The 2026 college football season kicks off with a full week of action, running from Thursday, September 3 through Monday, September 7, as broadcasters across Fox, ESPN, CBS, NBC and ABC line up marquee matchups.
Broadcast Highlights
Indiana opens its campaign at home against North Texas in the much‑anticipated Big Noon game, a slot that will be televised by Fox and called by veteran play‑by‑play man Gus Johnson alongside former NFL tight end Joel Klatt.
The nation’s eyes turn to the SEC showdown between LSU and Clemson on ESPN, where Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will handle the commentary, marking the beginning of Lane Kiffin’s tenure as Clemson’s head coach.
On CBS, No. 2 Oregon welcomes Boise State to Autzen Stadium, with Brad Nessler and Charles Davis providing the play‑by‑play and analysis for the high‑profile Pac‑12 clash.
Wisconsin and Notre Dame meet at the historic Lambeau Field on NBC, where Dan Hicks and former Packers coach Jason Garrett will call the game, adding a unique regional flavor to the rivalry.
In Nashville, Louisville takes on Ole Miss on ABC, with Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy handling the broadcast duties for the SEC contest.
The week concludes on Monday night with SMU facing Florida State, a matchup that will be aired on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET and announced by Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek.
Across the schedule, the five major networks—Fox, ESPN, CBS, NBC and ABC—each contribute multiple high‑stakes games, ensuring that fans have ample opportunities to watch top‑ranked teams and emerging storylines from the very first weekend of the season.
The opening image captures Clemson’s Lane Kiffin standing beside Dabo Swinney, underscoring the narrative shift as Kiffin takes the helm for the Tigers.