College Football Games Today September 18, 2026: Schedule, TV Channels & How to Watch
College football games today September 18 2026 TV schedule and kickoff times
College football returns to the national spotlight tonight with three FBS games scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2026.
The Friday slate includes an ACC matchup between Miami and Wake Forest, a ranked Big 12 showdown between Houston and Texas Tech, and a late-night Oregon game against Portland State.
The biggest game of the night may be:
No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech
with both nationally ranked teams opening Big 12 play in prime time.
Fans looking for college football tonight can watch games beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET and continuing through the late-night window.
Here is the full schedule.
College Football Games Today: September 18 Schedule
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Miami at Wake Forest | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech | 8:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Portland State at Oregon | 10:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
The NCAA lists all three games on its official college football television schedule. NCAA college football TV schedule
What College Football Games Are on Tonight?
Friday’s schedule provides three separate viewing windows.
The action begins with:
Miami at Wake Forest — 7:30 p.m. ET
Thirty minutes later:
Houston at Texas Tech — 8:00 p.m. ET
The final game begins late on the East Coast:
Portland State at Oregon — 10:30 p.m. ET
That gives fans nearly a full evening of college football before Saturday’s much larger Week 3 schedule.
Miami vs Wake Forest: Time, Channel & Preview
Game Details
Matchup: Miami Hurricanes at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Stadium: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Miami enters the matchup at 2-0 after a dominant start to the season.
The Hurricanes opened 2026 with a 45-6 road win over Stanford before defeating Florida A&M 77-7.
Miami’s official schedule confirms the Hurricanes are 2-0 heading into Friday night’s ACC road game. Miami Hurricanes 2026 football schedule
Wake Forest also enters Friday undefeated.
The Demon Deacons opened with a 38-16 victory over Akron before surviving Purdue 38-36 in double overtime.
That means this matchup features:
Miami 2-0 vs Wake Forest 2-0.
Wake Forest officially lists the game for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Wake Forest 2026 football schedule
Why Miami vs Wake Forest Matters
Miami has looked explosive through its first two games.
The Hurricanes have scored:
45 + 77 = 122 points
through two contests.
That works out to:
61 points per game.
Wake Forest has faced much tighter competition, particularly during its double-overtime victory at Purdue.
Friday therefore presents an interesting contrast.
Miami brings an explosive offense and national expectations.
Wake Forest brings home-field advantage and an undefeated record.
It is also an ACC matchup, meaning the result matters beyond the national rankings.
What Channel Is Miami vs Wake Forest On?
The game will be televised nationally on:
ESPN
Kickoff is scheduled for:
7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers with an eligible television or streaming package carrying ESPN should be able to watch through their provider.
Houston vs Texas Tech: Biggest Game of the Night
The strongest ranked matchup on Friday’s college football schedule is:
No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech.
Game Details
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: FOX
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Stadium: Galaxy Stadium
Conference: Big 12
Texas Tech’s official game preview confirms both teams enter the matchup ranked:
No. 22 Houston
against:
No. 13 Texas Tech.
Texas Tech official Houston game preview
This is also the Big 12 opener for both teams.
Texas Tech Enters at 2-0
Texas Tech has started its season with consecutive victories.
The Red Raiders defeated:
Abilene Christian 33-10
and:
Oregon State 35-24.
Texas Tech’s official schedule lists the Red Raiders at 2-0 entering the Houston matchup.
The game will also have a unique historical element.
Texas Tech says this will be its first Friday night regular-season home game since 1941.
That should create a strong prime-time atmosphere in Lubbock.
Houston Also Enters at 2-0
Houston has also opened the season unbeaten.
The Cougars began with a 33-20 win over Oregon State.
They then dominated Southern:
77-6.
Houston scored on 11 consecutive possessions in that Week 2 victory.
The Cougars’ official box score confirms the 77-6 result and 2-0 record. Houston vs Southern official box score
That makes Friday night’s matchup:
2-0 Houston vs 2-0 Texas Tech
with both teams ranked nationally.
Houston vs Texas Tech Series History
The series has been historically competitive.
Texas Tech’s official records list:
Texas Tech wins: 16
Houston wins: 18
Ties: 1
However, recent history heavily favors the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech has won seven consecutive meetings against Houston.
Recent results include:
2025 — Texas Tech 35, Houston 11
2023 — Texas Tech 49, Houston 28
2022 — Texas Tech 33, Houston 30
2021 — Texas Tech 38, Houston 21
Houston therefore has both a conference opportunity and a losing streak to end Friday night.
Why Houston vs Texas Tech Is the Must-Watch Game
This matchup has nearly everything a college football fan wants:
- two undefeated teams;
- two ranked teams;
- conference implications;
- prime-time television;
- and recent rivalry history.
It is also one of only three ranked-vs-ranked games across the full Week 3 slate, according to the NCAA’s latest AP Top 25 analysis.
A victory could significantly strengthen either team’s early-season résumé.
Portland State vs Oregon: Late-Night College Football
The final game of Friday night takes place in Eugene.
Game Details
Matchup: Portland State at Oregon
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT
TV: Big Ten Network
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Stadium: Autzen Stadium
Oregon’s official athletics site confirms the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Big Ten Network. Oregon vs Portland State game center
Oregon Looking to Bounce Back
Oregon enters Friday after suffering a surprising Week 2 loss.
The Ducks fell to Oklahoma State:
39-31
in Stillwater.
That defeat dropped Oregon to:
1-1.
Oregon had opened the season with a 34-27 victory over Boise State.
The Oklahoma State loss also caused a major rankings drop, with Oregon falling from the top 10 in the AP poll.
Friday’s game against Portland State gives the Ducks an opportunity to reset before entering the more difficult part of their schedule.
Portland State Enters at 0-3
Portland State has had a difficult start to the season.
The Vikings have lost to:
UC Davis 31-24
San Diego State 53-20
and:
North Dakota 47-23.
That gives Portland State an:
0-3 record
heading into Autzen Stadium.
The Vikings’ official schedule confirms the September 18 matchup will be played at 7:30 p.m. PT on Big Ten Network. Portland State 2026 football schedule
What Channel Is Oregon vs Portland State On?
Oregon vs Portland State airs on:
Big Ten Network
Kickoff is scheduled for:
10:30 p.m. Eastern
which is:
7:30 p.m. Pacific.
This will be the final nationally listed FBS game of Friday night.
Best College Football Game to Watch Tonight
For neutral fans, the strongest game on paper is clearly:
No. 22 Houston vs No. 13 Texas Tech.
Both teams are:
- undefeated;
- nationally ranked;
- playing a conference opener;
- and appearing on FOX in prime time.
Miami-Wake Forest should also be worth watching because both teams enter undefeated and Miami has been one of the highest-scoring teams in the country through two games.
Oregon-Portland State offers late-night football and a chance to see how the Ducks respond after their upset loss at Oklahoma State.
College Football Viewing Order for September 18
If you want to watch as much football as possible, this is the simplest order:
7:30 p.m. ET — Miami at Wake Forest on ESPN
Start with the ACC matchup.
8:00 p.m. ET — Houston at Texas Tech on FOX
Switch or use a second screen for the ranked Big 12 showdown.
10:30 p.m. ET — Portland State at Oregon on Big Ten Network
Finish the night with the Ducks in Eugene.
Because Miami-Wake Forest and Houston-Texas Tech overlap significantly, viewers may want to use multiple screens or switch between games based on score.
Saturday’s College Football Schedule Is Much Bigger
Friday is only the beginning of Week 3.
Saturday, September 19 includes major games such as:
- Kent State at Ohio State;
- Georgia at Arkansas;
- Florida State at Alabama;
- Michigan State at Notre Dame;
- SMU at Louisville;
- LSU at Ole Miss;
- and Arizona State vs Kansas.
Elite Era Trends already covers major college football programs and rivalries.
For more Big Ten and national coverage, see our Ohio State football schedule, ranking and game guide.
You can also revisit our Iowa State vs Iowa Cy-Hawk rivalry guide for another major 2026 college football matchup.
College Football Games Today FAQ
Are there college football games today, September 18?
Yes. Three nationally listed FBS games are scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2026.
What college football games are on tonight?
Miami plays Wake Forest, Houston visits Texas Tech and Portland State plays Oregon.
What time does college football start tonight?
The first game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with Miami at Wake Forest.
What channel is Miami vs Wake Forest on?
Miami vs Wake Forest airs on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
What channel is Houston vs Texas Tech on?
Houston vs Texas Tech airs on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET.
What channel is Oregon vs Portland State on?
Oregon vs Portland State airs on Big Ten Network at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Are Houston and Texas Tech ranked?
Yes. The latest verified matchup information lists Houston at No. 22 and Texas Tech at No. 13.
Is Miami undefeated?
Yes. Miami enters Friday at 2-0 after wins over Stanford and Florida A&M.
Is Wake Forest undefeated?
Yes. Wake Forest enters the Miami game at 2-0 after beating Akron and Purdue.
What is Oregon’s record?
Oregon enters the Portland State game at 1-1 after losing 39-31 at Oklahoma State.
What is Portland State’s record?
Portland State enters Friday at 0-3.
Bottom Line
There are three major FBS college football games today, Friday, September 18, 2026.
The full television schedule is:
7:30 p.m. ET — Miami at Wake Forest — ESPN
8:00 p.m. ET — No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech — FOX
10:30 p.m. ET — Portland State at Oregon — Big Ten Network
The standout matchup is Houston-Texas Tech, where two undefeated ranked Big 12 teams meet in prime time.
Miami-Wake Forest also features two 2-0 teams, while Oregon will look to recover from its Week 2 upset loss.
For the full official national schedule, check the NCAA college football television schedule.
For more coverage on Elite Era Trends, continue with our Ohio State football guide and Iowa State vs Iowa rivalry coverage.
