How Many Days Until College Football Starts 2021
Remember the summer of 2021? Fans were counting down every single day until college football kicked off. After a strange 2020 season, the excitement felt even bigger. If you were checking the calendar back then or just feeling nostalgic now here’s the full story of when the action actually began and how the countdown worked.
The Official 2021 Kickoff Date
The first games of the 2021 NCAA Division I FIBS season started on Saturday, August 28, 2021.
That weekend is often called Week Zero, because a handful of match ups happen before the big national kickoff.
- Main Week Zero date: August 28, 2021
- Full Week One slate: Thursday, September 2 – Monday, September 6, 2021
So if you were looking at the calendar in midsummer, you were counting down to August 28.
How to Calculate the Countdown (Then and Anytime)
Here’s the simple method fans used—and you can reuse it for any season:
- Mark the kickoff date – August 28, 2021.
- Check today’s date – for 2021, many people started in June or July.
- Subtract the days – or use an online date calculator.
Example:
July 1, 2021 → August 28, 2021 = 58 days
That meant fans had just under two months to wait.
Why Week Zero Matters
Not every team plays that opening Saturday, but Week Zero gives a taste of the season.
In 2021, match ups included teams like Nebraska vs. Illinois, letting die-hard fans jump in early.
Fun Ways Fans Counted Down
Honestly, the countdown became part of the fun. People:
- Hung team calendars on the fridge and crossed off days.
- Posted daily hype videos on social media.
- Planned tailgates and first-week travel as soon as tickets dropped.
Think about this: the anticipation sometimes felt as exciting as the first game.
FAQ
When did most teams actually start in 2021
The big wave of games began the following week, starting Thursday, September 2.
How long is a college football season
Regular season runs about 13–14 weeks, ending in early December before conference championships and bowls.
Does Week Zero happen every year
Yes. The NCAA approves a small set of early games annually, so the exact date shifts but usually lands the last weekend of August.
Final Thoughts
The truth is, counting down to kickoff is part of what makes college football special. In 2021, fans waited all summer for August 28 and it was worth every second.
