College football’s 2026 season opens with a stacked slate. Week Zero kicks off Thursday, August 27, and builds through the weekend of August 29, then Week One takes over September 3 through 6 with the season’s first true marquee matchups. If any of the games below are on your list, book your hotel now. Kickoff weekends routinely sell out host cities weeks in advance, and rates only climb the closer you get to game day.
College Football Kickoff Weekend 2026: Where to Watch and Stay
Quick facts before you book
Week Zero: Begins Thursday, August 27 with an FCS-heavy slate, then delivers its headline games on Saturday, August 29.
Week One: Runs Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6, with the biggest games concentrated on Saturday and Sunday.
Booking tip: Host-city hotels near these stadiums fill up 6 to 8 weeks out for a marquee game. Lock in a room now rather than waiting for kickoff times to be finalized.
Week Zero headliners (Saturday, August 29)
North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland: The Aer Lingus College Football Classic opens the season on a global stage at Aviva Stadium (Saturday, August 29, noon ET, ESPN). Memphis at UNLV in Las Vegas: Both programs enter with conference title ambitions, and it is a rare chance to see a season opener at Allegiant Stadium. Also on the slate: NC State at Virginia (Charlottesville) and New Mexico State at Florida State (Tallahassee).
Week One headliners (September 3–6)
Colorado at Georgia Tech (Thursday, Sept. 3, 8pm, Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta): The flexed Thursday night opener kicks off the week’s biggest slate. Auburn vs. Baylor (Saturday, Sept. 5, 3:30pm, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta): The Aflac Kickoff Game gives Atlanta a second marquee matchup in the same week. Boise State at Oregon (Saturday, Sept. 5, 12:30pm, Autzen Stadium, Eugene): The Broncos travel to face a playoff contender. Clemson at LSU (Saturday, Sept. 5, primetime, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge): Widely tabbed the game of the week, played in Death Valley under the lights. Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:30pm, Lambeau Field, Green Bay): A Shamrock Series neutral-site game at the home of the Packers. Louisville vs. Ole Miss (Sunday, Sept. 6, 6:30pm, Nissan Stadium, Nashville): The inaugural Music City Kickoff, with a concert built into the weekend.
Where to stay: city by city
Las Vegas (Memphis at UNLV): Stick to the south end of the Strip. Mandalay Bay is about a 15-minute walk to Allegiant Stadium, with Excalibur a few minutes further and typically priced lower. Atlanta (Georgia Tech-Colorado and Auburn-Baylor): With two marquee games in the same week, book early. For Georgia Tech’s Thursday opener, stay in Midtown near Tech Square, walkable to Bobby Dodd Stadium in 10 to 20 minutes, or near the North Avenue MARTA station. For the Aflac Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the sits right next to the venue. Eugene (Boise State at Oregon): Valley River Inn is one of the closest full-service options, a short drive, bike, or stroll along the river to Autzen Stadium, with shuttle service available on gameday. Baton Rouge (Clemson at LSU): sits under a mile from Tiger Stadium for the shortest walk. Watermark Hotel Downtown and Hilton Capitol Center are about 2.5 miles out if you want a downtown base with more restaurant options. Green Bay (Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame): Lodge Kohler is about 100 yards from the stadium gates. Hilton Garden Inn Green Bay is under a 10-minute walk and typically books up fast for Lambeau events. Nashville (Louisville vs. Ole Miss): Skip hotels immediately by the stadium; downtown Nashville has far more options and better energy. Lower Broadway and SoBro are both a 15 to 20 minute walk to Nissan Stadium via the pedestrian bridge, putting you close to the Music City Kickoff Concert too.
Bottom line
Pick your game, then book your room before the kickoff time and TV network are even announced. Stadium-adjacent hotels in Green Bay, Baton Rouge, and Eugene are limited by nature, and Atlanta’s back-to-back marquee games this week will pull from the same hotel inventory twice over. The earlier you commit, the more choices and better rates you’ll have.
