Football is back and every Big 12 team is in action, but which games are shaping up to be the best?
In Week 0, fans of the Big 12 conference were treated to an instant classic, Farmaggadeon in Ireland, which pleased everyone except Kansas State fans.
However, that was just an appetizer, and we finally get to dig into our 12-week main course starting Friday. With a full slate of Big 12 action on deck, which games should you focus on besides your favorite team? Let's break down the entire slate by how interesting the games are set to be.
16. Wagner at Kansas
There is no reason for non-Kansas or Wagner fans to watch this game, and I wouldn't even recommend that Seahawks fans watch it. It's a textbook bodybag game featuring a Kansas team that proved its talent last week, taking on an FCS team that finished 4-8 in 2024.
15. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas Tech
Arkansas Pine-Bluff took a 70-0 whacking in their opener last year to the Arkansas Razorbacks, and there's less than a 1% chance this game goes any better for them. Red Raider fans get a chance to view their top transfer portal class in the conference, face off against a struggling FCS opponent, and that's all there is to this game.
14. Portland State at BYU
You might have caught a little Portland State football last week, and if you did, you understand the ranking here. The Vikings struggled mightily against Tarleton State at home, and it isn't getting any easier for them in week 1. Getting the first glimpse of BYU's new starting quarterback and true freshman Bear Bachmier and his illustrious No. 42, elevates this game just barely over the first two matchups.
13. Stephen F. Austin at Houston
Houston brings in a rock-solid FCS program that finished 7-5 last season, to test their new quarterback situation. Former 5-star and Texas A&M transfer, Connor Weigman earned the starting role from Zeon Chriss, but we'll get to see if he can live up to the potential of a 5-star quarterback. He'll get an easy start against SFA, but the connections from this game will go a long way if Houston wants to compete in conference.
12. Robert Morris at West Virginia
Yet another FCS vs FBS game, this one does offer some storylines going into it, mainly focused on West Virginia's brand-new defense. The Mountaineers only return four starters on that side of the ball, giving fans a chance to get a glimpse of what they could be capable of. It helps that Robert Morris is a better FCS opponent, who finished above .500 last season, so they should provide a little test for West Virginia.
11. UT Martin at Oklahoma State
The first FCS playoff team on the list will put a lot of pressure on a retooled Oklahoma State team to start on the right foot. The Cowboys should handle the Skyhawks with ease, but how they do it will be telling as to what to expect from the rebuilding program.
10. North Dakota at Kansas State
North Dakota is one of the top FCS programs, which went through a very down year in 2024, and unfortunately, they are going to bear the brunt of a hungry Kansas State team. How the Wildcats bounce back from their loss in Ireland will be interesting, but I fear this one may get out of hand quickly as they seek to reassert themselves as a top Big 12 contender.
9. Northern Arizona at Arizona State
An in-state matchup of two teams rising through the ranks of their subdivision is super fun on paper, but the talent differential between these two will be glaring from the jump. If Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson get going early, the Sun Devils' backups could be in before halftime, but don't count out the Lumberjacks, who are fresh off a bid in the FCS playoffs.
8. South Dakota at Iowa State
This game is so low because it's a classic trap game. With the Cyclones flying high after their win in Ireland, playing host to an FCS team that just made it to the semi-finals last season. Iowa State faces a tough travel week, and South Dakota has proven capable of playing up to FBS competition in the past.
7. Jacksonville State at UCF
Finally, an FBS vs FBS game, it can only get better from here, folks. The Knights bring in a Gamecocks team in a matchup of first games for new head coaches. Jacksonville State presents a challenging opponent for UCF to get right against, and it wouldn't shock me if the Gamecocks shocked the Knights at home. The homecoming for Scott Frost would always be interesting, but a talented opponent adds a lot to this matchup.
6. Nebraska at Cincinnati
The Bearcats enter 2025 still searching for a signature season in the Big 12 conference, and they've got a chance to start that with a statement win over a should-be Big 12 team in Nebraska. With that said, I don't see this game being a particularly interesting one because of the Cornhuskers' talent advantage. Throw in the fact that this is a neutral-site game, and it loses a lot of the uniqueness that would have come from a Bearcats home crowd.
5. Auburn at Baylor
SEC versus Big 12 should be an automatic lock for the top three on lists like this one, but I am not confident in this 2025 Auburn team to keep pace with Baylor. The Bears boast a top offensive skill group in the conference, while the Tigers could play three quarterbacks in this game. An impressive win for Baylor is within their grasp if their offensive hype is to be believed.
4. Hawaii at Arizona
This one is for my fellow sickos out there. Will these two teams be very good in 2025? No, but all football is good football. Hawaii played a fantastic game against Stanford last week, debuting a left-handed gun-slinger quarterback who will do anything to keep the Rainbow Warriors in the game. Arizona can't afford to lose this one, and we'll get our first glimpse at a post-Tetarioa McMillian offense. This contest should go right down to the wire and make for a great game.
3. Utah at UCLA
Sometimes in the middle of the night, if you listen carefully, you can still hear the ghost of the former Pac-12 singing its beautiful song. Getting a chance to see Utah's revamped offense with the ever-electric Devon Dampier and the debut of Nico Iamaleava as a Bruin, all in one of the best venues in college football, will be awesome; there's no denying that. This should be appointment television for every college fan, even if the Big 12 consequences are limited.
2. Georgia Tech at Colorado
This game brings all its intrigue from the fact that these two teams are basically dead even, and a sold-out crowd sounds like the perfect way to kick off the season. The Buffaloes enter the season riddled with questions at key positions, and reports suggest that the nation could get its first look at true freshman 5-star Julian Lewis. Plus, Colorado hasn't played a boring opener game under Deion Sanders; it's sure to be a classic.
1. TCU at North Carolina
As interesting as examining the TCU offense's new skill position players and how Josh Hoover performs in a hostile environment, there was no way that this game wasn't landing at the No. 1 spot. On the other sideline will stand maybe the greatest professional football coach ever, Bill Belichick, decked out in Carolina Blue for his next chapter at the helm of the Tar Heels. If the Horned Frogs steal this one, it should solidify them as a top contender in the Big 12, for now.
This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football Week 1 games ranked by intrigue
Category: General Sports
