Thursday, September 3, 2026. Kickoff 6:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
The first FBS game of Week 1. Rutgers hosts UMass at SHI Stadium in Piscataway two hours before anything else kicks off, which makes it the de facto start of the college football season for most of the country.
| Kickoff | 6:00 p.m. ET · 5:00 CT · 4:00 MT · 3:00 PT |
| TV | Big Ten Network |
| Streaming | FOX Sports App, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream |
| Venue | SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey |
The Season Actually Starts Here
Colorado at Georgia Tech gets billed as the opener, but this kicks off two hours earlier. For anyone who has waited eight months for college football, UMass at Rutgers is the first thing on.
That is worth more attention than the matchup would normally get. A 6 p.m. Thursday game with no competition draws viewers who would never otherwise watch either team.
Two Programs, Similar Problems
UMass has spent over a decade searching for a stable conference home after leaving the FCS ranks, playing much of that time as an independent. Rutgers has spent its Big Ten tenure trying to become competitive in the toughest division in the sport.
Both are programs where a season can be defined by whether they get to six wins.
How to Watch
Big Ten Network is cable-only — no antenna option. Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry it. Sling includes BTN only on certain packages, so check before relying on it. The FOX Sports App streams it for authenticated subscribers.
Thursday’s other games follow at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Our Week 1 schedule has the full listing.
The Bottom Line
UMass at Rutgers kicks off 6:00 p.m. ET Thursday, September 3 on Big Ten Network from SHI Stadium — the first FBS game of Week 1 and the earliest kickoff of the season’s opening weekend.