{"id":1047825,"date":"2026-09-07T00:04:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T00:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1047825\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T00:04:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T00:04:15","slug":"college-football-week-1-winners-and-losers-lane-kiffin-conspiracy-theories-heisman-poses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1047825\/","title":{"rendered":"College football Week 1 winners and losers: Lane Kiffin, conspiracy theories, Heisman poses"},"content":{"rendered":"

All eyes were on Baton Rouge late Saturday night after a two-hour storm delay, and LSU\u2019s Lane Kiffin emerged as the day\u2019s biggest winner. His Tigers crushed Clemson<\/a> without any help from ex-NFL players<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There were other highs and lows during the first full weekend of college football<\/a> \u2014 including a couple of eyebrow-raising upsets.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma State? Oh boy.<\/p>\n

Bryce Underwood? Yikes.<\/p>\n

(Wait a minute, we\u2019ve been told there\u2019s just been another second put on the clock in Ann Arbor \u2026)<\/p>\n

Underwood? Holy cow!<\/p>\n

What in the world just happened at Michigan?<\/p>\n

Austin Meek<\/p>\n

Before we shift our focus to Ohio State-Texas next week in Austin, here are our winners and losers from Week 1, with a few notable games still left to be played Sunday and Monday night:<\/p>\n

Win<\/strong>ner: Conspiracy theorists<\/p>\n

If you already believed the little guy never gets a fair shake against college football royalty, the end of Western Michigan-Michigan<\/a> will sustain you for a while.<\/p>\n

The Broncos \u2014 defending MAC champions and 27.5-point underdogs \u2014 were celebrating what they thought was a massive 12-7 upset and their first win over Michigan. Instead, Western Michigan found out it takes more than 60 minutes to beat the Wolverines in the Big House.<\/p>\n

Officials found a reason to put one second on the clock, allowing Underwood one final heave into the end zone<\/a>. Utah transfer JJ Buchanan snagged Underwood\u2019s 47-yard prayer out of the air and rewrote history.<\/p>\n

The Big Ten\u2019s explanation is unlikely to satisfy everyone, even if the MAC released a statement accepting it.<\/p>\n

\n

A statement regarding the results of tonight’s game between Michigan and Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com\/DzJVN2ZLTc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We aren\u2019t sure yet whether Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor will be able to find a judge in Michigan to get it overturned. What we do know is conspiracy theorists have all the ammunition needed to light up message boards for a while. A clock with four zeroes apparently doesn\u2019t mean the game is over.<\/p>\n

By the way, Larry Ellison\u2019s money<\/a> may not have solved Michigan\u2019s quarterback problem<\/a> after all.<\/p>\n

Before Buchanan turned his final prayer into a touchdown, Underwood was quite underwhelming (11 of 21, 123 yards, INT, lost fumble). The miracle finish gave Michigan \u2014 and its $12 million quarterback \u2014 a reprieve, not proof that everything is fixed ahead of a Week 2 showdown with Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

Loser: Dabo Swinney\u2019s software update<\/p>\n

Clemson\u2019s head coach made more of an attempt to embrace modern college football this offseason. He signed a career-high 10 transfers and brought back coordinator Chad Morris to reboot Clemson\u2019s offense following an underwhelming 7-6 season.<\/p>\n

Dabo Swinney, Clemson are the biggest losers from Week 1<\/p>\n

Manny Navarro<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only Week 1, but there is more than enough evidence now for me to believe the Tigers\u2019 glory days under Swinney are well behind them. By halftime, Clemson had as many first downs (one) as starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina had pick-sixes. It wasn\u2019t just a lackluster offense. LSU kicked Clemson\u2019s butt at the line of scrimmage all night in the 51-10 rout.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be real: Clemson simply hasn\u2019t been the same since Oklahoma hired Brent Venables away from his post as Swinney\u2019s defensive coordinator. The Tigers are 2-5 against ranked opponents since the start of the 2024 season and have lost four openers in a row.<\/p>\n

Loser: Oklahoma State\u2019s version of \u2018B-Y-O team\u2019
Winner: Everyone else?<\/p>\n

New head coach Eric Morris brought 18 North Texas players \u2014 including star quarterback Drew Mestemaker \u2014 to Oklahoma State as part of a 92-man makeover. It didn\u2019t look good.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys\u2019 roster revamp failed miserably in its debut against Tulsa<\/a>. Oklahoma State turned it over four times and lost 24-10 to the two-touchdown-underdog Golden Hurricane.<\/p>\n

Nine other FBS coaches brought at least 10 players with them to their new jobs, and eight picked up wins in Week 1:<\/p>\n