Week 0 Spotlight: Key Playmakers in the Opening Slate

From breakout hopefuls to proven vets, here’s who to keep an eye on in every opener.

College football is finally back. While Week 0 doesn’t feature the volume or heavyweight matchups of the full slate, it always delivers intrigue. From rising stars looking to make their mark to veteran playmakers trying to set the tone for the season, these early games give us a first look at storylines that will carry into fall.

This week’s slate offers a variety of viewing angles: new quarterbacks stepping into the spotlight, skill-position players ready to break out, and defenses with something to prove. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a devy manager, or just scouting for the season ahead, there are plenty of reasons to tune in.

In this article, I’ll break down one player to watch in each Week 0 game; highlighting impact performers, names climbing devy/dynasty boards, and potential breakout stars. Think of this as your early-season roadmap to the players who could shape not just Saturday’s results, but the 2025 draft and beyond.

Iowa State vs Kansas State (Dublin, Ireland)

Spread: Kansas State -3
Moneyline: ISU +132 | KSU -160
Total: 49.5

The college football season opens in Dublin with a Big 12 matchup that could matter a lot come November. Kansas State comes in as a field-goal favorite, and both teams return their starting quarterbacks and key playmakers. The storyline here is strength on strength: Kansas State’s dynamic backfield duo against an Iowa State defense that struggled mightily versus the run last year. With Chris Klieman and Matt Campbell on the sidelines, you can expect another close one—the last three meetings were all one-possession games.

Players to Watch

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson
Johnson was electric in his first year as the Wildcats’ starter, leading them to a 9-4 season while flashing true dual-threat ability. He threw for over 2,700 yards and a program-record 25 touchdowns while adding 600+ yards on the ground. At 6’2” and still wiry, he’s dangerous outside of structure but will need to cut down on turnovers after tossing 10 interceptions last season. Johnson already ranks inside the top 10 of multiple school passing categories and is knocking on the door of being one of the most productive quarterbacks in Kansas State history. If he takes the next step as a passer, he could become one of the best quarterbacks in the country this year.

Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards
Edwards steps into a featured role after splitting time last season. He closed 2024 with a statement performance in the bowl game and has shown a knack for shining on big stages, his freshman debut at Colorado included three receiving touchdowns against TCU. Last year he finished with 546 rushing yards, five scores, plus value as a receiver. With DJ Giddens gone, Edwards will be leaned on heavily, and his explosiveness could be the difference against an Iowa State defense that ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 in stopping the run.

Iowa State QB Rocco Becht
Becht is one of the more underrated quarterbacks nationally. He threw for 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while also adding eight rushing scores. The arm talent is there, but accuracy and consistency need improvement after completing just under 60 percent of his passes in 2024. Even so, he has already proven he can operate as a true playmaker in this Cyclones offense. NFL scouts will be watching closely—he’s not always mentioned with the top quarterback prospects, but another strong season could change that quickly.

Idaho State at UNLV

Spread: UNLV -25.5
Moneyline: ISU +1400 | UNLV -4000
Total: 64.5

The Dan Mullen era in Las Vegas kicks off with what should be a tune-up game. Idaho State hasn’t had much success at the FBS level, losing its last 10 against FBS opponents by nearly 30 points per game. Their most recent win over a Division I-A program came back in 2017 against Nevada. The Bengals did put up points last year—averaging 32 per game—but they’ll be breaking in a new quarterback after losing their 3,000-yard passer.

For UNLV, there’s plenty of intrigue with a new staff and fresh faces from the transfer portal. Former Virginia starter Anthony Colandrea is expected to get the nod at quarterback, while former Michigan QB Alex Orji should see snaps as a designed runner. In 2022, UNLV handled Idaho State 52-21, and the gap may be even wider this time around.

Player to Watch

WR JoJo Earle
Mullen wasted no time reshaping UNLV’s roster, and wide receiver is one of the rooms that got a complete overhaul. JoJo Earle, a former Alabama recruit who most recently played at TCU, brings SEC-level speed and quickness to the Rebels’ offense. Once viewed as a potential breakout player in Tuscaloosa, injuries and depth chart battles slowed his trajectory. He’s now got one final season to prove he can be an NFL-caliber receiver.

At Alabama and TCU combined, Earle flashed in spurts over 600 career receiving yards with four touchdowns but never found consistent usage. In Mullen’s offense, with more opportunity and less competition for targets, Earle could finally put it all together. If he emerges as a go-to playmaker, UNLV’s passing attack becomes a lot more dangerous and balanced right away.

Fresno State at Kansas

Spread: Kansas -13.5
Moneyline: Fresno +365 | Kansas -490
Total: 50.5

This one feels a little closer than Vegas suggests. Fresno State brings in Matt Entz, fresh off a dominant run at North Dakota State where he racked up two national titles and a 60-11 record. He inherits a roster with veteran quarterback E.J. Warner, who has nearly 9,000 career passing yards under his belt. But the Bulldogs’ offense could lean on the ground game, with Entz hiring a coordinator who coached two 1,000-yard rushers at the FCS level last year.

Kansas is in a prove-it year under Lance Leipold after a disappointing 5-7 campaign. Jalon Daniels returns, but the Jayhawks lost their top eight pass catchers from a year ago, which makes a two-touchdown line feel a bit aggressive. KU did finish last season covering five of their final six games.

Players to Watch

Fresno State RB Bryson Donelson
Donelson turned heads as a true freshman when he broke out late in the season, finishing with 462 rushing yards and three touchdowns despite limited work. His 140-yard game against Colorado State showed what he can do when given a real workload. A Central Valley product who put up absurd high school numbers (nearly 4,000 yards and 58 touchdowns as a senior), Donelson enters his sophomore season bigger, stronger, and ready to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Fresno has plenty of backs in the rotation, but Donelson looks like the one who could carry the torch in 2025.

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels
Daniels is the heartbeat of this Kansas team. He’s a sixth-year senior who has proven he can beat defenses with both his arm and legs. In the Jayhawks’ RPO-heavy system, his dual-threat ability forces defenses to play him straight up. The concern has always been consistency, he’ll mix in highlight throws with head-scratching misses. At 6’0”, 225 pounds, he’s built to handle contact and his mobility is a game-changer, but for Kansas to push past mediocrity this season, Daniels needs to be sharper as a passer week in and week out.

Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson
Henderson is one of the most intriguing transfers in the Big 12. A former Alabama signee who converted from running back to wideout, he never found a consistent role in Tuscaloosa but arrives in Lawrence with the inside track to WR1 duties. His speed has already caught teammates off guard, Jalon Daniels admitted he underestimated just how fast Henderson is in practice. With KU losing so much production at receiver, Henderson is stepping into opportunity right away, and his chemistry with Daniels could be a swing factor not just in this game, but for the Jayhawks’ entire season.

Sam Houston State at Western Kentucky

Spread: WKU -10.5
Moneyline: Sam Houston +300 | WKU -385
Total: 62.5

Two Conference USA squads kick off their season in what could be a sneaky fun matchup. Sam Houston enters a new era under Phil Longo, the longtime offensive coordinator known for his Air Raid background. That’s a major shift from the run-heavy identity the Bearkats have leaned on in the past, and it will be interesting to see how quickly the roster adapts. Coming off a 10-3 season in just their second year at the FBS level, expectations are trending upward in Huntsville.

On the other side, Western Kentucky lost plenty to the transfer portal but brings in Abilene Christian transfer QB Maverick McIvor, who nearly threw for 4,000 yards last season and has over 8,000 career passing yards at the FCS level. He arrives with offensive coordinator Rick Bowie, the same pairing that lit up defenses at ACU. The last two years, WKU has handled this matchup.

Player to Watch

QB Maverick McIvor (Western Kentucky)
McIvor’s college journey has been a long one—Texas Tech to Abilene Christian, and now to WKU—but he finally has the stage to prove himself at the FBS level. Last year he threw for 3,828 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading ACU to its first FCS playoff win in school history. Now 25 years old and in his seventh season of college football, McIvor arrives in Bowling Green as a seasoned veteran. He’s accurate, competitive, and most importantly comfortable in Rick Bowie’s system, which has already shown it can produce fireworks. Tyson Helton has pulled this move before bringing in an OC-QB duo and it led to Bailey Zappe rewriting the record books. Nobody is expecting McIvor to match that production, but he has the tools and the system to put up gaudy numbers in Conference USA. His debut against a solid Sam Houston defense will be a great litmus test.

Stanford at Hawai’i

Spread: Hawai’i -2.5
Moneyline: Stanford +114 | Hawai’i -137
Total: 50.5

The late-night island game is always one of the highlights of Week 0, and this year it comes with two programs in very different spots. Stanford is in full rebuild mode under new leadership with Andrew Luck stepping in as general manager and Frank Reich serving as interim head coach. Yes, they return 14 starters, but when those starters come from a team that struggled as much as last year’s Cardinal, that’s not exactly a selling point. This might be the most winnable game Stanford sees all season.

Hawai’i, meanwhile, has some buzz thanks to quarterback Micah Alejado. The former Bishop Gorman standout showed flashes in his lone start last year, throwing for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns in a win over New Mexico. With him stepping into the QB1 role, this offense suddenly has life, especially paired with dynamic receiver Pofele Ashlock. It’s no wonder the spread is basically a coin flip, this could go either way.

Players to Watch

Hawai’i QB Micah Alejado
Alejado is officially the face of the Rainbow Warriors program. A local product who trained under Tua Tagovailoa’s family before starring at Bishop Gorman, he arrives with a résumé of 9,200 passing yards, 125 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in high school. At 5’10” he didn’t land the big-name offers, but he has the accuracy, poise, and playmaking ability to be a difference-maker in the Mountain West. His performance in last year’s finale was electric, and now he gets the keys to the offense from the jump.

Hawai’i WR Pofele Ashlock
Ashlock has already proven he’s one of the most dangerous receivers in the league. As a freshman he posted 83 catches for 832 yards and nine touchdowns, leading all FBS freshmen in receptions and yards. At 6’2”, he brings size, speed, and production—and now pairs with Alejado to form what could be one of the most exciting QB-WR duos in the conference. If Hawai’i’s offense takes off, it’s going to be because of this connection.

Stanford RB Micah Ford
Stanford’s backfield was invisible last season, with all 11 of their rushing touchdowns coming from quarterbacks. That has to change, and Ford is the best bet to make it happen. The sophomore came to Stanford as a high school quarterback and has the versatility to line up at running back, wildcat QB, or even receiver. He’s still raw at the position, but his athleticism and playmaking ability stand out on a roster that badly needs offensive sparks. If the Cardinal are going to keep this game close, Ford may have to be the one to flip momentum.