Ranking the Big 12 Football Schedules for 2025

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Kent State
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Oregon State
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Utah
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Houston
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Kansas
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Arizona State
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Kansas State
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. BYU
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. UCF
Saturday, Nov. 29 at West Virginia

Reinforced by a highly touted incoming transfer class, things are looking up for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is set to see several Big 12 bottom dwellers from a season ago, and its three nonconference opponents combined to win a mere eight games.

It’s not all easy for Joey McGuire’s team, which has to play at Arizona State and Kansas State and has a late-season visit from BYU on deck. However, the Red Raiders’ first six games are against teams that did not make a bowl, and only three of their opponents finished with a winning record.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Portland State
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Stanford
Saturday, Sept. 20 at East Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Colorado
Friday, Oct. 3 vs. West Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Arizona
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Utah
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Iowa State
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Texas Tech
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. TCU
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Cincinnati
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. UCF

The Cougars’ schedule breaks well once again in 2025. They start off at home against FCS Portland State before hosting Stanford, one of the worst Power 4 programs from a season ago. A cross-country trip to play ECU could prove challenging, but BYU’s Big 12 slate is forgiving.

Kalani Sitake’s team plays five of the eight teams in the league that finished with losing records overall last season. The most difficult part of the Cougars’ schedule is a three-game stretch that includes games at Iowa State and Texas Tech — with an open week in between — before a home bout with TCU. BYU could be playing for its first Big 12 title this season.

Saturday, Aug. 23 vs. Fresno State
Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Wagner
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Missouri
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. West Virginia
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Cincinnati
Saturday, Oct. 4 at UCF
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Texas Tech
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Arizona
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Iowa State
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Utah

Five of the Jayhawks’ first six games next season are at the recently renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, and all of them are winnable. The toughest game in the first half of the schedule for Lance Leipold and Co. is a Week 3 trip to Missouri, the first game in the Border War rivalry since 2011.

Kansas will be tested down the stretch, though, as it looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign. Road games against Texas Tech and Iowa State will be challenging, as well as a visit from rival Kansas State. KU should be back in bowl contention if it protects home field.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Northern Arizona
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Mississippi State
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Texas State
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Baylor
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. TCU
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Utah
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Houston
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Iowa State
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. West Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Arizona

The Sun Devils won’t be catching anyone by surprise this season after their unlikely run to the College Football Playoff. Arizona State is slated to play six of the eight other Big 12 teams that finished with a winning record in conference play last season.

Road games against Baylor and Iowa State could be tough for Kenny Dillingham’s team, which also plays at Utah and Colorado and has a nonconference road game at Mississippi State. The Sun Devils, who went undefeated in Tempe in 2024, host fellow Big 12 contenders TCU and Texas Tech in 2025, though the rest of the home schedule is fairly manageable.

Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. Jacksonville State
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. North Carolina A&T
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. North Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Kansas State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Kansas
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Cincinnati
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. West Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Baylor
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Houston
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Texas Tech
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, Nov. 29 at BYU

Four of the Knights’ first five games are in Orlando, and overall they have a favorable draw with Scott Frost back in charge for the first time since the 2017 undefeated season. UCF hosts Bill Belichick and UNC to wrap up nonconference play in late September before the first of several tough road games.

The Knights begin Big 12 play at Kansas State and play at Baylor, Texas Tech and BYU later in the year. UCF’s home schedule, on the other hand, is much more forgiving. West Virginia is the only conference opponent the Knights will host that went bowling in 2024.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Auburn
Saturday, Sept. 6 at SMU
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Samford
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Arizona State
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Oct. 18 at TCU
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Cincinnati
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. UCF
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Utah
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Arizona
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs Houston

The Bears stumbled through the first few months of the 2024 season before they rattled off six straight wins. Dave Aranda’s team might start slow and finish strong once again in 2025 based on the setup of the schedule. Baylor begins the year at home against what should be a much-improved Auburn team. The Bears then renew their rivalry with SMU the following week in Dallas. While Baylor has won 13 in a row in the series, the Mustangs reached the CFP last season.

Three of the Bears’ first four Big 12 games are against Arizona State and Kansas State in Waco and then TCU on the road. But from mid-October on, it should be smooth sailing for Baylor, which ends the year against five of the six worst teams in their league from a season ago.

Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. Nebraska*
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs Bowling Green
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Northwestern State
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Kansas
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. UCF
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Baylor
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Utah
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Arizona
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. BYU
Saturday, Nov. 29 at TCU

The Bearcats begin their season in the national spotlight against Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The two Midwestern schools have met only once before. Cincinnati hosts Bowling Green, which it has never beaten, the following week and then FCS Northwestern State to wrap up its nonconference slate.

The Big 12 schedule is a mixed bag for Scott Satterfield’s Bearcats. Working in their favor is that almost all of their toughest games — Iowa State, Baylor and BYU — will be held at home. The season finale at TCU is likely the most difficult road game on tap for Cincinnati, which opens conference play at Kansas.

Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. Stephen F. Austin
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Rice
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Colorado
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Oregon State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Arizona
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Arizona State
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. West Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 8 at UCF
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. TCU
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Baylor

Coming off a second consecutive losing season, Willie Fritz’s team will be hard-pressed to make a bowl game considering the schedule ahead. The Cougars kick things off against two non-Power 4, in-state opponents at home before hosting Colorado in their conference opener.

Houston heads to the Pacific Northwest the week after to take on Oregon State before Big 12 play begins in earnest. The Cougars will face several teams who, like them, finished below .500 in league play in 2024, such as Oklahoma State, Arizona and UCF. However, Houston also has its fair share of games against top contenders, including road trips to Arizona State and Baylor and visits from Texas Tech to TCU.

Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. UT Martin
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Oregon
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Tulsa
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Baylor
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Arizona
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Houston
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Cincinnati
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Texas Tech
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Nov. 22 at UCF
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Iowa State

The Cowboys face-planted in a big way last season, and they’ll be tested early with a Week 2 trip to reigning Big Ten champion Oregon. Baylor comes to Stillwater three weeks later to begin Big 12 play, though the schedule eases up a bit until the final month of the season.

Mike Gundy’s team is on the road for three of its final five games, a stretch that could decide whether or not they go bowling. The Pokes play at Texas Tech and Kansas and host Kansas State and Iowa State in the season finale. That’s a gauntlet for a team that ended 2024 on a nine-game skid.

Saturday, Aug. 23 vs. Iowa State*
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. North Dakota
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Army
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Arizona
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. UCF
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Baylor
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. TCU
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Utah
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Colorado

The Wildcats start their season in Week Zero across the pond in Ireland against Iowa State in the 109th installation of Farmaggedon. Kansas State has no rest before North Dakota visits Manhattan the following week. Army, fresh off a program-record 12-win season, is in the Little Apple the week after that.

In a scheduling quirk, the Wildcats once again face fellow Big 12 team Arizona in a nonconference game to wrap up a home-and-home series scheduled before Arizona’s move to the Big 12. Kansas State’s conference schedule could cause problems. Beyond the opener against the Cyclones, Chris Klieman’s team plays at Baylor and hosts TCU, Texas Tech and Colorado in the season finale.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Delaware
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Houston
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Wyoming
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. BYU
Saturday, Oct. 4 at TCU
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Oct. 25 at Utah
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Arizona
Saturday, Nov. 8 at West Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Arizona State
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Kansas State

In addition to replacing the production of the Heisman Trophy winner and a likely first-round pick at quarterback, the Buffaloes have one of the tougher schedules in the Big 12 ahead of them. Out of conference, Colorado’s season opener is against Georgia Tech, and Wyoming comes to Boulder a few weeks later.

In conference play, Deion Sanders’ squad will see the best their league has to offer. At least the Buffs’ games against BYU, Iowa State and Arizona State are at home. However, they also have road trips to TCU and Kansas State on the docket. Colorado might be due to regress after its best season since 2016.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Hawaii
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Weber State
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Iowa State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. BYU
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Houston
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Cincinnati
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Baylor
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Arizona State

The Wildcats’ inaugural year in the Big 12 was a massive disappointment, and they might not see a major step forward in their second year. Five of Arizona’s first six games are in Tuscon, but two of those games are against Kansas State and BYU. The lone road game for Brent Brennan’s team in the first half of the season is against conference runner-up Iowa State.

The back half of the schedule offers little reprieve, with four of the Wildcats’ final six games on the road, headlined by a trip to Colorado and the season finale against rival Arizona State. Visits from Kansas and Baylor won’t be easy, either.

Saturday, Aug. 30 at UCLA
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Cal Poly
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Wyoming
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Sept. 27 at West Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Arizona State
Saturday, Oct. 18 at BYU
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Cincinnati
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Baylor
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Kansas

Utes coach Kyle Whittingham is back for another season in Salt Lake City, but there’s no indication 2025 will be much better than ’24. Two of Utah’s nonconference games are on the road against former Pac-12 foe UCLA and Wyoming. Neither team made a bowl game last season, but that’s still a tough draw, especially considering what’s ahead in league play.

Contenders such as Texas Tech, Arizona State, BYU, Baylor and Kansas State await, and games against Colorado and Kansas could be tricky, too. Only three teams finished below the Utes in the Big 12 standings last season, and they won’t face any of them this season.

Saturday, Aug. 23 vs. Kansas State*
Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. South Dakota
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Iowa
Saturday, Sept. 13 at Arkansas State
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Arizona
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Cincinnati
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Colorado
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. BYU
Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Arizona State
Saturday, Nov. 8 at TCU
Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Oklahoma State

Farmaggedon goes international this fall when the Cyclones take on Kansas State in a Week Zero game in Ireland. Two weeks later, Iowa comes to Ames for the annual Cy-Hawk showdown. Between those two rivalry games, FCS South Dakota comes to town, and the Coyotes are no slouch.

Iowa State’s only true road game before October is a trip to Arkansas State for the second leg of a home-and-home series with the Red Wolves. Conference play kicks back up for Matt Campbell’s squad with games against Arizona and at Cincinnati, two of the worst teams in the Big 12 last season. However, the Cyclones have a brutal four-game stretch toward the tail end of the season: at Colorado, home for BYU and Arizona State and at TCU.

Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Robert Morris
Saturday, Sept. 6 at Ohio
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Kansas
Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Utah
Friday, Oct. 3 at BYU
Saturday, Oct. 18 at UCF
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. TCU
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Houston
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 15 at Arizona State
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Texas Tech

Rich Rodgriguez has his work cut out for him in his return to Morgantown. After facing FCS Robert Morris in the opener, the Mountaineers play at MAC champion Ohio and host rival Pittsburgh to conclude nonconference play.

The Big 12 schedule is even tougher as WVU has more away games than home games in league play next season. The Mountaineers play at BYU and Arizona State and host TCU, Colorado and Texas Tech in the finale. Bowl eligibility is no guarantee for West Virginia, especially with so much roster turnover.

Monday, Sept. 1 at North Carolina
Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Abilene Christian
Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. SMU
Saturday, Sept. 27 at Arizona State
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Colorado
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Kansas State
Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. Baylor
Saturday, Oct. 25 at West Virginia
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Nov. 15 at BYU
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Houston
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Cincinnati

Coming off a resurgent season, the Horned Frogs’ upcoming schedule could see them take a step back. TCU’s opener is at North Carolina in Bill Belichick’s collegiate coaching debut. A few weeks later, SMU comes to Fort Worth for the last iteration of the Iron Skillet for the foreseeable future.

The beginning of Big 12 play offers no reprieve for Sonny Dykes’ team, which will face playoff teams in back-to-back weeks with a trip to Arizona State on the heels of the matchup with the Mustangs. The Horned Frogs also have road games against Kansas State and BYU and visits from Baylor and Iowa State. TCU, which did not play a top-25 team in 2024, could play as many as five — if not more — ranked opponents in 2025.