The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and it’s one of my favorite columns of the off-season when I share with you my dream Big 12 football road trip for the upcoming season.
To be clear, this is not a road trip I am taking. I have three little kids and my wife would kill me. But if I could do a dream Big 12 road trip, here is what it would look like. But there is a catch: I can’t go to a stadium more than once. So this isn’t as simple as, “pick the best game of the week”. There is strategy behind it knowing I can’t be at a stadium more than once in a season.
So here we go with the dream Big 12 football road trip for the 2025 season, and yes, I am skipping Week 0.
Week 1: Baylor vs. Auburn (Friday, August 29th)
It’s a Big 12 vs. SEC match up to get the season underway with a Big 12 program that a lot of folks are expecting to be competitive in the league this season. And boy, what would feel better to kick off this dream road trip than a Big 12 win over the SEC? Sign me up.
Week 2: Iowa State vs. Iowa (Saturday, September 6th)
Cy-Hawk, man. You just can’t beat it. The last time this match up wasn’t decided by 10 points or less was back in 2016. It seems to always come down to the 4th quarter. It’s become on of the best rivalries in college football, and count me in.
Week 3: Houston vs. Colorado (Saturday, September 13th)
It’s the first Big 12 Conference game of the season and it’s actually a compelling match up. Houston believes it can take a step forward in the Big 12, while CU needs to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. This one will be worth following as an under-the-radar early season Big 12 match up.
Related: The Single Most Important Non-Conference Game in the Big 12
Week 4: TCU vs. SMU (Saturday, September 20th)
The Battle of the Iron Skillet is always a quality rivalry match up. But now with SMU getting national attention and making a College Football Playoff last season, while TCU is trying to get back onto the National stage and compete atop the Big 12.
Week 5: Colorado vs. BYU (Saturday, September 27th)
It’s the first time these two teams have met as Big 12 teams and it will be a good early season test for two programs who were atop the Big 12 and are both in interesting spots trying to not take a step back in 2025. There are quarterback questions with both programs and this game could be a real confidence boost for the winner. Plus, Boulder in late September? Sign me up.
Week 6: Cincinnati vs. Iowa State (Saturday, October 4th)
As we flip the calendar to October, take me to Cincinnati where the Bearcats are considered a sneaky team by some in the Big 12 this fall. And if they’re going to prove that, a big win vs. Iowa State at home in early October would be a big step in the right direction. Nippert Stadium should be rocking for this one.
Week 7: Utah vs. Arizona State (Saturday, October 11th)
It’s an old Pac-12 match up between two teams I believe can compete for a Big 12 Championship this season. The Utes are poised for a bounce back season and hosting the defending Big 12 Champions will go a long way to determining just how much of a bounce back is possible.
Week 8: BYU vs. Utah (Saturday, October 18th)
You think I’m missing the Holy War? Especially after last year’s drama? No way. It’s the top rivalry in the Big 12, and I can’t imagine it gets better than Provo in mid-October. It’s still on my bucket list, Cougars fans. Don’t worry, I’ll get there soon.
Week 9: Kansas vs. Kansas State (Saturday, October 25th)
The Sunflower Showdown will be played in Lawrence for the first time in the newly-renovated Booth Memorial Stadium. And if you look at each schedule for these two teams, this might be a sneaky good game that has major Big 12 implications.
Related: Ranking Every Big 12 Starting Quarterback Ahead of the 2025 Season
Week 10: Kansas State vs. Texas Tech (Saturday, November 1st)
Let’s go to Manhattan for this Week 10 match up between two teams that are very likely to be in the thick of the Big 12 race. This is when we start getting into elimination games in the Big 12, and this feels like a critical one for both teams. Nevermind the time of year in Manhattan, which is picturesque.
Week 11: Texas Tech vs. BYU (Saturday, November 8th)
I’m following Tech for a second-straight week and finally getting to Lubbock. It’s a total potential trap game for Texas Tech, who will be playing it’s sixth-straight game, while BYU will be coming off a bye week. It’s also the first time BYU has played in Lubbock since 1940 (1-1 in two all-time meetings).
Week 12: Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State (Saturday, November 15th)
Remember, every week can’t just be the “best game”, based on how I put this together. So I’ll take an old-school Big 12 match up here in Stillwater. If K-State is in the Big 12 race, they can’t overlook an OSU team that might not be in the thick of it, but still has Mike Gundy at home, which is historically tough for any time (other than in 2024). K-State is 1-8 in their last nine trips to OSU, so no matter what, it won’t be easy.
Week 13: Arizona vs. Baylor (Saturday, November 22nd)
It’s getting late in the season, and I’ll take some warm weather in Tucson for Week 13. Baylor could be in the thick of the Big 12 race, while Arizona could be in a spoiler position here. Noah Fifita vs. Sawyer Robertson could have high-scoring affair written all over it. And based on my Week 14 pick, I’m going for the easy travel here as well.
Week 14: Arizona State vs. Arizona (Saturday, November 29th)
Let’s end the season in Tempe with the Territorial Cup. Is Arizona State a win away from a Big 12 Championship Game appearance? Is Arizona in another position to play spoiler here against their in-state rival? Could a win here save Brent Brennan’s job? There are lots of storylines to watch, plus I’ll take a couple of rounds of golf around Phoenix while I’m at it!
