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Friday Football: 3 Top 25 Teams Kick Off Week 1
5 Sep
Summary
- Three top-25 ranked teams begin their season today.
- Lincoln Riley coaches his second game of the 2026 season.
- Key matchups feature Oklahoma, Miami, and USC.
- Miami faces Stanford after Stanford's Week 0 win.
College football kicks off its Week 1 schedule with three ranked teams playing on Friday, September 4, 2026. Oklahoma, a top-ten playoff hopeful, hosts UTEP, aiming for improved offensive efficiency with John Mateer back at quarterback. The Sooners are heavy favorites in this matchup.
Miami, led by Mario Cristobal, faces a cross-country challenge against Stanford. The Hurricanes, who reached the national championship game last season, will test their revamped roster, including transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, against a Stanford team that has already won its Week 0 game.
USC, coached by Lincoln Riley, also begins its home slate against Fresno State. The Trojans look to demonstrate consistent performance throughout four quarters and enhance their rushing attack to complement Jayden Maiava's passing. This game is part of the early Friday slate featuring significant programs.
