All articles tagged with #sports college football
Bleacher Report's expert panel updates the 2026 College Football Top 25 after a chaos-filled Week 2, with Texas rallying to beat Ohio State and seizing the No. 1 spot, followed by Notre Dame, Miami, and Georgia at 2-4 and Indiana at 5. Oklahoma slips to No. 21, Michigan sits at No. 23, and Oregon, Kansas State, UCLA and Duke are among others receiving votes.
Michigan will host a five-star recruit who is committed elsewhere for its Oklahoma game, signaling continued pursuit of a potential flip target.
No. 7 Miami Hurricanes cruised past FCS Florida A&M 77-7, amassing 856 total yards as Darian Mensah threw three TDs with one incompletion; the backup and third-string QBs also scored, and Miami ran for over 400 yards. The game was shortened before the fourth quarter after both teams agreed the lopsided result had gone far enough. The article also discusses the NIL/transfer portal era and questions the spectacle of powerhouses facing FCS programs for financial reasons and competitive balance.
CBS Sports 138 updates the 138-team FBS rankings heading into Week 2, with LSU rising from No. 10 to No. 6 and Oregon sliding to No. 8 as the top tier shifts. Michigan falls out of the top 30 after Week 1, highlighted by their 13-12 win over Western Michigan in the Movers Report and their looming Week 2 game vs. Oklahoma. Notable movers include Memphis (+26 to No. 46), Virginia (+12 to No. 25), Boise State (+12 to No. 31), Virginia Tech (+11 to No. 28), Clemson (-24 to No. 51), and TCU (-37 to No. 68); 26-138 rankings are available on the CBS Sports page.
Sports Illustrated’s Forde-Yard Dash grades first-year college football coaches after Week 1 on a scale from dream starts to total disasters, highlighting standout performances from Lane Kiffin, Charles Huff, and Matt Campbell while noting concerns at several programs as the season begins.
Week 1 reshapes the national championship picture: LSU’s stunning win over Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s debut pushes the Tigers into the SEC title mix with Texas and Georgia, USC’s defense shows promise, Michigan’s rough outing raises playoff doubts, and Oregon’s late rally hints at talent but not championship form, leaving Ohio State in a tighter, more competitive chase.
Week 1 features No. 2 Oregon rallying past Boise State 34–27, with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 6 Indiana and No. 13 Alabama rolling to openers; Alabama’s Keelon Russell showed dynamic potential in a 48–10 win. Oklahoma State suffers a stunning upset at Tulsa amid heavy transfer movement, and LSU–Clemson’s kickoff is pushed back by lightning as Saturday night games unfold with plenty of takeaways and highlights.
USA TODAY’s Week 1 bold predictions mostly lean chalk, but flag notable tests: Notre Dame at Wisconsin could be a tight game, Florida State may upset SMU at home behind Ashton Daniels and an improved rush, Pitt’s Mason Heintschel could flash in Year 2, Tennessee freshman Faizon Brandon could blow up with five touchdowns, and Cal–UCLA could turn into a late-night track meet, with LSU and Clemson storylines adding coach-future drama.
Gardner-Webb University fired head coach Kris McCullough after his first game in charge amid an ongoing off-field investigation; interim coach Pete Bennett will lead the program for the remainder of the season following a 35-17 loss to Austin Peay. The school did not disclose details of the probe, and McCullough, hired in December 2025 after success at Division II Texas-Permain Basin, had previously overseen a strong run with the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
TCU wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma was hospitalized for three days with brain bleeding and a concussion after a locker-room altercation in which teammate Jacob Fields allegedly punched and kicked him; Fields was dismissed, arrested for aggravated assault, and released on bond. Ezukanma, unconscious at the time and not playing in the season opener, was a key contributor in the rotation, while Fields reportedly apologized via text and the team prepared for Week 2 vs Grambling State.
Three overreactions from week zero: Florida State’s 17-point win over New Mexico State has fans questioning the Noles’ ceiling; UNLV’s Dan Mullen is under fire for a leaky defense and for criticizing noisy fans after a loss to Memphis; USC’s attendance scrutiny at its opener sparks debate about Lincoln Riley, though optimism remains for the program.
NC State opened the season with a 34-8 loss at Virginia, as QB CJ Bailey delivered the worst performance of his career (84 passing yards on 12-of-23 with 0 TDs and 2 turnovers, 74.2 passer rating) and the Wolfpack managed only 168 total yards. Virginia piled up 258 rushing yards behind Beau Pribula (9/11 passing for 155 yards and 110 rushing yards). NC State’s defense and play-calling couldn’t slow the Cavaliers, prompting concerns about both personnel and coaching ahead of a two-week gap before the home opener against Richmond.
The 2026 Heisman race centers on seven standout players—primarily quarterbacks, with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith emerging as a top non-QB contender—highlighting the trophy’s QB-centric history while leaving room for surprises via injuries or unexpected breakthroughs as Week Zero approaches.
SEC presidents called for barring former NFL players who return to college competition, arguing it blurs amateurism and harms competitive equity as LSU pursues NFL-alumni talent; reactions vary from Lane Kiffin’s pragmatic recruiting stance to Ryan Day’s reluctant acceptance and Dan Lanning’s opposition, underscoring broader tensions over college sports eligibility and potential federal action like the Protect College Sports Act.
ESPN's College GameDay opens the 2026 season with three consecutive SEC stops—LSU in Week 1, Texas in Week 2, and Ole Miss in Week 3—featuring LSU hosting Clemson Week 1 and Texas vs. Ohio State Week 2; the piece notes Lane Kiffin's move to LSU and marks the show’s 40th season and 500th road edition, with Week Zero replaced by a special College Football Countdown edition.