ESPN names 12 most dangerous Power 4 vs. Group of 5 games in 2025 college football season

One of the most exciting aspects of the sport of college football is the upsets. Whether it’s Appalachian State upsetting No. 5 Michigan at home in 2007, James Madison upsetting No. 13 Virginia Tech in 2010, or even Northern Illinois upsetting eventual national title runner-up No. 5 Notre Dame last season, smaller programs upsetting power-four programs never fails to be absolute cinema.

There are many matchups this season between power four and group of five programs this season that could soon be added to the list, including a clash between 2024 College Football participants and in-state rivals that have never met on the football field.

Check out ESPN’s full list of the 12 most dangerous Power 4 vs. Group of 5 games of the 2025 season below:

Toledo at Kentucky (Aug. 30)

Kentucky went just 4-8 (1-7) in 2024 as it missed a bowl game for the first time since 2015. Toledo, however, enjoyed a successful season in which it went 8-5 (4-4) and downed Pittsburgh 48-46 in 6OT in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

Toledo is no stranger to upsetting SEC teams, as it trounced Mississippi State 41-17 in Starkville last season. The ‘Cats haven’t lost a non-conference home game to a group of five team since Sept. 3, 2016 (Southern Miss).

James Madison at Louisville (Sept. 5)

James Madison has enjoyed immense success since making the jump to FBS three seasons ago, as it is 28-9 in that span. It went 9-4 last season under new head coach Bob Chesney and downed Western Kentucky to win the Boca Raton Bowl. Louisville, however, continues to improve with Jeff Brohm at the helm and will likely be in contention for an ACC Championship this season.

The Cardinals will have to keep their head on a swivel when the Dukes come to town, as James Madison put up 70 points at North Carolina last season in a 70-50 win. It is 2-1 against ACC competition in the past three years, with wins over UNC and Virginia and a 34-10 loss to Louisville in 2022.

UCLA at UNLV (Sept. 6)

UNLV made a big splash this offseason when it hauled in former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Dan Mullen, who boasts a 103-61 record in 13 seasons of SEC play. With Mullen at the helm, ESPN has put Nico Iamaleava and UCLA on upset alert when they travel to Vegas on Sept. 6.

The Runnin’ Rebels finished inside the final AP Poll top-25 last season after compiling an 11-3 record and a 24-13 win over California in the LA Bowl. UCLA went just 5-7 last season, but owns the all-time series against UNLV 2-0 (last meeting in 2016).

Army at Kansas State (Sept. 6)

Both Army and Kansas State could potentially be ranked inside the top-25 when this matchup takes place on Sept. 6. The Wildcats, led by budding quarterback Avery Johnson, went 9-4 last season and look to contend in the Big 12 this season. Army sniffed the College Football Playoff but ultimately fell short, as Boise State grabbed the Group of Five bid.

The Black Knights, however, went 12-2 last season and will seriously be in contention for the GO5 bid once again this season. This game has major potential for being one of the most underrated matchups of the 2025 season.

South Florida at Florida (Sept. 6)

Of all the games that ESPN ranked as ‘dangerous’ for power four programs, this one seems the least likely. Although that does ultimately depend on DJ Lagway‘s health, as he is reportedly banged up heading into the final month of camp before the season begins.

South Florida has posted back-to-back seven-win campaigns under head coach Alex Golesh, but Florida is expected to have its most talented roster in years this season under head coach Billy Napier. The Gators own the all-time series over USF 3-0.

Arkansas State vs Arkansas (Sept. 6)

Arkansas State and Arkansas will clash this season in Little Rock, taking away a bit of homefield advantage for the Hogs. Somehow, these in-state programs have never met, so that will provide some extra juice for this matchup.

The Red Wolves are led by former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and are fresh off an 8-5 campaign in 2024. Arkansas compiled a 7-6 record in 2024, but head coach Sam Pittman remains on the hot seat. A loss to ‘little brother’ could make that seat scalding for Pittman, who is headed into his sixth season as the head man in Fayetteville.

Duke at Tulane (Sept. 13)

This game will serve as a homecoming matchup for former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke in the offseason. While the Blue Devils enjoyed an impressive 9-4 campaign last season, Tulane also won nine games and gave Kansas State a scare in New Orleans.

A win over Duke at home would provide a major boost to Jon Sumrall and Tulane‘s Playoff hopes, as it seeks the GO5 bid in the second season of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Blue Devils, however, own the all-time series 3-0 (last meeting in 2015).

Arkansas at Memphis (Sept. 20)

Arkansas once again pops up on this list as a power-four team on upset alert against a Group of Five team. This time it’s against Memphis in a Sept. 20 away game.

Memphis remains in the American Conference after failed attempts to join the Big 12. Last season it went 11-2 and enjoyed two wins over power four programs in Florida State and West Virginia. Arkansas won the last game played between the two rivals in Memphis on Oct. 10, 1998 (23-9).

Tulane at Ole Miss (Sept. 20)

Jon Sumrall‘s Green Wave once again have a major opportunity to pick off a power-four football team on Sept. 20 when they travel to face Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin. Since Kiffin has been the head man in Oxford (2020), Ole Miss has not lost a game to a Group of Five opponent.

Ole Miss did drop an unexpected matchup against Kentucky last season, so the potential is definitely there. The Rebels, however, have won 13 consecutive matchups over Tulane, including a 37-20 win in 2023.

BYU at East Carolina (Sept. 20)

It’s been a tumultuous offseason for BYU, which lost starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff following his withdrawal from the school. The Cougars, which went 11-2 last season, travel to East Carolina on Sept. 20 for what will be a highly anticipated matchup for Pirate fans.

East Carolina has won its two most recent meetings against BYU (2017 & 2022) and are coming off an 8-5 season with a bowl win over NC State. BYU has not lost a non-conference game in two seasons since joining the Big 12.

San Jose State at Stanford (Sept. 27)

This meeting is actually a rematch from last season’s Bill Walsh Legacy Game, in which San Jose State won 34-31 thanks to a go-ahead touchdown from TreyShun Hurry with just under two minutes remaining. This led to the firing of Troy Taylor at Stanford, who was subsequently replaced by former NFL head coach Frank Reich.

These college programs seem to be going in separate directions, as Stanford is now rebuilding itself with Andrew Luck as the general manager, while the Spartans have won seven games in three consecutive seasons. The possibility of another San Jose State win may be greater than any other GO5 team on this list.

Boise State at Notre Dame (Oct. 4)

Finally, an Ashton Jeanty-less Boise State has Notre Dame on upset alert according to ESPN. Both of these programs made the College Football Playoff last season, where the Broncos lost in the First Round and the Fighting Irish made an appearance in the college football National Championship game.

As prestigious as both programs are, they have never met before. This should be a premier matchup (possibly between two top-25 teams) when it takes place on October 4.