College Football Kickoff Schedule
Kickoff Times and Broadcast Schedules Set for Major October 17 College Football Games
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Key Points
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Oklahoma and Kentucky have met only three times: Kentucky won their 1951 Sugar Bowl meeting, while Oklahoma won both games in 1980 and 1982. The Oct. 17 matchup will be the Wildcats’ second trip to Norman.
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Kentucky enters the Oklahoma game after a dramatic 35-34 overtime win over South Carolina, rallying from a 17-point deficit and winning on a two-point conversion.
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Georgia has won nine consecutive games against Auburn, matching the longest winning streak in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry; Auburn has not won at Sanford Stadium since 2005.
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For the first time since 1970, Alabama and Tennessee have agreed to wear their home jerseys against each other in 2026 and 2027. Alabama will wear crimson in Knoxville this season, and the arrangement will be reversed in Tuscaloosa next year.
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Maryland will have played seven consecutive weeks by the time it hosts Rutgers, while Rutgers will be coming off a bye. The article also describes both head coaches as under pressure amid their teams’ poor starts.
College football's Oct. 17 slate features key matchups across the SEC and Big Ten, with kickoff times now locked in. Sports Yahoo reported that Rutgers will visit Maryland at 12:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network, while SI.com set Arkansas-Vanderbilt for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. In the SEC, Oklahoma hosts Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network, and Alabama travels to Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. ET with its broadcast home still to be announced.
Several teams are fighting to reverse early-season struggles. Rutgers and Maryland both sit near the bottom of the Big Ten standings, while Michigan and Penn State have each dropped their last two games. Kentucky brings momentum after a stunning 35-34 overtime win over South Carolina, rallying from down 17 points.
Oklahoma-Kentucky Renewal After 42-Year Gap
Oklahoma and Kentucky have played only three times in history, with their last meeting in 1982. Sports Yahoo noted that this Oct. 17 contest marks just the second trip to Norman for the Wildcats. Kentucky defeated Oklahoma in a 1951 Sugar Bowl, then lost back-to-back matchups in 1980 and 1982. The teams have rarely crossed paths since the early 1980s.
Georgia's Nine-Game Streak Tests Auburn's Resilience
Georgia has won nine straight games against Auburn, matching the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry's longest winning streak. Auburn has not won at Sanford Stadium since 2005, creating immense pressure on the Tigers to break through. The matchup features college football's most storied rivalry with Georgia firmly in control at this moment.
Alabama and Tennessee Break 56-Year Uniform Tradition
Alabama and Tennessee have agreed to wear their home jerseys against each other for the first time since 1970. Alabama will sport crimson in Knoxville this season, reversing the arrangement in Tuscaloosa next year. This marks a dramatic shift in one of college football's most iconic uniform matchups, ending decades of SEC protocol.
Rutgers Eyes Momentum While Maryland Nears Breaking Point
Maryland has played seven consecutive weeks heading into the Rutgers matchup, while Rutgers enjoys a bye week to recover. Sports Yahoo reported that both teams enter with poor records and pressure mounting on their head coaches. The 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Big Ten Network offers both squads a rare chance to spark their seasons before conference play intensifies further.
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