College Football Week 1 Begins Sept 5

The 2026 college football season kicked off with a full slate of Week 1 action on Saturday, September 5, highlighted by a marquee matchup between No. 11 LSU and Clemson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The game, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, marks the beginning of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU and a pivotal early test for a Clemson team seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign. The contest at Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley, features two programs with high expectations but recent struggles. LSU, ranked 11th in the preseason, is under new leadership after hiring Kiffin in November 2025. Kiffin's arrival followed a turbulent season for the Tigers, who finished 7-5 in 2025 after a 4-0 start was derailed by a stretch of four losses in five games. That downturn led to the midseason firing of head coach Brian Kelly, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier missed the final three games with an oblique injury. LSU's 2025 season concluded with a loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl. Clemson, led by head coach Dabo Swinney, also endured a difficult 2025 season.