The 2026 college football season is underway, and the best matchups and settings are still to come.
Here, we’ll take a look at 10 of the best games to watch in September’s slate through Week 4.
Week 1
Clemson at No. 10 LSU
When: Saturday, Sept. 5; 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
TV: ESPN
Line: LSU -10
The Lane Kiffin era arrives in Baton Rouge in a showdown vs. Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
LSU looks to return to national title contention after an underwhelming Brian Kelly era. And Clemson’s once-dominant Swinney era (national titles in 2016 and 2018) has fallen off, resulting in a 7-6 season and a Pinstripe Bowl loss in 2025.
Kiffin took Ole Miss to double-digit wins in three straight seasons, and now he has access to massive resources at LSU. He was also gifted the eligibility of former pro players. Expectations will be for Kiffin and LSU to contend for championships quickly.
Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
When: Sunday, Sept. 6; 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)
TV: NBC
Line: Notre Dame -20.5
Notre Dame is a 20.5-point favorite, so it’s very possible that this ends up being a lopsided game.
But it’s two high-profile programs opening the season with a Sunday night game at the historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay. It will be just the third major college football game played at Lambeau, with the last one also featuring Wisconsin in a game vs. LSU in 2016.
Regardless of the outcome, it should be an entertaining watch in a fantastic setting. And it gives the college football world a first look at a Notre Dame program that’s currently the co-favorite (+600) with Ohio State to win the national championship.
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss
When: Sunday, Sept. 6; 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN)
TV: ABC
Line: Ole Miss -6.5
The first ranked college football matchup of the season comes in the final time slot of Week 1, and at the same time as the Wisconsin-Notre Dame game. It’s the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.
Despite no Kiffin after he accepted the LSU position, Ole Miss made a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals under Pete Golding’s leadership.
With Golding now officially the head coach, and with star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss granted a sixth year of eligibility, Ole Miss has hopes of going all the way this time around.
Week 2
No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 16 Michigan
When: Saturday, Sept. 12; 12 p.m. ET
Where: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, MI)
TV: Fox
Line: Oklahoma -1.5
A matchup well deserving of the Fox “Big Noon” placement.
The Big House will be rocking for an SEC-Big Ten battle that Oklahoma won 24-13 last September in Norman.
There are a number of storylines in this one, including Kyle Whittingham having his first big test as Michigan head coach after spending the last 22 years coaching Utah.
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 5 Texas
When: Saturday, Sept. 12; 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX)
TV: ABC
Line: Texas -1.5
Arch Manning and Texas host No. 1 Ohio State.
This one is an easy sell and should be one of the top showdowns of the college football season.
Week 3
No. 11 LSU at No. 9 Ole Miss
When: Saturday, Sept. 19; 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, MS)
TV: ABC
Line: Ole Miss -1.5
It will be quite rowdy in Oxford for the return of Kiffin after he left Ole Miss during a College Football Playoff run to join LSU.
And beyond that, it should be a fantastic football game between two SEC rivals that could have big ramifications on the CFP picture
Week 4
No. 5 Texas at No. 20 Tennessee
When: Saturday, Sept. 26; 12 p.m. ET
Where: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, TN)
TV: ABC or ESPN (TBD)
Line: Texas -6.5
The Saturday in Week 4 is absolutely loaded with great games, and it gets started with a marquee Noon matchup in Knoxville.
This will be the Volunteers’ only chance for a win vs. a currently ranked opponent in the first half of their 2026 schedule, and it’s the kind of win they will need to find in order to be viewed as a contender for the CFP.
If Texas can take down Ohio State and Tennessee, the Longhorns might enter October as the top-ranked team in the country (and Manning would likely get even more No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy talk). And the Longhorns’ first game of October will be the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma in Austin on Oct. 10.
No. 2 Oregon at No. 14 USC
When: Saturday, Sept. 26; TBD
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV: TBD
Line: Oregon -5.5
Oregon was very lucky that quarterback Dante Moore returned to school after he was expected to be in the conversation for a top-two overall NFL draft pick this past April. He has a chance to prove that he should be the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and he has the chance to lead No. 2 Oregon to its first national championship in program history.
Can USC finally get over the hump and become a CFP team under Lincoln Riley? The Trojans annihilated Fresno State 39-0 on Friday night to move to 2-0 in the early going.
No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 3 Georgia
When: Saturday, Sept. 26; TBD
Where: Sanford Stadium (Athens, GA)
TV: TBD
Line: Georgia -10
This game is sure to mean a lot for the SEC picture.
John Mateer and the Sooners have the chance for a statement win on the road in Athens against Gunner Stockton and the Bulldogs.
This will be the first time that Oklahoma and Georgia have faced off since the Sooners joined the SEC in 2024.
Kirby Smart has had the Bulldogs as a buzzsaw annually since taking over as head coach in 2016, and that’s particularly been the case at home. Georgia is 56-5 in Athens under Smart’s leadership, and they’re 9-0 in such games against top-10 teams.
No. 8 Texas A&M at No. 11 LSU
When: Saturday, Sept. 26; TBD
Where: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
TV: TBD
Line: LSU -3
A wild early-season schedule continues for Kiffin and LSU, and they will have their hand full vs a highly talented Texas A&M squad.
If LSU exits this game with a 4-0 record, they will have a great chance to get to 8-0 before November SEC showdowns vs. Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.