The 2026 college football season is already stirring up some buzz. ESPN just dropped the kickoff times for the first three weeks, plus a few special dates.
There’s a blend of nonconference matchups and a couple of early SEC games in the mix. Honestly, it looks like the action’s going to start strong right out of the gate.
Fans get a spread of games across different networks, so everyone should find something to watch. Let’s check out some of the highlights and dates you might wanna scribble into your calendar.
Week 1: A Global Kickoff
The season starts Friday, August 28, with Idaho playing Cal Poly at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. Kinda late, but hey, it’s football.
Saturday, August 29, North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland, at noon ET on ESPN. Yeah, that’s right—Dublin. International game to kick things off? Not bad.
- NC State vs. Virginia in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Hawai’i at Stanford at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network
- Alabama A&M vs. Howard in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Sunday, August 30, West Alabama takes on Tuskegee in Montgomery at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Not a bad way to wrap up the first weekend.
Week 2: Thursday Night Lights
Week 2 gets rolling on Thursday, September 3, with a few games lined up:
- Akron at Wake Forest at 7 p.m. ET on the ACC Network
- Colorado at Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Missouri at 8 p.m. ET on the SEC Network
Friday, September 4, keeps things moving:
- San Jose State at Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+
- Miami at Stanford at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday Showdowns
Saturday, September 5, is loaded with some good ones:
- East Carolina at Alabama at noon ET on ABC
- Oregon State at Houston at noon ET on ESPN
- Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Clemson vs. LSU at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Monday, September 7, SMU and Florida State finish off the weekend at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Should be a fun one.
Week 3: More Exciting Matchups
Thursday, September 10, has Florida A&M vs. Miami at 8 p.m. ET on the ACC Network. Friday, September 11, brings:
- Villanova vs. Louisville at 7 p.m. ET on the ACC Network
- Rutgers vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Saturday Highlights
Saturday, September 12, is looking pretty solid:
- Arizona State vs. Texas A&M at noon ET on ABC
- Oregon vs. Oklahoma State at noon ET on ESPN
- Alabama vs. Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
- Ohio State vs. Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Want the full rundown? You can find the complete list of games and times in the official announcement.
Special Dates and Key Matchups
ESPN’s also pointed out a few special dates and matchups. Here’s what’s on deck:
- Liberty at Coastal Carolina on Thursday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Notre Dame vs. Navy in Foxborough on Saturday, October 31, at noon ET on ABC or ESPN
- Yale at Harvard in Boston on Saturday, November 21, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to the 2026 college football season, there’s plenty for fans to get hyped about. Traditional rivalries are sticking around, but there are also some international games and a few special events tossed in the mix.
This lineup? Honestly, it’s shaping up to be one of the more memorable seasons we’ve seen in a while. If you’re the type to plan ahead, you might want to scribble a few dates on your calendar now.
Want the nitty-gritty details like kickoff times or which network’s airing what? You can find all that on the official announcement.
As kickoff creeps closer, you can bet there’ll be more updates and plenty of analysis floating around. Whether you’re glued to every game or just drop in for the big ones, 2026 is looking like a season you won’t want to miss.
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