The 2026 college football season is officially underway, having begun with Week 0, but the excitement truly ramps up with the arrival of Week 1. This week promises an action-packed lineup of games across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), featuring matchups from Thursday through Monday, culminating in a thrilling Saturday slate.
One of the highlights of the week will be the Fox "Big Noon" game, where the reigning national champions, Indiana, will host North Texas. This matchup will be called by the dynamic duo of Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt, known for their engaging commentary and ability to capture the excitement of college football.
As the evening approaches, ESPN will showcase the first game of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU, as they take on Dabo Swinney's Clemson. This highly anticipated clash will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the esteemed Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call, bringing their extensive expertise and insight to the matchup.
Another marquee game on Saturday will see No. 2 Oregon face off against Boise State. CBS will feature this contest at 3:30 p.m. ET, with veteran broadcaster Brad Nessler and new lead analyst Charles Davis providing the commentary. The matchup is expected to be a thrilling encounter, showcasing two teams with strong aspirations for the season ahead.
Sunday night will also be filled with excitement, as two prominent games take center stage. At Lambeau Field, Wisconsin will battle Notre Dame, with NBC's Dan Hicks and Jason Garrett providing coverage. Meanwhile, ESPN on ABC will feature the Louisville-Ole Miss game in Nashville, with Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy calling the action.
Week 1 will conclude with a Monday night matchup between SMU and Florida State, airing at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will be on the call, wrapping up an exhilarating opening week of college football.
As fans prepare for this exciting week, here's a detailed look at the announcing schedule for Week 1 college football games, with all times listed in Eastern.
Thursday, September 3
Massachusetts at Rutgers (6 p.m., Big Ten Network): Jason Horowitz (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst)
Akron at Wake Forest (7 p.m., ACC Network): Matt Schick (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst), Ashley Stroehlein (reporter)
Bethune-Cookman at UCF (7 p.m., ESPN+): Eric Rothman (play-by-play), Doc Holliday (analyst)
UAlbany at Buffalo (7 p.m., ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play), Je’rod Cherry (analyst)
Merrimack at Delaware (7 p.m., ESPN+): Scott Klatzkin (play-by-play), Pat Devlin (analyst)
West Georgia at Kennesaw State (7 p.m., ESPN+): Nolan Alexander (play-by-play), Caleb O’Neal (analyst), Matthew Downing (analyst)
Colorado at Georgia Tech (8 p.m., ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Chase Daniel (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (reporter)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri (8 p.m., SEC Network): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), Marilyn Payne (reporter)
Eastern Illinois at Minnesota (8 p.m., Peacock): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst)
Idaho at No. 21 Utah (9 p.m., ESPNU): Peter Sousa (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst)
UAB at Illinois (9 p.m., Big Ten Network): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (analyst)
Friday, September 4
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan (6:30 p.m., ESPN+): Evan Stockton (play-by-play), Marcus Ray (analyst)
Indiana State at Purdue (7 p.m., Big Ten Network): Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Ryan Kerrigan (analyst)
North Carolina A&T at Georgia State (7 p.m., ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play-by-play), Sam Crenshaw (analyst)
Toledo at Michigan State (8 p.m., FS1): Noah Reed (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Long Island University at Kansas (8 p.m., ESPNU): Mark Neely (play-by-play), Jeff Woody (analyst)
UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma (8 p.m., SEC Network+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play), Fozzy Whittaker (analyst), Maria Martin (reporter)
No. 7 Miami at Stanford (9 p.m., ESPN): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Dana Boyle (reporter)
Fresno State at No. 14 USC (9 p.m., Fox): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Alexa Landestoy (reporter)
Saturday, September 5
North Texas at No. 6 Indiana (12 p.m., Fox): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Jenny Taft (reporter)
East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama (12 p.m., ABC): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Stormy Buonantony (reporter)
Oregon State at No. 23 Houston (12 p.m., ESPN/Disney+): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Morgan Uber (reporter)
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia (12 p.m., TNT): J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), Coy Wire (reporter)
Ohio at Nebraska (12 p.m., FS1): Eric Collins (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst)
New Hampshire at Syracuse (12 p.m., ACC Network): Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Dave Clawson (analyst), Madison Hock (reporter)
Bryant at Army (12 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Jack Gordon (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), Tina Cervasio (reporter)
Liberty at James Madison (12 p.m., ESPNU): Cooper Boardman (play-by-play), Craig Haubert (analyst)
Tarleton State at Bowling Green (12 p.m., ESPN+): Kelsie Kasper (play-by-play), Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)
Lafayette at UConn (12 p.m., WFSB/Fubo): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Marc Robbins (analyst), Dan Booth (reporter)
Ball State at No. 1 Ohio State (12:30 p.m, Big Ten Network): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), Brooke Fletcher (reporter)
Miami (OH) at Pittsburgh (12:30 p.m., The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Jason Cabinda (analyst)
Kent State at South Carolina (12:45 p.m., SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Michella Chester (reporter)
Youngstown State at Kentucky (1 p.m., SEC Network+): Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Charlie Strong (analyst)
Southeast Missouri State at Iowa State (1 p.m., ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Todd Doxzon (analyst)
Duquesne at Air Force (1 p.m., MW+): Josh Howe (play-by-play), Ryan Kaufman (analyst)
Rhode Island at Temple (2 p.m., ESPN+): Joe Tordy (play-by-play), Jay Sonnhalter (analyst)
Tennessee State at No. 3 Georgia (3 p.m., SEC Network+): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), Laura Stickells (reporter)
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon (3:30 p.m., CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Jenny Dell
Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta (3:30 p.m., ABC/Disney+): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter)
Texas State at No. 5 Texas (3:30 p.m., ESPN): Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Sherree Burruss (reporter)
Boston College at Cincinnati (3:30 p.m., Fox): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), Josh Sims (reporter)
Marshall at No. 18 Penn State (3:30 p.m., FS1): Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Tulane at Duke (3:30 p.m., ACC Network): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst), Ashley Stroehlein (reporter)
Furman at No. 20 Tennessee (3:30 p.m., SEC Network+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Max Starks (analyst), Ashlyn Sullivan (reporter)
Towson at Navy (3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst)
The Citadel at Charlotte (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): Tom Werme (play-by-play), Reginald Walker, Jr. (analyst)
UT Rio Grande Valley at UTSA (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): David Saltzmann (play-by-play), Brad Hopkins (analyst)
Fordham at North Dakota State (3:30 p.m., MW+): Dom Izzo (play-by-play)
Maine at App State (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Oklahoma State at Tulsa (3:45 p.m., ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play), Barrett Brooks (analyst)
Northern Illinois at No. 22 Iowa (4:15 p.m., Big Ten Network): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (analyst)
North Alabama at Arkansas (4:15 p.m., SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst), Tori Petry (reporter)
Alcorn State at Southern Miss (5 p.m., ESPN+): Jason Baker (play-by-play), Larry Boyd (analyst)
Wyoming at Colorado State (6 p.m., USA): Nate Gatter (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst), Lauren Green (reporter)
Norfolk State at Old Dominion (6 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M (7 p.m., ESPN): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (reporter)
Abilene Christian at Texas Tech (7 p.m., FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Robert Smith (analyst)
Idaho State at Utah State (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (analyst), Hailey Sutton (reporter)
Austin Peay at Vanderbilt (7 p.m., SEC Network+): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
Nicholls at Kansas State (7 p.m., ESPN+): Mark Neely (play-by-play), Jeff Woody (analyst)
Arkansas State at Memphis (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Florida International at South Florida (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Houston Christian at Rice (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Murray State at Middle Tennessee (7 p.m., ESPN+): Jake Rose (play-by-play), Jeremy Kellem (analyst)
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Charleston Southern at Georgia Southern (7 p.m., ESPN+): Adam Young (play-by-play), Frank Sulkowski (analyst)
SE Louisiana at South Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN+): Pat Greenwood (play-by-play), Brian Genard (analyst)
Sam Houston at Troy (7 p.m., ESPN+): Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play), Ben Stanfield (analyst), Rosie Langello (reporter)
Clemson at No. 11 LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter), Laura Rutledge (reporter)
Western Michigan at No. 16 Michigan (7:30 p.m., NBC): Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (reporter)
UL Monroe at Mississippi State (7:30 p.m., ESPNU): Doug Sherman (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Lauren Sisler (reporter)
VMI at Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m., ACC Network): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Madison Fitzpatrick (reporter)
Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech (7:30 p.m., ESPN+): TBD
Florida Atlantic at Florida (7:45 p.m., SEC Network): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Taylor Davis (reporter)
Utah Tech at No. 14 BYU (8 p.m., ESPN+): Peter Sousa (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst), Austyn Iven (reporter)
Hampton at Maryland (8 p.m., Big Ten Network): Joe Beninati (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst)
South Dakota State at Northwestern (8 p.m., Big Ten Network): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Tanner Morgan (analyst)
Lamar at Louisiana (8 p.m., ESPN+): Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (analyst), Ben Schafer (reporter)
Mercyhurst at New Mexico State (9 p.m., ESPN+): MJ Newsom (play-by-play), Danny Knee (analyst)
Portland State at San Diego State (9:30 p.m., USA): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst), Dalen Cuff (reporter)
Northern Arizona at Arizona (9:30 p.m., ESPN+): Chris Sylvester (play-by-play), Jordan Reid (analyst)
Morgan State at Arizona State (10 p.m., ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play), Michael Bumpus (analyst)
UNLV at Hawai’i (10 p.m., The CW): Jack McMullen (play-by-play), Cody Kessler (analyst), Marshall Newhouse (reporter)
Central Michigan at New Mexico (10 p.m., FS1): Carlo Jiminéz (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Mississippi Valley State at Sacramento State (10 p.m., ESPN+): Will Iger (play-by-play), Mo Hasan (analyst)
UCLA at California (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (reporter)
Western Kentucky at Nevada (10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst), Jordan Giorgio (reporter)
Sunday, September 6
Washington State at No. 17 Washington (4 p.m., NBC): Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst)
Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame in Green Bay (7:30 p.m., NBC): Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), Caroline Pineda (reporter)
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville (7:30 p.m., ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Katie George (reporter)
Monday, September 7
No. 19 SMU at Florida State (7:30 p.m., ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter)
Leave a Comment