By: Jim Williams
Capital Sports Network
Senior Columnist and Associate Editor
Week 1 of the 2025 college football season delivered fireworks across the Golden State, as California’s top programs made bold statements—or suffered brutal setbacks. From USC’s record-breaking 73-point explosion to UCLA’s humbling loss at the Rose Bowl, the drama was real. San Diego State pitched a shutout, Cal unveiled a star freshman quarterback, and Stanford stumbled in Honolulu. With playoff hopes, coaching debuts, and quarterback controversies already swirling, the West Coast is officially wide awake.
MUST READS
USC Trojans: Clay Helton’s Return Ends in Rout
Final Score: USC 55, Georgia Southern 17 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Broadcast: FS1 / FuboTV USC quarterback Jayden Maiava continued his electric start, throwing for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding another on the ground. The Trojans scored on their first five possessions and never looked back, handing former head coach Clay Helton a humbling return to the Coliseum. USC’s defense added two interceptions, including a pick-six by Kennedy Urlacher, and the Trojans now sit at 2–0 with playoff chatter already bubbling.
Cal Bounces Back
Final Score: UCLA 33, UNLV 23 Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas Broadcast: CBS Sports Network After a brutal Week 1 loss, Nico Iamaleava bounced back with 3 total touchdowns and 250+ yards of offense. UCLA overcame a feisty UNLV squad led by Anthony Colandrea, who threw for 249 yards. The UCLA defense tightened late, and DeShaun Foster earned his first win of the season in a game that could define their Big Ten transition.
Cal Golden Bears: Freshman QB Sparks Blowout
Final Score: Cal 45, Texas Southern 10 Location: California Memorial Stadium Broadcast: ACCNX / ESPN+ Cal’s offense exploded behind freshman quarterback Brady Palmer, who threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another. The Bears racked up over 500 yards of offense and held Texas Southern to just 3.2 yards per play. Head coach Justin Wilcox praised the team’s balance and discipline, calling it “the most complete game we’ve played in two years.”
Stanford Cardinal: BYU Delivers a Late-Night Beatdown
Final Score: BYU 41, Stanford 13 Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT Broadcast: ESPN / FuboTV Stanford’s quarterback woes continued as Ben Gulbranson threw for just 109 yards and an interception. BYU freshman Bear Bachmeier, a former Stanford recruit, accounted for 5 touchdowns in a revenge-fueled performance. Interim coach Frank Reich faces mounting pressure as the Cardinal fall to 0–2.
San Diego State Aztecs: Defense Shines in Narrow Loss
Final Score: Washington State 20, SDSU 17 Location: Gesa Field, Pullman, WA Broadcast: The CW SDSU’s defense held strong, allowing just 221 total yards, but a late field goal sealed their fate. Quarterback Jayden Denegal showed promise, and Lucky Sutton rushed for 100 yards and 2 scores. Despite the loss, the Aztecs proved they can hang with Power Five programs and look ahead to a key matchup with Cal in Week 3.
