The 2026 college football season begins on Saturday, Aug. 29 with eight games on tap in Week 0, and Athlon Sports is back with predictions and picks for every contest.
The first weekend of the ’26 season starts with North Carolina and TCU meeting in Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The Tar Heels aim to take a step forward in coach Bill Belichick’s second season, while the Horned Frogs could contend for a Big 12 title game spot if transfer quarterback Jaden Craig delivers steady play this fall.
The afternoon slate for Week 0 features USC and Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Jayden Maiava taking on San Jose State. Additionally, a crucial ACC showdown between NC State and Virginia is also on tap. North Dakota State also plays its first FBS game on Saturday, as the Bison host Jacksonville State.
The evening window of action is headlined by Sacramento State-Eastern Michigan, New Mexico State-Florida State and Hawaii-Stanford. An intriguing battle between Group of 6 frontrunners in Memphis and UNLV concludes the Week 0 action.
College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 0
Steven |
Tyler |
Kyle |
||
North Carolina |
vs. TCU (Ireland) |
TCU |
TCU |
TCU |
San José State |
@ USC |
USC |
USC |
USC |
NC State |
@ Virginia |
UVA |
NC State |
NC State |
Jacksonville State |
@ North Dakota State |
NDSU |
NDSU |
NDSU |
Sacramento State |
@ Eastern Michigan |
EMU |
EMU |
Sac State |
Hawai’i |
@ Stanford |
Stanford |
Hawai’i |
Hawai’i |
New Mexico State |
@ Florida State |
FSU |
FSU |
FSU |
Memphis |
@ UNLV |
UNLV |
Memphis |
Memphis |
