Best College Football Week 1 Matchups for 2026

The college football season will begin late this year, with a handful of prominent programs playing Week 0 games on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Week 1 begins on Thursday, Sept. 3. As usual, it’s packed with interesting games. These should be the best of them.

Best Week 1 College Football Games of 2026

Miami at Stanford

• Location: Stanford
• Date: Friday, Sept. 4

Miami barely survived its last conference trip to California in 2024. The Hurricanes will take this one with a major target on their back after making it to last season’s championship game.

Baylor vs. Auburn

• Location: Atlanta
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

This game will probably be viewed as a referendum on coaches, with new Auburn coach Alex Golesh getting an early crack at a major victory. Meanwhile, Dave Aranda can reward Baylor’s faith in him – or not.

Clemson at LSU

• Location: Baton Rouge
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Battle of the Death Valleys. Clemson lost to LSU last year at home and now pays off the back end of the home-and-home. Can Lane Kiffin get things started on the right foot?

Oklahoma State at Tulsa

• Location: Tulsa
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

This one might float under the radar a bit, but Tulsa ended a 10-game losing streak to the nearby Cowboys last year. It was one of the final death knells for Mike Gundy, who was eventually replaced by former North Texas coach Eric Morris.

OSU fans won’t just want revenge in this game; they will expect it.

Tulane at Duke

• Location: Durham
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Tulane and Duke played last year, and the game result ultimately had major playoff implications. Duke won the ACC as a five-loss team, and one of the losses was to the Green Wave, who played in the College Football Playoff. The ACC champ did not.

UCLA at Cal

• Location: Berkeley
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Once a sensible Pac-12 game, this is now merely a Week 1 nonconference game between two in-state cousins who have lost touch.

Beyond that, the game is also noteworthy for its new coaching matchup: Bob Chesney vs. Tosh Lupoi.

Boise State at Oregon

• Location: Eugene
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Another early measuring stick game for Boise State should tell us how seriously to take the Broncos for the 2026 College Football Playoff.

Washington State at Washington

• Location: Seattle
• Date:  Saturday, Sept. 5

Week 1 Apple Cup. Yes, please.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin

• Location: Green Bay
• Date: Sunday, Sept. 6

As the calendar moves to Sunday, we’ll get a look at CJ Carr and Notre Dame in a semi-road game against Luke Fickell, who badly needs a significant win.

Louisville vs. Ole Miss

• Location: Nashville
• Date: Sunday, Sept. 6

Trinidad Chambliss appears to have won his eligibility case against the NCAA. He’ll have a perfect Week 1 showcase opportunity on Sunday where he can begin his Heisman campaign in earnest.

SMU vs. Florida State

• Location: Tallahassee
• Date: Monday, Sept. 7

As it has before, Florida State will provide the final entertainment on a long Week 1 weekend of college football – this time with a conference game against ACC newcomer SMU.

The Seminoles will expect to win this game and reverse their fortunes from the last two years; a loss will move Mike Norvell closer to an explosive exit in Tallahassee.