The 2025 college football season is close enough to taste as the countdown for Week Zero inches toward 20 days.

As anticipation of the season rises, so do the eyes toward the schedule. So, here is the best game involving an in-state team for every week of the season. 

WEEK 1 – TEXAS at OHIO STATE 

It's a rematch of one of last season’s semifinals in the College Football Playoff. It’ll also be the first marquee start of Arch Manning’s college career. Ohio State and Texas enter 2025 as probably Top 5 teams in the first AP Poll despite tons of new faces. The Buckeyes possess the best offensive player in college football – Jeremiah Smith – and the best defensive player in college football – Caleb Downs. They’re also breaking in a new QB, likely former five-star prospect Julian Sayin. This is probably the biggest non-conference game of the season and Texas enters with the nation’s longest road winning streak. 

Next best game: Auburn vs. Baylor 

WEEK 2 – BAYLOR at SMU 

This one was tough because the UTSA vs. Texas State contest possesses so much hate and rivalry that it was hard not to pick. I’ll go with Baylor at SMU, however, because this might be a matchup between two Top 25 squads if the Bears knock off Auburn in Week 1. We’re also suckers for old Southwest Conference slugfests. If Baylor loses that game, my answer changes to the G6 matchup between the Bobcats and the Roadrunners. 

Next best game: Texas State at UTSA 

WEEK 3 – TEXAS A&M at NOTRE DAME

The Aggies lost in Week 1 at home last year to a Notre Dame squad that wound up in the national championship game. A trip to South Bend in Week 3 provides Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko with a chance to secure a true signature win and to catapult his Aggies into the CFP discussion. We’ll find out a ton about quarterback Marcel Reed in this one because the Fighting Irish defense will be nasty. 

Next best game: Colorado at Houston 

WEEK 4 – SMU at TCU 

Another tough week with two or three quality games. I side with history as the tiebreaker between this one and Baylor’s home game against reigning Big 12 champion Arizona State. This is the last scheduled “Battle for the Iron Skillet” in a trend of college football losing some of its longest rivalries for no real reason. TCU head coach Sonny Dykes was ejected in last year’s matchup, which was a blowout win for the Ponies. SMU has won three of the last five. 

Next best game: Arizona State at Baylor 

WEEK 5 – TCU at ARIZONA STATE 

Maybe head to College Station for Texas A&M vs. Auburn if you think the Tigers a true contender in the SEC. I don’t, so my top game of Week 5 is TCU’s trip to face Arizona State. The Frogs won six of their last seven in 2024 and are a dark horse to win the Big 12 in 2025. A victory on the road against the Sun Devils would put the Frogs in the conversation heading into October. 

Next best game: Texas A&M vs. Auburn 

WEEK 6 – TEXAS at FLORIDA 

Two potential superstar quarterbacks face off when Manning travels to The Swamp to play against former Mr. Texas Football, D.J. Lagway and the Gators. Florida is a dark horse candidate to win the SEC and playing on the road in that atmosphere will be a tough test for the Horns, especially because it is the week before the Red River Rivalry. 

Next best game: Baylor vs. Kansas State 

WEEK 7 – TEXAS vs. OKLAHOMA 

Could it be any other game? Arguably the coolest atmosphere in college sports is at the State Fair for the yearly tilt between the Longhorns and the Sooners. Oklahoma hopes it is a bounce back season in 2025 thanks to the addition of transfer quarterback John Mateer. Texas has won two of the last three by a combined score of 83-3. The loss in 2023 was by four points. 

Next best game: Texas A&M vs. Florida 

WEEK 8 – SMU at CLEMSON 

The Mustangs avoided Clemson until the ACC championship game last year but will travel to face the Tigers in the middle of the 2025 season. Clemson is the clear favorite to win the ACC and is one of the top picks to claim the national championship. This might be the biggest road game for SMU in over 40 years. 

Next best game: Texas Tech at Arizona State  

WEEK 9 – TEXAS A&M at LSU

The Aggies will hope this isn’t a night kick because that’s when Death Valley truly comes alive. Texas A&M has won three of the last five against the Tigers but haven’t won on the road against LSU since 1994. LSU will want revenge after last season’s loss in College Station when Reed was inserted as the QB at halftime and ran for three touchdowns. 

Next best game: Houston at Arizona State 

WEEK 10 – SMU vs. MIAMI

This is the biggest home game on the Hilltop since the Mustangs were a force in the Southwest Conference over 40 years ago. The ties between SMU and Miami are immense, starting with head coach Rhett Lashlee, who was the offensive coordinator for the Hurricanes before taking the head job for the Ponies. 

Next best game: Texas Tech at Kansas State 

WEEK 11 – TEXAS A&M at MISSOURI 

Not the greatest slate of games in the state of Texas for Week 11. The Aggies’ trip to Mizzou is likely the top game. Texas State at Louisiana could be a pivotal one in the Sun Belt West Division. The Bobcats are 0-12 versus the Rajin’ Cajuns. 

Next best game: Texas State at Louisiana 

WEEK 12 – TEXAS at GEORGIA 

The Longhorns lost three games in their first foray into the SEC. One was in the semifinal to Ohio State. The other two were to Georgia, once at home and once in the SEC championship game. Steve Sarkisian tries to avoid an 0-3 mark against Kirby Smart in the marquee game of the conference schedule. This is the third of three huge road games for the Horns. The others are at Ohio State and at Florida. And that’s without counting the neutral site clash with Oklahoma. 

Next best game: Texas A&M vs. South Carolina 

WEEK 13 – SMU vs. LOUISVILLE 

This is another light week across the Lone Star State. SMU and Louisville hope to crash the ACC party and reach the championship game. The winner of this contest in Dallas could have the inside track if Miami or Clemson stumbles. 

Next best game: Houston vs. TCU 

WEEK 14 – TEXAS vs. TEXAS A&M 

This is the first contest in Austin between Varsity and the Farmers since 2010. That is also the last time the 12th Man was able to celebrate a win over their bitter rivals. Last year, this game decided one of the two spots in the SEC championship game. Let’s hope the stakes are as high in 2025. 

Next best game: UTSA vs. Army