The first full Saturday of 2026 delivered one new coach’s coronation, one 27.5 point favorite saved by a replay booth, a Big 12 program losing to the American Conference, and three FCS teams beating FBS opponents on the same day. Here are the winners and losers with Sunday and Monday still to play (Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Washington and Florida State all open later).
Winners
Lane Kiffin and LSU. 51 to 10 over Clemson, 644 yards to 145, a school record 37 first downs, a 31 to 3 halftime lead in which LSU had 21 first downs to Clemson’s one. Sam Leavitt threw for 230 yards and ran for 113 and two scores in under three quarters, and a defense that was supposed to be the question had four sacks and a pick six. The most lopsided loss of Dabo Swinney’s 19 seasons. Full recap on Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut.
Arch Manning. 20 of 27 for 305 yards and four touchdowns in two and a half quarters of a 59 to 7 win over Texas State, with two scores to transfer Cam Coleman and a 7 for 8 day on third down. The interception in the end zone before halftime is the one throw he wants back. Ohio State comes to Austin Saturday. His line is on Arch Manning stats.
Tulsa. The American Conference’s Golden Hurricane beat Oklahoma State 24 to 10, holding a Big 12 offense with a $3.5 million transfer quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, to 10 points. The most damaging Power Four loss of the weekend.
The FCS. Tarleton State won 20 to 13 at Bowling Green, The Citadel won 43 to 41 in triple overtime at Charlotte, and Idaho State beat Utah State 29 to 17. Three FCS wins over FBS teams in one Saturday. All three are on the Week 1 upset tracker.
Boise State, in defeat. The Broncos led No. 2 Oregon 17 to 14 at halftime in Eugene as a 24.5 point underdog and lost 34 to 27. Oregon will hear about it in the poll; Boise State just made every Pac-12 game a must watch.
The scoreboards. Virginia Tech 73 to 3 over VMI, Kansas State 71 to 3 over Nicholls, Arizona State 70 to 7 over Morgan State, Florida 66 to 21, Syracuse 66 to 3, Georgia 63 to 3, BYU 63 to 7, Maryland 62 to 0, Mississippi State 62 to 13. Nine teams scored 60 or more.
UCLA. Nico Iamaleava beat Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele in the late night matchup of $2 million and $3 million quarterbacks, 45 to 24 at Cal.
Losers
Michigan, technically a winner. A 27.5 point favorite trailed Western Michigan 12 to 7 with the television clock at zero, got one second back from the replay booth, and won 13 to 12 on Bryce Underwood’s second Hail Mary attempt. Underwood had 95 passing yards before the final drive and two turnovers. Oklahoma is next. The full sequence is on the Michigan Hail Mary explained.
Western Michigan. Four field goals, three forced turnovers, a celebration on the field, and a loss. Nothing in the rulebook lets them appeal it.
Clemson and Dabo Swinney. 145 total yards, one first down in the first half, and a fourth year quarterback in Christopher Vizzina throwing for 83 yards with a pick six. Swinney called LSU’s roster building embarrassing during the week; his team was outgained by 499 yards. The hot seat conversation moves from theoretical to real on Dabo Swinney.
Oklahoma State and Dave Aranda’s peers. Oklahoma State lost to Tulsa. Baylor lost 17 to 16 to Auburn in a game it led late. Boston College lost 34 to 15 at Cincinnati. Three coaches on the hot seat tracker got hotter on the first Saturday.
Oregon’s poll position. A win is a win, but a seven point home win over a Group of Five team when Georgia won 63 to 3 will cost the Ducks in the AP voting. Our Week 2 projection has Georgia jumping them.
Utah State, Bowling Green and Charlotte. Losing to an FCS team is the one result that changes a season’s bowl math in Week 1.
Still to Come
Sunday: Washington State at No. 17 Washington in the Apple Cup at 4 p.m. ET on NBC, Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field at 7:30 on NBC, No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville at 7:30 on ABC. Monday: No. 19 SMU at Florida State at 7:30 on ESPN, Mike Norvell’s first game on the hottest seat in the sport. The AP poll comes out around 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
The Bottom Line
LSU and Arch Manning had the best Saturday. Michigan had the luckiest. Tulsa, Tarleton State, The Citadel and Idaho State had the most surprising. And Oregon, Clemson and Oklahoma State will spend Sunday explaining themselves. Every score is on college football scores.