Two Power 4 matchups headline Week 0 action

Image – FBSchedules.com

The 2026 college football season is here with an interesting Week 0 slate that includes two Power 4 games, one in Dublin between North Carolina and TCU and another all ACC matchup between North Carolina State and Virginia in Charlottesville.

In addition, San José State goes to Memorial Coliseum to face USC, North Dakota State and Sacramento State make their FBS debuts against Jacksonville State and Eastern Michigan respectively and Hawai’i travels to Stanford to open the 2026 season how they did a year ago in 2025.

Florida State opens an important season against New Mexico State while Memphis will face off against UNLV in a game with huge College Football Playoff implications for non-automatic qualifier schools.

AP Top 5
No. 1 Ohio State 0-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Off
No. 2 Oregon 0-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Off
No. 3 Georgia 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Off
No. 4 Notre Dame 0-0 Independents This week: Off
No. 5 Texas 0-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Off

The Week 0 Slate:

*All game times are at central standard time*

Saturday, Aug. 29
North Carolina vs. TCU (Dublin; Aer Lingus College Football Classic)
11 a.m., ABC
North Carolina meets TCU overseas in Dublin to kick off the 2026 college football season at 11 a.m. on ABC with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rogers (analyst) and Dana Boyle (sideline reporter) on the call.

The Tar Heels are attempting to bounce back from a 4-8 season where they won only 2 ACC games in Bill Belichick’s first season at the helm. After a crazy-offseason that included the hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and the paid leave of general manager Michael Lombardi. The Horned Frogs enjoyed a much better 2025 season, going 9-4 and finishing their season with an exciting 30-27 victory over USC.

The success of the UNC offense will depend on Wisconsin transfer quarterback Billy Edwards and their rebuilt offensive line. Edwards will have to rely on the team’s returning running back Demon June and wide receiver Jordan Shipp to get the ball down the field and score points against the TCU defense. After losing All-Big 12 safety Bud Clark and linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, their defensive line will be important against opposing offenses in 2026. Stud Zach Chapman, tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh and Markis Deal all return to lead the Horned Frog defense this season, starting against the Tar Heels.

Coordinator Steve Belichick’s defense is led by end Melkart About Jaoud, tackle Leroy Jackson and nickleback Kaleb Cost for North Carolina. They will face a brand new TCU offense, led by coordinator Gordon Sammis and Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig. Craig has come into replace Josh Hoover, and he will look to get the ball to receivers Jordan Dwyer, Terry Shelton, Ed Small and tight end Ka’Morreun Pimton against Cost and the Tar Heel secondary. About Joud, Jackson and the UNC front will be in charge of shutting down tailback Jeremy Payne.

Despite the newness of the TCU offense, North Carolina will not be able to overcome the Horned Frogs again in 2026. The Tar Heels will keep it closer than last fall’s matchup but it will not be enough. TCU will start the season 1-0 again.

Projected Score: TCU 35, North Carolina 17

San José State at No. 14 USC
2 p.m., NBC
Nationally ranked USC welcomes instate foe San José State ahead of what should be an exciting season under head coach Lincoln Riley. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. on NBC with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call.

After three consecutive bowl wins, the Spartans won only three games in 2025. If things don’t get better in year three under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, it may not be good. Similarly, 2026 will be an important season for the Trojans and Riley. USC won nine games last fall but anything without a run to the College Football Playoff could mean that he will be fired at the end of the season.

There will be a relatively new look offense for San Jose State this season. Freshman quarterback Robert McDaniel steps in next to senior running back Jabari Bates. Four new starting receivers will catch passes from McDaniel including Malachi Riley, Tama Amisone and transfers Anthony Ivey and Jerry McClure. Former Horned Frog head coach Gary Patterson takes over as the Trojans’ defensive coordinator. Tackle Jide Abasiri and end Karmeryn Crawford are the two key cogs in a line room full of depth to stop the Spartans’ ground attack, led by Bates. Corner Marcelles Williams and safety Christian Pierce will be important in shutting down the passing game, where the Spartans’ four wide receiver look could be interest.

It will be tough for a San José State defense with many new starters to handle the USC offense returns eight starters, including its entire backfield, quarterback Jayden Maiava and tailback Waymond Jordan. In addition, Maiava gets to throw to Tanook Hines and he will get to play behind all five offensive linemen that return for 2026. End Justin Stearns will lead the Spartans defense against the high-scoring Trojan offense.

USC’s electric offense and rebuilt defense will be too much for San José State to handle. Maiava will lead the Trojan offense down the field for multiple scoring drives and Patterson’s defense will make enough stops to help them finish the Spartans off and start the season out with a victory.

Projected Score: USC 42, San José State 13

NC State at Virginia
2:30 p.m., ABC
NC State will be in Charlottesville to face Virginia in a big-time ACC duel to begin the season. The Wolfpack and Cavaliers will begin at 2:30 p.m. on ABC with Wes Durham (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Madison Fitzpatrick (sideline reporter) on the call.

NC State has yet to make it out of the pack in the ACC, winning eight games overall and four in the ACC during Dave Doeren’s 13th season at the helm. The Wolfpack want 10-wins, an ACC championship and a College Football Playoff appearance and starting the season with a win against last season’s runner-up would be perfect way to start. The team that made the ACC Championship game last season, Virginia lost to Duke in that game but still won 11 games in 2025. It will be important for Tony Elliott’s team to continue to build off that foundation in his fifth season as head coach.

Former Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is a capable runner but he must improve as a passer if Virginia wants to return to the ACC Championship game in 2026. Pribula’s backfield is loaded with Tennessee transfer Peyton Lewis and Jekail Middlebrook headlining the group. Sophomore nose tackle Josiah Victor, linebackers Popo Aguirre and Da’Karri Nelson will be in charge of shutting the Cavalier running game. Nickleback Jackson Vick and strong safety Asaad Brown Jr. will lead the secondary against the receiving group of Rico Flores Jr., Dillon Newton-Short, Kameron Courtney and Dakota Twitty.

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey will rely on transfer wide receivers Davion Dozier and Joshisa Trader after losing all five contributors at the position last year. Returning cornerback Donavon Platt and safety Ethan Minter will attempt to shut down the Wolfpack passing game. Josh Scott will be the running back after replacing Hollywood Smothers, who transferred from the program in the off-season. Linebacker Kam Robinson is the leader of the Cavalier defense and with the help of tackles Jason Hammond and Anthony Britton, they will look to shut down Scott.

In what could be the best game of the day in week 0, NC State and Virginia will go back-and-forth for all 60 minutes, and a winner will not be decided until the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers will protect home field against the Wolfpack and begin the season on a high note.

Projected Score: Virginia 24, NC State 21

Jacksonville State at North Dakota State
4:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Jacksonville State has traveled to face longtime FCS power North Dakota State for their FBS debut. The Gamecocks and Bison will face off at 4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst), Brian Kelly (analyst) and Jordan Giorgio (sideline reporter) on the call.

Jacksonville State fell in the Conference USA Championship game last season before defeating Troy in the Salute to Veteran’s Bowl. Second year head coach Charles Kelly and the Gamecocks are primed for another solid season and they will look to start it out with a victory over North Dakota State. The Bison went 12-1 in their final season in the FCS before losing to Illinois State in the second round of the playoff. Tim Polasek’s team has a chance to compete to win the Mountain West and they can start it off with a win over a quality Conference USA program, Jacksonville State.

The Gamecocks’ defense will have to shut down the new-look North Dakota State offense. Senior linebacker Walker O’Steen, junior defensive tackle Jawaun Campbell and sophomore linebacker Mac Sanders will look to stop the Bison ground game, headed by tailbacks DJ Scott and Myles Mitchell. Senior safety Caleb Nix will have the job of leading the young JSU secondary against new NDSU quarterback Nathan Hayes, who was the backup on last season’s team. Hayes will look to get the ball down the field to tight end Reis Kessel, after averaging 22.3 yards per catch last season and a new starting group of wide receivers.

On the other side, North Dakota State lost the leader of their defense, Nathaniel Staehling on the final day of the portal period to Michigan, weakening a strong group that still has juniors Donovan Woolen and Keith Williams. Woolen and Williams will get to deal with Jacksonville State’s dual-threat quarterback Caden Creel. Creel won’t have last season’s Conference USA MVP Cam Cook at running back anymore but that room has plenty of depth. Creel’s leading receiver from last season, Deondre Johnson will likely be his top option down the field in Saturday’s game.

North Dakota State will want to defend Fargo as they open their time as an FBS program but Jacksonville State will come in and make sure that does not happen. The Gamecocks will edge the Bison out in the fourth quarter with a successful two minute drill.

Projected Score: Jacksonville State 27, North Dakota State 24

Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan
5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Sacramento State will begin their time in FBS football in their MAC debut at Eastern Michigan. The Hornets and Eagles will match up at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN+ with Mick Tedrow (play-by-play) and Je’rod Cherry (analyst) on the call.

Sacramento State went 7-5 in their final season of FCS football, meaning that they failed to make the playoffs. The Hornets will have an uphill battle as they begin their stay in the MAC. Eastern Michigan will welcome SSU to the conference after a 4-8 2025 campaign. If the Eagles want to make the postseason, they have to start the season with a win and then move onto the rest of their schedule.

Sacramento State quarterback Carson Conklin is back after a season at Fresno State, where he is joined by running back Jamar Curtis. Eastern Michigan defensive end Carter Evans and linebacker Barry Manning will look to shut down the Hornet’s running game. The lone returning starting on the Hornet offense is Jordan Williams, who will likely be in direct contact of Eagle safety Bryce Llewellyn, the leader of the secondary.

The linebacking core is the strength of the Sacramento State defense and Derek Houston and Alex Rocha want to prove that against Eastern Michigan. Houston and Rocha want to make sure the Eagle ground game does not get going with transfers Braydon Bennett and Malachi James taking carries from returning signal-caller Noah Kim. The lone returning starter for the Hornet defense, however, is defensive tackle Xavier Williams, who will want to help Houston and Rocha shut down both the ground and passing attack from Kim to Nick Devereaux, Benson Prosper and Antonio Floyd, all of whom also return for another season.

Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State should play a close game for a half or three quarters but the Eagles should overwhelm the Hornets in the second half, who have first time head coach and have a roster built to be an FCS Independent at best.

Projected Score: Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 10

Hawai’i at Stanford
6 p.m., ACC Network
Week 0 usual Hawai’i will be in northern California for a showdown with Stanford on Saturday night. The Rainbow Warriors will face the Cardinals at 6 p.m. on the ACC Network with Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst) and Kendra Douglas (sideline reporter) on the call.

Hawai’i has a chance to defeat Stanford for a second consecutive season after doing the same a season ago. The Rainbow Warriors’ win against the Cardinal was the first of nine, including a Hawai’i Bowl victory over California on Christmas Eve. On the other hand, Stanford wants to avoid another sluggish season, especially after winning only four contests in 2025. The Cardinal will have a tough game in week 1 against Miami but they will have to focus on Hawai’i if they want to open the season with a win.

Reigning Mountain West Freshman of Year Micah Alejado, who returns after he averaged 282.4 passing yards per game and completed 66% of his passes in head coach Timmy Chang’s four-wide, spread offense. His quick decision-making is vital in a unit that includes two slot receivers, Pofele Ashlock and Washington transfer Audric Harris. Alejado’s new tailback is Cam Barfield after serving as the backup in 2025 behind an offensive line with two returning starters.

Stanford middle linebacker Matt Rose is the leader of the Cardinal defense so he will be the man in charge of shutting down the Alejado-led offense. Alongside Rose, the safety room is also strong with Jay Green, Scotty Edwards, Charlie Eckhardt and Darrius Davis. Green, Edwards, Eckhard and Davis will be in charge of shutting down the Alejado to Ashlock and Harris passes down the field.

The Rainbow Warrior defense only has three starters back from a unit that ranked sixth in the conference in total defense last season. They lost two All-league players on the defensive line. With little talent left on the line, the Cardinal offense will want to rely heavily on running back Michael Ford.

If Ford can get the ground game going, he will make it easier for quarterback Davis Warren to get the ball to his favorite targets, wide receiver Caden High and tight end Benji Blackburn. Honorable mention All-MWC nickleback Elijah Palmer will lead the Hawai’i secondary against the Stanford passing attack.

Similar to last season’s Rainbow Warrior win to begin the season, this game should be back-and-forth until the final whistle. The Hawai’i offense will be hard to stop with Alejado leading the way, but the Cardinal offense will have a chance to succeed against a new-look defense on the other side. However, Hawai’i has a chance to win the Mountain West this season while Stanford is trying to build on a 4-8 record from last fall. The Rainbow Warriors will edge the Cardinal again to open the 2026 season.

Projected Score: Hawai’i 24, Stanford 21

New Mexico State at Florida State
6 p.m., The CW
Florida State will host New Mexico State on Saturday night as they begin a crucial season in 2026. The Seminoles will square off with the Aggies at 6 p.m. on The CW with Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Jason Cabinda (analyst) and Wes Bryant (sideline reporter) on the call.

New Mexico State went 4-8 in 2025 but will hope to return to a bowl game in 2026 with a lot of new faces via the transfer portal. The Aggies will have to walk in to Doak Campbell Stadium, a tough environment, but Florida State has not been safe from upsets in the past. The Seminoles must start out the season with a win if head coach Mike Norvell wants to keep his job beyond this fall. FSU won only five games in 2025 and if they lose a game to New Mexico State would put Norvell in an even worse position than he is already in.

New Mexico State will struggle to succeed offensively if they can’t be better than 113th nationally in yards per game, which is where they finished last season. The Aggies will rely on many transfers, including signal-caller Trey Hedden, running back James Jones. They return only two starters on the unit, including wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson and tight end Jeron Akrien.

The revamped Florida State defense will rely on Southern transfer Chris Jones to head the defense as the middle linebacker after finishing the 2025 season as a top-10 tackler in the FBS. The NMSU offense will want to run the ball with Jones because the Seminoles have questions in the trenches with only one returning starter back, nose tackle Daniel Lyons.

New Mexico State linebacker Jared Lloyd, edge rushers Kellen Lindstrom and Caden Wiest will play a huge factor in stopping the Florida State offense. Former Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels will be the third new starting quarterback for Florida State in a row. His inconsistent career could be good for the Aggies’ defense in the season-opener.

Daniels will get to throw to Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy, both of whom are retiring starters. Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner, Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. will form one of the top tailback trios in the country. If FSU’s offense can have success early and often in this game, NMSU will not be able to have the success they want to.

Florida State should win this game fairly easily against New Mexico State. The Seminoles need to take care of business against the Aggies if Mike Norvell wants to keep his job as head coach beyond his seventh season. Things may start slowly for FSU, but they will beat NMSU and move to 1-0 to start the 2026 season.

Projected Score: Florida State 34, New Mexico State 14

Memphis at UNLV
9 p.m., FOX
Memphis will be in Las Vegas for a huge Group of Six battle against UNLV with College Football Playoff implications to end Week 0. The Tigers will meet with the Rebels at 9 p.m. on FOX with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst) and Josh Sims (sideline reporter) on the call.

With Charles Huff taking over for Ryan Silverfield as head coach, there is hope Memphis can make a run to the American Championship game and the College Football Playoff. Tigers’ fans think Huff can turn eight wins into 10 or more. Last season, UNLV reached that 10 win mark but they failed to win the Mountain West championship game against Boise State and the Frisco Bowl against Ohio. With the Broncos in the new Pac-12, the Rebels can win the conference and make a run similar to the Tigers, especially if they start out with a win on Saturday night.

New Memphis offensive coordinator Kevin Decker will lead his unit with a fast, spread-style attack that succeeded at his previous stop, Old Dominion. West Florida transfer quarterback Marcus Stokes should succeed in Decker’s offense after beating out South Carolina transfer Air Noland for the job. Stokes will attempt to get the ball to speedsters Alante Brown and Tychaun Chapman. UNLV safety Jake Pope will lead his secondary against Stokes’ passing game.

Southern Miss transfer tailback Jaylin Carter followed Huff to his new job and he will lead a room that features two other backs, Manny Covey and Dallan Hayden. Rebel defensive tackle Lucas Conti and linebacker Belsyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu are the only two returning starters in the front six for their defense, so they will have to stop Carter, Covey and Hayden throughout Saturday night’s battle against the Tigers if they want to come out with a victory.

Auburn transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold will look to get his career on the right track as the new quarterback for UNLV. His main challenge on Saturday night will be getting the ball past linebacker Mike Montgomery and safety Ian Foster, both of whom followed Huff from USM. Foster will play a big part in stopping wide Rebel receivers Kayden McGee, Taeshaun Lyons, DeAngelo Irvin Jr. and tight end Keyan Burnett. Montgomery will lead the Memphis front against Arnold’s running back, Jai’den Thomas, who returned to Las Vegas for his senior season.

In another game that could be considered the best of Week 0, Memphis and UNLV will go back-and-forth. In a game that could potentially eliminate either team from the College Football Playoff in December, the Tigers will edge the Rebels for the victory on the road.

Projected Score: Memphis 31, UNLV 28

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