College football is officially back, and the first full weekend of the season is giving us plenty to watch.
The best part?
The biggest games aren’t all crammed into Saturday.
From College GameDay in Baton Rouge to games in Atlanta, Green Bay and Nashville before a Monday night ACC showdown in Tallahassee, Week 1 gives us five games that could immediately shape the season.
Here are the five games you absolutely cannot miss.
Clemson at No. 11 LSU — Saturday, 7:30 PM ET
If you’re only watching one game Saturday, this is it.
College GameDay is heading to Baton Rouge for its 500th road show, setting the stage for Clemson and LSU under the lights in Death Valley.
There are already major expectations surrounding LSU and the beginning of the Lane Kiffin era, and we won’t have to wait long to see what his Tigers actually look like.
Clemson has an opportunity to completely change the conversation surrounding its program with one road victory.
Death Valley. At night. College GameDay.
It doesn’t get much better than this for Week 1.
Baylor vs. Auburn — Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
Before Clemson and LSU take center stage, we get a fascinating matchup in Atlanta.
Baylor and Auburn will meet in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and both programs desperately want to start 2026 with a statement.
Baylor enters with Florida transfer DJ Lagway at quarterback, while Auburn begins a new era under Alex Golesh with former USF quarterback Byrum Brown running the offense.
Neither program can afford to immediately fall behind expectations.
This feels like one of those Week 1 games that we’ll look back on later and realize told us exactly what each team was going to be.
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin — Sunday, 7:30 PM ET
College football at Lambeau Field on Sunday night?
Yes, please.
Notre Dame enters 2026 with legitimate national championship expectations, while Wisconsin desperately needs to show signs of improvement under Luke Fickell.
The Irish have CJ Carr back at quarterback and one of the most talented rosters in the country. Wisconsin, meanwhile, completely overhauled its roster after another disappointing season.
Notre Dame is going to be expected to win comfortably.
But playing Wisconsin in Green Bay is a pretty interesting way to begin a season with championship expectations.
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss — Sunday, 7:30 PM ET
If you’re looking for the most underrated game of the weekend, this might be it.
Louisville and Ole Miss meet in Nashville for the Music City Kickoff, giving us one of the few ranked-vs.-ranked matchups of Week 1.
Ole Miss enters the season ranked inside the top 10 with huge expectations after last year’s College Football Playoff run.
The Rebels also have legitimate star power with Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, while Louisville enters with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback.
This isn’t some easy tune-up game for either team.
One of these programs is leaving Nashville with a huge early résumé win.
The other is immediately starting the season 0-1.
No. 19 SMU at Florida State — Monday, 7:30 PM ET
And finally, we get college football on Monday night.
SMU travels to Tallahassee to face Florida State in the first major ACC matchup of the season, and this could tell us a lot about both programs immediately.
SMU enters 2026 ranked and with expectations of competing near the top of the ACC.
Florida State is trying to prove it can become a serious factor in the conference again.
And unlike some of the other games on this list, this one already has conference championship implications.
It’s in Tallahassee.
It’s under the lights.
And it’s the only major college football game on Monday night.
That’s a pretty perfect way to finish Week 1.
College football fans have waited all offseason for this.
Now we’re getting Clemson-LSU in Death Valley, Auburn-Baylor in Atlanta, two massive neutral-site games Sunday night and SMU-Florida State on Monday.
Clear the schedule.
College football is finally back.
