College Football Returns With Eight-Game Opening Weekend Slate

College football returns Saturday with the first FBS games of the 2026 season, offering fans an eight-game opening-day schedule stretching from Dublin, Ireland, to Las Vegas. Technically, Saturday, Aug. 29 is the sport’s Week  Zero opening weekend, with the larger Week 1 slate beginning Thursday, Sept. 3. But the first Saturday still provides several intriguing matchups, including North Carolina-TCU, NC State-Virginia and Memphis-UNLV. The action begins at noon ET when North Carolina and TCU meet at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It will be Year 2 for Bill Belichick at North Carolina after a disappointing 4-8 debut season. There is also a revenge angle after TCU hammered the Tar Heels 48-14 in last season’s opener. Fans of college football betting have plenty of action to watch after headind to the sportsbooks this wekened.

Key Games to Watch

• North Carolina vs. TCU: TCU enters as a sizable favorite, with the spread recently around 7.5 to 9.5 points depending on the sportsbook/source. The neutral-site setting in Ireland adds another variable to a game that should provide an early indication of whether North Carolina has made progress under Belichick.
• NC State at Virginia: This is the only matchup Saturday between two power-conference teams playing on a campus. Virginia is a modest favorite, with recent markets ranging from -4 to -5.5. The game also gives both teams an immediate opportunity to make an early statement in the ACC.
• San Jose State at USC: USC begins the season ranked No. 14 and is expected to dominate its opener. The Trojans are favored by close to 40 points, making the betting interest less about the outright winner and more about whether USC can cover one of the weekend’s largest spreads.
• Memphis at UNLV: Saturday concludes with perhaps the most interesting Group of Six matchup. Charles Huff makes his Memphis coaching debut, while UNLV enters the season as a leading Mountain West contender and potential College Football Playoff candidate.

Opening Weekend Matchups

Odds below reflect recent DraftKings numbers reported ahead of Saturday and can move before kickoff.

Matchup	Spread	Total	Time (ET)	Location	TV
North Carolina vs. TCU	TCU -9.5	46.5	Noon	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	ESPN
San Jose State at No. 14 USC	USC -39.5	60.5	3 p.m.	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	NBC
NC State at Virginia	Virginia -4	52.5	3:30 p.m.	Scott Stadium, Charlottesville	ESPN
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State	NDSU -7	46.5	5:30 p.m.	Fargodome, Fargo	CBS Sports Network
Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan	EMU -10	53.5	6:30 p.m.	Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti	ESPN+
Hawaii at Stanford	Stanford -4	48.5	7 p.m.	Stanford Stadium	ACC Network
New Mexico State at Florida State	FSU -30.5	53.5	7 p.m.	Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee	The CW
Memphis at UNLV	UNLV -4.5	56.5	10 p.m.	Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas	FOX

The schedule, kickoff times and television assignments give bettors and fans a full day of action before the larger Week 1 slate begins next week.

Betting Outlook

North Carolina-TCU may attract the most betting attention. The line has moved considerably across recent listings, with TCU appearing anywhere from -7.5 to -9.5. That movement makes the number especially important for bettors considering either side. The relatively low total in the mid-to-upper 40s also suggests expectations for a more controlled game. NC State-Virginia offers a much tighter spread. Virginia has been favored by roughly four points in more recent markets, leaving NC State within one-score underdog territory. With two ACC programs meeting immediately, there is also less room for the usual early-season adjustment period. Finally, Memphis-UNLV could be Saturday’s most appealing late game. UNLV is favored by 4.5 with a total of 56.5, setting up expectations for considerably more scoring than several of the afternoon matchups. Saturday is only the appetizer. The full Week 1 schedule arrives Sept. 3-7, highlighted by Clemson-LSU, Boise State-Oregon, Louisville-Ole Miss and Wisconsin-Notre Dame.