Week 1 in College Football: Upsets, SEC Power, and Draft Buzz That Shook the Rankings

Week 1 Highlights: Big Storylines & Key Results

1. Upsets & Statement Wins

• Ohio State beat No. 1 Texas, 14–7, in a defensive slugfest anchored by goal-line stands and stellar defensive play. This instantly reshaped the early season narrative.    
• No. 9 LSU knocked off No. 4 Clemson, 17–10, delivering a crucial SEC statement on the road.   
• No. 10 Miami edged No. 6 Notre Dame, 27–24, in a renewed rivalry that kicked off the season with drama.  

2. SEC Power & Surprising Results

• The SEC was dominant overall, going 13–2 in opening-week games. Major matchups included Florida State’s upset of Alabama, 31–17, and USC’s explosive 73–13 win over Missouri State.     

3. Individual Standouts & Draft Buzz

• Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton was a defensive force in a 46–11 win over Nevada, earning Defensive Player of the Week—two forced fumbles and a sack made it a standout performance.  
• Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood dazzled, setting a program QB debut record with 251 yards and delivering a touchdown pass.  

4. Coaching Debuts: Hits and Misses

• Bill Belichick’s college debut was a disaster, as the Tar Heels fell 48–14 to TCU. Following a dominant 41–7 run by TCU, doubts emerged about the program’s trajectory under his leadership.  
• Virginia Tech’s season opener ended in a 24–11 loss to No. 13 South Carolina. Despite a solid defensive effort, the Hokies’ offense faltered due to turnovers, penalties, and inconsistency at QB.  

5. Mid-Major Thriller

• In the MAC opener, Rutgers edged Ohio, 34–31, in a wild battle. Ohio’s QB Parker Navarro threw for four total TDs and nearly engineered a comeback, but Rutgers pulled it out on a late FG and key fourth-down stop.  

6. The Analyst’s Take & Draft Watch

• Ohio State’s win and other high-profile matchups have already turned scouts’ heads—especially the LSU–Clemson and Ohio State–Texas games—as early draft evaluation grounds.  
• On social media, Arch Manning’s Joe Prospect vs. Ohio State struggles and Alabama’s shaky start fueled speculation about long-term impacts.  
• A Reddit recap put it succinctly: “Texas loses to Ohio State, tarnishing both Texas’s record and Manning’s Heisman talks.”