Week Zero gets its name because it lands the Saturday before the sport’s traditional opening weekend — a preview slate for fans who don’t want to wait until Labor Day. The Week 0 college football schedule 2026 actually spans three days: FCS programs start Thursday, August 27, a handful of games trickle in Friday, and the full FBS slate — headlined by North Carolina and TCU meeting in Dublin — arrives Saturday, August 29.
Who’s Playing Week 0: The Headline FBS Matchups
- TCU vs. North Carolina (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) — Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
- NC State at Virginia — Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
- Hawaii at Stanford — Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
- New Mexico State at Florida State — Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
- Jacksonville State at North Dakota State — FARGODOME, Fargo, ND
- Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan — Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI
- Memphis at UNLV — Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Who’s Playing Week 0: FCS Highlights
- Alabama A&M vs. Howard (MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta, GA)
- Southern vs. Alabama State (Birmingham, AL)
- Morgan State at North Carolina A&T
- East Texas A&M at Mercer
- North Alabama vs. Samford (Huntsville, AL)
- Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State
- Jackson State at Tennessee State
- Stetson at South Dakota State — Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD, opening the Jackrabbits’ 2026 slate against a newly added FCS opponent
Week 0 – The Complete College Football Schedule 2026, Day by Day
Thursday, August 27 (All times ET)
Thursday, August 27 College Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | at MercyhurstStambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH | 6:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at MaineTowson Stadium, Towson, MD | 6:00pm ETFloSports | ||
| Thursday | at ChattanoogaUniversity Stadium, Carrollton, GA | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Charleston SouthernHarlen C. Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, MO | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Southern IllinoisUniversity of West Florida Field, Pensacola, FL | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Mississippi Valley StateManning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, LA | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Central ArkansasHardy M. Graham Stadium, Martin, TN | 7:30pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Gardner-WebbFortera Stadium, Clarksville, TN | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Stony BrookAlumni Stadium, Dover, DE | Time TBA ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at LIUAlerus Center, Grand Forks, ND | Time TBA ETESPN+ | ||
| Thursday | at Houston ChristianStrawberry Stadium, Hammond, LA | Time TBA ETESPN+ |
Last updated
Friday, August 28
Friday, August 28 College Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | at MaristYankee Stadium, New Haven, CT | 6:00pm ETNEC Front Row | ||
| Friday | at ColgateJack Coffey Field, Bronx, NY | 6:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Friday | at New HampshireBob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium, Albany, NY | 7:00pm ETFloSports | ||
| Friday | at Weber StateNottingham Field, Greeley, CO | 9:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Friday | at IdahoAlex G. Spanos Stadium, San Luis Obispo, CA | 10:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Friday | at Rhode IslandDuane Stadium, North Andover, MA | Time TBA ETESPN+ |
Last updated
Week 0 – Saturday, August 29 — The Full College Football Schedules 2026 Slate
Saturday, August 29 College Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus College Football Classic | ||||
| Saturday | vs North CarolinaAviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 12:00pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at NC StateScott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | 3:30pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at San Jose StateLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | 3:00pm ETNBC/Peacock | ||
| Saturday | vs SouthernProtective Stadium, Birmingham, AL | 3:00pm ETESPNU | ||
| Saturday | at Jacksonville StateFARGODOME, Fargo, ND | 5:30pm ETCBS Sports Network | ||
| Saturday | at Sacramento StateRynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI | 6:30pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at Morgan StateTruist Stadium, Greensboro, NC | 6:00pm ETFloSports | ||
| Saturday | at New Mexico StateDoak S. Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL | 7:00pm ETThe CW | ||
| Saturday | at HawaiiStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 7:00pm ETACC Network | ||
| Saturday | at East Texas A&MFive Star Stadium, Macon, GA | 7:00pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | vs North AlabamaJoe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, AL | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at North Carolina CentralShell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX | 7:00pm ETHBCU GO | ||
| Saturday | at MonmouthTennessee Tech | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at Eastern KentuckyE.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at StetsonDana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD | 7:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| MEAC/SWAC Challenge | ||||
| Saturday | vs Alabama A&MMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 7:30pm ETABC | ||
| Saturday | at Prairie View A&MMemorial Stadium, Stephenville, TX | 9:00pm ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at MemphisAllegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV | 10:00pm ETFOX | ||
| Saturday | at Jackson StateNissan Stadium, Nashville, TN | Time TBA ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at Abilene ChristianProvost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont, TX | Time TBA ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at William & MaryVillanova Stadium, Villanova, PA | Time TBA ETESPN+ | ||
Last updated
What’s Next After Week 0
Week 1 begins the following week, with most games set for Thursday, September 3, continuing through Labor Day Monday. From there, conference play follows its own staggered start — some leagues dip in during Week 0 or 1, while others, like the Big Ten, wait until September 19 with the bulk of their schedule arriving September 26.
FAQ
Q: What is the Week 0 college football schedule 2026?
A: The Week 0 college football schedule 2026 spans August 27–29, with FCS games starting Thursday and the full FBS slate — headlined by North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin — arriving Saturday, August 29.
Q: What time does North Carolina vs. TCU kick off in Dublin?
A: The Aer Lingus College Football Classic between North Carolina and TCU kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 29, airing on ESPN.
Q: Why did NC State at Virginia move from Brazil to Charlottesville?
A: The 2026 NC State-Virginia game was originally scheduled for Rio de Janeiro as part of “College Football Brasil,” but was relocated to Scott Stadium in Charlottesville after event organizer Athlete Advantage informed the ACC the event couldn’t be conducted. The game kept its original Week 0 date via an NCAA waiver.
Q: What TV channels carry Week 0 college football games in 2026?
A: The college football Week 0 schedule 2026 airs across ESPN, ESPN+, ESPNU, ABC, FOX, NBC/Peacock, CBS Sports Network, The CW, ACC Network, FloSports, and HBCU GO.
