Thursday Night Football isn't just in the NFL. College football Week 7 gets off to a strong start tonight. Three games kick off Thursday, October 15, and each carries conference stakes as we enter the heart of the college football season.
The NCAAF schedule tonight starts at 7:30 p.m. ET with two games. East Carolina (-5.5) visits UAB on ESPN in the first meeting between the two programs since 2013, while Georgia Southern (-3.5) heads to Old Dominion on ESPN2 in a Sun Belt clash between two 2-4 teams trying to save their seasons.
The nightcap is a first: Colorado State visits Texas State (-14.5) at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, the first-ever meeting between the schools and the Bobcats’ first Pac-12 home game.
Below is the full Thursday college football schedule, the TV channel for every NCAAF game tonight, the key storylines for each matchup, and current spreads via PrizePicks Team Picks — now available in 35 states!
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College Football Games Today: NCAAF Week 7 Thursday Schedule, TV Channels, & Spreads
All CFB game times are in Eastern Time. Spreads and winner payouts are live on PrizePicks Team Picks as of posting, but are subject to change.
The schedule below covers every FBS game on Thursday, October 15. Times and TV channels are based on ESPN’s CFB schedule.
Payouts below, like 3x, represent real-money multipliers on correct picks on PrizePicks Team Picks at the time of writing. For example, a $100 entry on Colorado State to win at a 5.26x multiplier would pay out $526 if you’re right.
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How to Watch College Football Games Today – Thursday, October 15
Tonight’s NCAA football slate is a tight one: three games across three networks, all kicking off within 30 minutes of each other. If you’ve got two screens, you can catch every snap, alongside
The 7:30 p.m. ET window has two options. East Carolina at UAB airs on ESPN from Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where it’s Homecoming for the Blazers. Over on ESPN2, Georgia Southern visits Old Dominion at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, where the Monarchs are hosting a Thursday night game for the third straight season.
At 8:00 p.m. ET, Colorado State vs. Texas State takes over on CBS Sports Network from UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. Texas State is calling for a blackout for its first Pac-12 home game, and with the highest total on the board, it has the makings of the night’s shootout.
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Key Storylines for Thursday Night College Football Games – October 15, 2026
Here’s what to know about each game before kickoff, including the storylines driving the conversation this week.
East Carolina vs. UAB – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Records: East Carolina 3-2 (1-0 American) | UAB 3-3 (1-1 American)
Where: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Ala.
- ECU’s portal reload is finding its footing. Blake Harrell rebuilt the roster with roughly two dozen transfers after back-to-back Military Bowl wins, including former Miami backup QB Emory Williams.
- The Pirates have won three straight, capped by a 28-12 win over Rice in their American opener.
- RB TJ Engleman Jr. drives the offense. ECU leans on Engleman and the run game, and he showed his big-play ability with an 88-yard touchdown run against North Carolina Central.
- UAB’s pass defense vs. a passing game that can’t get going will be a key to watch. First-year head coach Alex Mortensen and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham have the Blazers among the stingiest pass defenses in the country, but Ryder Burton and the offense have struggled to move the ball through the air.
- Can UAB bounce back on a short week? The Blazers committed three turnovers and went 3-of-15 on third down in last Saturday’s 38-13 loss at Memphis. A Homecoming crowd awaits in the programs’ first meeting as American Conference opponents.
Get expert ECU vs. UAB picks tonight from Playbook
Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Records: Georgia Southern 2-4 (1-1 Sun Belt) | Old Dominion 2-4 (1-2 Sun Belt)
Where: Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, Norfolk, Va.
- ODU’s defense just put on a clinic. After a 10-3 season in 2025, the Monarchs have had a bumpy start — but they held App State to 158 total yards in a 10-3 road win last week, the second-fewest yards allowed in program history.
- Javen Gibson is the name to know. The ODU defensive end had four tackles for loss and two sacks against App State and was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.
- Georgia Southern has a short turnaround after a close loss. The Eagles fell 27-24 to defending Sun Belt champion James Madison and now hit the road on a short week. They’ve still covered the spread in five of six games this season.
- The series is dead even. Georgia Southern and ODU are tied 3-3 all-time, and the Monarchs ran the ball a school-record 61 times last week. Expect a low-scoring, physical game.
Get expert Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion picks tonight from Playbook
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Colorado State vs. Texas State – 8:00 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Records: Colorado State 2-3 (0-1 Pac-12) | Texas State 2-3 (0-1 Pac-12)
Where: UFCU Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
- This is the first-ever meeting between Colorado State and Texas State, and the Bobcats’ first Pac-12 home game. Both teams are coming off a bye week.
- Texas State head coach GJ Kinne’s team ranks third in the country in total offense (531.6 yards per game) and fifth in rushing, with three straight 500-yard games. QB Brad Jackson and RB Torrance Burgess Jr. (7.3 yards per carry) lead the way.
- Texas State outgained San Diego State 565-239 and still lost 31-29 after the Aztecs scored on a kickoff return and an interception return.
- Colorado State head coach Jim Mora pulled defensive play-calling from coordinator Tyson Summers midway through a 56-26 loss to Oregon State, and Summers is now gone.
- Kenny McClendon calls the defense in his first full game, with linebacker Oumario Diomande — the Pac-12 leader in tackles per game — as the bright spot.
- CSU’s offense is short-handed. Backup QB K’saan Farrar starts again with Hauss Hejny nursing a hamstring injury, and leading receiver RJ Vick is doubtful.
- Still, CSU ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring and passing offense, and Texas State allows the most passing yards in the conference.
- After the program’s first 2-0 start since 2011, CSU has dropped three straight games. This one could go a long way toward its bowl hopes, but it's a tough spot on the road as two-touchdown dogs.
Get expert Colorado State vs. Texas State picks tonight from Playbook
Week 7 Thursday NCAAF Spreads, Winners, Payouts Today on PrizePicks
The tightest spread on the board tonight is in Norfolk, where Georgia Southern is a 3.5-point road favorite at Old Dominion. The Eagles pay 1.56x to win, while the Monarchs — fresh off holding App State without a touchdown — pay 2.32x.
East Carolina is a 5.5-point road favorite at UAB, with the Pirates paying 1.44x to win and the Blazers paying 2.63x at home on Homecoming.
The biggest number of the night belongs to Texas State, a 14.5-point favorite over Colorado State. The Rams pay out 5.26x to win if they can pull off the upset in San Marcos.
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Make Thursday College Football Picks on PrizePicks
College Football Week 7 kicks off with three Thursday night games, and every one has something on the line — a first-ever Pac-12 meeting in San Marcos, a Sun Belt battle between two teams fighting for their seasons, and an American Conference matchup in Birmingham.
Need expert college football picks before you lock in tonight? Tap into the Playbook’s Week 7 CFB research to get coverage on every game.
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