The 2021 college football schedule kicks off with Week Zero action on Saturday, Aug. 28. A total of seven games are on the docket.
Week Zero is the unofficial name for the weekend of college football games that begins before the majority of teams hit the gridiron in Week 1.
Under NCAA Bylaw 17.11.4, FBS and FCS teams cannot play their first contest until the Thursday preceding Labor Day. Beginning in 2016, an exception to this rule was added (Bylaw 17.11.4.1) that allows Hawaii and teams that play in Hawaii, plus their opponents, the option to play one week earlier on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend.
This season, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors travel to take on the UCLA Bruins. The game is set for 3:30pm ET and it will be televised by ESPN.
Three other matchups have been scheduled for Week Zero since three of the involved teams, Fresno State, New Mexico State, and San Jose State, play Hawaii this season. Fresno State hosts UConn at 2:00pm ET (CBSSN), New Mexico State hosts UTEP at 9:30pm ET (Bally Sports AZ / KVIA / FloFootball), and San Jose State caps off the day hosting Southern Utah at 10:00pm ET (CBSSN).
A second exception, Bylaw 17.11.4.2, also provides Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools the opportunity to play in Week Zero. In order to qualify, the contest must be a non-conference matchup that is nationally televised (broadcast or cable; not Internet only).
For the 2021 season, one FCS matchup meets that qualification and is scheduled for Week Zero. The Alcorn State Braves and the North Carolina Central Eagles square off in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. ESPN will televise the game at 7:00pm ET.
Two other matchups that are scheduled for Week Zero did not meet the qualifications, but the schools applied for and received an exemption from the NCAA. In the first Week Zero matchup at 1:00pm ET, Nebraska will travel to take on Illinois with coverage on FOX. The matchup was originally slated to be played in Dublin, Ireland, but was moved stateside due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Indiana State will host Eastern Illinois at 6:00pm ET with live streaming via ESPN+. This contest was also granted an exemption from the NCAA.
Another NCAA rule, commonly known as the Hawaii Exemption, allows Hawaii and teams that play in Hawaii the opportunity to schedule a 13th game. This helps those schools earn an extra paycheck, gate revenue, etc. to offset the larger cost of traveling to and from the islands.
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams can play a maximum of 12 regular-season games each year, per Bylaw 17.11.6.1. However, Bylaw 17.11.6.2 (g) permits any football games played in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico to not count against the maximum number of contests.
For the 2021 college football season, only Hawaii will take advantage of the Hawaii Exemption. Below are the details:
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will play a 13-game regular-season schedule for the first time since 2019. Hawaii will play non-conference games at home against Portland State and New Mexico State and will travel to take on UCLA, Oregon State, and New Mexico State.
In Mountain West action, Hawaii hosts San Jose State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Colorado State and travels to Nevada, Utah State, UNLV, and Wyoming.
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All six opponents that travel to Hawaii this season declined to add a 13th game to their football schedule. Instead, they will retain an open date.
2021 College Football Schedule | Week Zero
*All times Eastern.
Saturday, Aug 28, 2021
Nebraska at Illinois – 1pm, FOX
UConn at Fresno State – 2pm, CBSSN
Hawaii at UCLA – 3:30pm, ESPN
Eastern Illinois at Indiana State – 6pm, ESPN+
Alcorn State vs. NC Central (in Atlanta, GA) – 7pm, ESPN
UTEP at New Mexico State – 9:30pm, Bally Sports AZ / KVIA / FloFootball
Southern Utah at San Jose State – 10pm, CBSSN
Football Schedules
- College Football Schedule (FBS only)
- FCS Schedule (FCS only)
- College Football TV Schedule (FBS and FCS)