It's officially a college football weekend. A five-day college football weekend, in fact. That's a lot of TV-watching ahead of you, so be certain you're physically prepared for the onslaught.
To further prepare, either know what's happening when or keep a guide handy. Hey, you're in luck.
Below, we've presented the full FBS TV and online streaming schedule, along with notes on the likeliest best games to start with in each time slot. Things change rapidly, so we've also included potential backup options. Toward the end of each group, we've picked some flyers, usually opting for closely matched teams or pure entertainment value, rather than games featuring one good team and one cupcake.
This is an especially good opening weekend, with four games between ranked teams and a bunch of other good stuff, with everything spread across five days. So let's have some fun out there.
We'll do this schedule guide every week of the season, right here at SBNation.com.
[Thursday and Friday have been removed, for your convenience.]
Saturday, Sept. 3
Game | Time | TV / Online streaming |
Georgia Tech vs. Boston College (Ireland) | 7:30:00 a.m. ET | ESPN2 / WatchESPN |
Boise State at UL Lafayette | Noon ET | ASN / WatchESPN |
Bowling Green at No. 6 Ohio State | Noon ET | BTN / BTN2Go |
EKU at Purdue | Noon ET | ESPNews / WatchESPN |
Fordham at Navy | Noon ET | CBSSN |
Hawaii at No. 7 Michigan | Noon ET | ESPN / WatchESPN |
Howard at Maryland | Noon ET | BTN / BTN2Go |
Missouri at West Virginia | Noon ET | FS1 / FS Go |
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Houston (NRG Stadium) | Noon ET | ABC / WatchESPN |
South Alabama at Mississippi State | Noon ET | SECN / WatchESPN |
Western Michigan at Northwestern | Noon ET | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
Liberty at Virginia Tech | 12:30 p.m. ET | ACCN / WatchESPN |
Villanova at Pittsburgh | 1:30 p.m. ET | ACCNExtra |
Abilene Christian at Air Force | 2 p.m. ET | MWN |
Rutgers at No. 14 Washington | 2 p.m. ET | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
Kent State at Penn State | 3:30 p.m. ET | BTN / BTN2Go |
No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin (Green Bay) | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC / WatchESPN |
Miami (Ohio) at No. 17 Iowa | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
Murray State at Illinois | 3:30 p.m. ET | BTN / BTN2Go |
Richmond at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. ET | ACCNExtra |
SE Louisiana at No. 21 Oklahoma State | 3:30 p.m. ET | FSN / FS Go |
Texas State at Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET | CBSSN |
No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M | 3:30 p.m. ET | CBS / CBSSports.com |
Louisiana Tech at Arkansas | 4 p.m. ET | SECN / WatchESPN |
UC Davis at No. 24 Oregon | 5 p.m. ET | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina (Atlanta) | 5:30 p.m. ET | ESPN / WatchESPN |
Austin Peay at Troy | 6 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Florida A&M at Miami, FL | 6 p.m. ET | ACCNExtra |
Hampton at Old Dominion | 6 p.m. ET | CUSA.tv |
NC Central at Duke | 6 p.m. ET | ACCNExtra |
Savannah State at Georgia Southern | 6 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Southern Illinois at Florida Atlantic | 6 p.m. ET | CUSA.tv |
Western Carolina at East Carolina | 6 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
VMI at Akron | 6:30 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Alabama A&M at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. ET | TBA |
Alabama State at UTSA | 7 p.m. ET | KMYS-CW 35 |
Rhode Island at Kansas | 7 p.m. ET | Jayhawk TV |
San Jose State at Tulsa | 7 p.m. ET | CBSSN |
SE Missouri State at Memphis | 7 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
SMU at North Texas | 7 p.m. ET | ASN |
South Carolina State at UCF | 7 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Southern at ULM | 7 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Towson at USF | 7 p.m. ET | WatchESPN |
Southern Miss at Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
UMass at No. 25 Florida | 7:30 p.m. ET | SECN / WatchESPN |
EWU at Washington State | 8 p.m. ET | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
Fresno State at Nebraska | 8 p.m. ET | BTN / BTN2Go |
New Mexico State at UTEP | 8 p.m. ET | beIN SPORTS |
Northern Iowa at Iowa State | 8 p.m. ET | Cyclones.tv |
South Dakota State at No. 13 TCU | 8 p.m. ET | FSN / FS Go |
Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech | 8 p.m. ET | FSN / FS Go |
No. 20 USC vs. No. 1 Alabama (Arlington) | 8 p.m. ET | ABC / WatchESPN |
New Hampshire at San Diego State | 8:30 p.m. ET | TBA |
No. 2 Clemson at Auburn | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN / WatchESPN |
Arizona vs. BYU (Glendale) | 10:30 p.m. ET | FS1 / FS Go |
Northern Illinois at Wyoming | 10:30 p.m. ET | CBSSN |
Northern Arizona at Arizona State | 10:45 PM | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
Extremely early option, other than College GameDay
Georgia Tech vs. Boston College, 7:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2
Visit From the Rumble Seat and BC Interruption
Spread: Georgia Tech by three
The game won't be particularly fun, but it's on before you're up for breakfast.
Early shift
Best option
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 Houston, noon ET, ABC
Visit Crimson and Cream Machine and Underdog Dynasty
Spread: Oklahoma by 11.5
There should be plenty of points and storylines. Oklahoma is looking to redouble its efforts after making it to the Playoff, and Houston wants to serve notice that last year wasn’t a fluke.
Plan B
Rutgers at No. 14 Washington, 2 ET, Pac-12 Network
This is the first step on the "Did we just spend a whole summer wildly over-hyping Washington?" tour.
Keep in mind
Bowling Green at No. 6 Ohio State, noon ET, BTN
Ohio State gets one of its annual games against an in-state MAC team, but there’s plenty of new faces for the Buckeyes. Bowling Green could mess around and keep this close for a while.
Break in case of emergency
Boise State at UL Lafayette, noon ET, ASN
Western Michigan at Northwestern, noon ET, ESPNU
Middle shift
Best option
No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin, 3:30 ET., ABC
Visit And the Valley Shook and Bucky's 5th Quarter
Spread: LSU by 10.5
LSU goes north to Lambeau Field. As neutral sites go, this is excellent stuff.
Plan B
No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M, 3:30 ET, CBS
Whoa boy, Kevin Sumlin needs to win, lest the hollerin’ about his job become deafening. It's also a really fun QB battle.
Keep in mind
No. 18 Georgia vs. No. 22 North Carolina, 5:30 ET, ESPN
Quietly could be the most interesting game of the day. Georgia has a whole bundle of storylines, and North Carolina is trying to prove its 2015 wasn’t a fluke. It's showtime for Carolina's new quarterback.
Break in case of emergency
Louisiana Tech at Arkansas, 4 ET, SEC Network
Texas State at Ohio, 3:30 ET, CBSSN
Late shift
Best option
No. 20 USC vs. No. 1 Alabama, 8 ET, ABC
Visit Conquest Chronicles and Roll Bama Roll
Spread: Alabama by 12
Another neutral-site opener for Alabama against a power conference opponent. These have usually been blowouts, but USC has lots of talent. The Trojans just need to put it together for new head coach Clay Helton. This could be like watching an anaconda take its evening meal, but we can always hope for the best.
Plan B
No. 2 Clemson at Auburn, 9 ET, ESPN
Tigers! We got Tigers here! And an Eagle! And a Deshaun Watson! The team that has him is probably going to win.
Keep in mind
Eastern Washington at Washington State, 8 ET, Pac-12 Network
Two entertaining programs! WSU lost to a nearby FCS team last year before winning nine games! Better not try that again!
Break in case of emergency
Southern Miss at Kentucky, 7:30 ET, ESPNU
Northern Iowa at Iowa State, 8 ET, Cyclones.tv
Best extremely late option
Arizona vs. BYU, 10:30 ET, FS1
Visit Arizona Desert Swarm and Vanquish the Foe
Spread: Arizona by 1
This game will end deep in the dark of night on the East Coast. If you’ve made it all the way from the breakfast game in Ireland, we salute you.
Sunday, Sept. 3
Your only FBS option
No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas, 7:30 ET, ABC
Visit One Foot Down and Burnt Orange Nation
Spread: Notre Dame by 4
Notre Dame embarrassed Texas last year to the tune of 38-3. Let’s hope this is closer.
Monday, Sept. 4
Your only option
No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 4 Florida State, 8 ET, ESPN
Visit Red Cup Rebellion and Tomahawk Nation
Spread: FSU by 4.5
Two immensely talented teams throwing haymakers. Sounds like the perfect way to cap off a long weekend.
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