College football is back in earnest this week, and with that in mind, I wanted to start highlighting a handful of games that don’t quite get the national coverage. Week in and week out, we hear about the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. Plenty of college football exists. We don’t have to limit ourselves to games between power conference teams in the age of modern technology.
For the purposes of this blog, we’ll be looking at Group of 5 (6 now with the PAC-12?) and FCS programs. Of course, I’d love to include D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO, and maybe we will in the future, but for now, we’re keeping it to the D1 ranks.
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan
How to Watch: Friday, September 4th – 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: Eastern Michigan kicked off the season by welcoming Sacramento State to FBS football, winning 28-17 in the process. San Jose State fell 42-26 to USC, but I saw flashes of an offense that could be exciting to watch. Also, Eastern Michigan has a gray field that simultaneously disturbs and fascinates me.
Tarleton State at Bowling Green
How to Watch: Saturday, September 5th – 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: Tarleton State comes into this contest as the #5 FCS team in the country, and the Texans are only 2.5-point underdogs to Bowling Green. Chaos is the soul of college football, and anytime an FCS team can knock off an FBS squad, I will be seated. Speaking of, this Texans team knocked off Army last year at Michie Stadium. If one game ought to be circled as a potential FCS over FBS win, it’s this one.
First road game uniform reveal after making a statement in purple at home 😤 pic.twitter.com/GSGMWqtczl
— Tarleton State Football (@TarletonFB) September 3, 2026
Wyoming at Colorado State
How to Watch: Saturday, September 5th – 5:00 p.m. CT on USA
Why You Should Watch: Multiple rivalries known as the Border War exist in college football, but my personal favorite is the clash between Colorado State and Wyoming. The placement of this game on the calendar has changed up a bit thanks to Colorado State departing the Mountain West for the PAC-12, so realistically, I’m just glad we get to keep this heated rivalry alive. One of my favorite little pieces of this rivalry is the annual Bronze Boot run. ROTC members from each university meet at the Wyoming-Colorado border to exchange the game ball. Regional rivalries remain a key piece of college football, and this one is well worth your time.
West Florida at Central Arkansas
How to Watch: Saturday, September 5th – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: West Florida made the jump from D2 to FCS ahead of the 2026 season and promptly beat preseason FCS #16 Southern Illinois 34-31. Central Arkansas pulled off their own ranked win in the first action of the year by knocking off #22 UT Martin. Was West Florida’s win a fluke? Could either of these squads be a contender with Tarleton State for the United Athletic Conference title? We might get some answers on Saturday.
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M
How to Watch: Sunday, September 6th – 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN2
Why You Should Watch: Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M have played 81 times since 1947, with Texas Southern leading the series 45-35-1. Since 2021, PVAMU has won all but one of the contests, though the 2025 version of the Labor Day Classic was decided by just one point. These two squads finished first and second in the SWAC West last year, meaning there are conference title implications on the line as well. You don’t need to add stakes to a long-running rivalry, but it never hurts as an added reason to watch.
THE WORK GOT LOUDER. LABOR DAY CLASSIC UP NEXT. 🗣️💜#FTF | #DOG | #PVAMUFootball pic.twitter.com/4lR4byuSah
— Prairie View A&M Football (@pvamufb_) September 4, 2026
What under-the-radar games are you most excited about for Week One? We’d love to hear from you.
Be sure to check out the Get Back Coach on YouTube for Apollo’s weekly college football show, as well as a variety of other content.
