College Football Week 1: Iowa, Iowa State Open 2026 Season at Home
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season kicks off Thursday with more than 90 games spread across five days, and Iowa fans have plenty to watch. Both of the state's FBS programs open at home this weekend, with the Iowa Hawkeyes hosting Northern Illinois and the Iowa State Cyclones welcoming Southeast Missouri State to Ames.
While this opening weekend lacks the marquee showdowns that Week 2 promises, it offers a full slate of intriguing matchups, including a top-10 clash between Clemson and LSU in Baton Rouge and a Sunday night battle between Wisconsin and Notre Dame at Lambeau Field.
Here is the complete schedule for the first full weekend of college football, along with the latest consensus lines from major sportsbooks.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northern Illinois: Saturday, September 5
The Hawkeyes open their 2026 campaign at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City against Northern Illinois. Kickoff is set for 4:15 PM ET on BTN.
Iowa enters as a heavy favorite, with the consensus line sitting at Iowa -31.5 and the over/under at 45.5 points. The Hawkeyes will look to establish their trademark physical run game and opportunistic defense against a Northern Illinois squad that has pulled off upsets before, including a memorable win over Notre Dame in 2023.
For Iowa fans, this game represents a chance to see the new-look offense in action and gauge the team's early-season form before Big Ten play begins.
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Southeast Missouri State: Saturday, September 5
Down in Ames, the Cyclones host Southeast Missouri State at Jack Trice Stadium at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
Iowa State is a 29.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 53.5. Head coach Matt Campbell's squad will aim to start strong and build momentum for what looks like a competitive Big 12 race.
The Cyclones have been a consistent bowl team under Campbell, and this season brings renewed optimism in Ames. A convincing opening win would set the tone for a schedule that includes several winnable conference games.
Thursday Night Football: September 3
The season opens Thursday with 11 games, headlined by Colorado traveling to Georgia Tech in a matchup that has drawn national attention. The Buffaloes, led by Coach Prime, are 5.5-point underdogs in Atlanta with the over/under at 50.5.
Other Thursday contests include UMass at Rutgers (Rutgers -30.5), Bethune-Cookman at UCF (UCF -42.5), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Missouri (Missouri -54.5).
Friday Night Games: September 4
Friday features nine games, including Toledo at Michigan State (Michigan State -10.5) and Miami at Stanford (Miami -24.5).
Fresno State travels to USC in a game televised on FOX at 9:00 PM ET, with the Trojans favored by 22.5 points.
Saturday's Marquee Matchups
Saturday's slate is packed with compelling games beyond the Iowa action:
- Clemson at LSU (7:30 PM ET, ABC): LSU is a 10.5-point favorite in Baton Rouge in one of the weekend's most anticipated games.
- Auburn vs. Baylor (3:30 PM ET, ABC): A neutral-site clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with Auburn favored by 7.5.
- Boise State at Oregon (3:30 PM ET, CBS): Oregon is favored by 24.5 at Autzen Stadium.
- Texas State at Texas (3:30 PM ET, ESPN): The Longhorns are 30.5-point favorites in Austin.
- East Carolina at Alabama (12:00 PM ET, ABC): Alabama opens at home as a 28.5-point favorite.
Sunday and Monday Games
Sunday features Washington State at Washington (4:00 PM ET, NBC) and the headline matchup of Wisconsin at Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay (7:30 PM ET, NBC). Notre Dame is favored by 20.5 points.
Monday wraps up the opening weekend with Louisville at Ole Miss (7:30 PM ET, ABC) and SMU at Florida State (7:30 PM ET, ESPN). Ole Miss is favored by 6.5, while SMU is a slight 2.5-point favorite on the road in Tallahassee.
Betting Lines and Notes
Consensus lines are compiled from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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