Best College Football Games Today on TV | Week 13 2025

Watch USC vs. Oregon | CBS

Why you should watch: It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Trojans and Ducks match up on the field, but in (somehow) their first game as Big Ten opponents, the stakes are appropriately high.

With identical 6–1 records in conference play, USC and Oregon are in pole position for the Big Ten’s potential third playoff bid. The Trojans are riding a solid three-game win streak after surviving defense slogs against Nebraska and Iowa, while the Ducks returned to form with a 42–13 win against Minnesota last week.

Oddsmakers and analysts generally favor the Ducks over USC, but the Trojans could pull the upset with a strong game from running back King Miller. Oregon’s rush defense has its gaps, as it ranks 74th in rushing defensive success rate. (But considering USC’s ground defense is even more porous, they’ll need a Herculean effort to steal a win here.)

Watch Florida State vs. NC State | ESPN
Watch Hawaii vs. UNLV | FS1

Why you should watch: This week’s weekday slate is headlined by a rare Friday night appearance from Hawaii, as the Rainbow Warriors head to Vegas to play UNLV. Hawaii’s 32-point whomping of San Diego State remains one of the Mountain West’s biggest upsets this season, while the Rebels needed double overtime to get past Utah State last weekend.

Over in the ACC, we’ve got a classic EligiBowl matchup between 5–5 Florida State and NC State. Both squads have rebounded from the dregs of the conference standings and could use a win to improve the vibes (and avoid paying a huge buyout).

Watch Washington State vs. James Madison | ESPN+
Watch Tulane vs. Temple | ESPNU

Why you should watch: The Group of 5 playoff race has been a mess all season, but with South Florida falling out of contention last weekend, we’re finally getting some clarity about the likely frontrunners.

James Madison’s rumored GameDay spot might’ve been debunked, but by ESPN’s FPI, the 9–1 Dukes have a 54% chance of landing a playoff bid. The 5–5 Cougars are moderate underdogs, but they’re plucky enough to keep things interesting. (Most disappointingly, we missed the chance to showcase the Cougar Marching Band’s excellent taste in 2000s Internet on national TV. Fhqwhgads!)

The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band played Trogdor at halftime this weekend! And made ME! My husky head finally gets the spectacle it desoives! pic.twitter.com/ZjJAjrpRGz

— Strong Bad (@StrongBadActual) November 17, 2025

Back in the American, Tulane and North Texas are in a two-team race for second place in the conference standings and a potential playoff bid. Tulane should handle its business against 5–5 Temple, but quarterback Evan Simon is a sneakily decent triggerman for the Owls—he ranks 32nd nationally in quarterback rating and has thrown 22 touchdowns against one pick this year.

Watch UConn vs. Florida Atlantic | ESPN+

Why you should watch: “NIL changed everything” is well-trod territory, but its effects on this year’s coaching carousel remain legitimately nifty.

On one hand, the number of schools and candidates who’ve taken themselves off the board in a market with Penn State, LSU, and Florida openings shows how well college football accidentally created parity for itself, somehow? On the other hand, this absolutely means one school is hurtling towards The Stupid Zone for a Plan D backup hire. (Auburn coach Jon Gruden exists in a pocket dimension, folks.)

Skyler Bell is legit. He flashed back in his time at Wisconsin, but he’s morphed into a true three-level threat at UConn.

Solid lean mass and brisk open-field acceleration, and when you dive deeper, he incorporates the little details well, too.

pic.twitter.com/fMZRwMc6rQ

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) October 25, 2025

8–3 UConn remains one of the season’s best surprises, as the Jim Mora Jr.-led Huskies racked up solid wins against higher-tier competition like Duke, and have one of the nation’s best receivers in Skyler Bell. If you’re feeling especially spicy, UConn is 13 points and three last-second losses away from being 11–0, and an even likelier 12–0 ahead of this week’s matchup with FAU. With his track record in Storrs, teams are likely kicking the tires on Mora’s willingness to jump back up the job ladder.

While we wouldn’t begrudge it as impartial observers, we’d also point out the value of being somewhere you’re appreciated. Eight to ten-win seasons where everyone’s having a good time is nothing to sneeze at! Some dads pick up woodworking as a retirement project, and there’s nothing wrong with Jim Mora Jr.’s project being “UConn football head coach.” (Another project: figuring out whether the ghosts in his haunted house are Ghosts friendly or Haunting of Hill House spooky.)

To write this weekly college football schedule page, we first consult official sources from the NCAA and individual conferences, cross-referencing broadcast information with each network. We then choose our Game of the Week and other best matchup selections based on Top 25 rankings, historic rivalries, and playoff implications. All TV recommendations are backed by the CableTV.com editorial team’s extensive experience and in-depth service reviews.

Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods for reviewing TV services.