Week Zero kicks off the 2025 college football season on Saturday, August 23, with nine games on the slate—up from seven last year. Week Zero is the unofficial name for the weekend that precedes Labor Day, giving fans a taste of the fall slate a little earlier than most teams. The official start for most FBS and FCS programs remains the Thursday before Labor Day, but several exemptions allow play on the Saturday before that deadline.
Key rules and exceptions
– Hawaii Exemption: Since 2016, Hawaii and teams that play in Hawaii, along with their opponents, have had the option to play Week Zero one week earlier.
– FCS non-conference exposure: A separate exemption lets FCS schools play Week Zero if they participate in a nationally televised non-conference game.
– Foreign country games: A third exemption permits Week Zero contests played abroad.
– Beginning in 2026, a rule changes will align FCS schedules so all FCS teams can start in Week Zero, as long as they meet the 13-week count before the FCS Championship Selection date. The Hawaii Exemption remains a mechanism to schedule a 13th regular-season game for Hawaii and Hawaii-based programs, primarily to offset travel costs.
– Regular-season game limit: FBS teams can play up to 12 regular-season games; however, certain games in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico do not count against that limit.
Week Zero slate for 2025
– Kansas State vs. Iowa State (Ireland) – 12:00 pm ET
– UIW at Nicholls – 1:00 pm ET
– Idaho State at UNLV – 4:00 pm ET
– Tarleton State at Portland State – 4:30 pm ET
– Fresno State at Kansas – 6:30 pm ET
– UC Davis vs. Mercer (Montgomery, AL) – 7:00 pm ET
– Sam Houston at Western Kentucky – 7:00 pm ET
– NC Central vs. Southern (Atlanta) – 7:30 pm ET
– Stanford at Hawaii – 7:30 pm ET (Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu)
Notes on specific games
– The Hawaii matchup features Stanford visiting Hawaii at the Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
– UNLV’s home game against Idaho State was moved to Week Zero after a scheduling conflict with Allegiant Stadium. The NCAA granted a waiver to move the game.
– UIW at Nicholls is a Southland Conference contest, but it required a waiver to be counted in Week Zero, as it is not a non-conference game.
– The Aer Lingus College Football Classic brings Kansas State and Iowa State to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, a nationally televised contest on ESPN at noon ET.
– The slate also includes Week Zero games in non-conference contexts involving FCS teams that meet Week Zero criteria: UC Davis vs. Mercer (ESPN) in Montgomery, AL, and North Carolina Central vs. Southern (ABC; in Atlanta) in Week Zero.
What this means for fans and programs
– Week Zero provides an early pulse-check on teams and coaching staff, especially for programs traveling long distances or adjusting to new rosters.
– The Ireland game adds international exposure and a different travel dynamic for Kansas State and Iowa State, potentially influencing preparation and fan travel plans.
– With no Hawaii Exemption usage in 2025, all FBS teams will play a 12-game regular-season schedule, maintaining consistency across the board, while Hawaii and Hawaii-based programs continue to have the option to leverage the exemption if needed.
– The 2026 rule changes will simplify scheduling for FCS programs, potentially increasing Week Zero relevance for more FCS programs in the future.
Tickets and viewing
– Tickets for Week Zero and the rest of the 2025 season are on sale through major outlets; check local listings for channel assignments and kickoff times.
Overall, Week Zero offers a compact but meaningful kickoff to the 2025 season, with a mix ofhigh-profile matchups, regional contests, and a notable cross-continental game in Dublin. It sets the stage for a broader, more diverse early slate and adds intrigue as teams refine strategies ahead of Week 1. A positive outlook for fans is the growing variety of early games and the opportunity to catch team introductions and early-season form before Labor Day weekend.