RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sources
College football is back.
The 2026 season officially kicks off on Saturday, which marks Week 0 on the college football schedule.
However, most of the top-ranked teams in the country don’t kick off until early September. That means you still have time to get a marker and a calendar so you can circle the key dates and matchups on the 2026 college football calendar.
These are the top 10 must-watch games this season, in chronological order, including each team’s preseason AP ranking:
#1 Ohio State @ #5 Texas | Sept. 12
FILE - Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson is stopped by the Texas defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio., Aug. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File) AP Photo/Jay LaPrete
It’s a matchup featuring two of college football’s powerhouse programs.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns have played each of the past two seasons, with Ohio State winning both games.
OSU defeated Texas, 14-7, in the 2025 season opener for both teams. The Buckeyes also defeated the Longhorns, 28-14, in the College Football Playoff semifinals in the 2024 season.
Can Ohio State make it three consecutive wins over Texas? Or will Arch Manning and the Longhorns finally get some payback against the top-ranked team in the country?
#11 LSU @ #9 Ole Miss | Sept. 26
FILE - LSU head coach Lane Kiffin watches his team during spring NCAA college football practice, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (Javier Gallegos/The Advocate via AP, File) Javier Gallegos/The Advocate via
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin returns to Ole Miss months after he ditched the program midseason to sign a seven-year, $91 million contract with LSU in November 2025.
The Rebels’ home crowd at Vaught Hemingway Stadium is sure to be raucous as it “welcomes” back its former head coach.
LSU, meanwhile, is rumored to boast college football’s most expensive NIL roster at upwards of $40 million. Expectations are sky-high for Kiffin, even in his first season in the Bayou.
#5 Texas @ #10 Oklahoma | Oct. 10
It’s the Red River Rivalry.
Both teams enter the season ranked in the top 10 with expectations of making the College Football Playoff.
Is there much more that needs to be said?
#3 Georgia @ #13 Alabama | Oct. 10
A battle between two SEC powerhouses that combined to win three consecutive national titles from 2020-22.
Now a few seasons removed from past championships, Georgia and Alabama are each looking to re-establish themselves as legitimate CFP title contenders.
#14 USC @ #18 Penn State | Oct. 10
The Trojans and Nittany Lions aren’t traditional Big Ten rivals, but this makes for an intriguing midseason, cross-country matchup.
Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season as USC’s head coach with a 35-18 record. For comparison sake, Brian Kelly was fired from LSU last season with a 34-14 record as head coach.
Riley might not be on the hot seat as of now, but 2026 is a crucial season for him to prove he’s leading the Trojans program in the right direction.
Penn State is entering its first season under head coach Matt Campbell, who posted a 72-55 record in 10 seasons at Iowa State. The Nittany Lions are looking to bounce back from a disastrous 2025 season when they finished 7-6 overall, including 3-6 in the Big Ten.
#1 Ohio State @ #6 Indiana | Oct. 17
FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the championship trophy after the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) AP
It’s a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Conference Championship game, which Indiana won 13-10 en route to its undefeated CFP national championship run.
Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith are back for another season after each finished top-five in the 2025 Heisman Trophy award voting.
But so is Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, who is 27-2 in two seasons at Indiana. This should be another great matchup between Midwestern foes.
#2 Oregon @ #1 Ohio State | Nov. 7
Speaking of Big Ten showdowns, it won’t get much better this season than Oregon at Ohio State.
Just like Julian Sayin at Ohio State, Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore is back for another season with the Ducks. Both Sayin and Moore are expected to be among the top picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Oregon and Ohio State both have goals of not just making the College Football Playoff, but winning it. This regular season matchup will likely have the feel of a CFP game.
#7 Miami @ #4 Notre Dame | Nov. 7
Miami and Notre Dame are the two most recent runners-up in the College Football Playoff national championship, losing to Indiana in 2025 and Ohio State in 2024, respectively.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, the grandson of former Michigan Wolverines head coach Lloyd Carr, enters the 2026 season as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah enters his first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Duke in January. He led the ACC with 34 touchdown passes in 2025.
It’s likely this matchup is a Saturday night game in South Bend. Does it get much better than that?
#5 Texas @ #8 Texas A&M | Nov. 27
The Texas A&M football team enters Kyle Field as fans cheer them on before the start of an NCAA college football game between Mississippi State and Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) AP
Longhorns vs Aggies. Hook ‘em vs Gig ‘em.
It’s a battle between Lone Star state rivals who enter each season with sky-high expectations.
A&M’s home Kyle Field is the fourth-largest stadium in college football with a maximum capacity of 102,733. It’s sure to be a sold-out home crowd, known as the “12th man,” for this late season SEC matchup that could have major College Football Playoff implications.
#16 Michigan @ #1 Ohio State | Nov. 28
Michigan and Ohio State is among the best rivalries in sports.
Just like Texas and Texas A&M, this riv...
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.