Texas Tech vs. ACU Among Other In-State College Football Games for Week 1
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Here is a look at all of the FBS in-state college football games, including one happening during week zero.
Nationwide conference realignment has been pushing college football into coast-to-coast mega-conferences, reshaping the game’s conventional shape. With teams like Washington moving to the Big Ten and Cal joining the ACC, the prospect of losing long-standing yearly series like the Washington-Washington State series and the UCLA-Cal series looms season after season, as these long-standing in-state rivalries are no longer yearly games.
The health, identity, and culture of collegiate football are still tied to playing non-conference games within the state the two football programs reside in. Non-conference games should prioritize cultural and community identity, along with many in-state rivalries that are the lifeblood of college football’s regional identity. Games like Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa or USC against Fresno State split homes, offices, and neighborhoods.
They’re not like the national conference games against faraway opponents that we now see like Stanford vs. Georgia Tech or Oregon vs. Rutgers. In-state matchups have local bragging rights that last 365 days a year. Removing these games removes the personal connection fans have to the schedule. High school buddies, neighborhood friends, and competitive recruits face off against each other on the pitch in in-state contests. Winning in-state battles provides instant recruiting cred within state lines, as teams are able to establish themselves as the top local brand. For many students at the school, beating the rival university is the big event of their undergraduate career.
Conferences spread across time zones, making fan travel prohibitively expensive and logistically impossible. Non-conference games in-state mean easy road journeys for visiting fans. Packed visiting student sections and high-energy atmospheres help enhance the broadcast product and keep game-day traditions alive.
The state, which hosts these non-conference in-state games, sees a lot of economic activity from in-state gaming. The hospitality dollars, tailgating dollars, and local tourism dollars stay in state instead of being exported to out-of-state travel destinations for local fans traveling to the host towns. College football’s uniqueness, compared to professional sports, is based on its history and traditions, which have been around for over 100 years and include historical continuity with in-state rivals.
Regular-season games are high-stakes affairs because of trophies, historic streaks, and deep-seated grudges. When realignment does break these ties, the sport risks losing the historical fabric that differentiates it from the usual entertainment goods. Modern realignment relies on national TV contracts and conference income, but non-conference scheduling gives programs the chance to protect in-state contests. Prioritizing key contests will keep the sport’s passion alive at its regional heart.
There is technically one in-state game that is occurring before week one play officially begins during week zero play. USC hosts in-state California school San Jose State.
San Jose State at USC in Week 0 play.
The distance between the two California schools: 340 miles.
The beginning of these two schools playing: The in-state football games between the Spartans and Trojans began in 1995 when USC won the game, with the final score being 45-7.
The last 5 games of this series: The Trojans have won all five games played against SJSU.
The overall series leader: USC leads this series with a record of 6-0 all-time.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: USC has a six-game winning streak in this series.
The game prediction: USC 55 San Jose State 14
UCF hosts Bethune-Cookman, who played each other more frequently in the 1980s and the early 1990s when both were FCS schools. They even once played for a rivalry trophy called the Interstate 4 Trophy in the early 80s.
Bethune-Cookman plays UCF in one of the first games of week one.
The distance between the two Florida schools: 58 miles.
The beginning of these two football programs playing: The in-state football games between these two Florida schools started in 1981 when Bethune-Cookman won the game, with the score being 24-20.
The last 10 games of this series: The Knights have won nine out of the last 10 games played against the Wildcats.
The overall series leader: UCF leads this series with a record of 12-5 all-time.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: UCF has an eight-game winning streak in this series.
The game prediction: UCF 41 Bethune-Cookman 10
The in-state football history between the University of Albany and the University of Buffalo is compelling and complex. Technically, Albany holds a 7-6 edge over Buffalo, but that record includes games played when both teams were Division III schools. As FBS and FCS schools, they played one another twice only.
University at Albany, at Buffalo, in hopes that the Great Danes can upset the Bulls again.
The distance between the two state of New York schools: 277 miles.
When these two football programs began playing each other since they went division I: The in-state football games between the Bulls and the Great Danes began in 2015 when Buffalo won the game, with the final score being 51-14.
The last of this series as Division 1 teams: After Albany lost by 37 to Buffalo, the Great Danes upset the Bulls the next season in 2026 and won 22-16 on the road for a big upset.
The overall series record: As Division 1 teams, it is tied at one win each.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Great Danes have a one-game winning streak in this series.
The final score prediction: Buffalo 24, Albany 14
Indiana State plays at Purdue in hopes of pulling off the in-state upset.
The distance between the two schools: Only 86 miles separates these two Indiana schools.
The beginning of these two schools playing against each other in football: Technically, they first played each other in 1926 when Purdue won 38-0.
The last games of this series: Recently in 2024, Purdue defeated Indiana State 49-0.
The overall series leader: Depending on what games both schools count, Purdue has led the series 6-0 since 1990.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Boilermakers have had a six-game winning streak since 1990.
The game prediction: Purdue 31 Indiana State 13
Fresno State at USC is the Trojans' second in-state game and one of the few teams to play in weeks zero and one.
The distance between the two schools: 221 miles, separates these two California schools.
The beginning of these two schools playing each other in football: The first played each other in 1992 in the Freedom Bowl, when the Bulldogs defeated the Trojans by a score of 24-7.
The last games of this football series: USC beat Fresno State at home by a final score of 45-17.
The overall series leader: Excluding the vacated game between these two schools in 2005, the Trojans lead this series 4-1.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Trojans have a four-game winning streak in this newer in-state rivalry.
The game prediction: USC 41 Fresno State 17
Liberty plays in-state, James Madison in week 1.
The distance between the two schools: 94 miles, separates these two Virginia-based football programs.
The beginning of these two schools playing one another in football: For a period of time in the 1980's and 1990s, these teams played each other frequently before they eventually both became FBS football programs. They first played against one another in football in 1980 when James Madison defeated Liberty, 30-14.
The last games of this series: Also, their first time playing against each other as FBS football programs, JMU defeated the Flames 31-13.
The overall series leader: James Madison is leading the football series against Liberty, 13-6.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Dukes have a one-game winning streak in this state of Virginia football rivalry.
The game prediction: James Madison 24 Liberty 20
Texas State at Texas in a battle between a Pac-10 and SEC team.
The distance between these two Texas schools: Only 33 miles separate them in the Lone Star State.
The beginning and the last time these two schools played each other in football: They played each other in 1930 when the Longhorns won the game by a final score of 36-0.
The overall series leader: The Longhorns technically lead this series 1-0.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: One game for Texas in this series.
The final game prediction: Texas 44, Texas State 14
Towson at Navy in a battle between two teams from the state of Maryland.
The distance between the two schools: 40 miles approximately, separates these two institutions of higher learning.
The beginning of these two schools playing each other in football: They played each other in 2008 when the Midshipmen won by a score of 41 to 13.
The overall series leader: Navy leads this series 1-0.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Midshipmen have a one-game winning streak in this series.
The game prediction: Navy 30 Towson 7
UT Rio Grande Valley at UTSA in a game, which will be the first time these two Texas schools have played against each other in football.
The distance between the two schools: 245 miles, separates these two schools.
The beginning of these two schools playing: This matchup will be the first time these two Texas schools will play each other in football.
The game final prediction: UT Rio Grande Valley 3, UTSA 51
Oklahoma State and Tulsa have a long and historical in-state rivalry.
The distance between the two schools: Approximately, only 67 miles, which separates these two schools in the state of Oklahoma.
Rivalry Name: The Turnpike Classic, as they are just east and west of one another in northwest Oklahoma.
Most interesting fact about the rivalry: Last season's game, which resulted in Tulsa defeating Oklahoma State, was considered to be the final reason for the eventual firing of long-time Cowboys coach Mike Gundy.
The beginning of these two schools playing each other in football: They began competing against one another in 1914, when Oklahoma State won 13-6.
The last games of this series: Tulsa on the road upset the Cowboys by a score of 19-12 last season.
The overall series leader: Oklahoma State leads the all-time series 44-29-5.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Golden Hurricanes have a one-game winning streak in this football in-state rivalry.
The game prediction: Oklahoma State 28 Tulsa 17
Alcorn State at Southern Miss.
The distance between the two schools: 130 miles separates these two Mississippi schools.
The beginning of these two schools playing: These two football programs began playing one another in 2009 when the Golden Eagles defeated Alcorn State 52-0.
The last games of this series: In 2023, Southern Miss won 40-14 over the Braves.
The overall series leader: The Golden Eagles lead the series 4-0.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: Southern Miss has a four-game winning streak over Alcorn State.
The game prediction: Southern Miss 38, Alcorn State 10
Austin Peay travels to play in-state Vanderbilt in the season opener for both teams.
The distance between the two schools: 51 miles, separates these two Tennessee schools
The beginning of these two schools playing: They have only played against each other once on the football field, and their first game in 2013 resulted in a Commodores 38-3 win.
The last games of this series: 2015 was the last time Austin Peay played Vanderbilt, and the Commodores won that game by 40 points.
The overall series leader: Vanderbilt leads the series 2-0.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Commodores are on a two-game winning streak in this series.
The game final prediction: Vanderbilt 49, Austin Peay 3
Abilene Christian at Texas Tech in a rematch of the classic 2024 game.
The distance between the two schools: 167 miles seperate these two Texas schools
The beginning of these two schools playing: They began playing against one another on the football field back in 1925, when Texas Tech won by a score of 10 to 7. They played each other for seven straight years from then to 1931. From 27 to 29, the Red Raiders lost three straight games to them.
The last games of this series: The most memorable game between these two teams was crucial to the current rise of the Texas Tech football program, and it took place in the season opener for both teams in 2024. The Red Raiders football program had won between seven and eight games in the three past seasons prior to the 2024 season, and many expected Texas Tech to easily defeat Abilene Christian by double digits. The Red Raiders went into the second quarter with a 22-7 lead, but the Wildcats scored a touchdown near the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter, cutting Texas Tech's lead to just three points. Abilene Christian took the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders would tie the game on a field goal, and the game went into overtime. Texas Tech would win the game in overtime by one point, avoiding the upset. However, it showed that they would not get upset like they did the previous season when they lost in overtime to Wyoming.
The overall series leader: If you count all the games that they played against one another, Texas Tech leads the all-time series 7-3.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: Texas Tech has won five straight games in this series.
The game's final score prediction: Texas Tech 57, Abilene Christian 10
Houston Christian at Rice in this in-state Texas matchup.
The distance between the two schools: Only eight miles separate these two higher institutions of learning.
The beginning of these two schools playing one another in football: This matchup is the first time these two football programs will have played each other in football.
The game prediction: Rice 34 Houston Christian 7
Florida International at South Florida in a college football matchup between two southern Florida schools.
The distance between the two schools: 252 miles separates these two Florida schools
The beginning of these two schools playing: These two Florida schools first played each other on the football field in 2006 when the Bulls defeated the Panthers by a final score of 21-20.
The last games of this series: They last played each other in 2008 when South Florida won 17-9.
The overall series leader: South Florida leads this series 2-0.
The current winning streak in this in-state series: The Bulls have a two-game winning streak.
The game prediction: South Florida 27 FIU 13
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Ryan Kay is a journalist who graduated from Michigan State in 2003 and is passionate about covering college sports and enjoys writing features and articles covering various collegiate teams. He has worked as an editor at Go Joe Bruin and has been a contributor for Longhorns Wire and Busting Brackets. He is a contributor for Texas Tech On SI.