The 2026 college football season opens with a compact slate of eight FBS games in Week 0, a preseason round that packs coaching intrigue, debut moments and early playoff chatter into a single weekend.
Week 0 Highlights
The most anticipated contest is a rematch in Dublin between North Carolina and TCU, a game that revisits last year’s 48‑14 victory and will be watched closely for signs of a coaching transition at UNC and the debut of TCU’s new quarterback Jaden Craig.
Further south, Dave Doeren’s NC State squad, coming off four consecutive nine‑win seasons, meets a Virginia team that returns a veteran roster after an 11‑win campaign, raising expectations for a breakthrough.
The novelty of the week also includes North Dakota State’s first foray into FBS, where the Bison will test their mettle against Jacksonville State, a former FCS program making its own transition.
In the Group of Six, Memphis and UNLV will clash in a quarterback‑centric showdown; Memphis is rebuilding under Charles Huff while UNLV’s signal‑callers are locked in a competition that could define their season.
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s freshman sensation Micah Alejado is slated to face Stanford’s Tavita Pritchard, a matchup that carries historical weight for both programs, and Sacramento State will rely on Eastern Michigan’s standout Noah Kim, who amassed 2,817 passing yards last year.
Florida State’s Mike Norvell will also be under the microscope as his team opens against New Mexico State, a game that could set the tone for a schedule that eventually includes a trip to Alabama.
Finally, San Jose State’s encounter with No. 14 USC stands as the only ranked contest of the week, featuring USC’s experienced quarterback Jayden Maiava and a revamped defense overseen by Gary Patterson.