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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Every Big 12 football game you can't miss during the 2025 college football season
Before you know it, the 2025 college football season will be here, and the chase for postseason glory will begin. The Big 12 had only one team in the College Football Playoff field in conference champion Arizona State. Commissioner Brett Yormark has hopes of landing at least two teams in the field this year, which will be tough in such a deep conference. Whether the Big 12 will get multiple teams in the playoff remains to be seen, but the parity seen across the conference makes every week meaningful. The college football season can be overwhelming to even the most die-hard fan, so we have you covered. Here are the Big 12 games you should be locking in on each week this fall. Week 0: Iowa State at Kansas State (Dublin, Ireland) The Big 12 owns the best game on the entire college football slate during Week 0. Two of the conference's top teams squaring off in Dublin, what is not to like? Week 1: Baylor vs. Auburn Perhaps some fans might prefer TCU at North Carolina on Labor Day Monday, but in my opinion, you can't beat Auburn going up against a rising Baylor squad. Week 2: Iowa State vs. Iowa The Cy-Hawk rivalry returns to Ames with both teams seeking early momentum. Both teams could use this game as a launching pad for a successful season. Week 3: West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh The Backyard Brawl in Morgantown is always intense. With the two schools only 75 miles apart, the rivalry runs deep. If you are looking for someone for early-season excitement, look no further than WVU-Pitt. Week 4: Utah vs. Texas Tech Baylor hosting Arizona State nearly took the spot, but I think Texas Tech's trip to Salt Lake City has the potential to be electric. I like both games, and if Baylor starts the season hot, that might be the game to watch. Week 5: Colorado vs. BYU Another tough choice. You can either spend your Friday evening watching TCU go up against Arizona State or wait for a Saturday night tilt in Boulder. Your call, you really can't go wrong. Week 6: Baylor vs. Kansas State I could pick Colorado (who plays TCU in Fort Worth) again because they play nearly every top team in the conference, but for the sake of variety, here is something different. Baylor and Kansas State should be title contenders, so this one will be worth tuning in for. Week 7: Kansas State vs. TCU Week 6 is by far the most challenging slate of games to choose from. You have Iowa State visiting Colorado, Kansas at Texas Tech and Arizona State at Utah to go along with K-State hosting TCU. The Horned Frogs will have reached this game having already played Arizona and if they see a title run in their future, they will likely need a win in one of the two matchups. Week 8: Arizona State vs. Texas Tech The Holy War between Utah and BYU always delivers, but I don't think it will live up to Arizona State hosting Texas Tech. The defending champions against the popular 2025 title pick. Tech took down ASU in Lubbock last year, 30-22, and I expect the Sun Devils want revenge. Week 9: Kansas vs. Kansas State When both teams are good, the Sunflower Showdown is one of the top rivalries in the conference. The Jayhawks should be a solid team this season, making this matchup worth your while. Week 10: Kansas State vs. Texas Tech If I had to pick the top two teams in the Big 12 before the season started, it would be Kansas State and Texas Tech. They meet in Manhattan for a Week 10 showdown that could play a significant role in deciding who could play for the conference title. The Red Raiders will be hoping to end their eight-game losing streak to the Wildcats. Week 11: TCU vs. Iowa State Can Iowa State repeat the 11-win season from 2024? That could come down to a matchup against the Horned Frogs in Week 11. BYU's game against Texas Tech is also a solid matchup. Week 12: Baylor vs. Utah This is a sneaky good matchup late in the season. Baylor is a sleeper team in the Big 12, while Utah seems set for a huge rebound season. Sign me up. Week 13: Utah vs. Kansas State Utah versus Kansas State could have some postseason implications and will be a spectacle. The Sun Devils' visit to Boulder also could be memorable. Tune into both if you can. Week 14: Kansas State vs. Colorado A huge matchup to close out the regular season. Will Colorado still be in Big 12 contention? Does Kansas State need a win to clinch a championship game berth? Those questions will all be answered in Week 14. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting where ESPN College GameDay will be each week this season
Will Penn State get two GameDay visits in the 2025 season? College football is full of unique traditions and customs that fill up a Saturday in the fall. But the energy goes up anytime ESPN pulls its College GameDay bus and traveling roadshow onto campus for a big game. The Colleghe GameDay pregame show has become a tradition and trend setter since making its first road trip in 1993 and making it a weekly tradition since 1994. This year's traveling road show will start the year off in Columbus, Ohio, for the season opener between defending national champion Ohio State and Texas in a College Football Playoff semifinal rematch. It will be the final GameDay for the legendary Lee Corso, who is ready to settle into retirement after one final mascot head pick. Penn State could be in a good spot to see the College GameDay crew attend a few games this season. With the preseason hype surrounding the Nittany Lions, and some attractive candidates on the schedule for GameDay to set up shop. And it may not be too long into the season for the first GameDay visit to a Penn State game. Where will the GameDay crew be heading each week of this upcoming college football season? Here are some early predictions following Week 1's visit to Ohio State. Week 2: Oklahoma vs. Michigan A week after showcasing a Big Ten vs. SEC matchup on Big Ten soil, this seems to be the appropriate follow-up in Week 2 between legendary programs Michigan and Oklahoma in Norman, OK. The game is already set for a primetime matchup on ABC, which makes this a leading candidate for GameDay, and perhaps the decision is all but official already. Oregon hosts Oklahoma State, and Kentucky will host Ole Miss for a couple of worthy candidates to consider, but GameDay won't be likely to pass up a matchup between Michigan and Oklahoma when it is sitting right there for them. Week 3: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Week 3 offers some interesting options to consider for the ESPN staff. It could easily do a third straight Big Ten vs. SEC matchup with Alabama hosting Wisconsin, or it could visit the Backyard Brawl as West Virginia hosts Pitt. And there are a couple of notable SEC matchups with LSU hosting Florida in primetime and Tennessee hosting Georgia. None of these would be bad choices for GameDay to showcase. But this may be a good opportunity to make the trip to South Bend as Notre Dame hosts Texas A&M. Week 4: Utah vs. Texas Tech Week 4 is not quite as enticing at first glance as the previous few weeks, so this Big 12 matchup could be the winner for a GameDay visit. But there are some other games worth watching that could become frontrunners depending on how the season starts. The winner of the Michigan-Oklahoma game in Week 2 could make another appearance here as Michigan visits Nebraska and Oklahoma hosts Auburn. A couple of wild card candidates could be the old west coast in-state rivalries, with Washington State hosting Washington and Oregon hosting Oregon State. But don't expect the Ducks to be showcased here, because... Week 5: Penn State vs. Oregon A Big Ten championship game rematch against two potential top 10 or top 5 teams will get the primetime whiteout treatment in Beaver Stadium when Penn State hosts Oregon in Week 5. The game airing on NBC should not be a factor in the GameDay decision, but ESPN does have some potential options on the table to consider. Georgia is hosting Alabama on ABC in primetime, so the corporate synergy could come into play here and should not be overlooked. But this may be the best opportunity for GameDay to visit State College this season, and that could be a game-changer. Week 6: Notre Dame vs. Boise State Notre Dame hosts Boise State in a matchup of two College Football Playoff participants from a year ago (and if not for Penn State beating Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, this would have been a playoff rematch). This could be a matchup of two top-15 teams, and it would not be an overstatement to suggest this game will carry some playoff weight for the victor the rest of the way. This one is a big one for both teams. Florida hosts Texas in an SEC matchup, which could be the top alternative this week unless some storylines develop in September elsewhere. Week 7: Texas vs. Oklahoma What would the Red River Rivalry be without a visit from College GameDay at the state fair? College GameDay loves attending this matchup, so do not expect them to skip it this season. There are two other games in the SEC to keep in mind, though, as Auburn hosts Georgia and LSU will host South Carolina. And if these predictions hold true, Texas and Oklahoma will have already been involved in a GameDay visit. Auburn and LSU are always fun destinations for the pregame show, too. Week 8: Georgia vs. Ole Miss Strong consideration was given to the matchup between Alabama and Tennessee on the same day, but there will be more to put the spotlight on in this one with Lane Kiffin thrown into the mix. If GameDay makes a surprise visit to the Auburn-Georgia game the previous week instead of the Oklahoma-Texas game, then Alabama-Tennessee could be the pick here. Week 9: Utah vs. Colorado After back-to-back weeks showcasing SEC matchups, this may be the opportunity for GameDay to brand a little more out west and get in on whatever the Deion Sanders craze is sitting at by this point in the season. Colorado visits Utah in what could potentially be an important game in the Big 12. Another potential Big 12 option would be Texas Tech hosting Oklahoma State or Arizona State hosting Houston. Whichever game it chooses, this could be the week the Big 12 gets the GameDay treatment. Week 10: Ohio State vs. Penn State This feels like one of the easiest picks on the entire schedule. Matchups between Penn State and Ohio State have become a popular destination for GameDay over the years, with 13 total matchups being given the GameDay treatment. That is tied with Alabama-LSU for the most total matchups for GameDay. GameDay highlighted the game last year in Happy Valley, and a second trip to Columbus for GameDay after opening the season there feels appropriate here, even though GameDay probably tries to avoid multiple trips as much as it can. But this feels justified. Week 11: Clemson vs. Florida State Week 11 may be the week for the ACC to get the GameDay spotlight. The week overall feels pretty light on big matchups, so this should be a good week to highlight the ACC's top playoff contender or contenders. Clemson should be in for a good season and will host Florida State. If the Seminoles start turning things around, that makes this game worth monitoring. Another ACC matchup on the radar should be Miami hosting Syracuse. Week 12: Georgia vs. Texas The possibility of an SEC championship game preview is too much to overcome in Week 12. If this game is not the showcase game for GameDay, then this season will likely have gone totally off script before Week 12. Week 13: Penn State vs. Nebraska Could GameDay make a second trip to Happy Valley in the 2025 season? It absolutely could if things largely go according to plan for Penn State this season and Nebraska puts together a respectable season. Looking at Nebraska's schedule, it is worth considering the Cornhuskers could be making a trip to Beaver Stadium with a record of 10-0. Odds are that may not be the case, but that would certainly make this an easy pick with Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications on the line. Week 14: Auburn vs. Alabama As the regular season draws to a close before conference championship weekend, the Iron Bowl could be the final destination of the season for GameDay. A lot of this could change based on what games have the most riding on the outcome for conference championships and potential playoff spots, but there is always a good chance this rivalry game will have at least something to say in how the entire postseason will be mapped out. Ohio State vs. Michigan is always a worthy candidate here, of course. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Steelers' Beanie Bishop Explains Why He Disgraced Pittsburgh Panthers' Logo
Pittsburgh Steelers' Beanie Bishop Explains Why He Disgraced Pittsburgh Panthers' Logo originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One of the most bitter rivalries in all of college football is the Backyard Brawl, played between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Pittsburgh Panthers. Advertisement The two schools have faced off in the rivalry 107 times, dating back to 1895. The game was played annually from 1943 to 2011, before Pitt joined the Big East and West Virginia joined the Big 12. The rivalry was reignited with a four-game series from 2022 to 2025, and the two schools have agreed to play another four game set from 2029 to 2032. Pitt leads the series 63-41-3, including a 15-game winning streak from 1929-1946. It's one of the most heated rivalries in college football, and arguably the most intense rivalry in the eastern United States. Pittsburgh Steelers' cornerback Beanie Bishop, a former Mountaineer, posted himself wiping his cleats on Pitts' logo, which started a social media frenzy. 'It's a rivalry, obviously people are not going to like me based on what school I went to and that's fine,' Bishop told Steelers media on Wednesday. 'It's part of the rivalry. We don't like those guys and they don't like us. I don't really have any liking for those guys, that's part of it... Advertisement "...That's self-explanatory. If you go and ask them, they probably hate me. Do I care? No, not really?" Bishop continued. "That's just part of it. If you go ask any fan in Baltimore 'what do they think about the Steelers?' They hate us. It is what it is. It's part of the rivalry. I'm only concerned with the Pittsburgh Steelers fans and West Virginia fans in that instance.' The Steelers hold their training camp at the UMPC Rooney Sports Complex, a facility shared by both the Steelers and the Panthers. Bishop must feel like practicing behind enemy lines, training on Panthers turf. Bishop also noted on Tuesday that he does not enjoy having Pitt players and coaches watch him practice. "It's hatred. You don't have respect for those guys." Bishop told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter. "I don't even like seeing their coaches and players watching us practice ... I don't think it should be week 2 or week 3. It should be part of rivalry week." Related: Rodgers and Fields Get Double-Revenge Shot in Steelers vs. Jets in Week 1 Related: Steelers Rumored to Be Targeting Trade for Aaron Rodgers Buddy This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Will Steelers punish CB Beanie Bishop Jr. for cleat stomping Pitt logo? Insider weighs in
Will Steelers punish CB Beanie Bishop Jr. for cleat stomping Pitt logo? Insider weighs in The Backyard Brawl rivalry is alive and well — as Steelers CB and former WVU Mountaineer Beanie Bishop stomped and dragged his cleats on the Pitt logo at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The Steelers share their training facility with Pitt football — which could force the team to take action against their second-year CB. However, one insider close to the situation argued that may not be the case. According to Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan, insider Jeff Hathhorn '…does not expect Beanie Bishop to be disciplined by the Steelers for his cleat stomping incident at Pitt.' General field quality concerns aside, you have to wonder if this would even be a discussion had the Steelers not been forced to share a training facility with the University of Pittsburgh in the first place. Should Bishop face consequences for his actions against the University of Pittsburgh — or is this just the cost of doing business with players who know the Backyard Brawl all too well? For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Dominion Post
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Four WVU kickoff times announced for 2025 season
MORGANTOWN — Four of West Virginia's game times were announced Thursday afternoon by the Big 12 and ESPN. The Mountaineers' season opener is slated to start at 2 p.m. on Aug. 30 against Robert Morris, but it'll be behind a paywall on ESPN+ to watch the start of Rich Rodriguez's second tenure. The following week, the Mountaineers play at another interesting time. The Mountaineers travel to Ohio University with a start time of 4 p.m. on Sept. 6, broadcasting on ESPNU. WVU makes its national broadcasting debut in the Backyard Brawl against rival Pitt on Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN. This is the fourth meeting between the two schools since the rivalry was renewed in 2022. The final released time is a Big 12 conference game for the Mountaineers. West Virginia heads out to Provo, Utah, on Oct. 3 to face BYU at 10:30 p.m. for the late ESPN kick. The other kick times will be released starting on Sept. 20 on either a 12-day or six-day window prior to the date start of each game, which includes West Virginia's Big 12 opener against Kansas.
