ESPN has released its expansive 2026 college football television schedule, promising almost three hundred broadcasts spread across its family of networks including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, ACC Network and SEC Network.
Week Zero and the Irish Opener
The season will open in Week Zero on Friday, August 28, when Cal Poly hosts Idaho at 10 p.m. Eastern, a game that will be carried on ESPN.
A day later, eight contests will be played on Saturday, August 29, highlighted by a noon Eastern showdown between North Carolina and TCU in Dublin, Ireland, also scheduled for ESPN.
Week One begins on Thursday, September 3, with ESPN’s primetime slot featuring Colorado at Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. Eastern, alongside seven other matchups that night.
Other early‑season broadcasts include East Carolina at Alabama, Oregon State at Houston, Baylor versus Auburn, Tulane at Duke, Clemson at LSU and UCLA at California, each slated for ESPN’s various platforms.
While the complete slate will be refined six to twelve days before each contest, the schedule already guarantees championship games for the Sun Belt, Big 12, ACC, MAC, SWAC, SEC and the American, ensuring a full season of marquee moments.