Despite an underwhelming Week 1 slate of college football, we were still treated to some upsets, mainly ones involving FCS schools, and the always predictable blowouts (well, except that one in Death Valley).
Keeping with tradition, here’s a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the opening week of the 2026 season…
THE GOOD
This includes FCS teams taking down FBS teams, underdogs coming through, or just moments of schadenfreude you may have had while watching games.
Tarleton State 20, Bowling Green 13
The Texans have returned to the list, but it shouldn’t be a surprise. They made the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs and Bowling Green may need to find a judge in northwest Ohio to grant Pudge the Cat and his owner another year of eligibility.
The Citadel 43, Charlotte 41 (3 OT)
This is the game you’re not watching, but then the Sickos Committee or someone in your group chat informs you about it.
ESPN Unlimited now being integrated into YouTube TV allowed this game to be part of multi-view. In the old days (2025), you had to leave YouTube TV and open the ESPN app.
Idaho State 29, Utah State 17
Did you know there was an Idaho State? Did you know their nickname is the Bengals? Did you remember that Utah State was playing its first game as a Pac 12 member?
CBS Sports Network remembered.
HONORABLE MENTION
-The coffin corner punt by Wisconsin’s Sean West in a losing effort.
THE BAD
This is reserved for underwhelming games, or those that didn’t live up to the hype.
North Carolina 15, TCU 10
This was our Week 0 appetizer and we wanted to send it back.
I went to Ireland for the Steelers-Viking game at Croke Park in Dublin and would like to go back and see a college game at Aviva Stadium if better schools play in it.
HONORABLE MENTION
-The power at Doak Campbell Stadium
-Ole Miss defense
THE UGLY
FBS teams blowing out FCS teams and other games that ruined your parlays or left with a bad taste in your mouth.
No. 11 LSU 51, Clemson 10
Kickoff was delayed by two hours due to weather, but Lane Kiffin made sure you still got to bed at a normal time.
LSU will be good this season and Clemson needs to move on from Dabo Swinney, who thinks an in-person recruiting visit and a strong, firm handshake still builds teams in 2026.
No. 16 Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12
Everyone knows Michigan was outplayed and didn’t deserve that win, and regardless of where you stand on the game clock fiasco, Michgan fans rushing the field was embarrassing.
I’ve never been against field storming when major upsets take place, but doing it when your school is ranked, a multi-touchdown favorite and only won on a Hail Mary that came after being gifted an extra second is a terrible look for Michigan.
UMass 37, Rutgers 21
The Minutemen, who I would imagine are in the MAC for tax purposes, beat the Scarlet Knights as a 30-point underdog, spoiling any hopes of Rutgers being a Big Ten dark horse.
Adding to the misery, Rutgers still went forward with a postgame fireworks show.
Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10
This used to a be a guaranteed win for the Cowboys, but the swagger that came at the height of the Mike Gundy era is gone in Stillwater.
No. 14 BYU 63, Utah Tech 7
Back when BYU was an Independent, this is the type of school they’d schedule to play during Week 4 of the season.
Virginia Tech 73, VMI 7
Yeah. You, me and nobody outside of Blacksburg watched this game.
HONORABLE MENTION
-Cal’s 4th quarter defense
Sean Gallagher 
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