College Football Predictions: Early Picks for Week 1 Marquee Matchups

LSU-Clemson, Notre Dame-Wisconsin headline opening weekend slate

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:38pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color that abstractly represent the action and energy of a college football game.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity and energy of a high-stakes college football matchup between top teams to kick off the 2026 season.Green Bay Today

With the 2026 college football season just around the corner, we're taking an early look at some of the top Week 1 matchups that could set the tone for the year. From LSU hosting Clemson to Notre Dame facing Wisconsin in Green Bay, there are several marquee showdowns on tap to kick off the new campaign.

Why it matters

These early-season games featuring top-ranked teams will have major implications for the preseason polls and playoff picture. How teams perform in these high-profile clashes can drastically impact their national championship aspirations and conference title hopes right out of the gate.

The details

The Week 1 slate includes several intriguing matchups, including Colorado at Georgia Tech, Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta, Ole Miss vs. Louisville in Nashville, Boise State at Oregon, Clemson at LSU, and Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin in Green Bay. While some lines are still TBD, early odds have LSU favored by 11.5 points over Clemson and Notre Dame laying 16.5 points against Wisconsin.

  • The full Week 1 schedule kicks off on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
  • Notre Dame and Wisconsin will face off on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Green Bay.
  • The week concludes with SMU at Florida State on Monday, September 7, 2026.

The players

Brent Key

Head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Deion Sanders

Head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Dave Aranda

Head coach of the Baylor Bears.

Alex Golesh

New head coach of the Auburn Tigers, previously at South Florida.

Pete Golding

Defensive coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels.

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What they’re saying

“This is a difficult cross-country trek for a team with a bunch of new starters and a redshirt freshman starting quarterback, Julian Lewis, who's only played in a single road game at Colorado.”

— Brad Crawford, Author

“Spoiling Kiffin's debut at Tiger Stadium is going to be a challenge as a double-digit underdog, the largest spread against Clemson since Georgia (12.5 points) to open the 2024 campaign.”

— Brad Crawford, Author

What’s next

The full Week 1 schedule will be released in the coming months, with more detailed lines and odds available closer to kickoff.

The takeaway

These early-season showdowns between top contenders will set the tone for the 2026 college football season and provide crucial data points for the preseason rankings and playoff picture. Fans are in for an exciting opening weekend filled with high-stakes matchups that could have major implications down the line.