College football season begins with playoff changes and new streaming options

The 2026 college football season is set to begin with Week 0 games on August 29, featuring the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, where North Carolina, led by Bill Belichick, faces TCU.

Significant structural changes are arriving this year, including a 12-team College Football Playoff format that grants automatic bids to the champions of the Power Four conferences and a guaranteed spot for Notre Dame if they finish in the top 12. Additionally, the Pac-12 has returned as a functional conference. Rule changes include a modified penalty for targeting offenses.

Broadcasting is also evolving, with Disney+ introducing ‘College Football Saturdays’ to stream two ESPN/ABC games and College GameDay each week. Fans can access games through various streaming services like ESPN Unlimited and Fox One to avoid traditional cable.