College Football Season Kicks Off with Week Zero Slate on August 23, 2025

ATLANTA - The 2025 college football season kicked off on Saturday, Aug. 23. This “Week Zero” featured nine games, including FBS, FCS, and neutral-site matchups from the U.S. and beyond. Opening day featured a major Big 12 game in Dublin and the first appearances of several top programs this season.

The full Week Zero schedule featured:

Aer Lingus College Football Classic (Dublin, Ireland) Iowa State vs. Kansas State | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN

UIW at Nicholls | 1 p.m. ET | ESPN2

Tarleton State at Portland State | 3:30 p.m. or 4 p.m. ET | ESPN2

Fresno State at Kansas | 6:30 p.m. ET | FOX

Sam Houston at Western Kentucky | 7 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Network

FCS Kickoff (Montgomery, AL) UC Davis vs. Mercer | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Atlanta, GA) Southern vs. North Carolina Central | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC

Stanford at Hawai’i | 7:30 p.m. ET | CBS/Paramount+

Idaho State at UNLV | Time/TV TBA

Fans in the sport loved the early start. It lets big matchups shine on Labor Day weekend and beyond, without games overlapping. Week Zero is now a key moment for teams aiming for national attention. The Cyclones and Wildcats are bringing early-season energy in Ireland. Meanwhile, FCS programs shine in classic kickoff events.