NCAA college football Week 1 schedule: Here's how and when to watch the best games this weekend (2024)

At long last, Week 1 of the 2024 NCAA college football season is here. This week's games feature some national championship contenders facing off, and a first look at the Michigan Wolverines and the Alabama Crimson Tide under new coach staffs.

Keep reading to find out how and when to watch some of the most notable matchups of Week 1, and how and where to watch every game of the weekend even if you don't have cable.

What are the best games of Week 1 of the NCAA college football season?

Week 1 of the 2024 NCAA college football season offers some terrific matchups, a first look at reigning national champion Michigan Wolverines under new head coach Sherrone Moore, as well as the Alabama Crimson Tide's first game with Kalen DeBoer leading the team following coaching legend Nick Saban's retirement in January 2024.

All times Eastern.

Saturday, August 31:

• Penn State vs. West Virginia: noon (Fox)
• Clemson vs. Georgia: noon (ABC)
• Miami vs. Florida: 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
• Akron vs. Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. (CBS/Paramount+)
• Colorado State vs. Texas, 3:30 p.m (ESPN)
• Western Kentucky vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
• Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M: 7:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
• Fresno State vs. Michigan: 7:30 p.m (NBC/Peaco*ck)
• UCLA vs. Hawaii, 7:30 p.m. (CBS/Paramount+)

Sunday, September 1

• USC vs. LSU, 7:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+) in Las Vegas

Monday, September 2

• Boston College vs. Florida State, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

How to watch Week 1 of the 2024 NCAA college football season

With a newly expanded Big Ten Conference and streaming exclusive games on Peaco*ck and ESPN+, tracking how to watch your the best games of Week 1 can be tricky. But that's where we come in. Keep reading to find out how to watch every NCAA college football game this season.

Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired college football games without cable

If you want to spend your weekend watching college football but don't have a cable subscription, consider a subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime. A Paramount+ with Showtime subscription gives viewers access to all CBS original content, movies and more, plus every NCAA college football game and NFL football game broadcast on CBS.

Note: CBS Essentials and Paramount+ are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.

A sports-lovers dream, the platform live streams college football games airing on CBS, NFL football, PGA Tour golf, professional soccer and more with the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, starting at $12.99 per month. You can also get a one-year subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime for $120.

What you can stream with Paramount+ with Showtime:

• All NFL games airing on CBS locally and nationally on all its subscription tiers
• On-demand CBS programming, including hit shows like "Survivor" and "NCIS"
• Paramount+ original programming like "Lawmen Bass Reaves" and "Tulsa King"
• Professional soccer, including Champions League live (with Paramount+ with Showtime)
• Live college football games airing on CBS.

Add Paramount+ with Showtime to your Amazon Prime Video subscription

You can also add Paramount+ with Showtime to your Prime Video subscription to access CBS-aired college football games, plus Paramount+ originals. Add Paramount+ with Showtime to get access to CBS-aired college football and more for $12.99 per month. Both pricing tiers come with a seven-day free trial, but you can only watch college football live with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription.

Sling TV is the most cost-effective way to stream network-aired NCAA college football games

If you don't have cable TV, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream college football this season is through asubscription to Sling TV.We suggest leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall.

The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a half off promotion for your first month, so you'll pay just $30. The Orange + Blue with Sports Extras plan is $45 for your first month and $75 per month after. The Sports Extras add-on ($15 per month) features 18 channels, including NFL Redzone, ESPNU, SEC Network, Big 10 Network and ACC Network, making it ideal for pro and college football fans.

The streamer is also currently offering big savings on four months of the Orange + Blue tier plus the Sports Extra plan when you prepay for the Sling TV Season Pass. The plan costs $219, reduced from $300.

Note: Because Sling TV does not carry CBS, Sling subscribers will want toadd Paramount+to their bundle.

Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:

• Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events likeNASCAR.
• There are 52 channels to watch in total, including local ESPN, NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
• You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
• All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
• You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (18 in total) via Sling TV's Sports Extras add-on.

Watch every network-aired college football game in Week 1 with FuboTV

You can watch every college football game airing on network TV on FuboTV. FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to almost every NFL game of the season. Packages include CBS, Fox Sunday NFC games via "NFL on Fox", NBC (Sunday Night Football), ESPN (Monday Night Football), NFL Network and more, so you'll be able to watch more than just today's games, all without a cable subscription.

To watch college football without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to college football, FuboTV offers MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games.

Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:

• There are no contracts with FuboTV -- you can cancel at any time.
• The Pro tier includes over 180 channels, including NFL Network. (You'll need to upgrade to Ultimate for NFL RedZone.)
• FuboTV includes all the channels you'll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
• All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
• Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.

Watch every network-aired college football game in Week 1 on Hulu + Live TV

You can watch college football and the NFL withHulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and ESPN. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch the NFL this season and popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after a three-day free trial.

Stream NBC-aired college football and exclusive games onPeaco*ck

Peaco*ck subscribers can access NBC-aired college football games, NBC-aired NFL games, Peaco*ck originals like "Love Island" and the Annette Bening thriller "Apples Never Fall," plus live NBC-aired content with a Peaco*ck Premium Plus subscription, and Peaco*ck's library of on-demand content including "The Office."

You can get a year of Peaco*ck Premium (with ads) for $80, or a year of Peaco*ck Premium Plus (mostly ad-free) for $120. Or, get a monthly subscription: Peaco*ck Premium subscription costs $8 per month, while Peaco*ck Premium Plus is $14 per month.

Watch college football games you won't see elsewhere onESPN+

ESPN+ will play host to college football games airing on ESPN, plus 25 NFL games this season, including one ESPN+- exclusive NFL game on October 21, 2024, when the Arizona Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers.

ESPN+ is ESPN's subscription streaming platform, which offers coverage of some ofIndiana Fever star Caitlin Clark'sWNBA games, original studio shows and top-tier series that aren't accessible on the ESPN networks. ESPN+ subscribers may purchase UFC PPV events and access the platform's vast archive of on-demand content, including the entire 30 For 30 catalog, game replays and select ESPN films.

ESPN+ offers exclusive live sports, original shows, and a vast library of on-demand content, including the entire 30 For 30 series and more. Here's a sampling of what's available on ESPN+:

• Exclusive fantasy sports tools and content from some of the world's most respected voices in sports.
• Select WNBA games.
• Every Fight Night UFC event UFC PPV event (PPV events are subject to an additional charge).
  
• Soccer including EFL Championship, US Open Cup and Bundesliga.
• College sportsincluding the Ivy League, Big Sky Conference and Atlantic A10 Conference.
• MLB and the World Series.
• Top-tier tennis including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
• The PGA Tour and theMasters.

It is important to note that ESPN+ does not include access to the ESPN network. It is a separate sports-centric service, with separate sports programming.

An ESPN+ subscription costs $11 per month. Or save 15% when you pay annually ($110).

Watch Week 1 college football live on network TV with a digital HDTV antenna

You can also watch network-aired WNBA games on TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here's the kicker: There's no monthly charge.

For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or in first-floor apartments), adigital TV antennamay not pick up a good signal -- or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch sports without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.

This ultra-thin, multi-directional Mohu Leaf Plus amplified digital antenna with a 60-mile range can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV and top-tier sound. It comes with a 16-foot digital coax cable.

Regularly $60, the Mohu Leaf Plus is on sale at Amazon for Labor Day for $45.

Waiting for the game to start? Check out Fanatics college football fan shop

While you get ready for the 2024 NCAA college football season, now is a great time to check out Fanatics college football shop. Fanatics is our first stop when shopping the newest college football fan gear, including school SWAG, caps, T-shirts and hoodies, the perfect gift for back-to-school season, or gifts for mom and dad.

Tap the button below to choose your favorite team and get ready for the college football season.

Full Week 1 2024 college football schedule

The 2024 NCAA college football season began on August 24, 2024. Below is the full schedule for Week 1. Track the entire2024 college football season here. All times Eastern

Thursday, August 29
Howard vs. Rutgers at 6:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
North Carolina A&T vs. Wake Forest at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX)
New Hampshire vs. UCF at 7:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Western Carolina vs. NC State at 7:00 p.m. (ACC Network)
Jackson State vs. UL Monroe at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Lafayette vs. Buffalo at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Fordham vs. Bowling Green at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Central Connecticut vs. Central Michigan at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Duquesne vs. Toledo at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
North Carolina vs. Minnesota at 8:00 p.m. (FOX)
Murray State vs. Missouri at 8:00 p.m. (SEC Network)
North Dakota State vs. Colorado at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Lindenwood vs. Kansas at 8:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Coastal Carolina vs. Jacksonville State at 8:00 p.m. (CBSSN)
Alcorn State vs. UAB at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
SE Louisiana vs. Tulane at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Northwestern State vs. Tulsa at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Southern Utah vs. Utah at 9:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Eastern Illinois vs. Illinois at 9:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Friday, August 30
Lehigh vs. Army at 6:00 p.m. (CBSSN)
Temple vs. Oklahoma at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Florida Atlantic vs. Michigan State at 7:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Elon vs. Duke at 7:30 p.m. (ACC Network)
Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin at 9:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
TCU vs. Stanford at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, August 31
Clemson vs. Georgia at 12:00 p.m. (ABC)
Virginia Tech vs. Vanderbilt at 12:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Illinois State vs. Iowa at 12:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Austin Peay vs. Louisville at 12:00 p.m. (ACC Network)
Indiana State vs. Purdue at 12:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Kent State vs. Pitt at 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Bucknell vs. Navy at 12:00 p.m. (CBSSN)
UConn vs. Maryland at 12:00 p.m. (FS1)
Florida International vs. Indiana at 12:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Penn State vs. West Virginia at 12:00 p.m. (FOX)
Chattanooga vs. Tennessee at 12:45 p.m. (SEC Network)
South Dakota State vs. Oklahoma State at 2:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Towson vs. Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Miami (Fla.) vs. Florida at 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Colorado State vs. Texas at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Eastern Michigan vs. UMass at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
East Tennessee State vs. Appalachian State at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
North Dakota vs. Iowa State at 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Ohio vs. Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. (ACC Network)
Kennesaw State vs. UTSA at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Merrimack vs. Air Force at 3:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
UTEP vs. Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
Western Illinois vs. Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Akron vs. Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Miami (Ohio) vs. Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Boise State vs. Georgia Southern at 4:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Old Dominion vs. South Carolina at 4:15 p.m. (SEC Network)
Stony Brook vs. Marshall at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
UC Davis vs. Cal at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX)
North Texas vs. South Alabama at 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Eastern Kentucky vs. Mississippi State at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+/SECN+)
Campbell vs. Liberty at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Richmond vs. Virginia at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX)
Norfolk State vs. East Carolina at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Alabama at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Furman vs. Ole Miss at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+/SECN+)
Central Arkansas vs. Arkansas State at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Bethune-Cookman vs. South Florida at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tarleton State vs. Baylor at 7:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
UNLV vs. Houston at 7:00 p.m. (FS1)
UT Martin vs. Kansas State at 7:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Tennessee Tech vs. Middle Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sam Houston vs. Rice at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nevada vs. Troy at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
North Alabama vs. Memphis at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Alabama A&M vs. Auburn at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/SECN+)
at 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Fresno State vs. Michigan at 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Idaho vs. Oregon at 7:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
UCLA vs. Hawai'i at 7:30 p.m. (CBS)
Abilene Christian vs. Texas Tech at 7:30 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Southern Miss vs. Kentucky at 7:45 p.m. (SEC Network)
Southern Illinois vs. BYU at 8:00 p.m. (Big 12/ESPN+)
Georgia State vs. Georgia Tech at 8:00 p.m. (ACC Network)
Houston Christian vs. SMU at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+/ACCNX)
Grambling vs. Louisiana at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nicholls vs. Louisiana Tech at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
James Madison vs, Charlotte at 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
Lamar vs. Texas State at 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Southeast Missouri State vs. New Mexico State at 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
New Mexico vs. Arizona at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Wyoming vs. Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. (FS1)
Weber State vs. Washington at 11:00 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Sunday, September 1
North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN)
USC vs. LSU at 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Monday, September 2
Boston College vs. Florida State at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Key dates for the 2024 NCAA college football season

• August 24, 2024: Week 0 of the regular season begins, with the ACC rivalsFlorida State vs. Georgia Tech gamein Dublin, Ireland
  
• August 29–September 2, 2024: Week 1 of the regular season
• November 23, 2024: College football regular season ends
• November 24, 2024: College football playoffs Selection Sunday
• November 30, 2024: College football regular season ends, and playoffs first round begins
• December 6–7, 2024: Conference championships
• December 7, 2024: College football playoffs second round
• December 8, 2024: College football playoff Selection Sunday
• December 13–14, 2024: College football playoffs quarterfinal
• December 14, 2024: Army-Navy Game and the start of bowl season
• January 20, 2025: Postseason ends, except for any all-star games
• January 8, 2024: College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

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