The Saturday Watchlist: 8-23-2025
There's so much college football and so little time.
College football is finally back. After months of predictions and speculation, actual games will be played on this wonderful day. What a wonderful feeling.
There are usually a ton of college football games to choose from on any given Saturday. There are 136 schools in the FBS and another 129 in the FCS. Pair that with Division II and III, as well as the NAIA and JUCO, and wowza—that’s a lot to choose from. Well, fear not, because it’s the job of The Saturday Watchlist to sort through it all and tell you, the wonderful reader, what is required viewing.
Since it’s Week 0, there are not as many games to choose from. However, the lack of quantity does not mean the quality is diminished. After all, it’s still college football, and that’s really all that matters.
Below are all the college football games that I deem necessary to watch this Saturday. You’ll notice that today’s slate is filled with a good number of FCS contests. Yes, I do love myself some FCS football, but it’s also because there are just not that many games being played at the FBS level this weekend. That’s OK; it just means more love for the teams that are usually under appreciated!
Note: All rankings are from the preseason D Poll and all times are CT.
Early Window
Primary Screen: Iowa State vs. No. 19 Kansas State (11 AM - ESPN)
Secondary Screen: Incarnate Word @ Nicholls (12 PM - ESPN2)
Afternoon Window
Primary Screen: Tarleton State @ Portland State (3:30 PM - ESPN2)
Evening Window
Primary Screen: Fresno State @ Kansas (5:30 PM - FOX)
Secondary Screen: Stanford @ Hawaii (6:30 PM - CBS)
Tertiary Screen: Sam Houston @ Western Kentucky (6 PM - CBSSN)
Keeping an eye on it:
UC Davis vs. Mercer (6 PM - ESPN)
NC Central vs. Southern (6:30 PM - ABC)