Saturdays aren’t just for college football, they’re for Cowboys Nation to scout the future. Every week here at Blogging The Boys, we’ll spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. From potential first-rounders to under-the-radar prospects, we’ll give you the names to know and the games worth watching as we look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. If you want to get a jump on who might help America’s Team in the years to come, this is your weekly college football guide.
GAME OF THE WEEK
For Week 0, college football and College Gameday is packing its bags, grabbing a passport, and heading across the Atlantic to Ireland for one of the most entertaining season openers in recent memory. Dublin’s Aviva Stadium becomes BTB’s College Game of the Week for Week 0, and is the battleground for two Big 12 rivals, Iowa State and Kansas State. Yep, Farmageddon has gone international Cowboys fans.
Kansas State last played outside the U.S. in 1992. And as for Iowa State? Well, this is brand new territory for the program. Cyclone fans are trading tailgates for Temple Bar, and Wildcats fans are swapping cowbells for Celtic drums. Both teams enter ranked with K-State at No. 17, and Iowa State at No. 22, making this one of the most high-profile international college kickoffs ever. Both programs have Big 12 title aspirations and a loss in Week 0 would feel like leaving Dublin with a hangover and no souvenirs. Win, and you’ve got the jump in the Big 12 heading into September. Lose, and you’re already playing catch-up.
Game Overview
- Matchup: Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State Wildcats.
- August 23, 2025, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.
- Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. (EST)
- K-State favored by 3.5 points
- This marks a historic moment as the first-ever Big 12 matchup in Ireland, and the 11th Aer Lingus College Football Classic held on Irish soil.
Player Watch
Kansas State:
Austin Romaine, LB
One of the best run-stopping linebackers last year and was impressive in sniffing out the ball barrier. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and react proactively sets him apart here among this year’s linebacker draft class. He’s a fundamentally sound tackler and known for his wrap-up technique and recorded 96 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2024.
Straight-line athleticism is an issue. This limits his effectiveness against vertical threats like speedy tight ends or receivers in man coverage. Pursuit angles need work and shedding blocks is a massive coaching point for him this season.
Right now, Romaine looks to be the prototypical “Mike” linebacker, instinctive, physical, and disruptive. His tackling prowess, run-read efficiency, and knack for creating turnovers make him a defensive cornerstone at Kansas State and a rising NFL draft prospect. However, questions linger around his straight-line speed and agility in coverage situations.
Iowa State:
Domonique Orange, DT
Known as “Big Citrus” for his size (6’4”/328 lbs), Orange uses his mass effectively. His upper-body power routinely overpowers centers and guards, collapsing pockets and clogging running lanes. He possesses good snap anticipation and burst, getting into gaps early and making plays before blockers can set up. Named to The Athletic’s “Freaks List,” highlighting his rare athletic profile for his size.
As for weaknesses, Orange struggles against multi-block scenarios. His technique and leverage sometimes fall short, he doesn’t always shed or split blocks as often as he should. Pad level can creep up during rushes, making him vulnerable to counter moves. Plus, limited lower-body flexibility hinders his ability to bend around blockers effectively. His arm length will be something to watch for, and technical refinement are questions moving forward, but let’s see how he’s adjusted during Spring training.
Overall, Orange is a physical specimen, massive, powerful, and explosive from the interior. For the NFL to unlock all of his potential, he’ll need to refine fundamentals like pad level, leverage, and block shedding. As he is right now, he profiles best as a rotational, high-impact player, especially in pass-rush or short-yardage packages.
Jontez Williams, CB
Williams tallied four interceptions last season which included a streak of four straight games creating a turnover. His knack for creating defensive plays makes him a flashy impact play waiting to happen. Transitioning from a multi-positional high school athlete, including time as a wide receiver, Williams showcases strong ball skills and instincts, carrying over into his cornerback play. He’s almost a little like Trevon Diggs in that respect.
Where he falls short is the fact Williams isn’t the biggest corner. In the NFL, he’ll often face taller, more physical receivers and at 5’11” and sub 200 lbs he’s undersized. He’ll need to show grit in contested scenarios and refine his press coverage technique to compensate and raise his stock this season. Consistency and lockdown ability throughout a full season versus top-tier receivers will define his draft ceiling.
If Williams can continue to refine his footwork and physical presence in coverage, he profiles as a Day 2 pick, someone who could develop into a valuable nickel CB or boundary starter. So Cowboys Nation, keep your eye on him, he’s the kind of dynamic, instinctive corner who could be a difference-maker on defense and fill a gap in 2026.
Fresno State vs.Kansas
Fresno State Bulldogs roll into Kansas, taking on the Jayhawks at the beloved David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in what’s shaping up as an intriguing season opener. Bulldog fans are riding into this one with a fresh face under center, E.J. Warner, son of NFL legend Kurt Warner, who has claimed the starting quarterback job. The double transfer from Rice brings serious pedigree, and a name that comes with expectations.
Game Overview
- Matchup: Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Kansas Jayhawks.
- August 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
- Kickoff Time: 3:30 p.m. (EST)
- Kansas favored by 10.5 points
- Fresno State enters with a new coaching staff, led by Matt Entz (longtime North Dakota State head coach)
Player Watch
Kansas:
Jalon Daniels, QB
Jalon Daniels combines speed, burst, agility, and evasiveness both in and out of the pocket, making him a dynamic runner and escape artist. Playing off script and out of structure is where he thrives most. He shows the ability to throw from varied angles and maintain velocity even when throwing off-platform. Statistically, Daniels is extremely impressive. Sure, he’s now in his sixth season playing, but Daniels has racked up 6,751 passing yards and 45 passing touchdowns. He’s also rushed for over 1,000 yards and 19 scores. He ranks second in Kansas program history in passing yards.
So where does he falter? Though Daniels can throw accurately downfield at times, his ability to sustain strength on throws beyond 20 yards is inconsistent, especially as the game goes on. His tendency to escape the pocket means he naturally drifts too far back in the pocket, affecting timing on quicker throws. He has struggled with multiple injuries in his career with shoulder, back, and most recently knee, all of which have repeatedly interrupted his development and availability.
Daniels is a uniquely athletic quarterback with electrifying playmaking ability. His combination of mobility, off-platform throwing, and improvisational prowess makes him a legitimate vertical threat who can stretch defenses in multiple ways. However, his inconsistency in deep-ball accuracy, history of injuries, and raw processing/pocket work raise legitimate concerns about his long-term development and reliability. He’s a fun watch so make sure to catch this matchup, but as a draft prospect, he carries many red flags.
Bryce Foster, C
Foster is a behemoth and is unapologetic in how he uses his size. At nearly 6’6” and over 330 lb, Foster possesses imposing mass and strength ideal for anchoring the interior. His shot put history also highlights his natural strength he can bring to help him dominate inside defensive linemen. He started 28 games across his career at Texas A&M and Kansas, including two full seasons, showing durability and consistency against SEC and Big 12 competition, and this year he’s been named team captain thanks to his leadership and football IQ.
Where Foster needs refinement is in his hand usage and footwork, which can be inconsistent. He occasionally catches instead of punching defenders and struggles to reset hands. And all this boils down to his arm length (which is clearly short), but also his natural size and athletic limitations.
Foster is a powerful, high-IQ center with the experience, leadership, and physical profile that NFL teams covet. His strengths lie in his anchoring presence, consistency, and football intelligence. To elevate his draft stock, he must sharpen his technical fundamentals, namely hand placement, leverage, and footwork to fully translate his physical gifts to on-field dominance.
Fresno State:
Korey Foreman, DL
Foreman entered college as a blue-chip, consensus five-star recruit, the number one overall player in his class nationally. He blends impressive lateral quickness and speed. He shows fluid movement off the edge and can disrupt both inside and outside blocks. A hot motor player that shows violent hand fighting, quick disengagement, sound anticipation, and strong tackling technique.
The problem with Foreman has been production. He transferred from USC to Fresno State due to the fact that in three years at USC he complied just 16 solo tackles, five tackles for loss and just two sacks. That’s a far cry from the expectation of a number one recruit. So why the lack of production? It’s his size combined with strength. You will see him often getting overpowered by offensive linemen and pushed aside taking him out the game. His speed and agility are great off the snap, but if he gets held up it’s game over.
Foreman’s college career has been unfortunately inconsistent. While at USC he failed to get any level of production, and questions remain about his frame, finishing instinct, and mental consistency. Adding strength, sharpening technique, and building that consistency could recapture early projections that once pegged him as a potential top-flight defensive front prospect.
Notable Games
Stanford vs. Hawaii
Idaho State vs. UNLV
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