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Best 2025 College Football Games in the West by Week

> Dane Miller gives us his choices for the top games of the season from Week 0 through Week 14


  By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports

August 1, 2025



The college football season is nearly upon us.

From games in Week Zero all the way through Week 14, there are several great matchups to look forward to.

Below, I break down the Best Games by Week for teams in the West.


Week 0
Fresno State Bulldogs logo Fresno State at Kansas

Saturday, August 23
3:30 pm PT, FOX

The season kicks off with a noteworthy showdown between Fresno State and Kansas.

The Jayhawks are opening up their new stadium and lost to UNLV last year.

The Bulldogs could pull off the upset.

Stanford Cardinal logoStanford at Hawai’iHawaii Rainbow Warriors logo

Saturday, August 23
4:30 pm PT, CBS

The Cardinal travel to the Islands to face a Hawaii program in desperate need of a winning season.

If the Warriors can’t dispatch Stanford at home, it could be a long year.


Week 1
Cal bears logoCalifornia at Oregon State

Saturday, August 30
7:30 pm PT, ESPN

You heard it here first: The winner of this matchup will make a bowl game.

It’s a nostalgic contest between two former conference opponents. The result will affect the trajectory of each team’s season and it’s the opener for both schools.

What more could you ask for?

Utah Utes logoUtah at UCLAUCLA Bruins logo

Saturday, August 30
8:00 pm PT, FOX

In a pivotal opening game for both programs, the former Pac-12 foes face off in Los Angeles.

Utah has won six of the last seven matchups and will be debuting new quarterback Devon Dampier.


Week 2
Oklahoma State at OregonOregon Ducks Logo

Saturday, September 6
12:30 pm PT, CBS/Paramount +

This matchup will draw attention.

Oklahoma State had a horrible season in 2024 and will be looking to regain respect.

At the same time, the game provides Oregon an opportunity to make a statement.

ASU Sun Devis logoArizona State at Mississippi State

Saturday, September 6
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2

The Sun Devils’ path to the Playoff starts off with a test against an SEC opponent.

The Bulldogs aren’t the same caliber of program they were a few years ago.

But a win would nonetheless be respectable.


Week 3
Oregon State at Texas Tech

Saturday, September 13
12:30 pm PT, FOX

There is a small, but real, chance that Oregon State contends for the Playoff this season.

A win in Lubbock against Texas Tech would be critical to those chances.

Especially if the Beavers beat Cal in Week One.

usc logoUSC at PurduePurdue Boilermakers logo

Saturday, September 13
12:30 pm PT, CBS/Paramount +

The Trojans open up their Big Ten season with a road game at Purdue.

It’s a day game in West Lafayette, and the home crowd should be wild.

It makes for an intriguing contest.


Week 4
Texas Tech at UtahUtah Utes logo

Saturday, September 20
TBD

Just like any other team in the Big 12, Utah’s path to the Playoff is probably limited to winning the Conference’s Championship Game.

Beating Texas Tech in Salt Lake City would be the first step in the process.

Oregon State at OregonOregon Ducks Logo

Saturday, September 20
TBD

The rivalry formerly known as the Civil War takes on what could be its final iteration in 2025.

As of this season, no future games have been scheduled.

Anything can happen.

Washington football logoWashington at Washington StateWashington State logo

Saturday, September 20
4:30 pm PT, CBS

The Apple Cup returns to Pullman where Washington seeks revenge.

Jedd Fisch blew the game last year with a horrible play call.

Redemption seems likely.


Week 5
Oregon Ducks LogoOregon at Penn StatePenn State Nittany Lions logo

Saturday, September 27
4:30 pm PT, NBC/Peacock

This is one of the Games of the Year in college football.

The television executives who influenced conference realignment did it for matchups like this.

Buckle up.

Ohio State at WashingtonWashington football logo

Saturday, September 27
TBD

Jedd Fisch is a magician, and he’s well on his way to rebuilding Washington’s program.

There is upset potential written all over this one.


Week 6
Air Force Falcons logoAir Force at Navy

Saturday, October 4
9:00 am PT, CBS

Air Force’s first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series begins with a matchup at Navy.

Watching the service academies face each other is one of the great traditions of college football.

Boise State Broncos logoBoise State at Notre Dame

Saturday, October 4
12:30 pm PT, NBC/Peacock

If Boise State goes into Notre Dame and beats the Irish, the Playoff race could be dramatically altered.

The matchup is one of the biggest regular-season games in BSU’s history.


Week 7
Michigan Wolverines logoMichigan at USCusc logo

Saturday, October 11
TBD

In another matchup that the television executives broke up the Pac-12 for, USC hosts Michigan.

Admittedly, it is an exciting game that should be fun to watch.

But was it worth destroying a conference?

ASU Sun Devis logoArizona State at UtahUtah Utes logo

Saturday, October 11
TBD

The Playoff Committee’s lack of respect for the Big 12 magnifies the meaning of every Conference game.

The loser of this matchup could very well find themselves on the wrong side of the Playoff conversation.


Week 8
usc logoUSC at Notre Dame

Saturday, October 18
4:30 pm PT, NBC/Peacock

The classic rivalry returns to South Bend for a game with potential Playoff implications.

A win by either program would boost their resume.

Utah Utes logoUtah at BYUBYU Cougars logo

Saturday, October 18
TBD

The Holy War returns.

Last year’s game ended in controversy and Utah should have a better team.

This is the definition of appointment television.

UNLV logoUNLV at Boise StateBoise State Broncos logo

Saturday, October 18
TBD

There’s still plenty of outside expectations surrounding UNLV despite the roster and coaching turnover.

On paper, this is one of the top games in the Mountain West in 2025.

Washington football logoWashington at MichiganMichigan Wolverines logo

Saturday, October 18
TBD

The Huskies beat Michigan in Seattle last year and make their first trip to Ann Arbor as members of the Big Ten.

A victory at The Big House would be a critical result for Jedd Fisch’s rebuild.


Week 9
Wisconsin at OregonOregon Ducks Logo

Saturday, October 25
TBD

While it may not have the flash of some of the other marquee Big Ten games, this matchup between Oregon and Wisconsin is enticing.

Say what you want about realignment, but games like this help make it feel worth it.

BYU Cougars logoBYU at Iowa StateIowa State Cyclones logo

Saturday, October 25
TBD

BYU and Iowa State are preseason contenders to win the Big 12.

This matchup has the potential to be a critical game in the Conference race.


Week 10
Army at Air ForceAir Force Falcons logo

Saturday, November 1
9:00 am PT, CBS

Air Force hosts Army for its final matchup in the Commander-in-Chief Trophy series.

The Falcons last won the trophy in 2022.

Washington State logoWashington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 1
4:30 pm PT, CBS

The Pac-2 face off for the first part of their two-game series in 2025.

When it’s all said and done, the handful of games between the two leftover Pac-12 schools during the transition era will go down in the lore of the league.

Oregon State won last year and could go 3-0 if it handles business this year.

ASU Sun Devis logoArizona State at Iowa StateIowa State Cyclones logo

Saturday, November 1
TBD

It’s a rematch of the Big 12 Championship Game from last season.

Both programs are expected to be in the mix once again.

usc logoUSC at NebraskaNebraska Cornhuskers logo

Saturday, November 1
TBD

It may not be a historic rivalry, as USC and Nebraska have only faced each other six times.

But, from a neutral’s perspective, it’s an appealing matchup between two nostalgic brands.

Perhaps an organic distaste will grow between the schools over the coming years.


Week 11
Oregon Ducks LogoOregon at IowaIowa Hawkeyes logo

Saturday, November 8
TBD

With the deference the Playoff Committee shows to the Big Ten, the Ducks can afford to lose a game like this.

Regardless, the matchup against Iowa on the road is a noteworthy game of the regular season.

Washington football logoWashington at Wisconsin

Saturday, November 8
TBD

Washington faces a Litmus Test on the road against Wisconsin.

Until the Dawgs can win games like these, they will remain below the top tier of the Big Ten.

BYU Cougars logoBYU at Texas Tech

Saturday, November 8
TBD

BYU’s game in Lubbock could be critical for its chances of making the Big 12 Championship Game.

The Red Raiders are one of the favorites to win the league.

A victory could put the Cougars into a favorable spot.


Week 12
UCLA Bruins logoUCLA at Ohio State

Saturday, November 15
TBD

Nobody is expecting UCLA to pull off the upset.

But playing at Ohio State is a privilege and underlines why the school decided to join the Big Ten.

Iowa Hawkeyes logoIowa at USCusc logo

Saturday, November 15
TBD

If USC loses this game, its chances of making the Playoff could be cut substantially.

It’s a matchup that Playoff-caliber teams should be able to handle.


Week 13
usc logoUSC at OregonOregon Ducks Logo

Saturday, November 22
TBD

The rivals continue their series in the Big Ten.

This matchup is a statement opportunity for Oregon and a critical game for Lincoln Riley’s tenure in L.A.

Kansas State Wildcats logoKansas State at UtahUtah Utes logo

Saturday, November 22
TBD

If the Utes do what some expect them to do, this matchup with Kansas State could be critical.

The margins in the Big 12 are so thin that the loser of this game could be eliminated from the Playoff.

Colorado State Rams logoColorado State at Boise StateBoise State Broncos logo

Saturday, November 22
TBD

Don’t underestimate Colorado State in this game.

It’s one of the top regular-season contests in the Mountain West this year, and CSU could pull off the upset.

Cal bears logoCalifornia at StanfordStanford Cardinal logo

Saturday, November 22
TBD

The Big Game always has Instant-Classic potential.

First played in 1892, Cal has won four-straight in the series.

The last time the Bears won five straight was between 2002 and 2006.


Week 14
Arizona football logoArizona at Arizona StateASU Sun Devis logo

Friday, November 28
TBD, FOX

The Territorial Cup is one of the great rivalry series in College Football.

The game was first played in 1899, and the two schools can’t even agree on the official win-loss record.

To say there is vitriol is an understatement.

Oregon Ducks LogoOregon at WashingtonWashington football logo

Saturday, November 29
TBD

Oregon and Washington play in a fierce, if perhaps one of the lesser-known, rivalries in college football.

It’s a major matchup in the West, dating back to 1900, but may not be as recognizable throughout the rest of the country.

That should change with the help of the Big Ten’s wider appeal.

UCLA Bruins logoUCLA at USCusc logo

Saturday, November 29
TBD

One of the most appealing visual games of the season, USC hosts UCLA for the 93rd version of the crosstown rivalry.

The winner gets the Victory Bell, which became the official trophy in 1942.

Fresno State Bulldogs logoFresno State at San Jose State

Saturday, November 29
TBD

Known as the Battle for the Valley, the rivalry between Fresno State and San Jose State can best be described as regional.

But the series dates back to 1921 and carries extra meaning this year with Fresno State moving to the Pac-12 in 2026.

Thankfully, common sense prevailed and the teams have agreed to continue the series through 2034.