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The college football opening weekend brought dominant performances from national contenders and strong starts across Texas. The University of Houston joined several ranked state programs in opening the 2026 season with a victory.
The weekend also produced a remarkable finish. Michigan escaped an upset bid after officials restored one second to the clock.
University of Houston Opens With a Victory
No. 23 University of Houston defeated Oregon State 33-20 in its season opener. The Cougars joined Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech among the state’s ranked winners.
The victory gave Houston an encouraging start before the schedule becomes more demanding. It also allowed the Cougars to build early momentum for their Big 12 campaign.
Houston entered the season ranked in the AP Top 25 after showing progress during the previous year. The opening result reinforced expectations that the Cougars can remain competitive in a deep conference race.
Michigan Survives Opening Weekend Scare
No. 16 Michigan defeated Western Michigan 13-12 in the weekend’s most dramatic ending.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood initially threw an incomplete Hail Mary as the scoreboard reached zero. Officials then ruled that one second remained. Underwood used the added play to connect with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown.
The victory marked a dramatic debut for Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham. It also denied Western Michigan one of the season’s first major upsets.
No. 2 Oregon also faced pressure before defeating Boise State 34-27. Meanwhile, No. 9 Ole Miss survived No. 24 Louisville 41-38 in Sunday’s only matchup between ranked teams.
National Contenders Start Strong
Defending national champion Indiana opened its title defense with a 52-16 victory over North Texas.
New quarterback Josh Hoover completed 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. The former TCU quarterback replaced Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who became the No. 1 NFL draft pick.
No. 1 Ohio State routed Ball State 56-3. Star receiver Jeremiah Smith recorded eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns during the first half.
No. 7 Miami defeated Stanford 45-6 behind two record-setting transfer stars. Darian Mensah threw five touchdown passes in his Hurricanes debut. Malachi Toney set a school record with 234 receiving yards and caught three touchdowns.
No. 11 LSU also made an early statement. The Tigers defeated Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin’s first game as head coach.
No. 4 Notre Dame closed Sunday with a 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. No. 17 Washington defeated Washington State 24-10 in the Apple Cup.
Texas Programs Begin Season With Wins
No. 5 Texas defeated Texas State 59-7. The Longhorns entered the season with national championship expectations and quickly controlled their opening matchup.
No. 8 Texas A&M shut out Missouri State 50-0. No. 12 Texas Tech defeated Abilene Christian 33-10.
The University of Houston’s win completed an undefeated opening weekend for the four ranked Texas teams. Stronger opponents and conference games will provide more meaningful tests in the coming weeks.
Other ranked winners included Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Southern California, Penn State, Tennessee and Iowa. The complete Week 1 results are available through the NCAA scoreboard.
Week 2 Brings New Challenges
Opening results rarely provide a complete picture of a season. Still, the first games showed which contenders have experienced playmakers and which teams need quick improvements.
The next AP Top 25 poll will reflect the weekend’s results. Attention will then shift toward Week 2 and the early College Football Playoff race.
For University of Houston supporters, the opening weekend delivered a ranked victory and reasons for optimism. The Cougars must now carry that momentum into the next stage of their schedule.