In the United States, the NFL regular season usually starts in early September, while college football often begins in late August or early September. Preseason games and training camps start earlier, so the first football activity may appear weeks before the games count in the standings.
The exact date depends on the league, team, and schedule for that year. Here’s how to tell preseason from the regular season, when college and high school games typically begin, and where to find the confirmed kickoff date for a specific team.
when would football season start in the United States?
If you mean the NFL, the regular season generally starts in early September. The first game is usually played on a Thursday, followed by a full slate of games that weekend. The exact opening date changes each year, so the league’s official schedule is the reliable source for a specific season.
College football often starts slightly earlier. A small number of teams may play in late August, while many programs begin around the first weekend of September. High school and youth football dates are set locally and can fall anywhere from late summer into early fall.
It helps to ask which part of the season you mean. Training camp, preseason games, the first regular-season game, and the start of playoffs are separate milestones. If you only want to know when games count toward a team’s record, look for the league’s regular-season opener.
Football season start dates by league
There is no single start date for all football. In the United States, NFL, college, high school, and youth schedules are organized by different bodies. Their calendars overlap, but each level sets its own dates and rules.
| Competition | Typical start | What the start means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL preseason | August | Exhibition games begin; results do not count in regular-season standings | Seeing teams before the games that determine playoff places |
| NFL regular season | Early September | Scheduled games count toward the standings and playoff qualification | Following the main professional season |
| College football | Late August or early September | Teams begin their scheduled season; a few games may be played before the main opening weekend | Watching school and conference rivalries |
| High school football | Late summer or early fall | Local schools begin games on their state or district calendars | Following a school or local team |
| Youth football | Varies by local organization | Practices and games follow the league’s registration and facility schedule | Planning a child’s season or family calendar |
These are typical windows, not guaranteed dates. A league can change its schedule, and a local association may start well before or after the nearby college or professional teams.
When does the NFL season begin?
The NFL calendar has several possible starting points. Training camps open first, preseason games follow, and then the regular season begins. The regular-season opener is the date most fans mean when they ask when the NFL season starts.
Training camp and preseason
NFL training camps generally begin in late July, although the precise report dates vary by team and year. Players prepare for the season through practices, meetings, and conditioning. Some practices are open to fans, but they are not regular-season games.
Preseason games are typically played in August. They give teams a chance to assess players and make roster decisions. Coaches often use these games to evaluate backups and newer players, and playing time can differ substantially from a regular-season game.
Preseason results do not add wins or losses to a team’s regular-season record. That distinction matters if you are checking standings or trying to identify the first meaningful game of the season. A preseason broadcast may be the first football you see, but the race for a playoff place has not started.
Regular-season kickoff
The NFL regular season usually opens in early September with a nationally televised game. Other teams then play their first games over the opening weekend. The schedule is released in advance, so each team’s actual first game may be on a different day.
Do not assume every team plays on opening night. The Thursday opener is a featured matchup, not a game involving all 32 teams. To find your team’s start date, check its schedule and identify the first fixture labeled regular season.
The NFL regular season currently consists of 18 weeks, with each team scheduled for 17 games and one bye week. A bye is a week without a game. Because teams have different bye weeks, their season schedules do not all end on the same weekend.
When does college football start?
College football commonly begins in late August or early September. Some seasons include a small opening group of games before the traditional full slate of weekend matchups. That early window is often called Week Zero, though the exact games and participating teams vary.
Most programs start around the same general period, but there is no universal kickoff date for every college team. Conferences and schools arrange their own schedules, and a team’s first game can be at home, on the road, or at a neutral-site venue.
College football’s regular season usually continues into November. Conference championship games are generally held after the regular schedule, followed by postseason bowl games and the College Football Playoff. Those postseason events are part of the broader college football calendar, but they are not the start of the regular season.
For a specific school, check its athletics department schedule rather than relying on a broad calendar. This is especially useful when you are planning around a rivalry game or a home opener, since neither necessarily falls on the first weekend of the season.
High school and youth football start dates
High school season dates vary by state and, in some cases, by school association or district. Teams often begin practices before their first games. The first game may fall in August or September, but local calendars determine the actual date.
Youth football is even more local. A community league may set dates based on registration, field access, age divisions, and local weather. Some programs have preseason practices or evaluations before the first official game.
If you are following a school or registering a player, use the school, state association, or local league calendar. Ask whether the posted date refers to the first practice, a scrimmage, or the first game. Those events are easy to confuse, and the distinction can affect equipment, transportation, and attendance plans.
What counts as the first day of football season?
The answer depends on what you are trying to plan. For a fan, the first preseason broadcast may feel like the beginning. For standings, it is the first regular-season game. For players, coaches, and families, the practical start may be training camp or the first required practice.
- First football activity: A team’s training camp or preseason practice.
- First exhibition game: The opening preseason game, which does not count toward the regular-season record.
- First game that counts: The team’s first regular-season fixture.
- Postseason start: The first playoff or bowl game after the regular schedule.
For a league-wide answer, use the competition’s official opening date. For a team-specific answer, use that team’s first scheduled game. For a player or parent, use the local calendar and confirm when attendance becomes mandatory.
Why the start date changes from year to year
Football schedules are built around more than a single opening weekend. Leagues consider the calendar, stadium availability, broadcast plans, travel, and other events. As a result, the first game can move by several days from one year to the next.
The NFL’s regular-season schedule has a set number of weeks, but its calendar does not place the opening game on the same numbered date every year. The season may begin before or after a particular holiday, depending on how the calendar falls and how the schedule is arranged.
College schedules have additional variation. Schools may coordinate with conference opponents, television windows, campus events, and neutral-site games. That is why one team can play before the main college opening weekend while another starts later.
Weather and local rules can also influence high school and youth calendars. A state association may set a common first practice or game date, while local organizations determine details for their own teams. Never treat a professional schedule as a reliable guide to a nearby school league.
How to find the confirmed opening date
Use the schedule for the exact team or competition you care about. A general season estimate is useful for planning, but it cannot confirm an individual matchup or kickoff time.
- Choose the level: Decide whether you mean NFL, college, high school, or youth football.
- Find the official schedule: Use the league, school athletics department, state association, or local organization’s own calendar.
- Look for the first regular-season game: Separate it from training camp, preseason, scrimmages, and exhibition games.
- Confirm the time and venue: Dates and kickoff times can differ by team, and published schedules may be updated.
- Check again close to game day: Weather, venue issues, or other changes can affect local games and kickoff details.
For NFL games, the league and team schedule pages provide the matchup and date. College teams publish schedules through their athletics departments, while state athletic associations and local leagues are better sources for school and youth games.
A search result or social media post can be helpful for a quick glance, but it may show a projected schedule or an old date. Confirm important plans against the organization responsible for the game, especially if you are traveling or buying tickets.
Common mistakes when checking the season start
Confusing preseason with regular-season games
Preseason football is part of the annual calendar, but its results do not affect the NFL regular-season standings. If you want the first game that affects a team’s record, check the regular-season schedule rather than the first broadcast listed.
Assuming every team starts at the same time
A league’s opening game is not every team’s opener. Teams play on different days during the first week, and some levels have staggered schedules. Check the specific team instead of using the league’s first kickoff as its start date.
Treating college and professional calendars as one season
College and NFL football overlap, but their schedules are separate. College games may begin before NFL regular-season play, and college postseason games may continue after the NFL regular season has ended.
Using last year’s date as a guarantee
Annual patterns help you estimate, but they do not confirm the next season’s schedule. A date from a previous year can be off by days or may refer to a different competition. Use it as a planning clue, then verify the current schedule.
Practical ways to plan around kickoff
If you are arranging travel, buying tickets, or planning a watch party, wait for the confirmed date and kickoff time before making nonrefundable plans. The season’s first weekend may be known before every game time is finalized, and a team’s schedule may include a different day or time than you expect.
For families, confirm the full team calendar, not only the first game. Practice schedules, equipment pickup, preseason meetings, and travel can start earlier. A quick check of what each date means can prevent a missed practice or an unnecessary trip to a scrimmage.
If you follow multiple levels, keep separate calendars for professional, college, and local teams. Label games as preseason, regular season, or postseason. That small step makes it easier to spot the first game that matters for each team and avoid mixing up kickoff weekends.
Useful rule of thumb: Expect NFL regular-season football in early September, college football from late August or early September, and local schedules to vary. Treat those windows as estimates until the team or governing organization posts the confirmed date.
For most U.S. fans, the NFL regular season starts in early September, while college games often begin in late August or early September. Preseason and training camp arrive earlier, and school or youth schedules depend on local calendars.
To pin down when would football season start for your team, check its official schedule and identify the first regular-season game, not the first practice or exhibition. Confirm the kickoff time again before making travel or ticket plans.