2026 College Football Season:
Complete Schedule & Key Dates
The 2026 college football season marks a pivotal moment in the sport's history. The 12-team College Football Playoff enters its second year, and conference realignment has solidified a new landscape featuring the Power 4 (. , Big Ten, ACC, Big 12) and the expanded 12-team playoff. This is your complete guide to every key date, from the first kickoff to the national championship celebration, with a special focus on the marquee matchups that will define the season and shape the playoff field.
Preseason & Offseason Milestone
July 14-16, 2026:
SEC Media Days (Location TBA, likely Nashville or Atlanta). The unofficial start to the season. The reigning national champions (likely Georgia, Texas, or Ohio State) will take the stage as the team to beat.
July 21-23, 2026:
Big Ten Media Days (Location TBA, likely Indianapolis). Expect questions about the new-look league to dominate—can anyone challenge the reigning champion Indiana Hoosiers?
August 15-17, 2026:
Fall camps open nationwide. Teams report for their first official practices of the 2026 season.
August 20, 2026:
Preseason AP Top 25 Poll Released. The first official ranking sets the narrative and puts a target on the backs of the top teams.
Week-by-Week Regular Season Schedule (Key Games)
The season officially begins on Thursday, August 28, 2026, and concludes on Saturday, December 13, 2026 (Army vs. Navy). Key dates and confirmed neutral-site games are listed below.
Week 1:
August 28-31, 2026
Ohio State vs. Texas A&M (in Atlanta). A massive, early-season playoff resume game for both programs.
Other Key Games:
Georgia vs. Clemson (in Charlotte). A rematch of a classic 2024 season opener, with massive playoff implications from day one.
Indiana vs. Notre Dame. The Hoosiers begin their title defense against a traditional rival.
Week 2: September 5-7, 2026
Texas at Michigan. The Longhorns travel to Ann Arbor in a heavyweight non-conference clash.
Key Game:
Oregon at Boise State. The Ducks face a dangerous road test against the top Group of Five contender.
Week 3: September 12-14, 2026
Alabama at Wisconsin. An epic SEC vs. Big Ten showdown in Madison.
Key Game:
Georgia at UCLA. The Bulldogs' first true road test against a rising Pac-12 power.
Week 4:
September 19-21, 2026 (Conference Play Begins)
Indiana at Ohio State. The first true blockbuster in Big Ten conference play. This could decide the East Division and a top-four playoff seed.
Key Game:
Texas vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 opener). The Longhorns begin their final Big 12 title defense.
Week 5: September 26-28, 2026
Michigan at Oregon. A rematch of the classic 2025 Rose Bowl, now with Big Ten title implications.
Key Game:
Georgia vs. Alabama. The first of what could be two meetings between these SEC titans.
Week 6: October 3-5, 2026
Wisconsin at Indiana. A critical Big Ten West vs. East battle with major playoff ramifications.
Key Game:
Notre Dame at USC. One of the sport's greatest rivalries is renewed under the lights.
Week 7: October 10-12, 2026
Ohio State at Michigan. "The Game" comes earlier than usual and could once again decide the Big Ten East.
Key Game:
Red River Showdown: Texas vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas). The final meeting as Big 12 foes before both move to the SEC.
Week 8: October 17-19, 2026
Oregon at Georgia. A potential national championship preview between the Pac-12 and SEC giants.
Key Game:
Alabama at Tennessee. A pivotal SEC East clash in a hostile Neyland Stadium.
Week 9: October 24-26, 2026
Headliner: Indiana at Michigan State. A trap game for the Hoosiers on the road against a physical Spartans team.
Key Game:
LSU at Georgia. The Tigers look to upset the Bulldogs in Death Valley.
Week 10: October 31-November 2, 2026
Ohio State at Penn State. A white-out in Happy Valley against the Buckeyes is always must-see TV.
Key Game:
Texas vs. Alabama. The first SEC meeting between these historic programs.
Week 11:
November 7-9, 2026
1 Georgia vs. 6 Florida (in Jacksonville). "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" is always a season-defining game.
Key Game:
3 Indiana at 10 Notre Dame. A late-season non-conference test for both playoff hopefuls.
Week 12:
November 14-16, 2026
4 Alabama at 2 LSU. Another chapter in one of the SEC's most intense rivalries.
Key Game:
8 Oregon vs. 14 Washington. The battle for Pac-12 supremacy.
Week 13:
November 21-23, 2026 (Rivalry Week)
Ohio State at Michigan. "The Game" is back in its traditional spot, with the Big Ten East and a playoff spot likely on the line.
Other Key Rivalries:
1 Georgia at Georgia Tech
4 Alabama vs. Auburn (Iron Bowl)
5 Texas vs. Texas A&M (revived rivalry)
8 Oregon vs. Oregon State (Civil War)
10 USC vs. UCLA
Florida State vs. Florida
18 Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State (Bedlam)
Week 14:
November 28-29, 2026 (Championship Week)
Army vs. Navy (December 13, 2026, in Baltimore). A cherished tradition concludes the regular season.
Conference Championship Weekend: December 4-5, 2026
This weekend determines the automatic bids to the College Football Playoff. All games are played at campus sites of the higher-ranked team.
SEC Championship:
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Big Ten Championship:
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
ACC Championship: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Big 12 Championship: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Pac-12 Championship: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
College Football Playoff & Bowl Season Schedule (2026-27)
The 12-team playoff format (5 conference champions + 7 at-large teams) is in its second year. The first round is played on campus sites.
Selection Sunday:
December 7, 2026. The final CFP Rankings are unveiled, announcing the 12 playoff teams and the full bowl schedule.
CFP Semifinals: January 9, 2027.
Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, FL): Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Peach Bowl winner
Cotton Bowl (Arlington, TX): Rose Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner
CFP National Championship: Monday, January 19, 2027. SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA.
Key Storylines to Watch in 2026
The 12-Team Playoff in Year 2:
Does the format produce more compelling drama? Can a first-round underdog (a #9-#12 seed) make a miraculous run to the title?
The New Big Ten:
With Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington fully integrated, who emerges as the dominant force? Can Indiana repeat, or will Ohio State, Michigan, or Oregon reclaim the throne?
The New SEC:
Texas and Oklahoma are now full members. How do they fare in their first SEC season? Does their arrival dethrone Georgia and Alabama, or do the traditional powers remain on top?
The Transfer Portal's Impact:
Which team best utilized the portal (Indiana? Wisconsin? Texas A&M?) to transform its roster into a playoff contender?
The Group of Five Hope:
With one guaranteed spot for the highest-ranked conference champion outside the Power 4, can a team like Boise State, Memphis, or Appalachian State crash the playoff party?
Conclusion:
A Season of New Beginnings
The 2026 college football season is a bridge between eras. It honors timeless rivalries while fully embracing a new, expanded postseason and a reconfigured conference map. Every weekend from late August to mid-January will deliver high-stakes drama, as teams battle not just for conference titles, but for one of 12 golden tickets to the playoff. From the first kickoff to the final confetti drop in Los Angeles, this schedule promises a season for the ages.
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