It's almost time for the start of college football season 2018, with the first games right around the corner.
The first college football game was played in 1896 and 122 years later it is America's favorite sport to watch on TV, with some 37 percent of adults saying football comes first in sports viewing habits.
That's why football's start gets plenty of hype each year. Alabama was last year's champion, beating Georgia in the national title game, and the Crimson Tide is among favorites to contend once again. Some experts think Georgia could be right there again – an Alabama vs. Georgia national championship rematch, perhaps?
"Alabama and defending SEC champion Georgia could very well be on a collision course for a championship again, though it's more likely to be a meeting in the league title game this time," writes Associated Press college football writer John Zenor. "The Tide didn't win the West last season after falling to Auburn in the regular-season finale.
"The Crimson Tide approaches the season widely regarded as the favorite to win a sixth national title in the last decade."
Others agree. The Sporting News says lists Alabama as its pick to win the national championship.
"Yes, we put Alabama at No. 1 again," The Sporting News said. "Chances are it will be atop the preseason polls that come out in August."
Some give Clemson a shot, the team that beat Alabama in the title game two years ago.
Alabama's first game is against Louisville on Labor Day weekend. The Saturday, Sept. 1 game will be played in Orlando, Florida and broadcast on ABC.
As for the college football season 2018 start date, play gets underway with the first games on Saturday, August 25.
Here's the schedule, including date, times and TV channels for the first games and some of the more high-profile first-week games:
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Duquesne vs. UMASS (Time: 5:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel: Eleven Sports Network
Prairie View at Rice (Time: 7 p.m. ET; TV Channel: ESPN)
Hawaii vs. Colorado State (Time: 7:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel: CBSSN)
Wyoming vs. New Mexico State (Time: 10 p.m. ET; TV Channel: ESPN 2)
Among the first week's high-profile games, here are the matchups, times, dates and TV channels:
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Northwestern vs. Purdue (Time: 8 p.m. ET; TV Channel: ESPN)
Wake Forest vs. Tulane (Time: 8 p.m. ET; TV Channel: CBSSN)
Friday, August 31, 2018
Colorado vs. Colorado State (Time: 9:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel: CBSSN)
Saturday, Sept. 1 2018
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (Time: Noon ET; TV Channel: ESPN)
Oregon State vs. Ohio State (Time: Noon ET; TV Channel: ABC)
Texas vs. Maryland (Time: Noon ET; TV Channel FS1)
Auburn vs. Washington (Time: 3:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel ABC)
Tennessee vs. West Virginia (Time: 3:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel CBS)
North Carolina vs. California (Time: 4 p.m. ET; TV Channel Fox)
Alabama vs. Louisville (Time: 8 p.m. ET; TV Channel ABC)
Sunday, September 2, 2018
LSU vs. Miami (FL) (Time: 7:30 p.m. ET; TV Channel ABC)
Monday, September 3, 2018
Virginia Tech vs. Florida State (Time: 8 p.m. ET; TV Channel ESPN)
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
