Week 1 of the 2026 season didn’t exactly deliver chaos across the board, but it still gave fans a few talking points right out of the gate.
LSU made the biggest statement of the opening weekend, hammering Clemson 51-10 in the battle of Death Valleys. Florida also came out looking sharp in Sumrall’s first game as head coach, rolling to a 66-21 win over FAU. And while Michigan’s 13-12 win over Western Michigan looked like it might turn into the weekend’s upset story, bad refereeing took the air out of that one.
There was plenty of blowout business elsewhere. Ohio State opened with a 56-3 win over BSU, Georgia blasted TSU 63-3, Texas crushed TEXS 59-7, and Miami handled STA 45-6. Oklahoma, meanwhile, shut out UTEP 51-0, while Alabama beat ECU 48-10 and USC blanked FRES 39-0.
A few other scores jumped off the page as the day rolled on: BYU routed UTEC 63-7, Tennessee beat FUR 56-9, Utah steamrolled IDA 66-14, and Mississippi State overwhelmed ULM 62-13. Penn State shut out MAR 45-0, Iowa beat UNI 40-0, and South Carolina took care of KES 57-0.
Not every result was a runaway. Oregon edged BOI 34-27, Houston got past ORS 33-20, and Auburn survived BAY 17-16. Kentucky beat YSU 45-13, Vanderbilt handled AUP 28-9, and Texas Tech topped ABIC 33-10.
There were also a few games still listed without final scores in the source: ND vs WIS, OM V 24 LOU, WAS VS WST, SMU VS FSU, and LOU VS 9 OM.
Florida’s opener was especially notable because DJ Lagway mixed in professional level throws with boneheaded throws. And Billy Napier’s JMU team, as the source noted, committed boneheaded penalties but still won its game.
In Other News...
Eric Singleton Injury Clouds Florida's Biggest Week 1 Takeaway
Floridas Week 1 win over Florida Atlantic came with one of those early-season reminders that a good opener can still leave a program checking the injury report. Wide receiver Eric Singleton, the high-profile transfer from Auburn, went down after being rolled up on while blocking and had to leave the game with a leg injury, adding an uneasy note to an otherwise encouraging showing from the offense.
The Gators managed to keep moving without him, which offered a positive sign about the depth around him, but Singletons status now hangs over what should have been the biggest takeaway from opening week. For a Florida offense trying to build momentum early, the question is less about what happened Saturday and more about whether one of its most important newcomers will be available for the games ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Already Has An Early Injury Concern On Offense
Floridas offense was already dealing with a shaky start in the opener against Florida Atlantic, and it got worse quickly when senior wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. left early with an ankle injury and did not return. For a team trying to establish rhythm right away, losing a veteran pass catcher so soon put an immediate spotlight on the depth around him and how the Gators would adjust if he had to miss any additional time.
Head coach Jon Sumrall said the severity of Singletons injury is still unknown, with more information expected later. The backfield had its own issue too, as senior running back Evan Pryor was sidelined by a hip injury, though that problem is not expected to be long-term. For Florida, the early-season concern is less about one isolated absence and more about whether the offense can stay intact long enough to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Opener Grades Exposed One Issue Fans Cant Ignore
Pro Football Focus Week 1 review of Floridas opener against FAU offered plenty of encouraging numbers for a team trying to set an early tone. The Gators landed in the top 40 nationally in 11 of 12 categories, a strong sign that the operation was largely sharp on both sides of the ball and that the overall performance matched the kind of clean start Billy Napier has been pushing for.
Still, one category stood out for the wrong reasons, and it is the sort of area fans will keep circling as the schedule gets tougher. Florida ranked 85th in quarterback pressure, a gap that sits a little awkwardly next to the otherwise favorable grades and hints at an issue that could matter far more once the competition ramps up. PFF also handed out individual grades on offense and defense, giving a fuller picture of who helped drive the opener and who left something on the table. [Read more 🡒]