2026 College Football Schedule Sets 9-Game Standard as Nov. 7 Packs 7 Top-25 Matchups
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 18
2026 College Football Schedule Sets 9-Game Standard as Nov. 7 Packs 7 Top-25 Matchups
2 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 18
Summary
Nine conference games are now the norm across the Power 4 in 2026, with only five ACC teams left on eight because the 17-team league could not fully balance the format.
Seven preseason Top 25 matchups land on Nov. 7, led by No. 2 Oregon at No. 1 Ohio State, while Sept. 12 shapes the Big Ten-SEC race with Ohio State at Texas and Oklahoma at Michigan.
Ohio State drew the toughest overall slate—road trips to Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC plus home dates with Oregon and Michigan—while Texas Tech got one of the softest power-conference paths.
The SEC's late-November FCS 'Cupcake Classic' is down to four teams, and scheduling complaints should ease overall as consecutive road trips and open-date disadvantages were reduced in most leagues.
Quirks still stand out: Arizona State will play back-to-back 9 a.m. body-clock games, including one in London, and the rebuilt Pac-12 will use a Thanksgiving 'flex week' to adjust rematches.