Top 8 Overreactions from Week 1 of 2026 College Football Season

Don't let anyone tell you it's only one week.

Technically, that's true. The college football season is still in its infancy, and we are (thankfully) just getting started. Plenty will be decided in the weeks and months to come as we ease ourselves into this glorious installment of the best sport on earth.

But none of this should stop us from making grand assumptions. From dramatizing. From taking one full week of CFB and drawing seismic conclusions based on what we saw.

That is precisely what we will do today. From the Heisman to winning certain conferences to breakout players to early hot seat chatter, Week 1 featured a bit of everything.

So, let's not properly react. Let's overreact.

While most teams have only played 60 minutes of football, we're establishing plenty of conclusions that could soon take shape.

Here are our overreactions after Week 1.

The Miami wideout, fresh off a dazzling freshman campaign, squashed any concerns of a potential sophomore slump with a 12-catch, 234-yard performance against Stanford on Friday night.

Toney accounted for three touchdowns in the Hurricanes' blowout win, cruising against Stanford after falling just short in the national championship game back in January.

The buzz on Toney was already high, although we're entering rarified air. And the addition of QB Darian Mensah might just unlock a level rarely seen by college wide receivers.

While wide receivers don't normally lead the pack when it comes to the Heisman, Toney has plenty working for him. For starters, his performance late in the season and during the College Football Playoff started the hype.

He also plays for a blueblood program (helpful) that is poised to win the majority of—if not all—of its games this season (extremely helpful). Oh, and the QB throwing him the ball looks like an absolute force.

We've got a long way to go, of course, but Toney's first Heisman moment has arrived, and it won't be his last.

Scratch That, Jeremiah Smith Will Win the Heisman

Perhaps this is the year of the wideout.

Not to be outdone by Toney, Smith showed why he might be the best player in the entire sport on Saturday.

In Ohio State's 56-3 win over Ball State, Smith finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. His first score, a 48-yard grab, was vintage Smith—the kind of play that saw the wideout showcase his speed, length and remarkably strong hands.

Given what we've seen of Smith, none of this should come as a surprise. Somehow, despite entering as the sport's No. 1 overall recruit, he's lived up to the hype every step of the way.

Next week, Smith and Ohio State will travel to Texas for a mammoth road game. A strong performance—and a win—could vault the wideout squarely to the top of the odds board, a place where wideouts suddenly rule.

Before most teams played a single minute of football this season, USC headed into the second Saturday at 2-0. The Trojans clobbered San Jose State in Week 0. They followed that up with a 39-0 shutout win over Fresno State, which is no slouch, on Friday night.

Early on, a few things jump off the page.

For starters, Jayden Maiava is currently completing nearly 90 percent of his throws. While that trend won't hold, his efficiency could be off the charts this year.

Helping him do that is a litany of new weapons. And when we say "new," we mean it.

Freshmen wideouts Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt currently lead the team in receiving, while frosh tight end Mark Bowman has already showcased why he's likely to be a future star.

Then there's Gary Patterson. The former TCU head coach became the USC defensive coordinator this offseason, and he just delivered one of the most impressive defensive showings in recent memory.

USC allowed just 116 yards of offense against a solid Fresno State squad, which could serve as a glimpse into a crystal ball.

While we've spent the offseason debating whether Oregon, Ohio State or Indiana will win the conference, not so fast. This could be the year Lincoln Riley finally breaks out.

Arch Manning Will Solidy Himself as the Nation's Top Quarterback

One full year ago, the Arch Manning hype ended abruptly. An ugly performance on the road against Ohio State led to a flood of conclusions that the face of college football was unworthy of such praise.

A year later, Manning is poised to separate himself after a strong Week 1.

Sure, Texas played Texas State rather than Ohio State. The game was over shortly after it started. But the QB threw four touchdowns—including two to new wideout Cam Coleman.

Yes, it was Texas State. This is an overreaction piece, after all. But the poise, mechanics, timing and confidence looked wildly different than it did a season ago. And the pieces around Manning are so improved, that there's no reason to believe it won't continue.

There were signs late last season that this moment was coming, and we are here. A win over the Buckeyes next week, and the hype surrounding the quarterback will be back in overdrive.

To say it's been a less-than-ideal start for the conference would be an understatement.

TCU laid an egg in Ireland during Week 0, losing outright to a UNC team in turmoil. Oklahoma State, a team many thought could make noise, lost by two touchdowns in Tulsa.

Houston, which began the season ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll, nearly stumbled against Oregon State. West Virginia nearly lost to Coastal Carolina. And Texas Tech, which many penciled in as the favorite to win the conference, wasn't exactly dazzling in its first game against Abilene Christian.

Every team is entitled to some early jitters, but the early vibes feel a bit different. Texas Tech has the talent to maybe round into form, and BYU remains a capable team with a capable QB.

The rest, however, are a bit of mystery, and that's not meant to be the fun, interesting kind.

As the Big Ten and SEC continue to separate from all other conferences, the Big 12 must do everything to keep pace.

At least right now, well, the prospects are less than ideal.

Keelon Russell Will Carry Alabama Back to the National Championship Picture

One game won't define a season or career, but one game also tells us plenty.

In his first collegiate start, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell showed glimpses of being the kind of dynamic playmaker the program desperately needs.

Russell finished with 256 yards passing, 86 yards rushing and a touchdown against East Carolina. He flashed his ability to outrun defenders and delivered a slew of ridiculous throws that showcased both arm strength and accuracy.

At a time when we're still unsure about the offensive line and even the defense, which looked excellent for Week 1, Russell seems destined to carry this program to the places we're used to seeing it.

He's that dynamic, and the glimpses were that exceptional. A game against Kentucky on the road is up next, and the opponent will likely be feisty for Russell's first road start.

So be it. Russell will be ready, and the successes will only continue to build.

LSU clobbered Clemson in what was supposed to be the most compelling game of the week, at least on paper, 51-10. The game was compelling for about five minutes, and then things turned sideways.

Ultimately, it was simply another win for Lane Kiffin, although it felt like more than that.

While we don't know yet if Clemson is a worthy opponent, LSU looked put together. We knew this team had a quarterback, although the rest of the pieces—specifically the offensive and defensive lines—looked functional and dominant.

As for what's next, well, that's where it gets interesting.

In less than two weeks, the Tigers travel to Ole Miss in a game that requires no introduction. A week later, LSU plays Texas A&M.

The schedule deep in the season has plenty of teeth, although those teams can't feel good about what they witnessed Saturday night.

Kiffin has a roster. He has a quarterback. And in terms of home field, Tiger Stadium has never felt more alive. A new contender has emerged quicker than expected.

Dabo Swinney's Time at Clemson Will Soon End

LSU's overwhelming night was one part of the outcome. The other was a performance so disappointing one can't help but wonder how it impacts the greater picture.

For the past five years, Clemson has been in a state of regression. Dabo Swinney's unwillingness to adapt and truly embrace college football's new norms is a significant part of that.

As a result, the very impact of embracing the transfer portal and NIL was fully on display in the blowout. And given just how much this night was, it's not hard to connect the dots.

Firing Swinney would cost the school a small fortune—a cool $57 million according to the Greenville News . But the cost of waiting longer could be far more significant.

Just how bad will this season get? Time will tell. A relatively weak ACC should help matters, although nothing is a given at the moment. And after losing nine players to the draft this past spring, the roster isn't exactly thriving.

One year from now, things could look very different. And it's probably time.