Written by Eric Martinez - The 2026 college football season kicked off with eight FBS games on Saturday, Aug. 29, generating multiple immediate storylines.
* North Carolina 15, TCU 10: In a defensive showdown in Dublin, Bill Belichick's Tar Heels came out on top, holding TCU scoreless for the last 49 minutes and transforming a rainy, low-scoring affair into a strong opening statement for the season. TCU incurred 11 penalties totaling 89 yards. North Carolina begins the season strong, improving to 1-0.
* Virginia 34, NC State 8: Virginia asserted its dominance in the ACC opener, delivering one of the day's most significant disappointments to NC State. Senior transfer quarterback Beau Pribula began his season with the Virginia Cavaliers, completing 9 of 11 passes for 155 yards, rushing 15 times for 110 yards, and throwing 2 touchdowns.

* North Dakota State 33, Jacksonville State 7: NDSU made a remarkable entrance into the FBS, demonstrating its potential as a formidable contender for a Group of Six playoff-access spot right out of the gate. Racking up 373 rushing yards collectively, the Bison defense surrendered just one touchdown in the first quarter and kept Jax State scoreless for three consecutive quarters.
* USC 42, San Jose State 26: The No. 14 Trojans achieved a comfortable victory, yet the 16-point margin fell short of expectations set by their over five-touchdown advantage. USC was leading 35-3 before SJSU mounted a late rally. Heisman Trophy contender USC quarterback Jayden Maiava excelled with 286 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Trojans' receiving corps featured 10 players with at least one catch. San Jose State's QB, Luke Weaver, completed 234 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no turnovers.

* Florida State 34, New Mexico State 17: FSU began the season at 1-0, but the Aggies pushed the Seminoles to work for their victory. While Florida State's offense eventually pulled away, its pass defense displayed some early weaknesses. Sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah of the Seminoles stole the spotlight in the game, amassing 115 yards and scoring 1 touchdown on 14 carries.

* Memphis 27, UNLV 21: Charles Huff's debut as Memphis head coach proved successful. The Tigers’ defense came alive late, notching four sacks in the final seven minutes to halt UNLV's attempt at a comeback. An outstanding display by Tiger's QB, Marcus Stokes, who threw for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns, and most crucially, recorded 0 turnovers.
* Stanford 37, Hawaii 27: Stanford managed to edge past Hawaii in a competitive match that offered more drama than preseason expectations had suggested. The Cardinal unleashed 14 unanswered points in under 2 minutes of the 4th quarter, starting with a 2-yard touchdown run by Micah Ford, followed by a 31-yard fumble return touchdown from Tevarua Tafiti.

* Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 17: Sacramento State's FBS journey commenced with its transition into the MAC, adding another notable storyline to Week 0.  Eastern Michigan's defense limited Sac State to 7 points in the second half while allowing EMU's offense to score 21 in the second quarter. Eagles quarterback Noah Kim completed 27 of 38 passes for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sacramento State is now 0-1 as they enter FBS competition and start their MAC journey.

Biggest Week 0 takeaways 

Winners: North Dakota State. The Bison quickly affirmed the excitement surrounding their transition to the FBS level. 

Most impressive Power-conference result: North Carolina. Defeating TCU in Ireland wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but the defense appeared markedly stronger than last year's unit that allowed 48 points to the Horned Frogs. 

Most concerning result: USC. Although the Trojans secured the win and amassed 505 yards, conceding 26 fourth-quarter points to San Jose State after establishing a 35-3 lead leaves ample room for improvement. 

Best storyline: Week 0 reminded us early on that preseason rankings hold little significance once the games commence. The first Saturday featured an upset, two FBS newcomers, a coaching debut, a high-profile international contest, and several heavily favored teams that underperformed relative to expectations.