OSU, Texas dominate Week 1 as Michigan escapes controversy

College football's 2026 season opened Saturday with the nation's elite asserting their dominance—and one ranked program escaping a catastrophe that hinged on a clock nobody can quite explain.

Ohio State and Texas, the top two teams in the preseason rankings, dismantled their opponents with the kind of offensive efficiency that suggests they belong in a tier of their own. The No. 1 Buckeyes routed Ball State 49-3, with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith announcing himself early with a 48-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown catch in the first quarter. By the time the starters came off the bench, four-star freshman Legend Bey—a late flip from Tennessee—was shaking defenders for highlight-reel scores. The Longhorns were even more ruthless, crushing Texas State 49-7 behind quarterback Arch Manning, who looked every bit the Heisman Trophy candidate in his debut. Manning completed his first 10 passes, threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns, and connected immediately with transfer receiver Cam Coleman on vertical routes that split defenses. Texas's offense hummed across the board: Coleman had two touchdowns, Hollywood Smothers contributed 98 total yards and a score, and returning receiver Ryan Wingo caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Both programs are now set for a marquee matchup next week that could reshape the playoff picture before Labor Day.

But the story that will linger from Week 1 belongs to Michigan, which survived Western Michigan on a sequence so bizarre that a former NFL referee and NBC rules analyst spent the postgame hours demanding answers. The Wolverines trailed 12-7 with the clock at zero. Western Michigan had its biggest win in program history. Then, upon replay review, officials determined there was one second remaining when quarterback Bryce Underwood's first Hail Mary attempt went out of bounds. That phantom second gave Michigan one more throw. Underwood heaved again into the end zone, and receiver JJ Buchanan came down with it for a 13-12 victory.

Terry McAulay, the analyst, was direct in his skepticism: "The ball isn't even close to touching a player when it goes to zero. Their system had a different sync or whatever, and they came up with one second when it touched the player. I don't see how that happened, assuming our clock is correct." He added that the Big Ten would need to provide a thorough explanation for how a second materialized from nowhere. The conference has not yet done so.

Michigan's escape masked serious problems. The Wolverines managed only 106 rushing yards on 25 carries against Western Michigan's front seven—a troubling sign with Oklahoma coming to Ann Arbor next week. Underwood threw two interceptions, both converted into field goals by the Broncos. After scoring on the opening drive under new coach Kyle Whittingham, Michigan's offense went dormant. Western Michigan's defense executed a 20-plus-play drive that lasted 13 minutes and 40 seconds, draining the clock and the Wolverines' patience. Underwood finished with just 95 yards passing through three quarters. The Wolverines were fortunate to escape, but the film will show an offensive line that couldn't establish dominance and a quarterback who struggled to find rhythm until desperation forced a miracle.

Elsewhere, Auburn survived Baylor 17-16 in a game that hinged on a two-point conversion attempt with nine seconds left. Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway, making his debut after transferring from Florida, led a dramatic late drive and hit receiver Gavin Freeman for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie, coach Dave Aranda went for two. Lagway's pass to Matthew Klopfenstein fell just short of the end zone, and Auburn's Byrum Brown—who threw three interceptions in his first start—escaped with a win he had no business keeping. Brown did redeem himself with an 11-yard touchdown run with 3:21 remaining that proved decisive.

No. 2 Oregon survived Boise State 34-27 on a late touchdown from receiver Dakorien Moore, who broke free for 62 yards in the fourth quarter. Indiana, the defending national champions, beat North Texas 52-16 but didn't dominate as expected; the Mean Green kept the chains moving with 19 first downs and reached Indiana territory seven times. Pitt's Mason Heintschel set an ACC record with seven touchdown passes in a 59-14 rout of Miami (Ohio), spreading the wealth to seven different receivers while completing 31 of 41 passes for 453 yards. Tennessee's five-star freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon accounted for three touchdowns in a 28-0 first-half performance against Furman, showcasing the mobility that won him the starting job over veteran George MacIntyre. Alabama's redshirt sophomore Keelon Russell, the highest-rated signee in program history, looked composed in his debut despite an uneven start, finishing the first half 11 of 17 for 182 yards in a 38-7 lead over East Carolina.

The weekend exposed vulnerabilities alongside the dominance. Nebraska needed a fourth-quarter surge to pull away from Ohio 42-21 after the Bobcats closed to within 28-21 early in the fourth. Oklahoma State, expected to make a quick turnaround under new coach Eric Morris with transfers from North Texas, found itself trailing Tulsa 17-3 in the third quarter, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker and the passing game effectively contained. Iowa's quarterback battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski spilled into live action, with Brown getting the first three drives—all touchdowns—before Hecklinski took over and managed a slower start. The Hawkeyes still dominated Northern Illinois 33-0 by halftime. Houston took a 19-7 lead over Oregon State with balanced offense: 140-plus yards rushing, 140-plus passing, and four different players with at least 47 yards. Penn State's Matt Campbell era began with a near-perfect first quarter against Marshall, racking up 163 yards and four tackles for loss before settling into a more routine victory.

Michigan's escape will dominate the conversation, but the broader narrative is clear: the elite programs are executing at a level that suggests a wide gap between the contenders and the rest. Texas and Ohio State look like they belong in a conversation about national championships. Michigan, despite the controversial finish, has work to do before facing a real test.