The calendar may say it’s summer, but if you’re a college football fan, it might as well be in your heart. The air isn’t crisp yet, and the grills aren’t fired up just yet either—but that itch? That anticipation? It’s real. We’re close.
And for fans of the Big 12, 2025 might just be one of the most intriguing seasons in recent memory. With new teams fully settled in, quarterback battles shaping up, and coaching storylines left and right, the schedule is packed with can’t-miss matchups. So we went ahead and looked at some of the best conference games only and broke down three that you should absolutely circle on your calendar.
Week 1 – Iowa State vs. Kansas State (in Ireland)
That’s right college football is going international. On August 23rd, two longtime Big 12 rivals are packing their gear, flying across the Atlantic, and kicking off the season in Dublin, Ireland. If that’s not a vibe, what is?
But beyond the novelty, this is actually a massive football game. Kansas State comes into 2025 sitting at the top of ESPN’s SP+ post-spring rankings for the Big 12, and they’ve got Avery Johnson, arguably the most electric QB in the league, under center. But Iowa State? Don’t sleep on ‘em. Rocco Becht is back, and the Cyclones have a chip on their shoulder after coming up short in last year’s Big 12 title game.
This one has everything: an ancient rivalry, high-level QB play, early-season stakes, and oh yeah… the Emerald Isle as a backdrop. Buckle up. And maybe bring an umbrella.
Week 4 – Texas Tech at Utah
This might not be a “rivalry” game yet but it’s got all the makings of one.
Texas Tech had their best season in a few years in 2024, and Behren Morton’s rise as a legitimate QB1 has fans in Lubbock dreaming big. They’re gritty, they’re deep, and they’re not afraid of playing anywhere. Good thing, because Rice-Eccles Stadium is no joke.
Utah, after a rough go last season, looks more like themselves again. Ranked No. 6 in the conference in ESPN’s early projections, the Utes have rebuilt their foundation with experience and depth. They’ve got an old-school toughness and home-field advantage that has flipped plenty of games in their favor over the years.
What makes this game so fascinating is what it means. It’s early enough in the season that both teams will still be “finding themselves,” but a win here? It’s a tone-setter. A loss? It could mean climbing uphill the rest of the way.
Plus, it’s just fun to see two fan bases with very different cultures get thrown together. Think tortillas and elevation. It works.
Week 5 – BYU at Colorado
Okay, this one’s juicy and not just because of what’s at stake.
Last season, BYU ran Colorado out of the stadium. It was ugly. Painful, even, if you were a Buffs fan. But this year? There’s a different energy in Boulder. No Shedeur Sanders, no Travis Hunter, sure. But Coach Prime is still there, and he’s built a roster through the transfer portal that is nothing if not interesting.
Meanwhile, BYU enters 2025 looking dangerous. They’re ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 by ESPN’s SP+ (yep, you read that right), and they’ve got some real playmakers returning linebacker Isaiah Glasker might be the best defender in the league nobody talks about.
And here’s the kicker, this one’s under the lights. At Folsom Field. On ESPN. Expect a sold-out crowd, some fire pregame outfits from Deion, and probably a few big swings in momentum. Colorado wants revenge. BYU wants to prove last year was no fluke. That’s what we call good football.
There are plenty of great matchups this season (Arizona vs. Kansas State is going to be wild, just wait), but these three? They jump off the schedule.
The Big 12 is going through a bit of a makeover. It’s bigger, a little weirder, and way more unpredictable. That’s part of what makes it so fun. One week you’re watching a classic like Iowa State-Kansas State play in Ireland, and the next you’re tuning in for a shootout between Texas Tech and Utah in the mountains.
If this is what the “new” Big 12 looks like, sign us up. Let the chaos begin.
