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The wait is over—college football’s 2025 campaign kicks off with the Week 0 lineup on Saturday, August 23. Leading the early-season action is a Big 12 showdown overseas, as Kansas State squares off against Iowa State in Ireland. This marks the 10th time the country has hosted a college football contest. Entering the season as the Big 12’s preseason frontrunner, Kansas State heads into the opener as a 4-point favorite according to the most recent Week 0 odds.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, Dan Mullen makes his debut on the UNLV sidelines with a non-conference clash against Idaho State. The former Florida Gators head coach takes over a Rebels squad projected to finish second in the Mountain West preseason rankings and strengthened by more than 20 incoming transfers from Power Four programs. Oddsmakers have UNLV favored by 25.5 points in what’s expected to be a final tune-up before the start of league competition.
- What? College Football Week 0
- Where? USA and Ireland
- When? August 23, 2025
Let’s delve into the betting odds and analysis for some of the big week 0 contests.
Iowa State vs. Kansas State
Below are the odds from three of the best college football betting sites.
| College Football |  |  |  |
| Iowa State | +160 | +153 | +153 |
| Kansas State | -185 | -175 | -175 |
| Iowa State +4.0 | -115 | -112 | -112 |
| Kansas State -4.0 | -105 | -108 | -108 |
| Over 49.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 49.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Odds are subject to change.
For the first time in conference history, a Big 12 matchup will unfold on Irish soil as Kansas State takes on Iowa State. This is also the first season opener ever between the two rivals, adding another layer of intrigue to the international stage.
Iowa State enters fresh off a program-best campaign, racking up 11 wins and reaching the Big 12 Championship Game. Junior signal-caller Rocco Becht is back after piling up 3,505 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2024. While NFL draftees Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel leave big shoes to fill, incoming transfers Chase Sowell from East Carolina and Xavier Townsend from UCF aim to keep the passing attack rolling.
On the other side, Kansas State will lean on the versatility of quarterback Avery Johnson, who threw for 2,712 yards and added 605 rushing yards last season. The Wildcats also grabbed headlines by signing five-star tight end Linkon Cure — the first five-star recruit in school history — who’s expected to contribute immediately.
The Cyclones have dominated recent meetings, winning four of the last five.
You can read our Bovada sportsbook review for much more information about this betting site.
The total of 49.5 points suggests a lower-scoring clash in Dublin.
Odds are subject to change.
UNLV vs Idaho State
Dan Mullen’s first game at the helm for UNLV lines up as a favorable opening act. Oddsmakers have installed the Rebels as 25.5-point favorites against Idaho State, a number that might even underestimate the disparity in talent between the two programs.
The former head coach at Florida and Mississippi State wasted no time reshaping the roster, adding more than 20 transfers from Power Four schools. Among the notable additions are defensive backs Jake Pope and Denver Harris, while the quarterback competition features Michigan’s Alex Orji battling Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea.
Idaho State, led by second-year coach Cody Hawkins, made strides in 2024 with a 5-7 finish after back-to-back one-win seasons. Still, this matchup represents a major leap in difficulty. Quarterback Hunter Hays and wideout Cato Janes will be central to the Bengals’ game plan, but it will take near-flawless execution to keep the score close.
With a total set at 63.5 — the highest over/under of College Football Week 0 — expectations are for plenty of offense. Mullen’s revamped attack should have opportunities to score at will against an FCS defense. Picked second in the Mountain West preseason rankings, UNLV has a chance to immediately validate that projection in this tune-up before league play.
Odds are subject to change.
Kansas vs Fresno State
Kansas will christen its newly upgraded David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium with a Week 0 matchup against Fresno State. Oddsmakers have the Jayhawks favored by 12.5 points as they aim to rebound from a frustrating 5-7 campaign in 2024.
Veteran quarterback Jalon Daniels is back for his sixth and final college football season in Lawrence. Once considered a dark-horse Heisman contender, Daniels never quite found his rhythm last year, throwing for 2,454 yards with 14 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Regaining his 2022 form will be crucial if Kansas hopes to make noise in the Big 12 race.
The offense will look different without record-setting rusher Devin Neal, but the staff restocked via the transfer portal. Iowa’s Leshon Williams, who ran for 821 yards last season, joins the backfield, while former Alabama wideout Emmanuel Henderson Jr. brings elite speed to the receiving corps. With only three offensive starters returning, the unit’s early-season cohesion will be worth watching.
On the opposite sideline, Fresno State welcomes new head coach Matt Entz, who arrives with two FCS national championships from his tenure at North Dakota State. The Bulldogs’ offense will be led by Temple transfer E.J. Warner — the son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner — whose aggressive style has produced a conference-high interception total in each of the last three seasons. That tendency could give Kansas’ defensive backs plenty of turnover opportunities.
The over/under sits at 50.5 points, but with new personnel on both sides and the tendency for Week 0 games to feature uneven execution, the under appears more appealing. Kansas should have enough to handle business at home, though this contest may lean toward a lower-scoring affair.
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