2026 Season Kickoffs
Kickoff Dates and Teams Announced for Five College Football Games in Early 2026
Key Points
Kickoff times (ET) for the five games are: EMU-Sac State on Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET; SDSU-Portland State on Sept. 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET; Bowling Green-Tarleton State on Sept. 5 at 12:00 p.m. ET; USC-Fresno State on Sept. 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET; Prairie View A&M-Texas Southern on Sept. 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
The SDSU-Portland State game is against an FCS opponent (Portland State Vikings), with Portland State entering the game at 0-0.
USC-Fresno State is described as a Pac-12 matchup.
Ticket information indicates tickets are available via StubHub, Vivid Seats, or Ticketmaster for all five games.
The schedule spans five days of the week, with two games on Sept. 5 (SDSU-Portland State and Bowling Green-Tarleton State), a Friday game on Sept. 4 (USC-Fresno State), a Sunday game on Sept. 6 (PVAMU-Texas Southern), and an Aug. 29 Saturday opener (EMU-Sac State).
Five college football games are set to kick off the 2026 season between Aug. 29 and Sept. 6, with matchups spread across the country from California to Texas. iHeart Sports SD reports tickets are already on sale for all five games through StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Ticketmaster.
The slate includes a high-profile Friday night game on Sept. 4, when USC hosts Fresno State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 9:00 p.m. ET. Two games follow on Sept. 5, with a Sunday SWAC rivalry closing things out on Sept. 6.
EMU Opens Season Saturday Against Sacramento State
The first game of the five-game stretch tips off Saturday, Aug. 29, when Eastern Michigan hosts Sacramento State at Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. iHeart Sports SD confirms tickets for the Eagles vs. Hornets matchup are available through the major resale platforms.
Eastern Michigan plays at home in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Sacramento State travels from California for the early-season road test. It is a rare late-August kickoff that gives both programs an extra week of game experience before the season fully ramps up.
USC-Fresno State Headlines Friday Night Under Pac-12 Label
The marquee game of the week comes Friday, Sept. 4, when USC takes on Fresno State at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is 9:00 p.m. ET. iHeart Sports SD describes the matchup as a Pac-12 game, signaling conference realignment continues to shape the 2026 landscape.
A Friday night game at the Coliseum gives USC a prime-time national spotlight early in the year. Fresno State arrives as a road underdog but brings a tough program. Fans can secure seats through StubHub, Vivid Seats, or Ticketmaster.
SDSU and Bowling Green Both Play Sept. 5 Openers
Two games land on Saturday, Sept. 5. San Diego State hosts Portland State at Snapdragon Stadium at 9:30 p.m. ET. Portland State is an FCS program — that means they play in the division below major college football. According to Rip City Radio, the Vikings enter the game at 0-0 with no prior results.
Earlier that same day, Bowling Green plays Tarleton State at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Ohio at 12:00 p.m. ET. Tarleton State, based in Stephenville, Texas, makes the trip north for the noon kickoff. Both Sept. 5 games offer fans affordable early-season ticket options through major resale sites.
Prairie View A&M vs. Texas Southern Closes Week in SWAC Rivalry
The five-game run wraps up Sunday, Sept. 6, with a SWAC clash between Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern. The game is at Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field in Houston, Texas. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET. The SWAC — Southwestern Athletic Conference — is a historically Black college conference with deep roots in Texas.
Prairie View A&M travels to rival Texas Southern for what promises to be a heated in-state matchup. A Sunday noon start is unusual in college football, making this game stand out on the early-season schedule. Tickets are available through the standard major platforms.
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