College Football Week 1 - 2026

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Week 1 of the 2026 season features 91 FBS games. UNLV carries the week's biggest travel burden at 2,756 miles more than its opponent. Hawai'i posts the week's top HFA at 3.8 points. Analysts focused on travel and venue edges will find the ranked sections below most actionable; casual viewers can use the at-a-glance table to scan results. See detailed weather forecasts for every game this week.

Date Away @ Home Away Power Home Power HFA Power Line Line O/U Line Implied Score
Sep 3
6:00 PM
Massachusetts @ Rutgers -32.4 -0.5 1.9 Rutgers -33.8 Rutgers -30.5 53.5 12–42
Sep 3
7:00 PM
West Georgia @ Kennesaw State 1.0 -11.1 2.5 West Georgia -9.6 Kennesaw State -22.5 51.5 15–37
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Bethune-Cookman @ UCF -32.0 0.6 3.2 UCF -35.8 UCF -41.5 - -
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Akron @ Wake Forest -19.3 3.8 2.5 Wake Forest -25.6 Wake Forest -23.5 50.0 13–37
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Merrimack @ Delaware -30.4 -15.2 2.5 Delaware -17.7 Delaware -28.5 55.5 14–42
Sep 3
7:00 PM
UAlbany @ Buffalo -27.6 -14.4 2.3 Buffalo -15.5 Buffalo -24.5 48.5 12–36
Sep 3
8:00 PM
Colorado @ Georgia Tech -0.5 6.5 1.1 Georgia Tech -8.1 Georgia Tech -7.0 51.0 22–29
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Eastern Illinois @ Minnesota -32.8 5.6 2.8 Minnesota -41.2 Minnesota -43.5 - -
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Missouri -33.6 12.8 2.4 Missouri -48.8 Missouri -54.5 60.5 2–58
Sep 3
7:00 PM
Idaho @ Utah -17.5 16.7 3.0 Utah -37.2 Utah -33.5 56.5 11–45
Sep 3
8:00 PM
UAB @ Illinois -15.4 10.8 2.2 Illinois -28.4 Illinois -28.5 57.0 14–43
Sep 4
6:30 PM
San José State @ Eastern Michigan -14.8 -16.5 1.5 San José State -0.2 Eastern Michigan -4.5 53.5 25–29
Sep 4
7:00 PM
North Carolina A&T @ Georgia State -32.8 -18.6 1.3 Georgia State -15.5 Georgia State -28.5 63.5 18–46
Sep 4
7:00 PM
Indiana State @ Purdue -29.6 -5.1 1.9 Purdue -26.4 Purdue -35.5 56.5 10–46
Sep 4
7:00 PM
UTEP @ Oklahoma -20.8 18.1 2.7 Oklahoma -41.6 Oklahoma -40.5 50.5 4–46
Sep 4
8:00 PM
Toledo @ Michigan State -1.6 -1.1 1.4 Michigan State -1.9 Michigan State -10.5 49.5 20–30
Sep 4
7:00 PM
Long Island University @ Kansas -29.2 4.4 2.8 Kansas -36.4 Kansas -38.5 53.5 8–46
Sep 4
6:00 PM
Fresno State @ USC -3.9 16.8 3.1 USC -23.8 USC -22.5 51.5 15–37
Sep 4
6:00 PM
Miami @ Stanford 21.6 -6.0 2.4 Miami -25.2 Miami -24.5 48.5 36–12
Sep 5
11:00 AM
Oregon State @ Houston -9.5 6.7 1.5 Houston -17.7 Houston -20.0 51.0 15–36
Sep 5
11:00 AM
East Carolina @ Alabama 0.3 19.2 3.5 Alabama -22.4 Alabama -28.5 54.0 13–41
Sep 5
12:00 PM
New Hampshire @ Syracuse -20.8 -4.6 2.5 Syracuse -18.7 Syracuse -32.5 55.5 12–44
Sep 5
11:00 AM
Ohio @ Nebraska -4.8 6.9 2.8 Nebraska -14.5 Nebraska -24.0 47.5 12–36
Sep 5
12:00 PM
North Texas @ Indiana -0.3 27.6 2.6 Indiana -30.5 Indiana -41.0 55.5 8–48
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Lafayette @ UConn -27.2 -9.0 3.5 UConn -21.7 UConn -19.5 58.5 19–39
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Coastal Carolina @ West Virginia -11.3 -2.7 2.5 West Virginia -11.1 West Virginia -21.5 58.0 18–40
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Liberty @ James Madison -7.9 4.6 2.7 James Madison -15.2 James Madison -6.5 53.0 23–30
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Tarleton State @ Bowling Green -10.0 -16.3 0.8 Tarleton State -5.5 Bowling Green -2.5 47.5 23–25
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Bryant @ Army -26.8 -1.4 1.6 Army -27.0 Army -36.5 - -
Sep 5
12:30 PM
Ball State @ Ohio State -22.1 32.2 3.0 Ohio State -57.3 Ohio State -51.0 56.5 2–54
Sep 5
12:30 PM
Miami (OH) @ Pittsburgh -5.3 7.2 2.5 Pittsburgh -15.1 Pittsburgh -16.0 50.5 17–33
Sep 5
12:45 PM
Kent State @ South Carolina -18.7 10.2 2.4 South Carolina -31.3 South Carolina -36.5 53.0 8–45
Sep 5
11:00 AM
Duquesne @ Air Force -28.4 -5.4 2.5 Air Force -25.5 Air Force -30.5 58.5 14–44
Sep 5
12:00 PM
Southeast Missouri State @ Iowa State -28.0 5.2 2.9 Iowa State -36.1 Iowa State -29.5 53.5 12–42
Sep 5
1:00 PM
Youngstown State @ Kentucky -17.4 3.9 2.7 Kentucky -24.0 Kentucky -23.5 62.5 19–43
Sep 5
2:00 PM
Rhode Island @ Temple -17.6 -10.7 3.3 Temple -10.2 Temple -10.0 51.5 21–31
Sep 5
3:00 PM
Tennessee State @ Georgia 1.0 25.7 2.5 Georgia -27.2 Georgia -46.5 56.5 4–52
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Tulane @ Duke 2.1 5.2 2.8 Duke -5.9 Duke -8.5 52.0 22–30
Sep 5
3:30 PM
The Citadel @ Charlotte -27.6 -24.3 1.1 Charlotte -4.4 Charlotte -15.5 46.5 15–31
Sep 5
2:30 PM
Fordham @ North Dakota State -32.4 -12.8 2.5 North Dakota State -22.1 North Dakota State -39.5 57.5 10–48
Sep 5
2:30 PM
Baylor @ Auburn 3.1 10.9 0.0 Auburn -7.8 Auburn -7.0 59.0 26–33
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Maine @ App State -26.8 -12.6 3.0 App State -17.2 App State -17.5 53.5 18–36
Sep 5
12:30 PM
Boise State @ Oregon 5.2 29.4 1.9 Oregon -26.1 Oregon -24.5 52.0 14–38
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Furman @ Tennessee -20.4 15.8 2.9 Tennessee -39.1 Tennessee -46.5 66.5 10–56
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Towson @ Navy -17.5 3.2 2.1 Navy -22.8 Navy -30.5 53.5 12–42
Sep 5
2:30 PM
Texas State @ Texas -2.2 22.2 3.4 Texas -27.8 Texas -30.5 60.0 15–45
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Boston College @ Cincinnati -5.7 5.0 2.8 Cincinnati -13.4 Cincinnati -7.5 52.5 22–30
Sep 5
3:30 PM
Marshall @ Penn State -6.0 19.5 2.1 Penn State -27.6 Penn State -24.0 54.5 15–39
Sep 5
2:30 PM
UT Rio Grande Valley @ UTSA 1.0 1.4 3.8 UTSA -4.2 UTSA -28.5 59.5 16–44
Sep 5
2:45 PM
Oklahoma State @ Tulsa -3.0 -11.8 1.8 Oklahoma State -7.0 Oklahoma State -14.0 61.0 38–23
Sep 5
3:15 PM
North Alabama @ Arkansas -29.2 5.2 0.8 Arkansas -35.2 Arkansas -40.5 63.5 12–52
Sep 5
3:15 PM
Northern Illinois @ Iowa -15.6 14.7 2.1 Iowa -32.4 Iowa -31.0 45.5 8–38
Sep 5
4:00 PM
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss -38.0 -15.7 2.5 Southern Miss -24.8 Southern Miss -21.0 50.5 14–36
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Norfolk State @ Old Dominion -32.0 2.0 2.3 Old Dominion -36.3 Old Dominion -41.5 55.5 8–48
Sep 5
4:00 PM
Wyoming @ Colorado State -12.2 -13.8 2.0 Colorado State -0.4 Colorado State -3.5 48.0 22–26
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Sam Houston @ Troy -24.1 -7.1 1.8 Troy -18.8 Troy -16.5 51.5 18–34
Sep 5
6:00 PM
SE Louisiana @ South Alabama -17.8 -10.8 2.4 South Alabama -9.4 South Alabama -12.5 52.5 20–32
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Houston Christian @ Rice -30.4 -15.3 2.7 Rice -17.8 Rice -24.5 47.5 12–36
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Missouri State @ Texas A&M -15.7 19.9 3.0 Texas A&M -38.6 Texas A&M -40.5 52.5 6–46
Sep 5
7:00 PM
Florida International @ South Florida -12.7 2.3 3.0 South Florida -18.0 South Florida -13.0 55.0 21–34
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Eastern Kentucky @ Jacksonville State -27.2 -7.5 2.5 Jacksonville State -22.2 Jacksonville State -19.5 52.5 16–36
Sep 5
7:00 PM
Charleston Southern @ Georgia Southern -32.0 -9.9 3.4 Georgia Southern -25.5 Georgia Southern -25.5 51.5 14–38
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Austin Peay @ Vanderbilt -17.7 12.1 1.5 Vanderbilt -31.3 Vanderbilt -30.5 61.5 16–46
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Arkansas State @ Memphis -9.0 0.4 2.2 Memphis -11.6 Memphis -9.5 55.5 24–32
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Abilene Christian @ Texas Tech -17.8 20.9 2.8 Texas Tech -41.5 Texas Tech -42.5 59.5 9–51
Sep 5
5:00 PM
Idaho State @ Utah State -20.4 -6.3 2.9 Utah State -17.0 Utah State -11.5 64.5 26–38
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Murray State @ Middle Tennessee -32.0 -20.2 2.3 Middle Tennessee -14.1 Middle Tennessee -20.5 59.5 20–40
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Nicholls @ Kansas State -28.4 10.8 3.1 Kansas State -42.4 Kansas State -40.5 55.5 8–48
Sep 5
6:30 PM
Clemson @ LSU 10.2 16.8 3.0 LSU -9.6 LSU -9.5 50.5 20–30
Sep 5
6:30 PM
Northwestern State @ Louisiana Tech -37.6 -7.5 3.2 Louisiana Tech -33.3 Louisiana Tech -41.5 52.5 5–47
Sep 5
7:30 PM
VMI @ Virginia Tech -30.0 2.5 2.5 Virginia Tech -35.0 Virginia Tech -50.5 57.5 4–54
Sep 5
7:30 PM
Western Michigan @ Michigan -4.0 17.2 1.9 Michigan -23.1 Michigan -27.5 47.5 10–38
Sep 5
6:30 PM
UL Monroe @ Mississippi State -19.4 3.5 1.3 Mississippi State -24.2 Mississippi State -28.5 55.5 14–42
Sep 5
7:45 PM
Florida Atlantic @ Florida -9.9 11.5 3.6 Florida -25.0 Florida -26.5 58.5 16–42
Sep 5
7:00 PM
Lamar @ Louisiana -20.4 -8.9 2.8 Louisiana -14.3 Louisiana -18.5 48.5 14–34
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Utah Tech @ BYU 1.0 15.6 2.8 BYU -17.4 BYU -47.5 54.5 3–51
Sep 5
8:00 PM
Hampton @ Maryland - 1.7 2.3 - Maryland -45.5 56.5 5–51
Sep 5
7:00 PM
South Dakota State @ Northwestern 1.0 3.5 3.0 Northwestern -5.5 Northwestern -12.5 46.5 16–30
Sep 5
7:00 PM
Mercyhurst @ New Mexico State 1.0 -18.1 2.2 Mercyhurst -16.9 - - -
Sep 5
6:00 PM
Morgan State @ Arizona State -28.8 6.4 2.0 Arizona State -37.2 Arizona State -41.5 52.5 5–47
Sep 5
6:30 PM
Northern Arizona @ Arizona -16.2 8.9 2.4 Arizona -27.5 Arizona -31.5 56.5 12–44
Sep 5
6:30 PM
Portland State @ San Diego State -26.8 -1.1 2.7 San Diego State -28.4 San Diego State -40.5 57.5 9–49
Sep 5
7:00 PM
Mississippi Valley State @ Sacramento State - -24.5 2.5 - Sacramento State -35.5 56.5 10–46
Sep 5
8:00 PM
Central Michigan @ New Mexico -10.7 -4.1 1.4 New Mexico -8.0 New Mexico -12.0 47.5 18–30
Sep 5
4:00 PM
UNLV @ Hawai'i -0.7 -6.3 3.8 UNLV -1.8 UNLV -2.5 58.5 30–28
Sep 5
7:30 PM
UCLA @ California 2.6 0.9 2.6 California -0.9 UCLA -1.5 54.5 28–26
Sep 5
7:30 PM
Western Kentucky @ Nevada -5.5 -15.5 2.1 Western Kentucky -7.9 Western Kentucky -2.5 53.0 28–25
Sep 6
1:00 PM
Washington State @ Washington 0.8 15.5 3.5 Washington -18.2 Washington -23.0 50.5 13–37
Sep 6
7:30 PM
Wisconsin @ Notre Dame 4.7 26.7 0.0 Notre Dame -22.0 Notre Dame -20.5 47.5 14–34
Sep 6
6:30 PM
Louisville @ Ole Miss 11.6 20.2 0.0 Ole Miss -8.6 Ole Miss -6.5 55.5 25–31
Sep 7
7:30 PM
SMU @ Florida State 12.8 8.7 3.0 SMU -1.1 SMU -2.5 53.5 28–26

Biggest Travel Disadvantages This Week

Teams ranked by how much further they travelled than their opponent. At a neutral site both teams travel, so the gap between them is the burden - not the raw trip. Body-clock offset and rest-day differential compound it.

#1 UNLV
2,756 miles · +3h body-clock shift · opponent +1d rest
UNLV travels 2,756 miles to face Hawai'i, arriving with a +3h body-clock shift.
#2 Miami
2,569 miles · +3h body-clock shift
Miami travels 2,569 miles to face Stanford, arriving with a +3h body-clock shift.
2,045 miles · -3h body-clock shift · equal rest
San José State travels 2,045 miles to face Eastern Michigan, arriving with a -3h body-clock shift.
1,999 miles · +3h body-clock shift
Morgan State travels 1,999 miles to face Arizona State, arriving with a +3h body-clock shift.
1,836 miles · -2h body-clock shift
Oregon State travels 1,836 miles to face Houston, arriving with a -2h body-clock shift.

Highest Weather-Risk Games This Week

Games ranked by combined wind, temperature, and precipitation impact. Thresholds: sustained wind ≥ 15 mph, gusts ≥ 25 mph, temp ≤ 32°F or ≥ 95°F, precipitation chance ≥ 60%.

72°F, 19 mph wind, 13% precip, Thundery outbreaks in nearby
Nicholls @ Kansas State: 72°F, 19 mph wind, 13% precip, Thundery outbreaks in nearby: conditions historically favor the home team when passing difficulty is elevated.
#2 UTEP @ Oklahoma
91°F, 18 mph wind, 7% precip, Patchy rain nearby
UTEP @ Oklahoma: 91°F, 18 mph wind, 7% precip, Patchy rain nearby: conditions historically favor the home team when passing difficulty is elevated.
#3 UNLV @ Hawai'i
76°F, 22 mph wind, 7% precip, Clear
UNLV @ Hawai'i: 76°F, 22 mph wind, 7% precip, Clear: conditions historically favor the home team when passing difficulty is elevated.

Strongest Home-Field Advantages This Week

Home teams ranked by stadium HFA rating. Higher values reflect stronger historical home performance at that venue. Venues above 4,000 ft are flagged for altitude disadvantage.

#1 Hawai'i
HFA 3.8 pts · Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex · 16,909 capacity
Hawai'i carries a 3.8-point HFA edge at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (16,909 capacity) against UNLV.
#2 UTSA
HFA 3.8 pts · Alamodome · 64,000 capacity
UTSA carries a 3.8-point HFA edge at Alamodome (64,000 capacity) against UT Rio Grande Valley.
#3 Florida
HFA 3.6 pts · Ben Hill Griffin Stadium · 88,548 capacity
Florida carries a 3.6-point HFA edge at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548 capacity) against Florida Atlantic.

Vegas versus Prediction Markets

The bookmaker's spread against the spread implied by the Kalshi prediction market - two markets, no model. When they disagree, it is worth asking which one moves.

Book: Notre Dame -20.5 · Market: Notre Dame -16.4 · Gap: 4.1 pts
The bookmaker line is Notre Dame -20.5; the prediction market implies Notre Dame -16.4, a notable divergence from the book. Two markets, no model - a wide gap is one side waiting to move.
#2 Clemson @ LSU
Book: LSU -9.5 · Market: LSU -7.8 · Gap: 1.7 pts
The bookmaker line is LSU -9.5; the prediction market implies LSU -7.8, a modest gap from the book. Two markets, no model - a wide gap is one side waiting to move.
Book: Ole Miss -6.5 · Market: Ole Miss -5.5 · Gap: 1.0 pts
The bookmaker line is Ole Miss -6.5; the prediction market implies Ole Miss -5.5, a modest gap from the book. Two markets, no model - a wide gap is one side waiting to move.

Model versus Market

Where the Blue Chip model line diverges most from the bookmaker line and the Kalshi prediction market - a three-way read. A large gap suggests the market may be mispricing the matchup: directional signal only, not a betting recommendation.

Model: West Georgia -9.3 · Book: Kennesaw State -22.5 · Market: unavailable
The model makes it West Georgia -9.3. The bookmaker line is Kennesaw State -22.5, a notable divergence from the model. Directional signal only.
#2 Utah Tech @ BYU
Model: BYU -17.8 · Book: BYU -47.5 · Market: unavailable
The model makes it BYU -17.8. The bookmaker line is BYU -47.5, a notable divergence from the model. Directional signal only.
Model: UTSA -4.2 · Book: UTSA -28.5 · Market: unavailable
The model makes it UTSA -4.2. The bookmaker line is UTSA -28.5, a notable divergence from the model. Directional signal only.

When to Skip This Week 1 Analysis

How We Ranked Week 1's Games

Each ranked section draws from the same enriched data that powers our per-game pages. Travel distances are calculated as straight-line (great-circle) distances from each team's home market to the game stadium. Body-clock offset is the signed time-zone difference the away team crosses, or both teams in case of neutral site games. Rest-day differential is the difference in days since each team last played. Weather scoring compounds wind, temperature, and precipitation against fixed thresholds, dome stadiums are excluded as weather is irrelevant indoors, see our Weather tool for the full methodology.

HFA ratings come from our Home Field Advantage tool, which estimates the per-venue point value based on historical margin-of-victory data. Stadiums above 4,000 ft are flagged; altitude creates a documented visiting-team disadvantage. Power ratings are from the Blue Chip power-rating model. The gap between the model's implied spread and the market line is a directional signal; it is not a betting recommendation.

The Vegas versus Prediction Markets section compares the bookmaker's spread with the spread implied by the Kalshi prediction market - converted from its win probability through a fixed logistic scale - with no model involved. The Model versus Market section sets the Blue Chip model line against both of those markets as a three-way read, and each gap is described with the same language the per-game pages use. ATS records are season-to-date.

Sources

Weather Data

Home Field Advantage

Frequently Asked Questions

How many games are in college football Week 1 2026?

Week 1 of the 2026 FBS season features 91 games tracked by Blue Chip Analytics. The full schedule, lines, and totals are listed in the game table on this page.

How does Blue Chip Analytics rank travel disadvantages?

Teams are ranked by how much further they travelled than their opponent, measured as straight-line distance from each home market to the game stadium. At a home game the host travels nothing, so this is simply the visitor's trip; at a neutral site both teams travel and the gap between them is the burden. Body-clock offset (time-zone hours crossed) is listed alongside distance as a compound fatigue indicator.

What weather conditions qualify as high-risk for this week?

Games are flagged when the kickoff-hour forecast meets at least one of: sustained wind ≥ 15 mph, gusts ≥ 25 mph, temperature ≤ 32°F or ≥ 95°F, or a precipitation chance ≥ 60%. Scores compound across all factors: a cold and windy game ranks higher than a mildly breezy one. Weeks with no game past these thresholds show no weather section at all.

What is a Home Field Advantage (HFA) rating?

Blue Chip's HFA rating estimates the point value of playing at home at a specific stadium, based on historical margin-of-victory data. A rating of 3.0 means the home team historically performs about 3 points better at that venue than their power ratings alone would predict.

What does the Vegas versus Prediction Markets section show?

It ranks games by how far the bookmaker's spread sits from the spread implied by the Kalshi prediction market. Kalshi's win probability is converted to a spread through a fixed logistic scale, and no model is involved - it is one market against another. A wide gap is a directional flag, not a betting recommendation.

What does the Model versus Market section show?

It sets the Blue Chip model line against both the bookmaker line and the Kalshi-implied line - a three-way read - and ranks games by the model's largest disagreement with either market. The size of each gap is described in the same language the per-game pages use. Both the model and the markets can be wrong: treat it as a directional flag, not a pick.

What qualifies as a notable ATS record?

Teams are flagged when at least 4 of their games this season have produced a decided ATS result and their cover rate is ≥60% (hot) or ≤40% (cold). Records are season-to-date and, especially early on, rest on small samples - a hot or cold streak here is context to note, not a demonstrated edge.

Week 1 of the 2026 season features 91 FBS games; the ranked sections above surface the travel, weather, HFA, market-vs-market, model-vs-market, and ATS-record edges most relevant to analysts and informed fans.