​When does the college football season start? When is Week 0 in college football? Those are the kinds of questions search engines would optimize for, and they’re exactly what I’m here to help with. It’s been a while since we last talked in earnest. Let’s set the stage for the 2026 season, and yes, we’ll dive into Week 0 matchups with the same spirit you’d expect from a season preview.
As July rolls around and the content train chugs along, let’s skip the side chatter and get to the main course: the 2026 football season. Here’s a look at every Week 0 game in Division I (for now) with a simple rating out of five. The nuance: only teams that play in games eligible for NCAA waivers—typically international fixtures—and/or Hawai’i in 2026 have the option to flex out a Week 0 game. Some teams have chosen that flex, which should set you up for a full 12-hour marathon of football viewing.
And yes, there will be Week 0 action across the board, because FCS has shifted its first week to Week 0. You can start with Eastern Illinois vs. Murray State on Thursday night, then roll into a packed Saturday slate. Expect games like East Texas A&M vs. Mercer in the FCS Kickoff Classic (6 p.m. ESPN), Alabama A&M vs. Howard in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff (6:30 p.m. ABC), or Prairie View vs. Tarleton in a non-conference tilt (8 p.m. ESPN2). All times are Central Time, naturally.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. TCU Horned Frogs kicks off at 11 a.m. on ESPN, from Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Last year, in Chapel Hill, Sonny Dykes seemed to relish the beatdown of the Tar Heels in the inaugural Bill Belichickapalooza. This year, UNC brings an almost entirely new roster while TCU counters with an offense rebuilt around Harvard’s quarterback and UConn’s offensive coordinator. It’s a sentence I never could have predicted, but one that fuels my excitement for college football in 2026. I’m itching to see Sonny Dykes push the pedal, with Harvard’s quarterback and UConn’s OC at the controls, and—yes—hope for fireworks against Bill.
That said, rain, flaky Wi‑Fi, free beer, and a chaotic on-field product are all possible realities. Still, here’s to Ireland and the kickoff to a new season. Rating: 1 out of 5? No—let’s call it a hopeful 1 when you subtract the chaos and add the anticipation.
San Jose State Spartans at USC Trojans starts at 2 p.m. on NBC. The 2024 approach to SEO aside, this matchup offers a chance to gauge how the Spartans’ program is shaping up as USC launches a new chapter under its current regime.