The opening full week of the 2026 college football season delivered dominant performances, a major upset and several early statement games. The biggest headline was the contrast between overwhelming wins by several national contenders and Michigan’s dramatic escape against Western Michigan.
Biggest Results
No. 1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3 — Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith exploded for 151 receiving yards and two TDs.
No. 2 Oregon 34, Boise State 27 — Dante Moore passed for 378 yards and three touchdowns as Oregon overcame a strong Boise State challenge.
No. 11 LSU 51, Clemson 10 — LSU dominated from start to finish, handing Clemson a stunning 41-point defeat.
No. 3 Georgia 63, Tennessee State 3 — Georgia produced 660 total yards and a massive offensive performance.
No. 6 Indiana 52, North Texas 16 — The defending national champion opened with another emphatic victory and extended its winning streak to 17 games.
No. 16 Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12 — Michigan avoided a major upset when Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan on a last-second 47-yard touchdown.
No. 7 Miami 45, Stanford 6 — Miami’s offence and defence both delivered a statement performance, led by quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney.
No. 9 Ole Miss 41, No. 24 Louisville 38 — One of the week’s best shootouts, with Ole Miss surviving a high-scoring battle.
Week 1 Stars
Julian Sayin, Ohio State: 21-of-25, 320 yards, 3 TDs.
Dante Moore, Oregon: 28-of-37, 378 yards, 3 TDs.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: 8 catches, 151 yards, 2 TDs.
Malachi Toney, Miami: 234 receiving yards and 3 TDs.
Biggest Surprise
Michigan’s escape against Western Michigan was the signature dramatic finish. The Wolverines committed three turnovers and were out-possessed, but Underwood’s final-second touchdown pass to Buchanan turned a potential upset into a 13–12 Michigan victory.
Week 1 National Picture
Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, LSU and Miami all made strong early cases as national contenders. The SEC was particularly impressive, with all 16 conference teams winning their openers.
A Sea Of Blue
Early Week 1 takeaway: the national championship race already has plenty of intrigue, but Ohio State’s dominant opener and Oregon’s resilience against Boise State stand out as two of the strongest opening statements.
