The gridiron drought is ending sooner than you think. After months without live football, the 2026 NFL calendar is about to ignite, beginning with the traditional preseason kickoff in Canton and building toward a regular season opener that will feature a Super Bowl banner being raised to the rafters in Seattle.
Aug 6
Hall of Fame Game (Panthers vs Cardinals)
Aug 29
College Football Week 0
Sep 9
NFL Regular Season Opener
Seahawks
Reigning Super Bowl Champions
Patriots
Season Opener Opponent
Canton, OH
Hall of Fame Game Location
Hall of Fame Game | Panthers vs Cardinals in Canton
Live NFL hit-tracking returns on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with the annual Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. This year's matchup features the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals, two teams looking to use the extra preseason contest as a springboard into the regular season. The Hall of Fame Game is the traditional start of the NFL calendar, held as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend, and it marks the first live football action since the confetti fell on the previous season.
For the Panthers and Cardinals, the game represents an opportunity to evaluate roster depth and give young players extended reps in a live-game environment. The Hall of Fame Game provides each team with an additional preseason contest beyond the standard three-game slate, making it a valuable evaluation tool for coaching staffs finalizing their 53-man rosters.
NFL Regular Season Opener | Seahawks Raise the Banner
The meaningful pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots in a massive primetime banner-raising showcase at Lumen Field. It is the NFL's traditional season-opening format: the defending champions open at home on a Wednesday night, the banner goes up, and the new season begins.
The Seahawks-Patriots matchup carries additional weight beyond the ceremonial aspects. New England enters the season looking to re-establish itself as a contender after a transitional period, and opening against the defending champions on the road is as difficult a test as the schedule can offer. For Seattle, the challenge is the one every defending champion faces: turning the page from last year's triumph and proving they can do it again.
College Football Week 0 | August 29
Before the NFL regular season begins, college football returns with Week 0 on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The early-season slate features a limited number of games, but they count in the standings, and they mark the official start of the 2026 college football season. Week 0 has become a fixture on the calendar, giving programs an opportunity to open their seasons a week before the traditional Labor Day weekend kickoff and capture national attention with a standalone window.
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