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College football season begins August 29; NFL starts September 9

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 6, 2026, 5:30 PM

Last updated Aug 6, 2026

College football season begins August 29; NFL starts September 9

Summary

The 2026 college football season kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 29, featuring the North Carolina Tar Heels against the TCU Horned Frogs at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The NFL regular season will commence soon after, on Wednesday, September 9, when the New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle at 8:20 p.m. ET. Florida teams have their first games scheduled between August 29 and September 13, with the Florida State Seminoles playing New Mexico State on August 29 and the Miami Dolphins meeting the Las Vegas Raiders on September 13. These opening games precede lengthy 14 and 18-week regular seasons for college and NFL football, respectively, culminating in championships in December and playoffs in January.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•College football starts August 29 with UNC vs. TCU in Dublin.
•NFL season begins September 9 with Patriots vs. Seahawks.
•Florida Gators host Florida Atlantic on September 5.
•Florida State faces New Mexico State on August 29.
•Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers begin play on September 13.

Latest Updates

5:30 PMYahoo Sports — When do NFL, college football seasons start? Florida teams’ first games

What they're saying

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Here’s when the NFL and NCAA 2026 football seasons start, a list of dates for each Florida team’s first game and what channels they're airing on.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

NCAAF College Sports