We’ve almost made it. This weekend will be the last weekend without college football until 2027.
From the ACC fans in the northeast, to Big Ten country and out to the west coast and the debut of the new PAC-12: everyone has their calendars circled with the dates of week one.
Any form of football is accepted after a long summer wait, but how many of these week zero/week one matchups end up being worthwhile? Or even, remembered forever?
Here are the most memorable week zero/week one games for each PAC-12
team.
BOISE STATE
Many think of the Broncos late season thrillers and heroics when looking at Boise State’s history, such as the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
But for week one, the blue turf bandits have had their fair share of memorable openers.
In 2010, Kellen Moore would begin his most dominant college campaign in a big-time non-conference duel with Virginia Tech.
Made as a top ten matchup, the Broncos entered at #3 while the Hokies sat at #10, this one lived up to the billing with Moore and VT’s Tyrod Taylor trading punches.
This was a neutral site opener at FedEx Field in Washington D.C for the “Allstate Kickoff Classic”, but it was Moore’s house by the time it was over.
Trailing 30-26 with two minutes left, Moore led the Broncos down the field and found Austin Pettis down the seam to take the lead.
After an offseason of discourse, with the goliaths of the sport trying to belittle the group of five’s top dog, the Broncos looked the part. Moore would go on to finish in New York as the fourth-place finisher in 2010 Heisman voting.
FRESNO STATE
The Bulldogs’ most memorable start dates back 25 years ago, when the legend of David Carr would take off.
Fresno State took down Colorado in Boulder, 24-22, in an exciting season opener.
Fresno forced the Buffaloes to turn the ball over five times, including sealing the deal with one last interception.
A non-conference, power-conference and road victory is something to be celebrated no matter what. But for this particular victory, it is mostly remembered for what was set to come.
Starting with Colorado, the ‘Dogs would go on to beat #10 Oregon State and #23 Wisconsin as well, eventually climbing to #8 in the AP Poll.
Carr finished fifth in Heisman voting and the program finished with a record of 11-3, a season that is still brought up today.
COLORADO STATE
Sorry, Boulder. You are the victim once again.
The year was 1999. Y2K was upon everyone, Tennessee was the reigning national champion and the Colorado Buffaloes were ranked as preseason #14.
That is the last time they would be ranked all season, running into the Rams in week one.
In the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Mile High Stadium, Colorado State completely shut down the #14 Buffs in a 41-14 runaway.
In the summer of ‘99, the CSU coaching staff had made a defensive switch, opting to incorporate a Tampa 2 defense.
It clicked immediately. The Rams forced six turnovers, four interceptions and two fumbles, while scoring the first four touchdowns of the day to take a 28-0 first half lead.
CSU would ride this week one high to a bowl appearance, with the week one rivalry meeting remaining one of the more memorable victories for folks in Fort Collins.
OREGON STATE
As a former member of a power five conference, the Beavers would often open the year with an inferior opponent as a tune up.
In 2000, that “inferior” opponent pushed them to the brink.
FCS’s Eastern Washington came into Corvallis and gave OSU the business. Oregon State was coming off a winning season in 1999, following 28 straight losing seasons prior.
When the Eagles ran a third quarter interception 90 yards the other way from a Beaver pass in a one-score game, fans felt the ghosts of those losing years returning.
OSU was able to pull out the win, but the feeling around the orange and black wasn’t very celebratory.
“We didn’t play very well, plain and simple,” OSU head coach Dennis Erickson told reporters after the game. “We were lucky to win. We play like that in the Pac-10 and we’re not going to win many games.”
So, why is this opener so memorable?
As Erickson said, the Beavers won’t win a lot playing like that. So, they didn’t. If anything, they did the opposite.
Oregon State would go on to win their next 10 of 11, finishing #4 in the AP Poll and taking a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame, for arguably their most historic season in program history.
Whether they just needed to get the jitters out, or, a slap in the face to wake them up, Oregon State’s 2000 opener, and season overall, provides quite the story.
SAN DIEGO STATE
After an undefeated run in 1968 in their final season as a member of NCAA’s College Division (Old School FCS, basically.), the Aztecs were making the jump to the University Division (FBS…you get the picture).
Were they the real deal? Or were they just playing below their weight class?
SDSU sent a message in their 1969 opener, blowing out Cal State Los Angeles 42-0 en route to another undefeated season under coach Don Coryell.
They ended the season ranked #18, winning against Boston University in the Rose Bowl. A season to remember all started with a week one warning shot.
TEXAS STATE
Smallest fish in the pond no more, the Bobcats sent a message to the state of Texas to open 2023.
Texas State earned their first ever Power Five conference victory against Baylor in Waco, 42-31, in what was head coach G.J. Kinne’s TSU debut.
TJ Finley threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns as the ‘Cats finished with 448 total yards of offense, outrunning the Bears in the in-state shootout.
This win would catapult Texas State to a program-record eight win season, including a bowl victory, as the program earned their first winning season since 2014.
It also arguably began the program’s climb to joining the PAC, making three straight bowl appearances and earning the conference invite over the course of Kinne’s tenure.
UTAH STATE
Entering the PAC, the Aggies will hope for more of this result going forward.
Back in the old PAC-12 days, USU took down Washington State in 2021 to open up the season with a 26-23 thriller.
Down 23-11 in the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Logan Bonner helped the Aggies stage a late comeback in Pullman and score 15 points in the quarter alone.
It was only Utah State’s second win over the Cougars all time, along with another Power Five victory now on the resume.
They would go on to win their next eight of ten, rumbling to the Mountain West title game and winning 46-13 over San Diego State. Their first and only in the MWC.
Fittingly enough, they would end their season against a new conference partner as well, defeating Oregon State in the LA Bowl.
WASHINGTON STATE
On August 30, 1997, all eyes were on Pullman, Washington for a showdown between Washington State and UCLA.
This PAC-10 season opener had a little bit of everything. An early UCLA lead, 27 second quarter points from the Cougars, three passing touchdowns from Ryan Leaf and a late-game Bruins comeback as the two schools combined for almost 1,000 yards of offense.
Washington State was able to pull out the victory 37-34 in an opener to remember. It was also remembered for how much weight the game held throughout the year.
UCLA would go on to finish #5 in the polls and play in the Cotton Bowl, but it would be Wazzu who would take the PAC-10 title, thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker as both teams finished 7-1 in conference.
This would take the Cougs to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years. A season to remember in eastern Washington.
What early-season magic is in store this season? Comment down below on which week zero/one victory is your favorite.
Dan Allison is a freelance high school and college sports writer. You can reach him at @danlallison on X.
