College football is officially back, and Week 1 brings a full Labor Day weekend of action from Thursday night through Monday. The opening weekend gives fans their first look at many of the country's top teams, along with several early matchups that could already have an impact on conference races and the College Football Playoff picture.

Here are some of the biggest games to watch throughout Week 1, organized by kickoff time. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, September 3

6:00 PM — UMass at Rutgers — Big Ten Network

7:00 PM — Akron at Wake Forest — ACC Network

8:00 PM — Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri — SEC Network
8:00 PM — Colorado at Georgia Tech — ESPN
8:00 PM — Eastern Illinois at Minnesota — Peacock

9:00 PM — Idaho at No. 21 Utah — ESPNU
9:00 PM — UAB at Illinois — Big Ten Network

Thursday's headliner comes in Atlanta, where Colorado travels to Georgia Tech for an 8:00 PM kickoff on ESPN. The night also gives fans an early look at ranked Missouri and Utah before UAB and Illinois close out the evening.

Friday, September 4

7:00 PM — Indiana State at Purdue — Big Ten Network

8:00 PM — UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma — SEC Network+
8:00 PM — Toledo at Michigan State — FS1

9:00 PM — No. 7 Miami at Stanford — ESPN
9:00 PM — Fresno State at No. 14 USC — FOX

Friday night's schedule is highlighted by a pair of 9:00 PM games. Miami begins its season with an ACC road trip to Stanford, while USC welcomes Fresno State to Los Angeles on FOX. Oklahoma also makes its 2026 debut against UTEP, and Michigan State opens its season against Toledo.

Saturday, September 5

Saturday is where Week 1 really takes off, with many of the nation's top-ranked programs taking the field throughout the day.

12:00 PM — Oregon State at No. 23 Houston — ESPN
12:00 PM — East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama — ABC
12:00 PM — North Texas at No. 6 Indiana — FOX
12:00 PM — Ohio at Nebraska — FS1

12:30 PM — Ball State at No. 1 Ohio State — Big Ten Network

12:45 PM — Kent State at South Carolina — SEC Network

1:00 PM — Youngstown State at Kentucky — SEC Network+

The noon window provides the first opportunity to see several teams with major expectations in 2026. No. 1 Ohio State begins its season against Ball State, while Indiana opens against North Texas and Alabama welcomes East Carolina to Tuscaloosa.

The afternoon slate quickly raises the stakes.

3:00 PM — Tennessee State at No. 3 Georgia — SEC Network+

3:30 PM — Boise State at No. 2 Oregon — CBS
3:30 PM — Texas State at No. 5 Texas — ESPN
3:30 PM — Baylor vs. Auburn — ABC
3:30 PM — Boston College at Cincinnati — FOX
3:30 PM — Furman at No. 20 Tennessee — SEC Network+
3:30 PM — Marshall at No. 18 Penn State — FS1

4:15 PM — Northern Illinois at No. 22 Iowa — Big Ten Network
4:15 PM — North Alabama at Arkansas — SEC Network

The game to circle in the afternoon window is Boise State at No. 2 Oregon. Boise State heads into one of college football's toughest environments for an immediate measuring-stick game against an Oregon team with national championship aspirations.

Texas also gets its season underway against Texas State, while Baylor and Auburn meet in another intriguing opening-week matchup.

Then comes Saturday night.

7:00 PM — Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M — ESPN
7:00 PM — Abilene Christian at No. 12 Texas Tech — FS1
7:00 PM — Austin Peay at Vanderbilt — SEC Network+

7:30 PM — Western Michigan at No. 16 Michigan — NBC/Peacock
7:30 PM — Clemson at No. 11 LSU — ABC
7:30 PM — Louisiana-Monroe at Mississippi State — ESPNU

7:45 PM — Florida Atlantic at Florida — SEC Network

8:00 PM — Hampton at Maryland — Big Ten Network
8:00 PM — South Dakota State at Northwestern — Big Ten Network
8:00 PM — Utah Tech at No. 14 BYU

10:00 PM — Central Michigan at New Mexico — FS1

The centerpiece of Saturday night is unquestionably Clemson at LSU. Two programs with College Football Playoff aspirations meet immediately in Death Valley in a primetime ABC matchup that could carry postseason implications months down the road.

The evening also provides the first look at Texas A&M, Michigan, Texas Tech and several other programs hoping to work their way into the playoff conversation.

Sunday, September 6

4:00 PM — Washington State at No. 17 Washington

7:30 PM — Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame — NBC/Peacock
7:30 PM — No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss — ABC

Week 1 doesn't stop on Saturday. Sunday brings three more games worth watching, highlighted by a pair of major primetime matchups.

Wisconsin and Notre Dame meet at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, while Louisville and Ole Miss square off in Nashville. Both games give ranked teams significant tests before most of the country has even completed its first full week of the season.

Monday, September 7

7:30 PM — No. 19 SMU at Florida State — ESPN

Labor Day provides one final game before Week 1 officially comes to a close, and it's a good one.

SMU travels to Tallahassee for an ACC matchup against Florida State under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium. With both programs looking to establish themselves early in the conference race, there should be plenty riding on the final game of opening weekend.

From Thursday's first kick through Monday night's finale, Week 1 gives college football fans five straight days of action. If you're only clearing the schedule for a handful, Boise State-Oregon, Clemson-LSU, Wisconsin-Notre Dame, Louisville-Ole Miss and SMU-Florida State headline a loaded opening weekend!