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College Football Scores and Recaps: Upsets, Blowouts and a Michigan Miracle Define Saturday

LSU overwhelmed Clemson, Oregon survived Boise State, Michigan escaped on a final-play Hail Mary and three FCS programs stunned FBS opponents during a packed September 5 schedule.

The first full Saturday of the 2026 college football season delivered nearly everything the sport promises: championship contenders flexing their muscle, rivalry drama, improbable finishes and several embarrassing upsets.

No. 11 LSU made the loudest national statement by dismantling Clemson 51-10. No. 2 Oregon needed a second-half comeback to escape Boise State, while No. 16 Michigan survived Western Michigan on a disputed final-play Hail Mary. Tarleton State, The Citadel and Idaho State supplied the FCS-over-FBS chaos.

Here is a complete newspaper-style recap of every Saturday game involving an FBS program. Final scores and statistical leaders were verified against the ESPN FBS scoreboard.

Saturday’s Biggest College Football Games

No. 11 LSU 51, Clemson 10

LSU delivered the most convincing statement of opening weekend, turning a marquee matchup into a 41-point rout. The Tigers scored 31 first-half points and never allowed Clemson to establish an offensive rhythm.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt passed for 230 yards and a touchdown while adding 113 rushing yards and two scores. Watkins Jr. caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

The result marked the worst defeat of Dabo Swinney’s 19-season tenure at Clemson, according to the national Top 25 roundup. LSU’s speed and physicality overwhelmed Clemson on both sides of the ball.

Turning point: LSU scored 17 first-quarter points and extended its lead to 31-3 before halftime.

Star of the Game: Sam Leavitt, LSU — 343 total yards and three touchdowns.

No. 2 Oregon 34, Boise State 27

Oregon overcame a 17-14 halftime deficit and avoided one of the season’s first major upsets.

Dante Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns as the Ducks accumulated 497 total yards. Jeremiah McClellan caught six passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Jordon Davison rushed for 90 yards and a score.

Boise State capitalized on Oregon’s early mistakes and remained within one possession throughout the second half. The Ducks finally gained separation with 10 fourth-quarter points. Oregon’s late touchdown provided the decisive margin in a game that was much closer than the rankings suggested.

Turning point: Oregon outscored Boise State 10-3 in the fourth quarter.

Star of the Game: Dante Moore, Oregon — 378 passing yards and three touchdowns.

No. 16 Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12

Michigan needed a second chance and a last-play miracle to avoid a stunning home loss.

Western Michigan took a 12-7 lead during the fourth quarter and appeared to have completed the upset when the clock expired. A replay review restored one second, giving Michigan another play. Bryce Underwood then connected with JJ Buchanan on the game-winning Hail Mary.

Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards. Buchanan accounted for 126 of those yards on six receptions and caught the touchdown that rescued the Wolverines.

The victory preserved Michigan’s season, but an offense that produced only 13 points against a Mid-American Conference opponent left serious questions.

Turning point: Replay officials restored one second, allowing Michigan to attempt the winning Hail Mary.

Star of the Game: JJ Buchanan, Michigan — six catches, 126 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Auburn 17, Baylor 16

Auburn survived a defensive struggle in Atlanta after Baylor nearly completed a fourth-quarter comeback.

The Tigers led 10-7 at halftime, and neither team scored during the third quarter. Both offenses finally broke through in the fourth, but Auburn protected a one-point advantage to win the Aflac Kickoff game.

Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway attempted 54 passes, completing 27 for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Garrett Freeman caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a score, but the Bears could not produce the final point they needed.

Turning point: Auburn answered Baylor’s fourth-quarter push and protected its one-point lead.

Star of the Game: Auburn’s defense — it held Baylor to 16 points despite Lagway throwing for 333 yards.

UCLA 45, California 24

UCLA scored the final 21 points to give new head coach Bob Chesney a victory in his debut.

The Bruins led 24-17 at halftime, but California tied the game during the third quarter. Fourth-quarter interceptions by Ta’Shawn James helped UCLA regain control, and Wayne Knight scored two touchdowns during the decisive closing run.

Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele passed for 271 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaydn Ott’s successor, Anthony Mohammed, rushed for 120 yards and a score. The Golden Bears’ turnovers, however, allowed UCLA to turn a close rivalry game into a three-touchdown victory.

Turning point: UCLA intercepted Sagapolutele twice and scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points.

Star of the Game: Wayne Knight, UCLA — two decisive fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Ranked Teams Roll in Season Openers

No. 1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3

Ohio State scored exactly 14 points in every quarter and smothered Ball State. Julian Sayin completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two scores.

Star of the Game: Julian Sayin, Ohio State.

No. 3 Georgia 63, Tennessee State 3

Georgia scored 28 first-quarter points and cruised. Gunner Stockton completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns, while Nate Frazier scored three times on only four carries.

Star of the Game: Gunner Stockton, Georgia.

No. 5 Texas 59, Texas State 7

Arch Manning opened the season by passing for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Wingo added seven receptions for 121 yards as Texas built a 28-7 halftime lead and scored 31 unanswered points after the break.

Star of the Game: Arch Manning, Texas.

No. 6 Indiana 52, North Texas 16

Defending national champion Indiana extended the longest active FBS winning streak to 17 games. Josh Hoover completed 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns as the Hoosiers scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points.

Star of the Game: Josh Hoover, Indiana.

No. 8 Texas A&M 50, Missouri State 0

Texas A&M’s defense posted a shutout while the Aggies gradually built a 19-0 halftime lead into a 50-point victory. Marcel Reed passed for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Star of the Game: Texas A&M’s defense.

No. 12 Texas Tech 33, Abilene Christian 10

Will Hammond completed 26 of 33 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown. Texas Tech led 14-0 after one quarter but produced a less overwhelming performance than several other ranked teams facing FCS opposition.

Star of the Game: Will Hammond, Texas Tech.

No. 13 Alabama 48, East Carolina 10

Alabama scored 28 points in the second quarter to build a 38-7 halftime advantage. Keelon Russell passed for 256 yards and rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan Coleman-Williams produced 130 receiving yards.

Star of the Game: Keelon Russell, Alabama.

No. 14 BYU 63, Utah Tech 7

BYU forced four turnovers and led 42-0 at halftime. Bear Bachmeier completed 16 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns before leaving with the outcome decided.

Star of the Game: Bear Bachmeier, BYU.

No. 18 Penn State 45, Marshall 0

Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns in Matt Campbell’s first game as Penn State’s head coach. Koby Howard caught six passes for 161 yards as the Nittany Lions combined offensive efficiency with a complete-game shutout.

Star of the Game: Rocco Becht, Penn State.

No. 20 Tennessee 56, Furman 9

Tennessee scored 42 consecutive points after a 7-0 opening quarter. Faizon Brandon passed for 226 yards and three touchdowns, while Mike Matthews caught four passes for 132 yards and two scores.

Star of the Game: Faizon Brandon, Tennessee.

No. 22 Iowa 40, Northern Illinois 0

Iowa combined a shutout with an explosive running performance from Kamari Moulton, who gained 183 yards and scored twice on 11 carries. The Hawkeyes led 33-0 by halftime.

Star of the Game: Kamari Moulton, Iowa.

No. 23 Houston 33, Oregon State 20

Houston led from start to finish behind a balanced offense and a 98-yard rushing performance from Mekhi Hughes. Oregon State quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s replacement, Blake Atkinson, threw for 376 yards, but the Beavers could not convert enough production into points.

Star of the Game: Mekhi Hughes, Houston.

Saturday’s FCS-Over-FBS Upsets

Tarleton State 20, Bowling Green 13

Tarleton State delivered the first notable FCS upset of the day behind an extraordinary rushing performance from Tylan Hines. The running back carried 26 times for 250 yards as the Texans built a 17-7 halftime lead and held off Bowling Green.

Turning point: Tarleton State controlled the first half and never surrendered the lead.

Star of the Game: Tylan Hines, Tarleton State — 250 rushing yards.

The Citadel 43, Charlotte 41 in three overtimes

The Citadel produced Saturday’s wildest upset by defeating Charlotte in triple overtime. Gavin Garcia rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns, including critical overtime production.

Charlotte quarterback Conner Gonzales passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns, but the 49ers failed to match The Citadel’s successful two-point conversion in the third overtime.

Turning point: The Citadel converted in the third overtime before denying Charlotte.

Star of the Game: Gavin Garcia, The Citadel.

Idaho State 29, Utah State 17

Idaho State intercepted four passes and received five field goals from Mason Lindberg to stun Utah State. The Bengals took a 16-10 halftime lead and scored the final 10 points after Utah State moved ahead during the third quarter.

Turning point: Idaho State’s defense forced four interceptions.

Star of the Game: Mason Lindberg, Idaho State — five field goals.

Power-Conference Game Recaps

Pittsburgh 59, Miami (Ohio) 14

Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel delivered one of Saturday’s best statistical performances, completing 31 of 41 passes for 453 yards and seven touchdowns. Pitt scored at least 21 points in three separate quarters.

Star of the Game: Mason Heintschel, Pittsburgh.

Nebraska 49, Ohio 21

Ohio led 10-7 after the first quarter and trailed only 14-13 at halftime before Nebraska took control. Anthony Colandrea accounted for four touchdowns, and Jamal Rule rushed for 122 yards and two scores.

Star of the Game: Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska.

Cincinnati 34, Boston College 15

Cincinnati’s defense kept Boston College scoreless in the first half, and the Bearcats pulled away with 24 second-half points. Gavin Payne led the Cincinnati running game with 108 yards.

Star of the Game: Cincinnati’s defense.

Duke 17, Tulane 3

Duke leaned heavily on running back Nate Sheppard, who carried 35 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Devils held Tulane scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Star of the Game: Nate Sheppard, Duke.

Iowa State 38, Southeast Missouri State 10

Jaylen Raynor passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more as Iowa State began the Jimmy Rogers era with a victory. The Cyclones led 28-7 at halftime and recorded six sacks.

Star of the Game: Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State.

Kentucky 45, Youngstown State 13

Kenny Minchey passed for 301 yards and four touchdowns as Kentucky scored 28 first-half points. Youngstown State found limited success during the middle quarters but never seriously threatened.

Star of the Game: Kenny Minchey, Kentucky.

South Carolina 57, Kent State 0

LaNorris Sellers completed 19 of 23 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. The Gamecocks’ defense held Kent State scoreless while South Carolina scored 50 points over the final three quarters.

Star of the Game: LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina.

Arkansas 31, North Alabama 14

Arkansas scored seven points in each of the first three quarters before adding 10 in the fourth. KJ Jackson passed for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but the Razorbacks did not completely separate until late.

Star of the Game: KJ Jackson, Arkansas.

Vanderbilt 28, Austin Peay 9

Vanderbilt led only 15-9 at halftime before shutting out Austin Peay over the final two quarters. Sedrick Alexander led the Commodores with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Star of the Game: Vanderbilt’s defense.

Kansas State 71, Nicholls 3

Kansas State scored 22 first-quarter points and 71 overall in one of Saturday’s largest routs. Avery Johnson passed for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while Joe Jackson rushed for 101 yards.

Star of the Game: Avery Johnson, Kansas State.

Florida 66, Florida Atlantic 21

Florida scored at least 14 points in every quarter in Jon Sumrall’s debut. Jadan Baugh rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while Vernell Brown III caught six passes for 117 yards and a score.

Star of the Game: Jadan Baugh, Florida.

Virginia Tech 73, VMI 3

Virginia Tech led 45-0 at halftime and finished with the highest point total among Power Four programs Saturday. Ethan Grunkemeyer completed 17 of 20 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

Star of the Game: Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech.

Maryland 62, Hampton 0

Maryland accumulated 646 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns. DeJuan Williams broke a 94-yard touchdown run and finished with 116 yards and two scores on only three carries.

Star of the Game: DeJuan Williams, Maryland.

Northwestern 34, South Dakota State 18

Northwestern led only 17-12 after three quarters before closing with 17 fourth-quarter points. Aidan Chiles passed for 273 yards and a touchdown in his Wildcats debut.

Star of the Game: Aidan Chiles, Northwestern.

Arizona 35, Northern Arizona 7

Noah Fifita passed for 262 yards and two touchdowns, while Kedrick Reescano added two rushing scores. Arizona held Northern Arizona scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Star of the Game: Noah Fifita, Arizona.

Arizona State 70, Morgan State 7

Cutter Boley completed 21 of 27 passes for 387 yards and six touchdowns. Arizona State scored 70 points during the first three quarters before resting its primary contributors.

Star of the Game: Cutter Boley, Arizona State.

Group of Five College Football Recaps

West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 24

West Virginia raced to a 24-0 halftime lead before Coastal Carolina rallied with 24 second-half points. Cam Cook rushed 30 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Mountaineers drain the clock and preserve the win.

Star of the Game: Cam Cook, West Virginia.

James Madison 20, Liberty 13

James Madison built a 20-6 advantage through three quarters and held off Liberty’s late attempt at a comeback. Liberty quarterback Demond Purdie threw for 230 yards, but the Flames struggled to finish drives.

Star of the Game: James Madison’s defense.

Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10

Tulsa defeated its in-state Power Four opponent by scoring the final 14 points. Oklahoma State managed only one touchdown, while Tulsa’s Owen Singleton Jr. contributed 99 receiving yards and a score.

Star of the Game: Tulsa’s defense.

Colorado State 35, Wyoming 13

Hauss Hejny threw five touchdown passes in Jim Mora’s Colorado State coaching debut. Receiver Rico Vick caught three of those touchdowns as the Rams won the Border War convincingly.

Star of the Game: Hauss Hejny, Colorado State.

Memphis 42, Arkansas State 24

Memphis running back Javon Carter rushed 19 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns. Arkansas State led 17-14 during the second quarter before Memphis scored 28 of the game’s final 35 points.

Star of the Game: Javon Carter, Memphis.

South Florida 19, Florida International 9

South Florida scored 13 fourth-quarter points to pull away in a low-scoring in-state matchup. FIU quarterback Jayden Kohl threw for 301 yards, but the Panthers converted that production into only nine points.

Star of the Game: South Florida’s defense.

Troy 24, Sam Houston 21

The teams were tied at halftime, but Troy moved ahead with a third-quarter field goal and matched Sam Houston’s fourth-quarter touchdown. Landry Locke threw for 335 yards and three scores for Sam Houston in defeat.

Star of the Game: Troy’s defense, which protected a three-point lead.

UNLV 21, Hawaii 6

UNLV won its fourth consecutive Island Showdown behind 143 rushing yards and a touchdown from Jai’Den Thomas. The Rebels held Hawaii without a touchdown and intercepted Micah Alejado.

Star of the Game: Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV.

UCLA 45, California 24

UCLA’s 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points turned a tied game into a comfortable victory in Bob Chesney’s debut.

Star of the Game: Wayne Knight, UCLA.

Nevada 49, Western Kentucky 14

Dominic Kelley rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns as Nevada scored at least 14 points in every quarter. The Wolf Pack defense held Western Kentucky scoreless in the first and third periods.

Star of the Game: Dominic Kelley, Nevada.

New Mexico 38, Central Michigan 7

James Laubstein scored two rushing touchdowns and Grant Glasgow kicked three field goals as New Mexico controlled its opener. The Lobos built a 35-0 advantage before Central Michigan scored in the fourth quarter.

Star of the Game: James Laubstein, New Mexico.

Remaining FBS Game Capsules

Syracuse 66, New Hampshire 3

Steve Angeli passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns, while Yasin Willis’ successor, Steve Anderson Jr., rushed for 102 yards and three scores. Syracuse led 41-0 at halftime.

UConn 56, Lafayette 7

Kalieb Osborne passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more in Jason Candle’s UConn debut. The Huskies built a 35-0 halftime lead.

Army 59, Bryant 3

Army scored 21 first-quarter points and rushed past Bryant. Zach Mundell gained 105 yards and scored twice on only four carries.

Air Force 34, Duquesne 0

Seventeen Air Force players combined for 431 rushing yards. The Falcons’ defense also intercepted two passes and completed the shutout.

Temple 38, Rhode Island 14

Kadon Mason rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns as Temple built a 24-14 halftime lead and blanked Rhode Island in the second half.

Navy 42, Towson 15

Blake Woodson carried 23 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Navy scored 14 points in every quarter except the third.

UTSA 45, UT Rio Grande Valley 16

Owen McCown completed 22 of 27 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. UTSA scored 24 second-quarter points to take control.

North Dakota State 38, Fordham 0

North Dakota State improved to 2-0 in its first FBS season. Nathan Hayes passed for 210 yards and two touchdowns as the Bison posted a shutout.

Appalachian State 55, Maine 3

Malachi Singleton completed 22 of 24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Appalachian State led 31-0 at halftime.

Southern Miss 49, Alcorn State 3

Seth Robinson rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns as Southern Miss scored 42 unanswered points after Alcorn State’s opening field goal.

Old Dominion 31, Norfolk State 10

Quarterback Quinn Henicle completed nine of 12 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Old Dominion scored 31 points before going scoreless in the fourth.

Rice 31, Houston Christian 3

Rice limited Houston Christian to 61 passing yards and one first-quarter field goal. Taji Byars rushed for 104 yards for the Owls.

Jacksonville State 49, Eastern Kentucky 7

Caden Creel passed for 327 yards and five touchdowns. Jadon Williams caught seven passes for 144 yards and four scores.

Georgia Southern 31, Charleston Southern 0

Georgia Southern scored 21 first-quarter points and never looked back. Michael Johnson passed for 281 yards and a touchdown.

South Alabama 39, Southeastern Louisiana 14

South Alabama scored 19 points in the opening quarter and led 22-7 at halftime. Braylon Jenkins caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Mississippi State 62, UL Monroe 13

Kamario Taylor passed for 354 yards and four touchdowns, while JJ Hill rushed for 118 yards and two scores on seven carries.

Louisiana Tech 80, Northwestern State 6

Louisiana Tech scored 63 first-half points in Saturday’s largest rout. Blake Baker passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns on only 14 attempts.

Middle Tennessee 38, Murray State 14

Rocco Gagliano passed for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while Anderson Martin rushed for 103 yards. Middle Tennessee scored the game’s final 17 points.

Louisiana 38, Lamar 7

The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 28 first-half points and held Lamar scoreless until the fourth quarter. Dre’lyn Smith rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

New Mexico State 51, Mercyhurst 14

Nick Sessions returned an interception for a touchdown on the game’s first play. Seth McGowan’s backfield successor, Josh Jones, rushed for 137 yards and a score.

San Diego State 53, Portland State 20

Jaylon Hawkins returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and Lucky Sutton rushed for three scores as San Diego State pulled away.

Sacramento State 52, Mississippi Valley State 0

Jaden Sharman threw four touchdown passes, three to Michael Coleman, as Sacramento State earned its first victory since moving into the FBS.

Complete September 5 FBS College Football Scores

• No. 1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3
• No. 2 Oregon 34, Boise State 27
• No. 3 Georgia 63, Tennessee State 3
• No. 5 Texas 59, Texas State 7
• No. 6 Indiana 52, North Texas 16
• No. 8 Texas A&M 50, Missouri State 0
• No. 11 LSU 51, Clemson 10
• No. 12 Texas Tech 33, Abilene Christian 10
• No. 13 Alabama 48, East Carolina 10
• No. 14 BYU 63, Utah Tech 7
• No. 16 Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12
• No. 18 Penn State 45, Marshall 0
• No. 20 Tennessee 56, Furman 9
• No. 22 Iowa 40, Northern Illinois 0
• No. 23 Houston 33, Oregon State 20

Unranked Teams

• West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 24
• Syracuse 66, New Hampshire 3
• Nebraska 49, Ohio 21
• UConn 56, Lafayette 7
• Army 59, Bryant 3
• Tarleton State 20, Bowling Green 13
• James Madison 20, Liberty 13
• Pittsburgh 59, Miami (Ohio) 14
• South Carolina 57, Kent State 0
• Kentucky 45, Youngstown State 13
• Iowa State 38, Southeast Missouri State 10
• Air Force 34, Duquesne 0
• Temple 38, Rhode Island 14
• Auburn 17, Baylor 16
• Cincinnati 34, Boston College 15
• Duke 17, Tulane 3
• The Citadel 43, Charlotte 41 (3OT)
• Navy 42, Towson 15
• UTSA 45, UT Rio Grande Valley 16
• North Dakota State 38, Fordham 0
• Appalachian State 55, Maine 3
• Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10
• Arkansas 31, North Alabama 14
• Southern Miss 49, Alcorn State 3
• Colorado State 35, Wyoming 13
• Old Dominion 31, Norfolk State 10
• Vanderbilt 28, Austin Peay 9
• Kansas State 71, Nicholls 3
• Idaho State 29, Utah State 17
• Memphis 42, Arkansas State 24
• Rice 31, Houston Christian 3
• South Florida 19, Florida International 9
• Jacksonville State 49, Eastern Kentucky 7
• Georgia Southern 31, Charleston Southern 0
• South Alabama 39, Southeastern Louisiana 14
• Troy 24, Sam Houston 21
• Mississippi State 62, UL Monroe 13
• Virginia Tech 73, VMI 3
• Louisiana Tech 80, Northwestern State 6
• Florida 66, Florida Atlantic 21
• Middle Tennessee 38, Murray State 14
• Maryland 62, Hampton 0
• Northwestern 34, South Dakota State 18
• Louisiana 38, Lamar 7
• New Mexico State 51, Mercyhurst 14
• Arizona 35, Northern Arizona 7
• San Diego State 53, Portland State 20
• Arizona State 70, Morgan State 7
• UNLV 21, Hawaii 6
• New Mexico 38, Central Michigan 7
• Sacramento State 52, Mississippi Valley State 0
• UCLA 45, California 24
• Nevada 49, Western Kentucky 14

What Saturday’s Results Mean

LSU emerged as the weekend’s biggest winner. Beating Clemson would have commanded national attention under any circumstances, but winning by 41 points immediately strengthened LSU’s College Football Playoff credentials.

Oregon survived a legitimate challenge from Boise State, while Michigan escaped with a victory that felt more like a warning. Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Indiana and Penn State handled their opening assignments without difficulty.

The day also exposed the danger of overlooking FCS opponents. Bowling Green, Charlotte and Utah State suffered damaging home losses, while Tarleton State, The Citadel and Idaho State earned victories their programs will remember for years.

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