birthday

Bowling Green defeats Liberty, 23-13

Freddie Falcon and the funky bunch celebrate the mascot’s 75th birthday during homecoming. To cap it off, Bowling Green takes down Liberty in their second win of the season, 23-13.

Week 4: First Big Ten Matchup - Iowa v Rutgers

Iowa defeats Rutgers, 38-28

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights an a rock fight that lasted until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, 38-28.

Heading into the second quarter, the Scarlet Knights hosted a drone show featuring a wave in honor of “The Hawkeye Wave.” Athletes and fans from both teams take time out of the game to wave to kids that are at the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Week 5: First White Out Game - Oregon v Penn State

#5 Oregon upsets #3 Penn State: 30-24

In front of an ear-shattering crowd of 111,015 fans, the Oregon Ducks upset the #3 Penn State Nittany Lions after an interception in overtime, 30-24. Oregon sophomore QB Dante Moore threw for 248 yards for three touchdowns in the shootout.

College Football Game Day

Week 6 Madness - Three Games in 48 hours

Western Kentucky v Delaware - Air Force v Navy, and closing out with Philadelphia Union

Western Kentucky Defeats Delaware 27-24
Navy defeats Air Force 34-31

Western Kentucky barely survives Delaware after the Blue Hens miss a game-winning field goal kick in the final seconds of the game.
On Saturday, Blake Horvath and Eli Heidenreich of the Navy Midshipmen play lights out in their 34-31 win over Air Force. United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered the coin toss.

Week 7 - The Fall of Penn State, James Franklin Fired

Northwestern upsets Penn State: 22-21

Penn State struggles as senior quarterback Drew Allar suffers a college career ending injury in the last quarter of the game in coming back against the Northwestern Wildcats. The loss ultimately led James Franklin being fired the next day, and moving onto Virginia Tech.

Week 8: Championship Contenders Revisit the East coast to face Rutgers

Rutgers romps Oregon: 56-10

The Oregon Ducks make a statement in the 56-10 romp against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Oregon QB Dante Moore throws for 290 yards with four touchdowns.

Week 9: Villanova continues the win streak

Villanova defeats Albany, 29-16

After starting the season with 2 losses in their first three games, the Villanova Wildcats heat up with a 5 win streak, including a win over Albany. The ‘cats eventually continue their streak for 12 straight games leading into the FCS Semifinals.

Week 10: The HBCU Battle of Legends

Delaware State defeats Norfolk State: 27-20

Two Philadelphia Eagles legends, DeSean Jackson and Micheal Vick face off as head coaches of their respective HBCU’s, Delaware State and Norfolk State, in their first ever match at Lincoln Financial Field. The Delaware State Hornets defeat the Norfolk State Spartans, 27-20.

Week 11: Fernando “Heis”Mendoza makes a statement win at Penn State

Indiana escapes Penn State: 27-24

The Indiana Hoosiers defeat Penn State in an all-time classic game. In the fourth quarter, Penn State took the lead with just two minutes left in the game. For Indiana’s QB Fernando Mendoza, it was just too much time. The Hoosiers storm down the field before scoring on a toe-tap touchdown with 21 seconds left on the clock to defeat the Nittany Lions, 27-24.

Mendoza’s performance in the game cemented his place in the Heisman conversation, winning the trophy.

Week 12: Tulane holds onto playoff hopes after win against Temple

Tulane defeats Temple: 37-13

Future Florida Head Coach Jon Sumrall and the Tulane Green Wave cruise to a 37-13 win over Temple at Lincoln Financial Field.

Championship Week: The Dukes Win The Belt

James Madison defeats Troy, 31-14

The James Madison Dukes relies on a strong second half to defeat Troy Trojans, 31-14, to win the Sun Belt. The freezing cold win gives James Madison a path to the College Football Playoffs.

Bonus Football! Illinois State tears into Villanova in the FCS Semifinals

The unseeded Illinois State Redbirds continue their electric post-season campaign after upsetting #1 North Dakota State and #8 UC Davis. The Redbirds take down the #12 Wildcats in resounding fashion, 30-14 to advance to the FCS Championship against Montana State.

One Last Highlight: Images Featured in College Football 26

Images of Cade Klubnik of the Clemson Tigers and Lucian Anderson III of Bowling Green were featured across EA Sports College Football 26, including an College Ultimate Team Card with Pudge the Cat.

Reflecting on the 2025 Season

Coming into the 2025 season, I wanted to take more time to cover the sport with intention. Researching the teams for developing storylines before games, finding new approaches and accurately documenting games as stories that unfold in front of our eyes. Additionally, I wanted to push myself to the limit with how many games I can cover in one season.

This year was a wild one to witness. From seeing one team make a push for the FCS Championship, to team just down the road firing a Head coach who was just in the FBS Championship the previous year, while watching a Heisman performance unfold in front of 110,000 people. In the age of NIL, the transfer portal, and everything else around the sport, there is one thing that remains with college football. You will never know what will happen in a season, but it’s a beautiful thing to see what happens every single time.

A special thank you to Getty Images, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and BGSU for trusting me to cover 15 games this year.

Can’t wait to do it again next year.

To contact for any additional information, reach out to Isaiah Vazquez at:
Isaiah Vazquez
i35photography@yahoo.com
216-334-9433

To return to the 2025 Year in Review page, click here.

To see all galleries produced for Getty Images, click here.