If you are searching for what college football games are on today, Saturday, August 29, marks the official return of the 2026 FBS season with an eight-game Week 0 schedule. The opening day features a unique international matchup in Dublin, the only preseason-ranked team playing this weekend, two programs beginning their first FBS seasons, several ACC contests and a late-night showdown in Las Vegas.
While most of the nation’s biggest programs will not begin their seasons until next weekend, Saturday’s schedule provides plenty for college football fans to watch. The first game starts at noon Eastern Time, and the final FBS contest kicks off at 10 p.m. ET.
College Football Schedule for Saturday, August 29
Here is the complete FBS schedule for today, with kickoff times listed in Eastern Time:
| Kickoff | Game | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. ET | North Carolina vs. TCU | ESPN |
| 3:00 p.m. ET | San Jose State at No. 14 USC | NBC / Peacock |
| 3:30 p.m. ET | NC State at Virginia | ESPN |
| 5:30 p.m. ET | Jacksonville State at North Dakota State | CBS Sports Network |
| 6:30 p.m. ET | Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 p.m. ET | Hawai’i at Stanford | ACC Network |
| 7:00 p.m. ET | New Mexico State at Florida State | The CW |
| 10:00 p.m. ET | Memphis at UNLV | FOX |
The schedule represents all eight FBS games being played Saturday. USC is the only team ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 taking the field during Week 0.
TCU vs. North Carolina Opens the Season in Dublin
The first major game of the 2026 season sends North Carolina and TCU overseas.
The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs meet at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET. The international setting gives the season opener an atmosphere unlike a typical Week 0 game in the United States.
The matchup also has a revenge angle. TCU defeated North Carolina convincingly in their previous meeting, giving the Tar Heels an early opportunity to change the narrative.
North Carolina remains one of the most closely watched programs because of the attention surrounding head coach Bill Belichick. His presence has brought additional national interest to the Tar Heels, and the opening game provides an immediate test against a TCU program with considerable experience in high-level competition.
For TCU, the objective is to begin the new campaign with a strong performance and avoid allowing North Carolina to turn the international opener into a statement game.
The Dublin contest is scheduled for ESPN, making it the first nationally available FBS game of the day.
USC Begins as the Only Ranked Team Playing
The biggest ranked-team storyline comes at 3 p.m. ET when No. 14 USC hosts San Jose State.
USC enters the season as the lone preseason AP Top 25 team participating during Week 0. That distinction automatically puts additional attention on the Trojans, who will have an opportunity to establish themselves before the rest of the national championship contenders begin playing.
The game is scheduled for NBC and Peacock.
San Jose State faces a difficult challenge at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but opening-week games can bring surprises. New rotations, new contributors and early-season mistakes can make the first game of a season unpredictable.
For USC, the priority will be starting efficiently and avoiding the kind of slow beginning that can give an underdog confidence.
The matchup is also an important early measuring stick for the Trojans. With national expectations surrounding a preseason Top 25 team, every possession will be scrutinized more closely than it would be in an ordinary nonconference game.
NC State and Virginia Begin ACC Play
Just 30 minutes after USC kicks off, NC State visits Virginia in an important ACC matchup.
The game begins at 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
This contest is particularly interesting because conference games carry implications beyond the opening weekend. A victory immediately gives one team an important ACC result, while the loser has to begin the season trying to recover from a conference defeat.
Virginia also enters the season with plenty of intrigue surrounding its roster and quarterback situation. NC State, meanwhile, will be looking to establish its identity immediately.
Because this game overlaps with USC’s matchup, fans may have to switch between broadcasts or use multiple screens to keep track of both games.
North Dakota State Begins Its FBS Era
The matchup is available on CBS Sports Network.
North Dakota State has built one of the strongest recent traditions in FCS football, and Saturday represents a major change as the Bison begin competing at the FBS level.
Moving from the FCS to FBS brings greater roster demands, tougher weekly competition and a different conference environment. North Dakota State will therefore have considerable attention on it as fans evaluate how the program handles its new level of competition.
Jacksonville State is not an easy opponent for an FBS debut. The Gamecocks already have experience at the subdivision’s highest level and can provide North Dakota State with an immediate test.
The result will be remembered as the first chapter of North Dakota State’s FBS history.
Sacramento State Also Starts a New FBS Chapter
North Dakota State is not the only program making an important transition Saturday.
Sacramento State visits Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m. ET in another matchup involving a program entering FBS competition.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
For Sacramento State, the move represents an opportunity to test a successful football identity against a different level of competition. Eastern Michigan has the advantage of FBS experience and home-field familiarity, making the opening assignment particularly interesting.
The game could also provide an early indication of how quickly Sacramento State can adjust to the demands of its new environment.
Hawai’i Travels to Stanford
At 7 p.m. ET, Hawai’i faces Stanford in a West Coast matchup airing on the ACC Network.
The game provides Stanford with a home opener while Hawai’i begins its campaign with a road challenge.
These programs have plenty of geographic appeal despite competing in different football environments. The matchup also gives fans an opportunity to watch two teams attempting to establish themselves before the larger college football schedule becomes crowded.
For Stanford, protecting home field will be a major objective. Hawai’i, meanwhile, will try to make the trip worthwhile with an early-season victory.
Florida State Hosts New Mexico State
Another 7 p.m. ET kickoff features New Mexico State visiting Florida State.
The game will be broadcast on The CW.
Florida State enters the new season with significant expectations, making the opener an important first step. The Seminoles will want to establish control early and demonstrate that they are capable of competing at a high level throughout the season.
New Mexico State has a very different opportunity. An upset on the road against Florida State would immediately become one of the most memorable results of the opening weekend.
As with many Week 0 games, the biggest question is how quickly both teams settle into their new-season rotations.
Memphis vs. UNLV Brings a Late-Night Finish
The final FBS game of Saturday begins at 10 p.m. ET when Memphis travels to Las Vegas to face UNLV.
FOX will carry the matchup nationally.
The late kickoff makes this one of the best options for fans who plan to watch college football throughout the entire day. By the time Memphis and UNLV take the field, viewers will already have watched games from Dublin, the East Coast, the Midwest and the West Coast.
The matchup itself deserves attention beyond its late starting time. Both teams enter the season with ambitions of competing for meaningful postseason opportunities, making this an important early test.
UNLV will have home-field advantage in Las Vegas, while Memphis will try to spoil the Rebels’ opening night.
FCS Games Also Fill the Saturday Schedule
The FBS schedule is only part of today’s college football action.
Fans interested in FCS and HBCU football have several additional games available. Southern and Alabama State meet at 3 p.m. ET, while East Texas A&M visits Mercer at 7 p.m. ET.
Other televised or streamed contests include Howard vs. Alabama A&M, Tarleton State vs. Prairie View A&M and several additional FCS matchups.
That means dedicated fans can find football throughout the afternoon and evening even when the FBS schedule has gaps.
Best Games to Watch on Saturday
Not every game carries the same national profile, so the best choice depends on what viewers are looking for.
Best Early Game: TCU vs. North Carolina
The Dublin opener combines an international venue, two recognizable programs and a revenge storyline. It is the obvious choice for fans who want to be watching as soon as the season begins.
Best Ranked-Team Game: USC vs. San Jose State
USC is the only preseason AP Top 25 team playing this weekend. That makes the Trojans’ opener the most obvious game for fans interested in the national championship picture.
Best New-Program Storyline: Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State
North Dakota State’s first FBS game is one of the most significant moments on the schedule. The performance could help shape expectations for the Bison’s first season at the new level.
Best Late Game: Memphis vs. UNLV
For fans who want to finish the day with football, Memphis-UNLV is the clear choice. The 10 p.m. ET kickoff gives viewers a prime late-night matchup.
Why Week 0 Is Different
Week 0 has traditionally been smaller than the major college football weekends that follow. The difference is especially noticeable because many major programs will not begin their seasons until later.
Still, the opening weekend has become an important part of the college football calendar.
Teams get an early opportunity to test new players, evaluate offseason changes and establish confidence. Coaches can also discover areas that need improvement before conference play becomes the main focus.
For fans, Week 0 offers something equally valuable: the return of meaningful football.
The first weekend also provides a preview of several broader developments in college football. North Dakota State and Sacramento State are beginning new FBS journeys, while the international game in Dublin highlights the sport’s continuing effort to build a broader global audience.
What Fans Should Watch For
Quarterback performance is always one of the biggest storylines during the opening weekend. Teams have spent the offseason installing offensive systems, and the first competitive game shows how those plans work under pressure.
Turnovers can also have an outsized impact in Week 0. Early-season timing issues, communication mistakes and missed assignments can create opportunities that may not appear later in the year.
Special teams deserve attention as well. A blocked kick, long return or missed field goal can quickly change an opening game.
Finally, fans should watch how new coaching staffs and new players fit into their programs. The first Saturday rarely provides a complete picture of a team’s potential, but it can offer useful clues.
How to Follow the Schedule
The eight FBS games are spread across several television networks and streaming platforms. ESPN carries the opening TCU-North Carolina matchup, while NBC and Peacock handle USC-San Jose State.
ESPN also carries NC State-Virginia, with CBS Sports Network, ESPN+, ACC Network, The CW and FOX handling the remaining FBS games.
Because television coverage can vary by provider and region, viewers should verify their local listings before kickoff.
For fans planning a full-day viewing schedule, the timing makes it possible to follow nearly every major FBS game from the opening kickoff in Dublin through the late-night Memphis-UNLV finale.
The Bigger Picture for the 2026 Season
Although only eight FBS games are being played Saturday, the results can influence early perceptions of teams and players.
USC will receive particular scrutiny because it is the only ranked team playing during Week 0. North Carolina and TCU will attract attention because of their international matchup, while Florida State and other programs will be looking to make strong first impressions.
The FBS debuts of North Dakota State and Sacramento State add another layer to the weekend. Their performances will be closely followed by fans interested in how successful programs from outside the traditional FBS structure adapt to a new competitive environment.
As the schedule expands next weekend, these opening games will become the first pieces of a much larger 2026 college football story.
Final Takeaway
For fans asking what college football games are on today, Saturday’s schedule delivers eight FBS matchups beginning at noon ET and continuing through 10 p.m. ET. TCU and North Carolina open the season in Dublin, USC welcomes San Jose State as the only preseason-ranked team in action, and North Dakota State and Sacramento State begin their FBS eras.
The day also includes ACC competition, Florida State’s opener, a West Coast showdown between Hawai’i and Stanford, and a late Memphis-UNLV game in Las Vegas. Add the FCS and HBCU schedule, and there is enough football to keep fans occupied from midday through the evening.
Week 0 may be smaller than the weekends ahead, but it signals the return of the sport fans have been waiting for all offseason. The results will provide the first clues about which teams are ready to make an immediate impression and which programs still have work to do.
Which Week 0 matchup are you watching today? Share your pick and keep checking back for the latest college football schedule and game-day updates.