College football is finally back. After months of transfer portal chaos, the coaching carousel, and preseason yapping, the first real games of 2025 are set to kick off in Week 0. It\u2019s not the most exciting slate of the year, but it\u2019s football that counts \u2014 and that\u2019s all fans have been waiting for. A handful of teams get the spotlight all to themselves before the full schedule, including Kentucky-Toledo, launches next week. Still, Week 0 gives us the chance to finally see live action and meaningful football for the first time since January. Here\u2019s what to watch this upcoming weekend:<\/p>\n
Football The fourth Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin<\/h2>\n
College football is packing its bags for Ireland once again. Dublin\u2019s Aviva Stadium will host a Week 0 matchup for the fourth straight year, this time pitting No. 17 Kansas State against No. 22 Iowa State. It\u2019s a Big 12 clash across the pond, and the Irish crowd should get a good one. Both teams enter the season ranked with real conference title hopes.<\/p>\n
The Aer Lingus Classic has turned into a fun tradition on the Week 0 calendar, drawing nearly 50,000 fans each of the last two years, from Florida State\u2013Georgia Tech in 2024 to Notre Dame\u2013Navy in 2023. Expect another mix of American tourists, curious locals, and plenty of Guinness flowing when the Wildcats and Cyclones kick off at noon ET on Saturday.<\/p>\n Winners of four of five, Iowa State now holds a 54-50 lead over Kansas State in their all-time series spanning over 100 years. Together, the longtime rivals share one of the best nicknames in rivalry games. Their annual meeting is called \u201cFarmageddon,\u201d and this year, it\u2019s being billed as \u201cIrish Farmageddon\u201d on the Emerald Isle.<\/p>\n 21 Iowa State vs. 17 Kansas State (-3) \u2013 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin | 12 p.m. on ESPN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n UNLV was supposed to host Idaho State on September 13. However, Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford needed Allegiant Stadium for a championship boxing match on that date, so the Week 2 college football matchup was moved to Week 0 to accommodate the heavyweights. The NCAA approved the scheduling change, which moves Dan Mullen\u2019s UNLV debut up two weeks to this coming Saturday. Mullen, who hasn\u2019t coached in five years, takes over a UNLV program with high expectations and an 11-3 record last season under Barry Odom.<\/p>\n Idaho State @ UNLV (-24.5) | 4 p.m.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n E.J. Warner, the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, is set to make his start as Fresno State\u2019s quarterback on Saturday. The Bulldogs\u2019 play at Kansas with Warner, who started 31 games at Temple and Rice, leading the way. With him, a new head coach in Matt Entz.<\/p>\n So proud of this young man\u2026 just keeps proving who he is!<\/p>\n 1 scholarship out of HS\u2026 no P5 school would give him a chance then or since\u2026 has had to EARN starting spot everywhere he\u2019s been\u2026 and now heads into his senior season #1 in FBS in passing yards (8800+) & pass yrds\/game\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/ypVicuf9Z1<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) August 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Kansas has a shiny new toy on its side, too. The Jayhawks debut a new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, following a $450 million renovation.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/on3static.com\/uploads\/dev\/assets\/cms\/2025\/08\/19062809\/USATSI_18937225_168401365_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Football \u201cFarmageddon\u201d is a great nickname for a college football rivalry<\/h2>\n
Football Boxing moved Dan Mullen\u2019s UNLV debut<\/h2>\n
Football Young Kurt Warner debuts for Fresno State<\/h2>\n
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