The 2024 college football season was one of the best in recent memory. It will wrap up Monday with the national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame, leaving a long gap between the final contest and the start of the 2025 season.
But as the old saying goes, it will be here before you know it. Week 0 will feature a trio of exciting matchups to kick off the season—starting with a major conference showdown overseas.
When Does the 2025 College Football Season Start?
Week 0 has often showcased intriguing conference matchups to open the season. The ACC and Big Ten have previously headlined, but this time, the spotlight will be on the Big 12, featuring two teams expected to contend for the conference title. This year’s Week 0 slate is scheduled to begin on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Iowa State and Kansas State will face off in Dublin, Ireland. These two programs met at the end of the 2024 regular season with a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line. It was a back-and-forth battle before the Cyclones pulled away for a 29-21 victory at home.
Iowa State finished the season at 11-3, capping it off with a statement win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Cyclones are expected to return most of their roster, led by quarterback Rocco Becht. Head coach Matt Campbell has built something special in Ames, and that momentum looks set to continue in 2025.
Kansas State wrapped up the year at 9-4, rallying for a thrilling comeback win over Rutgers in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Wildcats should be strong again in 2025, led by quarterback Avery Johnson. They have also made key additions through the transfer portal.
Other Games in Week 0
Two additional FBS matchups will take place in Week 0. The most notable features Fresno State traveling to Kansas.
The Bulldogs finished 2024 at 6-7, including a loss to Northern Illinois in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Five of their seven losses came by just one score, making for a frustrating season.
Kansas, meanwhile, endured a rough start, opening 1-5 before rebounding to win four of its final six games and finish 5-7. The Jayhawks closed strong, with three of those wins coming against ranked Big 12 opponents, including Iowa State, BYU, and Colorado—knocking both BYU and Colorado out of the conference title race.
The final Week 0 game features Stanford visiting Hawaii. The Cardinal’s first season in the ACC did not go as planned, as they finished 3-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play. They will take on a much-improved Hawaii team that finished 2024 at 5-7.
Big Games in Week 1
Right after Week 0 will offer a ton of really intriguing and important games right out of the gate. Here are a few that are worth noting:
Thursday
- Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Kansas City, MO)
Saturday
- Notre Dame at Miami (FL)
- Alabama at Florida State
- Northwestern at Tulane
- LSU at Clemson
- Auburn at Baylor
- Georgia Tech at Colorado
- Utah at UCLA
- Syracuse vs. Tennessee (Atlanta, GA)
- TCU at North Carolina
- Texas at Ohio State
- Cal at Oregon State
Sunday
- South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
Start times for all of these games, including Week 0, have yet to be announced.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
