40 Scheduling Notes Signal a New Era for 2026 College Football
Pat Forde maps the 2026 college football schedule, noting a move toward nine league games for the Power 5 (with ACC exceptions) and wide variance in nonconference play, which cuts traditional scheduling gripes but seeds intrigue with marquee Sept. 12 showdowns, the near-elimination of Cupcake weekends, a blockbuster Nov. 7 TV slate, ASU’s London trip, and Pac-12’s new flex-week finale. The piece also weighs brutal road-heavy slates (Ohio State, Michigan, LSU), easier paths (Texas Tech), and quirks like NIU in the Mountain West and Sacramento State’s MACtion, all shaping playoff positioning and season-long narratives.
