College football teams open 2026 season with Saturday conference and non-conference games

Baylor takes on Auburn on Saturday afternoon in an intriguing Big 12 vs. SEC college football matchup. Both programs are looking to bounce back after finishing 5-7 last season, with the Bears going 3-6 in Big 12 play and the…

Maine steps up to the FBS level Saturday when the Black Bears visit Appalachian State at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina, with kickoff set for 3:30 PM ET on ESPN+. It will be the first meeting between the…

Fordham travels to Fargo on Saturday to face North Dakota State at the Fargodome, with kickoff set for 3:30 PM ET on Mountain West+. This will be the first-ever meeting between the programs and Fordham’s first game in North Dakota,…

A pair of defending conference champions open the season at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday as the Tulane Green Wave visit the Duke Blue Devils after the teams met in New Orleans last season. How to Watch Tulane vs Duke…

The Citadel steps out of Southern Conference play Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Charlotte at Jerry Richardson Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:30 PM ET on ESPN+. How to Watch The Citadel vs Charlotte The Bulldogs enter at 0-1 after…

Rhode Island steps up to the FBS level Saturday when the Rams visit Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with kickoff set for 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+. How to Watch Rhode Island vs Temple The Rams enter at…

Gardner-Webb stays on the road Saturday for an in-state rivalry matchup against Wofford at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, with kickoff set for 1:30 PM ET on ESPN+. How to Watch Gardner-Webb vs Wofford The Runnin’ Bulldogs enter at 0-1 after…

The Washburn Ichabods (1-0) look for their first 2-0 start since 2022 when they host the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (0-1) in Washburn’s home opener on Saturday. How to Watch Colorado School of Mines vs Washburn Washburn held off…

The Bluefield State Big Blue (0-1) look for a third straight win in the Battle of the Blue Ridge rivalry when they visit the Concord Mountain Lions (1-0) on Saturday afternoon in a Division II matchup of West Virginia programs.…

Duquesne and Air Force open their 2026 seasons Saturday with a first-ever meeting at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM ET on Mountain West+. The matchup marks Duquesne’s first game against a Mountain West opponent…

The Ball State Cardinals visit the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon in Week 1 of college football action. How to Watch Ball State vs Ohio State Week 1 for Ohio State will serve as a tuneup before…

Lehigh continues its early-season Patriot League slate on Saturday when the Mountain Hawks visit Georgetown at Cooper Field in Washington, D.C., with kickoff set for 12:30 PM ET on ESPN+. How to Watch Lehigh vs Georgetown The Mountain Hawks opened…

The No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide enter the season outside the top 10 of the Associated Press preseason poll for the first time since 2008 as they host the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday in the season opener for both…

The UNLV Rebels (0-1) and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-1) get a quick start to conference play on Saturday night as they open the schedule in the revamped Mountain West Conference in Honolulu. How to Watch UNLV vs Hawaii UNLV, the…

The New Hampshire Wildcats (0-1) face the Syracuse Orange (0-0) at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon in Week 1 of college football action. How to Watch New Hampshire vs Syracuse New Hampshire enters Saturday’s game at 0-1 after…

West Virginia opens its 2026 season Saturday afternoon when the Mountaineers welcome Coastal Carolina to Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. How to Watch West Virginia vs Coastal Carolina The Mountaineers begin their second season since Rich Rodriguez returned to the…

Tarleton State heads to Ohio for an intriguing early-season test against Bowling Green on Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. The Texans and Falcons kick off at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN+ in the first-ever meeting between the programs. How…