2026 College Football Season Kicks Off: Start Date Revealed

The anticipation for the 2026 college football season is rapidly growing. Following Indiana’s triumph in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff, fans are ready for thrilling matchups ahead. The start date for the 2026 season has been unveiled.

2026 College Football Season Start Date Announced

The 2026 college football season will kick off on Thursday, August 27. This date marks the beginning of “Week Zero,” where selected games will take place. Most Division I teams will commence their schedules the following weekend.

Week Zero Scheduled Games

• August 27:
• Mercyhurst at Youngstown State (6 p.m. ET)
• Charleston Southern at Lindenwood (7 p.m. ET)
• Central Arkansas at UT Martin
• Eastern Illinois at Murray State
• Maine at Towson
• Stony Brook at Delaware State
• LIU at North Dakota
• August 28:
• Marist at New Haven
• New Hampshire at UAlbany
• Rhode Island at Merrimack

Kickoff for Week 1

Week 1 will begin on Saturday, September 5, aligning with the Labor Day weekend. Fans can look forward to several exciting matchups:

• September 3: Eastern Illinois at Minnesota
• September 4: Miami (FL) at Stanford
• September 5: Clemson at LSU
• September 5: Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (in Green Bay, WI)

Upcoming Matchups and Highlights

Several notable non-conference games are also scheduled:

• September 10: Florida A&M at Miami (FL)
• September 11: Rutgers at Boston College

College Football Playoff Structure for 2026

The 2026 season will be the 13th edition of the College Football Playoff and the third utilizing a 12-team format. Key playoff dates are as follows:

This championship game will be particularly notable as it is the first time Las Vegas will play host to the event. As the season approaches, fans should stay tuned for updates regarding game times and additional matchups. For the latest college football news, visit Filmogaz.com.