The 2026 college football regular season starts on Saturday, August 29, 2026 , when the first FBS games are scheduled. Some FCS teams begin earlier, on Thursday, August 27 , during “Week Zero.”
When most games begin
The first full weekend of college football is September 3-5, 2026. Thursday, September 3, begins the traditional Week 1 schedule, followed by a much larger slate on Saturday, September 5.
The opening FBS matchup is scheduled for North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on August 29. Other Week Zero games include San Jose State at USC, NC State at Virginia and Hawai‘i at Stanford.
What “Week Zero” means
“Week Zero” is the early opening period before the main college football schedule. It usually includes a smaller number of games, often involving teams that receive special permission to start early or programs playing internationally. For most fans, the regular season effectively begins on Saturday, August 29. The schedule expands significantly during the following weekend, with conference games and nationally televised matchups becoming more common later in September.