The NCAA Football Schedule is officially heating up as the 2026 college football season moves into its first full week of action. Week 1 runs from September 3 through September 7, giving fans several days of college football across the United States.
The opening full weekend includes a number of ranked teams and nationally important matchups. No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Indiana and other ranked programs are scheduled to play.
NCAA Football Schedule 2026: Week 1
Week 1 contains a huge selection of games, with Saturday, September 5 providing the busiest slate.
Some of the biggest matchups include Ball State vs Ohio State, Boise State vs Oregon, Texas State vs Texas, Tennessee State vs Georgia and Clemson vs LSU.
The schedule also continues into Sunday and Monday, with Wisconsin facing Notre Dame and SMU traveling to Florida State.
| Date | Matchup | Time ET |
| Sept. 5 | Oregon State vs Houston | 12:00 PM |
| Sept. 5 | East Carolina vs Alabama | 12:00 PM |
| Sept. 5 | Ball State vs Ohio State | 12:30 PM |
| Sept. 5 | Tennessee State vs Georgia | 3:00 PM |
| Sept. 5 | Boise State vs Oregon | 3:30 PM |
| Sept. 5 | Texas State vs Texas | 3:30 PM |
| Sept. 5 | Clemson vs LSU | 7:30 PM |
| Sept. 6 | Wisconsin vs Notre Dame | 7:30 PM |
| Sept. 6 | Louisville vs Ole Miss | 7:30 PM |
| Sept. 7 | SMU vs Florida State | 7:30 PM |
Times shown are Eastern Time.
Top Ranked Teams in the NCAA Football Schedule
NCAA Football Schedule The 2026 AP Top 25 has several major programs entering Week 1 with high expectations. Ohio State is ranked No. 1, Oregon No. 2 and Georgia No. 3, while Notre Dame, Texas and Indiana are also among the highest-ranked teams.
This makes the opening weekend particularly interesting because fans get an early opportunity to see how several playoff contenders perform.
Ohio State vs Ball State
No. 1 Ohio State hosts Ball State on September 5 at Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes enter the season with championship expectations, making this one of the most closely followed games on the early NCAA Football Schedule.
Boise State vs Oregon
No. 2 Oregon faces Boise State at Autzen Stadium.
Oregon begins the season with a highly anticipated matchup against a Boise State team that has regularly competed on the national stage. The Ducks’ position near the top of the rankings makes this a game worth watching.
Texas State vs Texas
No. 5 Texas hosts Texas State at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The matchup has additional interest because the two schools are located relatively close to one another. Texas enters the season as one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.
Alabama vs East Carolina
No. 13 Alabama hosts East Carolina on September 5.
Alabama remains one of the biggest names in college football, and its opening-week game will attract national attention. The Crimson Tide’s performance will be closely watched as the new season begins.
Clemson vs LSU
One of the biggest games on the NCAA Football Schedule is Clemson vs LSU.
The matchup is scheduled for Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. LSU is ranked No. 11 entering the game, while Clemson provides one of the weekend’s most intriguing challenges. The game is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.
Because both programs have national championship ambitions, this could become one of the defining games of the opening weekend.
Georgia vs Tennessee State
No. 3 Georgia hosts Tennessee State at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia begins the 2026 campaign with a home game and enters the season among the nation’s top-ranked teams. The Bulldogs are expected to be part of the national playoff conversation throughout the season.
Oregon State vs Houston
No. 23 Houston hosts Oregon State to begin its Week 1 schedule.
Houston’s ranking gives this matchup additional significance. The game is scheduled for noon ET on September 5, making it one of the early games fans can watch as the Saturday schedule begins.
Sunday NCAA Football Schedule
The college football action does not end on Saturday.
Sunday’s schedule includes Washington State vs Washington, Wisconsin vs Notre Dame and Louisville vs Ole Miss. The Notre Dame matchup will be played at Lambeau Field, while Louisville and Ole Miss meet in Nashville.
These games give fans another strong day of college football before Week 1 concludes.
Monday Night College Football
Week 1 concludes on Monday, September 7, when SMU visits Florida State.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET and provides a final major matchup for the opening week.
Monday’s game is particularly useful for fans who want to follow the entire five-day opening slate rather than only Saturday’s games.
NCAA Football Schedule TV Coverage
College football games are spread across several networks and streaming services during Week 1.
Depending on the matchup, fans can find games on networks including ABC, ESPN, FOX, CBS Sports Network, ACC Network, SEC Network and Big Ten Network.
Because broadcast assignments can differ by game and region, fans should check the listing for their specific matchup before kickoff.
What Makes the 2026 Schedule Interesting?
The biggest attraction is the number of highly ranked programs playing during the opening full weekend.
Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia occupy the top three positions in the AP rankings, while Texas, Notre Dame, Indiana and other ranked teams also begin their campaigns.
The 2026 season is also important because the College Football Playoff race begins immediately. Teams have limited opportunities to build a strong résumé, making early-season results valuable as the season progresses.
NCAA Football Schedule and College Football Playoff
The modern College Football Playoff features a 12-team field, meaning teams must consistently perform well during the regular season to put themselves in position for postseason consideration.
Early games can have a major impact on rankings, conference races and eventual playoff positioning.
For that reason, the opening NCAA Football Schedule is more than simply a list of games. It provides the first opportunity for teams to establish themselves nationally.
Final Thoughts
The NCAA Football Schedule 2026 provides college football fans with a packed opening week featuring ranked teams, major programs and several nationally interesting matchups.
From Ohio State and Oregon to Georgia, Texas, Alabama and LSU, many of the sport’s biggest programs are immediately in action.
With games continuing from Thursday through Monday, Week 1 gives fans plenty of opportunities to watch college football and begin following the 2026 playoff race.
FAQs
What is the NCAA Football Schedule for 2026?
The 2026 college football season’s first full week runs from September 3 through September 7, with most games taking place on September 5.
When does NCAA football start in 2026?
The 2026 college football season began with Week 0 action before the first full Week 1 slate in early September.
What is the biggest NCAA football game in Week 1?
Several games stand out, including Boise State vs Oregon, Texas State vs Texas and Clemson vs LSU.
What time is Clemson vs LSU?
Clemson vs LSU is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on September 5, 2026.
Where can I find the latest NCAA Football Schedule?
The NCAA’s official football scoreboard and schedule pages provide current games, results and schedule information.
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