It’s never too soon to plan for the upcoming college football season.

Following Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame for the national championship on Monday night, both teams are set for high-profile confrontations once again in 2025 when they return to the field next season.

Week 1 is packed with some of the most captivating matchups to start the season in recent history, including a rematch of the 2024-25 College Football Playoffs featuring the Buckeyes.

Furthermore, the traditional Week 0 game in Dublin, Ireland, promises excitement, as Big 12 rivals Iowa State and Kansas State will meet in what fans call “Farmageddon” across the ocean.

Here’s a look at the standout college football matchups for the 2025 season:

2025 College Football Week 1 Schedule

Check out the prime matchups for Week 0 and Week 1 of the 2025 college football season:

Saturday, Aug. 23: Kansas State vs. Iowa State

In recent years, “Week 0” has unofficially kicked off the college football season with a select few games. Notably, next season’s action begins in Dublin, Ireland, with a contest between Kansas State and Iowa State, positioning both teams as likely ranked opponents from the Big 12.

These two schools are rivals and the game is dubbed “Farmageddon,” a nod to their Midwestern roots. Returning starting quarterbacks Avery Johnson and Rocco Becht will lead both teams as they vie for the top position in the conference championship race.

Previously, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic showcased Georgia Tech vs. Florida State in 2024, and had Notre Dame facing Navy in 2023 and Northwestern against Nebraska in 2022.

While no game is scheduled in Dublin for 2026, Wisconsin and Pitt are set to meet there in 2027.

Saturday, Aug. 30: Texas at Ohio State

This game, a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, sees Texas visiting Ohio State to face off against the reigning national champions – both teams will have new quarterbacks in the lineup.

Texas is expected to start Arch Manning, the highly regarded former No. 1 recruit and nephew of NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, after he waited his turn behind Quinn Ewers, who has moved on to the NFL.

Ohio State is likely to turn to redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, a former Alabama signee who transferred to the Buckeyes last spring after Nick Saban’s retirement.

In their last matchup, Texas had an opportunity to tie the game late but Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer secured the win with a strip sack and touchdown return that established Ohio State’s 28-14 lead, ultimately winning the game.

This time, the Longhorns will look to avenge that loss as they face the Buckeyes again.

Saturday, Aug. 30: Notre Dame at Miami

After losing to Ohio State in the national championship game, Notre Dame will face a revamped Miami team in their 2025 season opener on the road.

With Riley Leonard moving on to the NFL after using up his eligibility, the Fighting Irish will be breaking in a new quarterback. The Hurricanes will also feature a new starter, having secured Carson Beck, the former quarterback from Georgia, through the transfer portal.

Beck, who started for the Bulldogs for two years, initially entered the NFL draft but later decided to transfer to Miami. He aims to follow in the footsteps of Cam Ward, a former starter who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and significantly raised his draft stock in 2024.

Both teams are anticipated to be highly ranked in 2025, making this a historic matchup between two elite programs.

Saturday, Aug. 30: LSU at Clemson

LSU will head to Clemson for a showdown featuring two standout returning quarterbacks: Garrett Nussmeier from LSU and Cade Klubnik from Clemson.

As LSU aims for a comeback in the CFP race under coach Brian Kelly in his fourth season, Clemson benefited from sneaking into the 12-team CFP last season and brings back a wealth of offensive talent alongside a newly revamped defense led by Tom Allen, who was hired from Penn State in the offseason.

Saturday, Aug. 30: Alabama at Florida State

Florida State had a disappointing 2024 season, finishing with a 2-10 record. However, they are just two years removed from a perfect 13-0 regular season and an ACC championship, and they aim to prove their ability to recover quickly.

Meanwhile, Alabama will be testing a new starting quarterback on the road in Tallahassee following the departure of second-year starter Jalen Milroe to the NFL draft. Ty Simpson appears likely to take the reins, but the competition also includes five-star freshman Keelon Russell and long-time backup Austin Mack, who was brought over from Washington by Kalen DeBoer.

Florida State’s coach Mike Norvell was a potential candidate for the Alabama job upon Saban’s retirement, and a victory over the Crimson Tide would signal that the Seminoles are back on the rise after a tough season in 2024.

Here are some other notable matchups in Week 1 of the 2025 season:

• TCU at North Carolina (Aug. 30)
• Syracuse vs. Tennessee (Aug. 30 in Atlanta)
• Auburn at Baylor (Aug. 30)
• Georgia Tech at Colorado (Aug. 30)
• Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Aug. 28 in Kansas City)