2026 Week 0 College Football Predictions for Every Game

After a not-so-patient seven months of waiting, college football is back. The offseason is, almost officially, over.

Once again, the campaign will formally kick off overseas. Dublin, Ireland is playing host to a clash between North Carolina and TCU, the latter of which cruised to a blowout win in last season's matchup.

Even though Week 0 includes a modest eight contests, the storylines are plentiful.

There's a league showdown in the ACC, while FBS newcomers North Dakota State and Sacramento State are both making their top-level debuts. A ranked USC team is in action, and a huge Group of 6 game closes the opening slate.

Note: Rankings reflect the AP Top 25.

TCU vs. North Carolina

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When: Noon ET on ESPN (in Dublin, Ireland)

Last year, the much-anticipated debut of Bill Belichick ended with TCU straight-up steamrolling North Carolina. TCU scored two defensive touchdowns and amassed 542 yards compared to UNC's 222.

Is that going to happen again? I mean, obviously not.

Well, probably not.

Optimism isn't exactly in rich supply for UNC, although its defense should at least be competent again. The greater issue is whether former Maryland and Wisconsin QB Billy Edwards Jr. can elevate an anemic offense.

Maybe that happens. But I will unapologetically sit in the "believe it when I see it" camp for UNC opposite a pesky TCU defense.

Prediction: TCU 26, North Carolina 20

North Carolina State at Virginia

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When: 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Initially scheduled as a nonconference affair and previously set to be played in Brazil, this is now an ACC matchup at Virginia.

Got that? Good.

Because of the switch, though, there are greater stakes here compared to last year. North Carolina State won 35-31, but it wasn't a league tilt—and UVA eventually stood atop the ACC standings at the end of the regular season.

NC State signal-caller CJ Bailey is back, and he's talented enough to take control of the game at his best. Still, the blend of UVA's veteran offensive line and deep group of returning players on defense is tough to pick against at home.

Prediction: Virginia 27, NC State 23

Memphis at UNLV

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Jai'Den Thomas

When: 10 p.m. ET on Fox

By the time December rolls around, we might be talking about this very result between Memphis and UNLV.

This season, the highest-ranked Group of Six team—not necessarily the highest-ranked G6 champion—will be included in the College Football Playoff. These two programs are among the more notable early contenders.

In short: Don't underestimate the value of this outcome.

The major challenge with Memphis is that new coach Charles Huff overhauled the team, adding more than 70 players to the roster. We all have opinions about the Tigers, but that amount of transition means it's a huge guess.

So, hey, if you believe they'll excel immediately, I can't prove the opposite. I'm a long-term believer in Huff's upside at Memphis, too.

This early, however, I'll trust Jackson Arnold—the former QB at Oklahoma and Auburn—to propel a more cohesive UNLV team playing in its own building.

Prediction: UNLV 31, Memphis 27

Rest of the Slate

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Jayden Maiava

San Jose State at No. 14 USC, 3 p.m. ET
Prediction: USC 44, San Jose State 14

Jacksonville State at North Dakota State, 5:30 p.m.
Prediction: NDSU 27, Jax State 17

Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 p.m.
Prediction: EMU 30, Sac State 23

Hawaii at Stanford, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Stanford 22, Hawaii 19

New Mexico State at Florida State, 7 p.m.
Prediction: FSU 46, NMSU 13