After a summer filled with near-empty weekends, we're booked for the foreseeable future as football is officially back.
Week 1 of college football is a relief for many as the hunt for a National Championship begins in earnest this weekend.
WATCH LIVE: College football games with Sling
Without NFL football for one more week, there's extended days devoted to college football this week with games happening tonight, Thursday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 7.
Among the top matchups includes a rematch of last year's Week 1 battle between Clemson and LSU on Saturday night, along with the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff game between two CFB Playoff hopefuls in Louisville and Ole Miss.
With endless football on TV this weekend, the best way to keep track
and watch all the games you can handle is with a Sling, which gives you more options than any streaming competitor.
The Essentials & Select + Sports Extra plan, starting at just $49.99/month will get you the most college football. If you sign up now and prepay for the entire five-month football season, you will receive 20% off.
If the season-long committment is too much, Sling offers 1-day, 3-day or 7-day access to Sling and all its channels, starting at just 4.99.
Check out the full Week 1 schedule and how to watch all the action below.
Watch college football live on Sling
How to watch college football Week 1 games
Week 1 of the college football season begins Thursday, Sept. 3, with games airing all weekend. Select games air on ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FS1 and TNT among other channels, all of which you can watch with a Sling subscription.
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College football Week 1 schedule
Here are all the games available to most of the country via Sling this weekend!
Thursday, Sept. 3
- Massachusetts vs. Rutgers - SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. - 6 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
- Akron vs. Wake Forest - Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. - 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network - Watch live
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Missouri - Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. - 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network - Watch live
- Colorado vs. Georgia Tech - Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta - 8 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
- Idaho vs. Utah - Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City - 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU - Watch live
- UAB vs. Illinois - Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. - 9 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
Friday, Sept. 4
- Indiana State vs. Purdue - Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. - 7 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
- Long Island University vs. Kansas - David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas - 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU - Watch live
- Toledo vs. Michigan State - Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich. - 8 p.m. ET on FS1 - Watch live
- Miami vs. Stanford - Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. - 9 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
- Fresno State vs. USC - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles - 9 p.m. ET on FOX (subject to availability) - Watch live
Saturday, Sept. 5
- North Texas vs. Indiana - Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. - Noon ET on FOX (subject to availability) - Watch live
- East Carolina vs. Alabama - Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Noon ET on ABC - Watch live
- Oregon State vs. Houston - TDECU Stadium in Houston - Noon ET on ESPN - Watch live
- Coastal Carolina vs. West Virginia - Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W.V. - Noon ET on TNT - Watch live
- New Hampshire vs. Syracuse - JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. - Noon ET on ACC Network - Watch live
- Ohio vs. Nebraska - Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. - Noon ET on FS1 - Watch live
- Liberty vs. James Madison - Bridgeforrth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va. - Noon ET on ESPNU - Watch live
- Ball State vs. Ohio State - Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio - 12:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
- Kent State vs. South Carolina - Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. - 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network - Watch live
- Texas State vs. Texas - DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Texas - 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
- Marshall vs. Penn State - Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. - 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 - Watch live
- Baylor vs. Auburn - Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta - 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC - Watch live
- Boston College vs. Cincinnati - Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati - 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX (subject to availability) - Watch live
- Tulane vs. Duke - Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. - 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network - Watch live
- Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa - H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. - 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPNU - Watch live
- Northern Illinois vs. Iowa - Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa - 4:15 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
- Wyoming vs. Colorado State - Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo. - 6 p.m. ET on USA Network - Watch live
- Missouri State vs. Texas A&M - Kyle Field in College Station, Texas - 7 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
- Abilene Christian vs. Texas Tech - Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, Texas - 7 p.m. ET on FS1 - Watch live
- Clemson vs. LSU - Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. - 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC - Watch live
- Western Michigan vs. Michigan - Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. - 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC (subject to availability) - Watch live
- UL Monroe vs. Mississippi State - Davis Wade Stadium in Starksville, Miss. - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU - Watch live
- VMI vs. Virginia Tech - Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. - 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network - Watch live
- Florida Atlantic vs. Florida - Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. - 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network - Watch live
- Hampton vs. Maryland - SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. - 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network - Watch live
- South Dakota State vs. Northwestern - Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium at Evanston, Ill. - Big Ten Network - Watch live
- Portland State vs. San Diego State - Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego - 9:30 p.m. ET on USA Network - Watch live
- Central Michigan vs. New Mexico - University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. - 10 p.m. ET on FS1 - Watch live
- UCLA vs. California - California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. - 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
Sunday, Sept. 6
- Washington State vs. Washington - Husky Stadium in Seattle - 4 p.m. ET on NBC (subject to availability) - Watch live
- Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame - Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. - 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC (subject to availability) - Watch live
- Louisville vs. Ole Miss - Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. - 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC - Watch live
Monday, Sept. 7
- SMU vs. Florida State - Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN - Watch live
Try a Sling 1-Day, 3-Day or 7-Day Pass
Sling is putting you in control of how you watch TV. The live TV streaming service is offering a new way to watch your favorite live TV shows and sports for less. You can now purchase a Sling 1-Day Pass, 3-Day or 7- Day Pass to watch your favorite content on demand. No matter which pass you select, you're getting access to the Sling Orange package, but here's a breakdown of how they will work and what each pass will cost:
- 1-Day Pass: Sling's new 1-Day Pass gives you instant 24-hour access. The Sling 1-Day Pass is $4.99 to start (not including add-ons).
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- 7-Day Pass: Sling's new 7-Day Pass gives you seven-day access. The 7-Day Pass is $14.99 to start (not including add-ons).
Sling's 1-Day, 3-Day and 7-Day passes
Sling is now offering 1-day, 3-day and 7-day passes so you can catch the game, binge a series or watch a whole tournament on your own terms.
Try Sling passes
What add-ons are available for a Sling Pass?
If you're adding any of the following add-ons to a Sling 1-Day Pass, they are $1 extra. A Sling 3-Day Pass add-on is $2 extra, while the Sling 7-Day Pass is $3 extra. They are perfect for watching specific content, like a college football game or news coverage for a big event. Here's a breakdown of the add-ons available for a Sling Pass:
- Sports Extra: For the true sports fans out there check out the Sports Extra package. You'd be getting more in-depth sports channels like MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network. But, it also gives you more access to the ESPN-suite, with channels like ESPNU and ESPNews.
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- News Extra: Stay up-to-date with what's going on around the world with the News Extra package. On top of the channels in your basic package, you'll get News Nation, Newsmax, HLN, Science Channel and more.
How to watch, live stream college football games with Sling
During the 2026 college football season, select games will air across various networks like ESPN, NBC and FOX, which Sling subscribers are able to watch live.
Watch college football games with Sling
Watch all the college football games you can handle all season with Sling!
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How to watch, stream on Sling TV
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What's the difference between Sling Blue and Sling Orange+ Blue?
- Sling Orange: The Sling Orange package has over 30 channels, including popular networks like ESPN, Disney Channel, CNN and HGTV. This is a popular pick for families and sports fans who want access to live game coverage and kid-friendly content. Sling Orange allows streaming on one device.
- Sling Blue: The Sling Blue package includes 40+ channels, including NFL Network, Bravo, CNN, FOX News, and more. You can stream up to three devices simultaneously with the Sling Blue plan.
- Sling Orange + Blue: The Sling Orange + Blue package offers 50+ live channels, including ESPN, NFL Network, USA, TNT, Bravo, FOX News, CNN and more. With this plan, you can also watch on up to four devices at a time.
Watch college football Week 1 live on Sling
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football is back, here's how to watch live with Sling
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