Week 1 recap
The defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers, got off to a hot start, dominating North Texas 52-16 on their home field and showcasing that they are ready to compete for the title again. No. 2 Oregon barely survived Boise State.
The Broncos proved resilient and determined, holding a 10-point lead at one point. But the Ducks found their way and escaped behind quarterback Dante Moore’s stellar performance. The unconvincing victory caused Oregon to drop to No. 6 in the AP rankings this week.
UMass pulled off a massive upset over Rutgers, beating the Scarlet Knights 37-21. Before kickoff, UMass held the longest losing streak in college football at 16 games. Last season, the Minutemen went 0-12. Last season, the Minutemen went 0-12.
This year, they already got their first victory, and everybody talks about UMass football now.
The biggest winner of the weekend was LSU. They demolished Clemson 51-10, terrorizing the Tigers from start to finish. Quarterback Sam Leavitt accounted for 343 total yards and three touchdowns, while LSU’s defense completely overwhelmed Clemson. It was the worst loss of Dabo Swinney’s 18-year tenure.
Ideally, the winner of the week should have gone to Western Michigan.
The Broncos were literally one second away from a huge upset over No. 16 Michigan. The Broncos were up 13-7 when Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood launched a pass to the end zone with four seconds remaining in the game. He overthrew it, and Western Michigan erupted with joy. But the officials ruled that there was one second remaining on the game clock, giving Michigan one more chance.
This time, the Hail Mary was successful and gave Michigan one of the most controversial wins in college football.
For most of the fans, Western Michigan still won.
Week 1 didn’t disappoint—it actually did the opposite, serving up plenty of exciting contests and entertaining fans across the country.
Week 2 should be just as terrific, if not even more.
Here are the top three games to watch, plus an honorable mention you don’t want to miss!
#1 Ohio State vs. #4 Texas
The best matchup yet takes place in Austin this Saturday.
Last season, both teams squared off in their season opener in a nervous, low-scoring game. It was the first career start for both quarterbacks, Arch Manning and Julian Sayin. The Buckeyes prevailed 13-7. This time around, this game won’t be the first real test for the playmakers.
They are ready, poised, and experienced. This isn’t just a game to watch this week—it’s one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season.
The Buckeyes’ defense has been one of the team’s defining strengths, and they have repeatedly given Texas problems. Besides holding Texas to seven points last season, Ohio State also defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the 2025 CFP semifinal.
But the Longhorns brought transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman in the offseason, and he has been electric.
Then there’s Ryan Wingo, a junior receiver coming off a tremendous sophomore campaign. They will spread the Buckeyes’ defense thinner and give the Longhorns more offensive weapons.
Texas cannot afford to let Ohio State’s defensive front dictate the game. Manning needs time to find Wingo, Coleman, and the rest of his receivers. Ohio State must find its rhythm quickly and dictate the course of the game. The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings, but Texas now has the home-field advantage.
The team that handles the pressure late will probably win.
Focus point: Everybody is looking forward to the quarterback battle between Manning and Sayin. And while there’s so much more to this game, the better playmaker could lead his team to a crucial victory. In 2025, Manning threw for only 170 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Texas struggled and couldn’t find an offensive rhythm. Sayin struggled as well, and the Buckeyes barely escaped. Both quarterbacks want to prove they are Heisman-worthy and NFL-worthy. This is their first major test of the year.
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 7:30 ET
Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
#11 Oklahoma vs. Michigan
The entire country—minus the state of Michigan—will most likely be rooting for Oklahoma after the fiasco that was the Wolverines’ win.
Following their poor performance against Western Michigan, the Wolverines were dropped from the AP Top 25 rankings. Now, they have a huge chip on their shoulder and will try to restore their reputation in Week 2 against the Sooners.
Despite the controversial and unconvincing victory, Michigan has Oklahoma’s respect.
“Very experienced football team, 62 lettermen coming back,” said head coach Brent Venables. “One of the best rosters in all of college football. They’ve won 32 of their last 35 home games and lost to the No. 1 team twice and the No. 3 team one other time.”
Michigan is led by quarterback Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall, and offensive linemen Andrew Babalola, Jake Guarnera, and Andrew Sprague.
But Oklahoma made a statement in its season opener, completely overwhelming UTEP in a 51-0 shutout in Norman. The Sooners scored on their first six possessions and never allowed the Miners to find any offensive rhythm. Michigan had a rocky start to the season, and fighting the Sooners won’t be easy.
It’s going to be an exciting clash between the SEC and Big Ten, with Michigan entering as the underdog this time.
Focus point: Offensively, both teams might be relatively even. But defensively, Oklahoma’s squad is top-tier and ranked among the best in the country right now. Michigan’s offensive line struggled badly against Western Michigan, and Oklahoma will be an even bigger challenge. Underwood completed just 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Going against the Sooners’ defense will be challenging, and if Michigan doesn’t improve and learn from last week, this game might not be as close or exciting as fans would like.
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
#21 Iowa vs. Iowa State
Another week, another in-state rivalry! After Washington fought Washington State in the Apple Cup, the Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the Iowa State Cyclones. The two teams will battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy at Kinnick Stadium, home of the Hawkeyes.
The Cyclones have won three of the last four meetings, but this year, ranked Iowa is the clear favorite against unranked Iowa State.
However, rankings matter a little less when state bragging rights are on the line. There’s always extra motivation to beat your rival. Iowa will heavily rely on running back Kamari Moulton, who rushed for 183 yards in the season opener against Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes will need him to be spectacular again to outlast the Cyclones.
However, the biggest question surrounds Iowa’s quarterbacks: Hank Brown, Jimmy Sullivan, and Jeremy Hecklinski split playing time in Week 1, and there’s a bit of drama surrounding the starting spot. The defensive line was tremendous against the Huskies, leaving no doubts about the defense.
In Ames, the Cyclones have entered a new era under new head coach Jimmy Rogers. This will be his first time patrolling the sideline in the Cy-Hawk showdown. Iowa State faced significant player turnover after former head coach Matt Campbell took 23 players with him to Penn State. Rogers decided to take a different approach in the transfer portal and will heavily rely on Group of Six and FCS transfers.
The lack of experience at the highest level, along with less time together, could prove crucial against Iowa.
Focus point: Both teams are dealing with significant continuity issues. Iowa State returned 45% of its production, while Iowa returned 44%. The Hawkeyes are breaking in 11 new starters, while the Cyclones are starting 22 newcomers. Against No. 21 Iowa, the lack of continuity could be a huge problem for Iowa State, as there are still plenty of questions surrounding both its offense and defense. In Week 1, Iowa State totaled just 303 yards against FCS opponent Southeast Missouri. The Cyclones will need to be much better in Week 2 to keep up with the Hawkeyes.
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
Honorable mention: Memphis vs. Boise State
Under the new CFP rules, one Group of Six team—the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, or Sun Belt—secures an automatic spot, regardless of whether it is a conference champion. That battle has already begun, with teams pleading their cases from Week 1.
Every game matters. And when two great candidates face each other, everything is at stake.
Boise State almost took down Oregon in Week 1, showcasing its power in Eugene. Memphis, on the other hand, is 2-0 after handling a strong Mountain West team in UNLV and then dominating Arkansas State at home a week later.
Both teams are projected to compete for the title in their respective conferences, and both are on the brink of the AP poll. This is one of the most intriguing games in Week 2, with major CFP implications.
Boise State will rely on quarterback Maddux Madsen, who looked like a poised veteran against Oregon. He threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns, starting his senior campaign on a great note.
Memphis has a new star in running back Jaylin Carter, who recorded 19 carries for 183 yards against Arkansas State. He has emerged as the Tigers’ biggest weapon.
On the other hand, Boise State returned 57% of its total production. Most likely, this matchup will be extremely close, and the little things will decide the outcome.
Focus point: Ultimately, this game could come down to a showcase between Boise State’s defense and Memphis’ offense. The Tigers proved they are explosive and effective on offense, with seven of their nine touchdowns coming on plays of more than 10 yards. Four of those touchdowns covered at least 30 yards. The Broncos can’t let the Tigers get loose early. But Boise State’s defense returned six starters and was solid against the Ducks. Offensively, Madsen seems to be in great shape, while Memphis struggled defensively at times in Week 1 against a team that is weaker than Boise State. If Boise State finds its defensive rhythm, the Broncos should end up on top.
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho