College football fans are a desperate bunch. By the time mid-August rolls around, we are basically scouring the internet for any sign of a spiral or the smell of cheap stadium mustard. That is where the cfb week 0 schedule comes in. It’s the appetizer that nobody really asked for but everyone eats because they’re starving. Honestly, it’s rarely a slate of Top 5 matchups or Heisman-defining moments. But it is football. And in late August, that is more than enough.
The Weird Logic of Week 0
Why do we even have a Week 0? It feels like a glitch in the Matrix. Usually, the NCAA allows teams to play starting the Thursday before Labor Day. However, there’s this specific rule—NCAA Bylaw 17.11.4—that lets teams start a week early if they are playing in Hawaii or a high-profile international neutral-site game. That is why you often see teams like Hawaii, or teams traveling to Dublin, Ireland, taking the stage while everyone else is still hitting sleds in fall camp.
It’s about the "Hawaii Exemption." If you play at Hawaii, you get an extra home game to help offset the massive travel costs. To fit that 13th game into the calendar, you gotta start early. Over the years, this has expanded into a TV window that networks like ESPN and FOX absolutely crave. They know we’ll watch anything. Literally anything. I’ve seen people live-tweet a matchup between two 0-line FBS schools in a monsoon just because it was the only game on.
👉 See also: The Monday Night Football Schedule: Why Staying Up Late Just Got More Complicated
Breaking Down the 2026 CFB Week 0 Schedule
Looking at the cfb week 0 schedule for the 2026 season, the crown jewel is undoubtedly the return to Dublin. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become a legitimate tradition. This year, we’ve got the Virginia Tech Hokies taking on the NC State Wolfpack at Aviva Stadium. It’s an ACC showdown on international soil. Seeing the Hokie Bird in an Irish pub is peak college football surrealism.
But beyond the Dublin game, the schedule usually fills out with "Group of Five" battles that actually have massive stakes for the Playoff. Remember, with the expanded 12-team (and potentially 14-team) playoff format, the highest-ranked G5 champion gets a golden ticket. A Week 0 win for a program like Boise State or Liberty can set the tone for an entire season's resume.
- Virginia Tech vs. NC State (Dublin, Ireland): The main event. Kickoff is usually around Noon ET, making it the perfect "breakfast and ball" situation.
- Hawaii vs. Western Kentucky: A classic late-night "Hawaii Test" for the true degenerates who stay up until 2:00 AM.
- Various FCS-over-FBS upset bids: These are the games that usually end up on streaming platforms but provide the most chaos.
Why Big Programs Usually Avoid It
You might wonder why Alabama or Georgia aren't clamoring for the cfb week 0 schedule. It’s mostly about the math of the season. If you play Week 0, you get two bye weeks instead of one. That sounds great, right? More rest. But it also means your season starts in the sweltering heat of August and stretches even longer. High-profile coaches are creatures of habit. They want their 12 games in the standard window.
Also, there is the "rust" factor. Playing a week early means one less week of internal scrimrimaging. For a team with a new quarterback or a rebuilt offensive line, that extra week of practice is worth more than the TV revenue of a standalone August game. But for a team like Virginia Tech, the recruiting exposure of being the only game on TV is worth the risk. It’s a gamble.
The Dublin Connection
Ireland has basically become the home of Week 0. Why? Because the Irish government and local tourism boards put up serious cash. They want American tourists filling up hotel rooms in Dublin. For the schools, it’s a free trip for the players and a massive branding opportunity.
We’ve seen Georgia Tech stun Florida State there in the past. We’ve seen Northwestern pull off miracles. There is something about the jet lag and the different grass and the chilly Irish air that turns these games into absolute coin flips. If you’re betting on the cfb week 0 schedule, always look at the underdog in the international game. Travel is a great equalizer.
The "Hawaii Test" and Late Night Vibes
If you haven't experienced the Hawaii Test, are you even a fan? The cfb week 0 schedule almost always concludes on the islands. Because of the time difference, these games don't start until most of the East Coast is fast asleep. It’s a rite of passage. You’re sitting there in the dark, the only light coming from the TV, watching a pass-heavy offense try to function in the humid Pacific air.
Hawaii's home games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex have a high-school-on-steroids vibe that is strangely charming. It’s raw. It’s loud. It’s the perfect way to cap off the first Saturday of the year.
What Most People Get Wrong About August Games
A common mistake is thinking these games don't matter because they aren't "conference games" or don't feature "Top 10 teams." That’s old-school thinking. In the current era of college football, every single data point matters for the selection committee.
- The "Early Bird" Advantage: Teams that play in Week 0 often look much sharper in Week 1. They’ve already cleared the "first-game jitters." While their Week 1 opponent is fumbling snaps and taking delay-of-game penalties, the Week 0 team has already been through the fire.
- Stat Padding or Reality Check: We see it every year. A running back puts up 200 yards in Week 0 and becomes a Heisman dark horse for exactly six days until the real competition starts. Don't overreact, but don't ignore the talent either.
- Coaching Seats Get Hot Early: If a Power 4 team loses an upset in Week 0, that coach is miserable for the next 14 days. The media scrutiny is magnified because there are no other games to talk about. It’s a pressure cooker.
Making the Most of the Opening Slate
If you're planning your Saturday around the cfb week 0 schedule, you have to pace yourself. It’s a marathon. Start with the Ireland game around lunch. Use the mid-afternoon gap to actually talk to your family or mow the lawn, because once Week 1 hits, you’re gone.
🔗 Read more: What Club Did Ronaldo Play For? The Truth About His Unmatched Career Path
Actionable Steps for the True Fan
- Check the TV listings early: Many Week 0 games end up on random networks like CBS Sports Network or the Mountain West Network. Don't be the person scrambling for a login five minutes before kickoff.
- Monitor the injury reports: Because teams are coming out of fall camp, they are often more secretive than usual. Follow local beat writers on social media for the real "scuttlebutt" on who is actually dressed for warmups.
- Ignore the point spreads (mostly): Early season lines are notoriously shaky. Oddsmakers are guessing just as much as you are. Look for veteran offensive lines. In August, the team that can actually block usually wins, regardless of how many stars the other team's wide receivers have.
- Set your DVR: If you’re a scout or a fantasy nut, you’ll want to re-watch the Hawaii game. The "Run and Shoot" offense often reveals some sleepers that nobody else is paying attention to yet.
The cfb week 0 schedule isn't about the playoffs, at least not yet. It’s about the return of a ritual. It’s the signal that the long, dark, football-less winter is finally over. Grab a drink, find the remote, and enjoy the beautiful mess that is college football in August.