Week 1 college football schedule features 34 games across all divisions
The opening week of the 2026 college football season includes 34 matchups, with only one top-ranked versus top-ranked game and a full slate of contests spanning Power Five, Group of Six, FCS and Division III teams.
College football kicks off its 2026 season with 34 games spread over the weekend, offering a mix of Power Five, Group of Six, FCS and Division III contests. The only top-ranked clash in Week 1 is a Sunday night showdown between No. 7 Miami and Stanford, while the Saturday night marquee matchup pits Clemson against No. 2 LSU.
Among the early action, No. 14 USC hosts Fresno State, and No. 10 Oklahoma faces UTEP. Indiana, led by new head coach Curt Cignetti, opens against North Texas, and Alabama meets East Carolina with redshirt freshman quarterback Keelon Russell under center.
Ohio State, ranked No. 1, plays Ball State, and a slate of other notable games includes Oregon State at Houston, Pitt versus Miami (Ohio), and Kentucky hosting Youngstown State. The weekend also features inter-conference battles such as Boise State at Oregon and Baylor at Auburn.
In the Pacific Northwest, UCLA travels to California for a late-night rivalry game, while the Apple Cup sees Washington State at Washington. The week concludes with marquee contests including Louisville versus Ole Miss, Wisconsin at Notre Dame, and SMU at Florida State on Monday night.
Analysts note that the opening week lacks a crowded schedule of high-profile matchups, but the breadth of games provides early data on team performance and potential upsets throughout the college football landscape.