Week 1 of the 2026 college football season wasted no time putting a few head coaches under a harsh spotlight.
The first full Saturday delivered plenty of noise across the sport - Ohio State rolled over Ball State, Texas flashed, Boise State came close to shocking Oregon, and Michigan escaped Western Michigan by the skin of its teeth. But the bigger conversation coming out of the opening weekend is which coaches already find themselves on shaky ground.
Five names stand out after the first weekend, and the pressure comes in different forms. Deion Sanders got a win in Week 1, but Colorado had to sweat all the way through a close call against Georgia Tech.
The Buffaloes need a big season, and the early struggles were obvious. Coach Prime has to deliver a huge year if he wants to restore confidence.
Clemson’s situation looks even worse. Dabo Swinney’s team was flattened by LSU, 51-10, in a lopsided loss that sent the Tigers out of Death Valley with a thud. That kind of result doesn’t just raise eyebrows - it fuels the sense that Clemson may be ready to move on from Swinney, and sooner rather than later.
Greg Schiano is another coach already feeling the heat. He returned to Rutgers with the reputation of being the kind of hire that could steady the program, but the Scarlet Knights opened with a blowout loss to UMass. That kind of start puts Schiano firmly on the hot seat after a disappointing opener.
Michigan’s own win did little to ease concerns. The Wolverines beat Western Michigan, but the performance was ugly and controversial. Kirk Whittingham is only in his first season, and Michigan is just three years removed from a national title, but a shaky outing like that is the sort of thing that gets fans restless fast.
Florida State also came away with a victory, topping New Mexico State 34-17, but it was far from clean. Mike Norvell’s Seminoles have what looks like a make-or-break year ahead, and they likely need a strong season if Norvell is going to keep his job.
In Other News...
Florida State Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Wanted This Early
Florida State got the opening-night result it wanted, but the schedule is already tightening around the Seminoles. After a season-opening win over New Mexico State, they now turn quickly to a Labor Day night matchup with SMU, a nationally televised test that arrives before anyone around Tallahassee can really settle into September. It is the kind of early-game measuring stick that can shape the tone of a season, especially for a team trying to build on a solid first step.
The concern is not just the opponent, but how much cleaner Florida State still needs to be. New Mexico State found enough success to keep the Seminoles honest, and now SMU brings a different level of urgency and execution to the table. For Florida State, this is the sort of game that can tell you a lot about where the team really stands, even if the full answer will not come until after the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Already Won But Its First Real Test Is Still Coming
Florida State opened the 2026 season the right way, putting away New Mexico State with a 34-17 win and leaning on the run game to get there. The Seminoles spread the rushing production around and showed enough balance to leave opener questions behind, which is exactly what you want before the schedule starts tightening up.
Now comes the part that really matters for the Seminoles, because their ACC opener arrives Monday night against No. 20 SMU on ESPN. With two bye weeks on the slate and more ranked opponents still ahead, Florida State has already banked a win, but the next stretch will say far more about how real this team is. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Early Bye Puts Norvell Under Pressure Fast
Florida State is getting an unusual early breather, with a Week 2 bye tucked between its season opener and a looming matchup with Alabama. In a schedule like this, the timing matters almost as much as the rest itself. If the Seminoles look sharp against SMU, the pause can serve as a reset and a chance to sharpen details before the level of difficulty rises quickly.
If the opener goes sideways, though, the break could feel less like a gift and more like a source of lost rhythm for Mike Norvells team. Florida State still has a demanding path ahead, with several ranked opponents on the schedule, so the Seminoles do not have much room to treat this stretch casually. The first two weeks may say a lot about whether the early pause helps them build or leaves them scrambling to regain momentum. [Read more 🡒]