The Tennessee Titans opened the 2026 season with a thud, and the league’s first wave of power rankings didn’t do them any favors. After a 23-10 home loss to the New York Jets, Tennessee landed near the bottom of every roundup, a reflection of just how flat Sunday looked from start to finish.
The offense never found its footing. For most of the afternoon, the Titans were stuck on three points before Cam Ward connected with Elic Ayomanor for a late touchdown in the fourth quarter. By then, the game was already out of hand, and the damage to Tennessee’s first impression had been done.
Nick Shook didn’t mince words about what he saw. “It was painful to watch Cam Ward attempt to operate the Titans’ offense, which was lifeless for most of their season-opening loss to the Jets.
Tennessee never established a rhythm when possessing the ball, lost the time-of-possession battle by more than 17 minutes and didn’t find many gains until the game was out of reach. The defense struggled to hold up against the rush, too, losing the trench battle in a lopsided affair.”
Conor Orr pointed the spotlight squarely at Ward and the pressure that comes with a shaky start. “As we noted in the quarterback carousel post to start the season, the clock begins on Cam Ward early.
This is unfortunate-and to be fair, I also mentioned Jaxson Dart as well-but the reality is that each week Ward doesn’t look the part, the Titans inch closer to the end of a lost season in which the team might be in line for a top pick at the same position. Ward is so much fun when he’s confident and in the right offense.
I just don’t know if there’s a roster to support that player right now.”
Ralph Vacchiano’s take was just as blunt. “Brian Daboll’s offense managed just 195 yards against the Jets - and 65 of those came on the final garbage-time drive of the game. Robert Saleh’s Tennessee debut was a total disaster.”
That’s the common thread across the rankings: Tennessee showed almost nothing against a Jets team plenty of people viewed as a rebuilding group heading into the year. With Saleh and a new coaching staff in place, plus added talent through free agency and the draft, the expectation was that the Titans would look like a different team in 2026. Instead, Week 1 looked an awful lot like last year’s three-win version.
The schedule doesn’t ease up now. Philadelphia comes to town in Week 2, and Tennessee badly needs a response. An 0-2 start would put the Titans in a dangerous spot early, and calling this one a must-win doesn’t feel like a stretch.
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Washington State Finally Gets Relief In A Spot That Needed It Most
Washington State is getting a needed boost in the secondary heading into its matchup with Duquesne, with coach Kirby Moore saying cornerbacks Jalil Tucker and Khamari Terrell will be available. For a position group that can get tested quickly, simply getting bodies back matters, and it gives the Cougars a little more flexibility as they try to settle in early in the season.
Moore also laid out a broader injury picture that still leaves some questions hanging. Malachi Wrice and Mike Hughes are expected to be out, while Trey Leckner is moving forward in practice and Peyton Read is expected to be ready, and the coach also pointed to the growth of Caleb Northcroft and Kaden Beatty. For Washington State, the encouraging part is that the roster appears to be trending the right way, even if a few key pieces are still working their way back. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Needs A Spark In Its Home Opener From These Playmakers
Washington State finally gets to come home for its 2026 opener after opening the season with three straight road games, and the timing could hardly be better for a team looking to shake off an 0-2 start. Duquesne brings a defense that has already shown some vulnerability, which gives the Cougars a chance to settle in offensively and put a more complete game together in front of their own fans.
The spotlight falls on Pinnick, Thomas and Blood, three players WSU needs to help set the tone and provide the kind of spark the offense has been missing. With the Cougars still searching for traction early in the year, this matchup feels like an opportunity to regain some confidence and establish a rhythm before the schedule tightens further. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Thomas Is Giving WSU A Huge Boost In His New Role
Washington State has been searching for dependable answers in the secondary, and Jaylen Thomas has become one of the most interesting ones as he settles into a new spot. The redshirt sophomore made the move from cornerback to safety and has looked comfortable there, showing the kind of range and playmaking ability that can change a game in a hurry for a defense that needs steady impact players.
Against Kansas State, Thomas showed exactly why the switch has mattered, coming away with two interceptions in one quarter and turning one of them into a pick-six. The performance earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, and even the celebration stood out, with a backflip after the touchdown return. The bigger question for WSU is how much more there is to come now that he seems to have found a role that fits. [Read more 🡒]