A Dramatic College Football Season
The 2025 season was an all-time, chaotic, historical and unpredictable season. The direct result of the updated schedule with the playoffs, NIL, the rise of Indiana football and the fall of Penn State.
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
The start of the season saw some fantastic stories surround Bowling Green football. To kick off, The Falcons made a home run hire and 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 visits Penn State
Penn State takes down the Nevada Wolfpack
Week 2: The Nittany Lions Survive a Panther Scare
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
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
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
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.
Week 6 Madness - Three Games in 48 hours
Western Kentucky v Delaware - Air Force v Navy, and closing out with Philadelphia Union
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.
Week 7 - The Fall of Penn State, James Franklin Fired
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 Wildcats defeated the Nittany Lions 22-21, ultimately landing in James Franklin being fired and moving onto Virginia Tech.
James Franklin’s Final Press Conference
Head Coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions takes questions from the media after the loss to Northwestern, 22-21
Week 8: Championship Contenders Revisit the East coast v Rutgers
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
Week 10: The HBCU Battle of Legends
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
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.
Week 12: Tulane holds onto playoff hopes after win against Temple
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
The James Madison Dukes defeat the Troy Trojans, 31-14,s to win the Sun Belt, finding their way to the College Football Playoffs.
Bonus Football! Illinois State tears 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.
