Thursday, September 3, 2026. All times Eastern.
The season starts here. Fourteen games on Thursday, opening with UMass at Rutgers at 6 p.m. and building to Colorado at Georgia Tech at 8 — the only Power Four matchup of the night.
| Time | Matchup | TV |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 | UMass at Rutgers | BTN |
| 6:00 | Kentucky Christian at Morehead State | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | Akron at Wake Forest | ACC Network |
| 7:00 | Bethune-Cookman at UCF | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | UAlbany at Buffalo | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | Merrimack at Delaware | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | West Georgia at Kennesaw State | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | Southern Illinois at Samford | ESPN+ |
| 7:00 | Lindenwood at Stony Brook | FloSports |
| 8:00 | Colorado at Georgia Tech | ESPN |
| 8:00 | Eastern Illinois at Minnesota | Peacock |
| 8:00 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Missouri | SEC Network |
| 9:00 | UAB at Illinois | BTN |
| 9:00 | Idaho at Utah | ESPNU |
The Season Starts Before the Opener
Colorado at Georgia Tech is billed as the season opener, but UMass at Rutgers kicks off two hours earlier on Big Ten Network. That is the first FBS game of 2026.
What to Watch
Colorado at Georgia Tech, 8:00, ESPN. The only Power Four game of the night and a rematch of last season’s opener, which Georgia Tech won 27-20 in Boulder. Colorado has never played at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Eastern Illinois at Minnesota, 8:00, Peacock. Notable because it is not on television at all. Peacock is a standalone subscription, so no cable is needed — but you won’t find this one by flipping channels.
Idaho at Utah, 9:00, ESPNU. The last game of the night, and a 7 p.m. local start in Salt Lake City.
Where the Games Are
Only three Thursday games are on channels most households have: ESPN, SEC Network and Big Ten Network. Seven are on ESPN+, one on Peacock, one on FloSports and one on ACC Network.
ESPN+ and Peacock are both standalone subscriptions requiring no cable provider. Our Week 1 schedule has the full weekend.
The Bottom Line
Fourteen college football games on Thursday, September 3, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. UMass at Rutgers opens the season on Big Ten Network, and Colorado at Georgia Tech on ESPN is the only Power Four matchup of the night.