The season begins with a matchup of ranked Big 12 opponents.
The college football season is here. Sort of.
Week Zero kicks off the 2025 season with five games before the season begins in earnest on Thursday when Week 1 commences. Here's a quick look at the viewing options for college football's appetizer ahead of next week's main course.
No. 22 Iowa State vs. No. 17 Kansas State (in Dublin)
Time: Noon ET | TV: ESPN | Line: Kansas State -3 | Total: 50.5
The season begins with a matchup of ranked conference opponents. Not bad at all.
Both Iowa State and Kansas State can claim to be legitimate threats for the Big 12 title. The Cyclones lost the conference championship game to Arizona State a season ago and return QB Rocco Becht along with running backs Abu Sama and Carsen Hansen. The offensive line also brings back four players with significant starting experience.
But if Iowa State wants to contend for the Big 12 title and a playoff berth, it has to fix its run defense. The Cyclones gave up 188 yards a game on the ground in 2024. ASU ran for 245 yards before Miami topped 300 in the Pop Tarts Bowl. Overall, Iowa State gave up more than 200 yards rushing in five of its 14 games.
It could be an area for Kansas State to exploit. The Wildcats lost RB DJ Giddens to the NFL but bring back Dylan Edwards. The Colorado transfer averaged over seven yards a carry in 2024 as he found much more rushing room at K-State than he did behind Colorado’s offensive line in 2023. QB Avery Johnson rushed for over 600 yards a season ago as K-State ran the ball more often than it threw. The over could be a good play here.
Idaho State at UNLV
Time: 4 p.m. | TV: Mountain West website and app | Line: UNLV -27.5 | Total: 65.5
The Dan Mullen era at UNLV should start with a win as the Rebels host FCS-level Idaho State.
UNLV’s roster looks vastly different than it did a year ago when the Rebels made it to the Mountain West title game. Numerous players followed Barry Odom to Purdue and Mullen has added transfers from power conferences all across the country.
Running back Jai’Den Thomas and linebacker Marsel McDuffie are the only starters back. Mullen said this week that both Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea and Michigan transfer Alex Orji will see time at QB. Whoever plays better against both Idaho State and against Sam Houston on Friday of Week 1 could end up starting in Week 2 against UCLA.
Fresno State at Kansas
Time: 6:30 p.m. | TV: Fox | Line: Kansas -12.5 | Total: 50.5
It was a disappointing 2024 season for KU after the Jayhawks won nine games in 2023 and entered the season with realistic hopes of contending in the Big 12. Kansas started the season 1-5 before finishing 4-2, though a blowout to finish the season against Baylor ended any chances of a bowl game.
QB Jalon Daniels is back after a rough 2024 season that saw him throw just two fewer interceptions than touchdown passes. The Jayhawks need to replace RB Devin Neal’s production, but Daniel Hishaw has performed well in limited playing time during his career. There’s been a ton of turnover at receiver, as Kansas lost nearly all of its production at the position. Coach Lance Leipold brought in transfers Cam Pickett (Ball State), Emmanuel Henderson (Alabama) and Bryson Canty (Columbia).
EJ Warner, the son of Kurt Warner, will start for Fresno State. He’s on his third school after stints at Temple and Rice. The Bulldogs are coached by former North Dakota State coach Matt Entz, as he takes over after a stint as an assistant at USC.
Sam Houston at Western Kentucky
Time: 7 p.m. | TV: CBS Sports Network | Line: WKU -10.5 | Total: 61.5
Western Kentucky has won at least eight games in each of the past four seasons. The Hilltoppers made the CUSA title game a season ago after beating Jacksonville State, 19-17, in the final week of the regular season. The Gamecocks then throttled WKU, 52-12, in the conference title game.
WKU needs to replace a bunch of talent across the offense. QB Maverick McIvor arrives from Abilene Christian after he threw for over 3,800 yards in 2204. He initially signed with Texas Tech out of high school before spending three seasons at ACU.
Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo is the new head coach at Sam Houston after K.C. Keeler left for Temple. The Bearkats were 10-3 in their second season at the FBS level last season and bring back QB Hunter Watson. He threw for over 1,800 yards and was the team’s second-leading rusher.
Stanford at Hawaii
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: CBS | Line: Hawaii -2.5 | Line: 50.5
A win will go a long way towards bowl eligibility for Hawaii and coach Timmy Chang. The former Hawaii QB is in his fourth season with the program and looking for his first season with a bowl game. Hawaii hasn’t played in a bowl since the end of the 2020 season; it made the Hawaii Bowl in 2021 but the game was canceled.
The defense improved in 2024 and brings back nine starters, including leading tacklers Jamih Otis and Logan Taylor. Micah Alejado is listed as the team’s starting QB after starting the team’s 38-30 win over New Mexico in the 2024 finale.
Stanford has gone 3-9 in each of the last four seasons. The Cardinal will be coached by Frank Reich in 2025 after Troy Taylor’s firing. Reich was hired by Andrew Luck on an interim basis and is not a candidate for the full-time role. Reich named former Oregon State QB Ben Gulbranson his starter for Week 1.
Category: General Sports
