The 2026 college football season is almost here, but the exact start date depends on which subdivision and opening weekend you follow. FCS games begin Thursday, Aug. 27, the FBS Week 0 slate starts Saturday, Aug. 29 and the first full Saturday arrives Sept. 5. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest season-opening dates, matchups and how to watch on FOX.
When Does the 2026 College Football Season Start?
The 2026 FCS season begins Thursday, Aug. 27, with several games. The FBS season begins two days later on Saturday, Aug. 29, opening with North Carolina vs. TCU at noon ET in Dublin, Ireland.
When Does FBS College Football Start in 2026?
The 2026 FBS season begins Saturday, Aug. 29, with a limited Week 0 schedule played ahead of the traditional opening weekend. The opening slate includes one game overseas.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic sends North Carolina and No. 23 TCU, as ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, kicking off at noon ET on ESPN. Later that day, NC State visits Virginia at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The NC State-Virginia game was originally scheduled for Rio de Janeiro before being relocated to Charlottesville.
FOX’s Week 0 coverage begins with Memphis at UNLV at 10 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.
Other Week 0 matchups include San Jose State at USC, Hawaii at Stanford and New Mexico State at Florida State.
Joel Klatt’s Top 10 Players for the 2026 Season
Joel Klatt ranks his Top 10 CFB players, led by Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith and more.
What Is Week 0 in College Football?
Week 0 is the name given to the limited group of college football games played before the first full week of the season. It gives eligible programs an earlier opening date while most teams wait until Week 1 to begin their schedules.
Are Week 0 Games Regular-Season Games?
Yes. Week 0 games are regular-season contests and count toward each team’s record. Week 0 is not a preseason or exhibition period.
When Does Week 1 Start?
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season starts Thursday, Sept. 3 and runs through Monday, Sept. 7. The first full Saturday is Sept. 5, when most of the marquee opening-weekend matchups will be played during Labor Day weekend.
FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff returns for the new season at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 5, broadcasting from Bloomington, Indiana, as it celebrates the reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers. FOX’s Big Noon Saturday window will spotlight college football’s last three national champions across the first three weeks of the season.
Week 0 and Week 1 Matchups on FOX Networks
- Memphis at UNLV, Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- UMass at Rutgers, Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- UAB at Illinois, Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Indiana State at Purdue, Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Toledo at Michigan State, Friday, Sept. 4, 8 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- Fresno State at USC, Friday, Sept. 4, 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Ohio at Nebraska, Saturday, Sept. 5, noon ET (FS1, FOX One)
- North Texas at Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 5, noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Ball State at Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 12:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Boston College at Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
- Marshall at Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- Northern Illinois at Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 5, 4:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Abilene Christian at Texas Tech, Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
- South Dakota State at Northwestern, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Hampton at Maryland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
- Central Michigan at New Mexico, Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
Different Notable Week 0 and Week 1 Matchups
- Aer Lingus College Football Classic: North Carolina vs. No. 23 TCU (US LBM Coaches Poll), Saturday, Aug. 29, noon ET (ESPN) in Dublin, Ireland
- NC State at Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 29, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Boise State at Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Clemson at LSU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC and Peacock) in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Louisville vs. Ole Miss, Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) in Nashville, Tennessee
- SMU at Florida State, Monday, Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The right way to Watch School Soccer in 2026
Week 0 and Week 1 video games will air throughout FOX, FS1, ABC, CBS, ESPN, NBC and Peacock, together with conference-focused networks akin to Huge Ten Community, SEC Community and ACC Community.
FOX’s opening-weekend protection contains Huge Midday Kickoff and Huge Midday Saturday, plus further video games on FS1 and BTN all through the weekend. For a easy solution to sustain with the motion, followers can get FOX school soccer and extra in a single subscription with FOX One.
For followers with out cable, live-streaming companies that carry FOX and FS1 embody YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Reside TV and Fubo. Channel and local-affiliate availability varies by service, bundle and market. When you have an antenna in a great reception space, it’s also possible to watch FOX’s school soccer protection in your native FOX station. Examine the Federal Communications Commission’s TV reception maps to see which stations can be found in your space.
Can the 2026 School Soccer Schedule Change?
Sure. Kickoff instances, tv networks and sport areas can change earlier than the season begins. Examine the linked FOX Sports activities occasion pages for the newest matchup info.
