The 2026 college football season is set to begin with a staggered rollout across the FCS and FBS divisions, marking the start of a year that promises both tradition and novelty.
A Season Without Borders
FCS competition opens on Thursday, August 27, featuring a slate of games that will set the tone for the lower‑division championship race.
Just two days later, the top tier of college football kicks off with Week 0 on Saturday, August 29. The highlight is an overseas showdown between the University of North Carolina and TCU at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, scheduled for noon Eastern Time on ESPN.
Week 1 follows on Thursday, September 3, and runs through Monday, September 7, with the first full Saturday of that stretch arriving on September 5. That day will see FOX’s iconic Big Noon Kickoff return, celebrating the reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers and anchoring a lineup of marquee contests.
The broadcast landscape is broader than ever. In addition to FOX, FS1, ABC, CBS, NBC and the major cable networks, games will also be streamed on platforms such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo TV, giving fans multiple ways to tune in.
While kickoff times, television assignments and venue details are still subject to change, the schedule has been largely confirmed. Fans can track the latest updates on the FOX Sports event pages as the season approaches.