What’s Happening This Weekend: Week 0
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The 2025 college football season officially kicks off this Saturday, August 23 — marking Week 0.
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Key matchups this weekend include:
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Iowa State vs. Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic (Dublin, Ireland) — 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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Fresno State vs. Kansas — 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox, at Kansas.
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Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky — 7:00 p.m. ET on CBSSN.
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Stanford vs. Hawai‘i — 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS (due to the “Hawaii Exemption” rule).
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Idaho State vs. UNLV — 4:00 p.m. ET on SSSEN/MWN.
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UIW vs. Nicholls State — 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2, featuring standout transfers.
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UC Davis vs. Mercer (FCS matchup) — 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, in Montgomery, AL.
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North Carolina Central vs. Southern (FCS-only matchup) — 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN3, in Atlanta, GA.
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Readily available previews and commentary on the matchups—including highlights such as Farmageddon in Dublin—are being covered by outlets like Sports Illustrated and Decider.
Quick Reference: Week 0 Schedule (All Times ET)
| Time | Matchup | Broadcast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. | Iowa State vs. Kansas State (Ireland) | ESPN | Aer Lingus Classic |
| 1:00 p.m. | UIW vs. Nicholls State | ESPN2 | National attention |
| 4:00 p.m. | Idaho State vs. UNLV | SSSEN/MWN | Original schedule shift |
| 6:30 p.m. | Fresno State vs. Kansas | Fox | Kansas home opener |
| 7:00 p.m. | Sam Houston vs. Western Kentucky | CBSSN | CFB action late evening |
| 7:00 p.m. | UC Davis vs. Mercer (FCS) | ESPN | FCS nationally televised game |
| 7:30 p.m. | Stanford vs. Hawai‘i | CBS/Paramount | Hawaii Exemption matchup |
| 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina Central vs. Southern | ABC/ESPN3 | FCS-only matchup |
Full 2025 College Football Schedule Overview
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The 2025 NCAA Division I FBS season runs from August 23 to December 13, with the postseason concluding by January 19, 2026.Wikipedia
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Week 0 precedes the full schedule launch in Week 1 (starting August 28).
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For an entire breakdown of matchups, including TV listings and ticket info, you can check the ESPN schedule page or CBS Sports schedule.ESPN.comCBSSports.com Additionally, FBSchedules.com offers a full, navigable calendar for both FBS and FCS games.
