What is Week Zero?

 Here is some history on Week "0" and the Schedule and Where to Watch!

The first week of college football is called Week 0 because it is technically not part of the regular season. The NCAA rulebook states that the regular season for Division I FBS football teams must begin on the first Saturday before Labor Day. However, the NCAA has a rule that allows teams that play in Hawaii to play a game on the Saturday before Labor Day, as long as the game is played in Hawaii. This is known as the "Hawaii Rule."

The term "Week 0" was coined by sportswriters to refer to these games that are played before the start of the regular season. It is a way of differentiating these games from the games that are played in Week 1, which is the official start of the regular season.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of teams playing games in Week 0, even if they are not located in Hawaii. This is due to a number of factors, including the desire to get a head start on the season, the opportunity to play a marquee opponent on national television, and the financial benefits that come with playing a game in Week 0.

The NCAA has not taken any steps to stop the trend of teams playing games in Week 0, and Week 0 is here to stay!

Here are some of the reasons why teams might choose to play a game in Week 0:

*To get a head start on the season. Teams that play in Week 0 have an extra week to prepare for their next game. This can be especially important for teams that are playing a tough schedule.

*To play a marquee opponent. Playing a big-name opponent on national television can give a team a lot of exposure. This can help to increase ticket sales, donations, and recruiting.

*To get financial benefits. Teams that play in Week 0 often receive a larger share of the television revenue than teams that play in Week 1. This is because there is less competition for viewers in Week 0.

Whether or not you agree with the practice of playing games in Week 0, it is clear that it is here to stay. As long as there are financial benefits to be gained, teams will continue to play games in this unofficial week of the college football season.

Week 0 Schedule

Saturday, Aug. 26

No. 13 Notre Dame vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland) | 2:30 p.m. | NBC

Mercer vs. North Alabama (Montgomery, Alabama) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN

Jacksonville State vs. UTEP | 5:30 p.m. | CBSSN

New Mexico State vs. UMass | 7 p.m. | ESPN

San Diego State vs. Ohio | 7 p.m. | FS1

Albany vs. Fordham | 7 p.m. | FloSportsFootball

Vanderbilt vs. Hawai'i | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network

Jackson State vs. South Carolina State (Atlanta, Georgia) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC

No. 6 USC vs. San Jose State | 8 p.m. | Pac-12 Network

Louisiana Tech vs. Florida International | 9 p.m. | CBSSN

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