Finally, the 2026 college football schedule kicks off for real as the traditional Week 1 slate gets underway today with several notable games around the country.While 15 teams in the preseason AP rankings will be in action, most of them are playing tune-up games against the usual early cupcakes, but there is still some marquee football waiting to be played, particularly between a pair of Tigers who each call Death Valley home.The one we’ll be watching is in Baton Rouge, as Lane Kiffin steps into one of college football’s biggest and most pressure-cooked spotlights, taking over for LSU in a massively-anticipated debut, and against an unranked Clemson side looking to make a huge statement.College football games today: Week 1 schedule, scores for SaturdayAll times Eastern, and game lines are courtesy of BetMGM SportsbookLIVE: Week 1 College Football Scores from Sports IllustratedIMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectReigning national champion Indiana begins its title defense as massive favorites, while Big Ten challenger Ohio State opens as the preseason No. 1, Alabama embarks on a journey with a new quarterback in Keelon Russell, and Big 12 insurgent Houston hopes to make a statement.North Texas at 6 IndianaSat., Sept. 5 | 12 p.m. | FoxLine: Indiana -40.5, 55.5East Carolina at 13 AlabamaSat., Sept. 5 | 12 p.m. | ABCLine: Alabama -28.5, 53.5Oregon State at 23 HoustonSat., Sept. 5 | 12 p.m. | ESPNLine: Houston -20.5, 51.5Ball State at 1 Ohio StateSat., Sept. 5 | 12:30 p.m. | BTNLine: Ohio State -50.5, 56.5Afternoon college football games to watchIMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectCupcakes abound for several ranked college football hopefuls. But Oregon, talked about this offseason as the next logical national champion out of the streaking Big Ten, opens at home against a Boise State team that, while it may be a big underdog on the books, still thinks itself a playoff hopeful out of the new Pac-12. This is their chance to prove it.Tennessee State at 3 GeorgiaSat., Sept. 5 | 3 p.m. | SECN+Line: Georgia -46.5, 56.5Boise State at 2 OregonSat., Sept. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | CBSLine: Oregon -24.5, 51.5Texas State at 5 TexasSat., Sept. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPNLine: Texas -30.5, 59.5Marshall at 18 Penn StateSat., Sept. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | FS1Line: Penn State -24.5, 54.5Furman at 20 TennesseeSat., Sept. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | SECN+Line: TEnnessee -46.5, 66.5Northern Illinois at 22 IowaSat., Sept. 5 | 4:15 p.m. | BTNLine: Iowa -31.5, 45.5Week 1 primetime college football scheduleUSA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectAll eyes are on Lane Kiffin in Death Valley under the lights in his LSU debut against Clemson, which for its part is hoping to use the matchup to prove it still belongs in the national spotlight, coming off a nasty 7-6 outing and out of the playoff conversation for a while since dominating the early format.Missouri State at 8 Texas A&MSat., Sept. 5 | 7 p.m. | ESPNLine: Texas A&M -41.5, 53.5Abilene Christian at 12 Texas TechSat., Sept. 5 | 7 p.m. | FS1Line: Texas Tech -42.5, 59.5Clemson at 11 LSUSat., Sept. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | ABCLine: LSU -10.5, 51.5Western Michigan at 16 MichiganSat., Sept. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | NBCLine: Michigan -27.5, 48.5Utah Tech at 14 BYUSat., Sept. 5 | 8 p.m. | ESPN+Line: BYU -50.5, 54.5Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | TeamsFollow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | PicksAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow