The 2025 college football season is here, and Week 0 kicks off on Saturday, August 23. There are nine games across FBS and FCS divisions. From Dublin, Ireland, to Honolulu, Hawaii, this opening weekend offers fans an early taste of college football before Week 1 gets started. We have the Week 0 schedule for you to include kickoff times and TV assignments for all of the games for you. K-State vs Iowa State in Ireland get us going tomorrow morning.
2025 College Football Week 0 Schedule: Matchups, Kickoff Times, and TV
Here’s the 2025 college football week 0 schedule for you. All of the matchups and kickoff times are listed for you below. We also have other college football schedules for 2025 posted up for you here.
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| Date | Matchup | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
| Aug 23 | Kansas State vs. Iowa State | Dublin, Ireland (Aviva Stadium) | 12:00 PM | ESPN |
| Aug 23 | UIW at Nicholls | Thibodaux, LA | 1:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Aug 23 | Idaho State at UNLV | Las Vegas, NV | 4:00 PM | SSSEN/Mountain West Network |
| Aug 23 | Tarleton State at Portland State | Portland, OR | 4:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| Aug 23 | Fresno State at Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 6:30 PM | FOX |
| Aug 23 | UC Davis vs. Mercer | Montgomery, AL (Cramton Bowl) | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| Aug 23 | Sam Houston at Western Kentucky | Bowling Green, KY | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| Aug 23 | North Carolina Central vs. Southern | Atlanta, GA (Center Parc Stadium) | 7:30 PM | ABC |
| Aug 23 | Stanford at Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | 7:30 PM | CBS/Paramount+ |
The Hawaii Exemption: Why Week 0 Exists
Week 0, the unofficial name for the Saturday before Labor Day weekend, allows a select group of college football games to kick off a week earlier than the traditional Week 1. This early start is primarily enabled by NCAA Bylaw 17.12.4.1, commonly known as the Hawaii Exemption. This rule permits Hawaii and teams that play in Hawaii, along with their opponents, to schedule games one week before the standard season start (the Thursday preceding Labor Day, August 28 in 2025). The exemption also allows these teams to play a 13th regular-season game to offset the high travel costs to and from Hawaii, providing additional revenue through ticket sales and guarantees.
However, for the 2025 season, no teams, including Hawaii, are taking advantage of the 13th-game provision. Hawaii is scheduled for a 12-game season, starting with Stanford on August 23. Other Week 0 games, such as Kansas State vs. Iowa State in Ireland, qualify under a separate NCAA rule (Bylaw 17.12.4.3) allowing games in foreign countries. FCS games like UIW at Nicholls and Tarleton State at Portland State are permitted under Bylaw 17.12.4.2, which allows nationally televised non-conference FCS matchups. Idaho State at UNLV qualifies because UNLV plays Hawaii later in the season, tying it to the Hawaii Exemption.
2025-26 College Football Postseason
The 2025 college football regular schedule is just tough. We get to enjoy another year of the expanded, 12-team 2025-26 college football playoff with more teams fighting for spots later in the season. Then, we’ll have a number that will play in the 2025-26 FBS football bowl schedule .
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