Power Conferences Released Week 8 Football Kickoff Times
The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC announced broadcast schedules for major matchups on October 23 and 24.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Football
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Four power college football conferences released official kickoff times and television designations for Week 8 games on Monday. The schedule sets the stage for key contests across the country on October 23 and October 24, 2026.
Why it matters
Finalizing these kickoff times allows fans and travel planners to coordinate schedules for high-profile matchups. Broadcast placements remain a critical component for television networks and conference revenue growth.
Games include Indiana at Michigan at 12 p.m. and USC at Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. on October 24. Additionally, Duke faces Virginia at 7 p.m. on October 23, while NC State travels to Stanford for a 10:30 p.m. start.
The players
ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a major collegiate athletic conference in the United States.
Big 12
The Big 12 Conference is a prominent power conference featuring teams across several U.S. states.
Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States.
SEC
The Southeastern Conference is a major collegiate athletic conference known for its competitive football programs.
The details
The announcement covers primary games for the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC, with broadcast slots filling the prime-time and midday windows. Remaining network designations for the broader Week 8 slate are expected to be solidified following the conclusion of the October 17 games.
Timeline
October 12, 2026: Kickoff times and TV designations were officially announced.
October 17, 2026: Games occur prior to the finalization of remaining network designations.
October 23, 2026: Week 8 college football action begins.
October 24, 2026: The majority of scheduled Week 8 games take place.
Season Trajectory
This scheduling announcement follows the standard television network selection process for college football, which dictates that certain games are held for selection until the week prior to play. The release provides clarity to the season trajectory, helping define the marquee windows for late-October playoff implications.
Fans can now finalize travel plans for high-profile matchups like USC at Wisconsin and Ole Miss at Texas. The set kickoff times also allow for precise fantasy roster adjustments and betting preparations for the upcoming weekend.
The takeaway
As the season reaches the middle of October, these schedule announcements are crucial for maintaining the momentum of the college football calendar. Viewers should keep an eye on the pending network selections to see which additional games gain prime-time slots for the upcoming weeks.
What happens next
Network designations for additional games will be finalized following the conclusion of the games on October 17, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on the upcoming schedule, visit the United States Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
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