# College Football 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [August 29, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681 "2026-08-29T23:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/1 "2026-08-29T23:31:24Z")
Having lost most interest in this nonsense with all the shuffling of teams around, I almost missed the first game of the season! I thought it started next week. Anyway, watched USC play San Jose. Not a bad game. Lots of True Freshmen on the field for 'SC. San Jose played tough, never quit despite being in a hole pretty early. Only game I watched. But looks like my weekends are shot for the short term… I always get sucked in. Thursday night games, the odd Friday one (SC plays next Friday!) then the morning till night Saturday Couch Potato sessions watching teams I know nothing about. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/2 "2026-08-29T23:46:43Z")
One of the big stories of the opening of the college football season was a historic upset, though not as big a one as a major outlet proclaimed. > **[Yahoo! runs embarrassing error in headline, proving even media outlets need...](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/yahoo-runs-embarrassing-error-headline-proving-even-media-outlets-need-time-round-midseason-form)** > > Yahoo! Sports mistakenly labeled Northwestern State a Big Ten team after Louisiana Christian's historic NAIA upset in the college football opener. Northwestern State University was defeated by Louisiana Christian, fhe first time an NAIA school beat a Division I team. The Yahoo! headline trumpeted that a Big Ten school had been upset, confusing Northwestern State with Northwestern. Relying on AI might have been Yahoo!'s downfall. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/3 "2026-08-30T03:22:54Z")
In other news: Valparaiso’s football team has a redshirt freshman defensive back named Kaiser WIlhelm. > **[Kaiser Wilhelm - 2026 - Football](https://valpoathletics.com/sports/football/roster/kaiser-wilhelm/15779)** > > Kaiser Wilhelm (23) DB - 2025: Saw action in three games, appearing against Dayton, St. Thomas and Butler… Retained four years of eligibility. > > Prep: Two-year His listed hobbies include his faith in Jesus and pickleball. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/4 "2026-08-30T05:03:36Z")
On a somber note: > **[William Jewell College RB dies after medical emergency during game](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49766584/william-jewell-college-rb-dies-medical-emergency-game)** > > William Jewell College junior RB Micah Jo Barnett died after experiencing a medical emergency on the sideline during the Missouri-based Division II school's season opener. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/5 "2026-08-30T12:58:50Z")
If my googling is correct, this is the first time Bill Belichick has had a winning record since December of 2022. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/6 "2026-09-04T05:29:56Z")
The Colorado/Georgia Tech game, though low-scoring, was fun to watch, especially at the end. Georgia Tech got a field goal to take a six-point lead late. Colorado ran their two-minute drill to go up by 1. Alberto Mendoza of GT connected on a long pass to put the Yellow Jackets within field goal range, but their field goal was blocked. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/7 "2026-09-04T12:40:47Z")
Expect controversy about his preference for having a spike on top of his helmet. And when he has a good game, the headlines the next day will read “Kaiser Rolls!” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/8 "2026-09-04T13:41:14Z")
Well that celebration was short lived: > **[Lombardi out as UNC investigators probe allegations of drug use, sex among...](https://www.wral.com/sports/north-carolina-lombardi-out-general-manager-tar-heels-september-2026/)** > > Lawyers investigating UNC football questioned people about allegations involving assistant Steve Belichick and, separately, about a possible sexual relationship between at least one employee and at least one player, people familiar with the probe... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/9 "2026-09-04T18:33:06Z")
The only thing missing in that story is Rock n’ Roll! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/10 "2026-09-06T03:04:18Z")
The Western Michigan Broncos, from the Mid-American Conference, came within a hair’s-breadth of beating the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines got a Hail Mary pass to win by one at the buzzer. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/11 "2026-09-06T03:07:14Z")
That was crazy!! What an ending! Whew still can’t believe it. I totally thought it was over. A touchdown with literally _one second_ left on the clock. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/12 "2026-09-06T03:09:33Z")
I’d like to know the rule- when does the clock stop- when the ball leaves the field of play or when it touches the ground? I thought for sure the clock had run out. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/13 "2026-09-06T03:14:26Z")
It’s when it touches the ground, or a player standing out of bounds. The NBC “booth” ref said it was 0 by the time it touched a player out of bounds. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/14 "2026-09-06T03:16:35Z")
If the ball is not held by any player, it is not out of bounds until it hits something including an out of bounds player. On passes players can jump from inbounds and bat the ball back to another player. I assume the same is true on kicks. You do see players jump from the field of play to bat punts out of the endzone back into the field of play and that isn’t a touchback. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/15 "2026-09-06T03:27:40Z")
In that case I think WMU should appeal to the NCAA. They got screwed royally. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/16 "2026-09-06T04:28:19Z")
I was at the Michigan game. We got our asses handed to us for the entire game except for the opening drive and the questionable final play. We started walking out as soon as Underwood threw the first hail Mary over the end zone, but noticed people standing around a TV screen as we walked past the concessions. I thought maybe the refs were checking to see if there was a defensive penalty, but then they put a second back on the clock. I couldn’t figure out why, but we went back to our seats to watch the final play. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/17 "2026-09-06T07:13:53Z")
Boise State (always a Scrappy Club) made #2 Oregon really work for it. A really entertaining game! ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/18 "2026-09-06T13:16:09Z")
The Western Michigan - Michigan ending looks even worse the morning after. The Big Ten issued a statement claiming the defensive player for WMU touched the ball with one second left when he plainly didn’t. It was indisputable; Stevie Wonder could have made the call correctly! I don’t have a particular rooting interest in either team but I’m kind of hoping OU destroys Michigan by three or four scores next week. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/19 "2026-09-06T14:47:20Z")
[Big 10 Video from Statemen](https://youtu.be/vIB2lOeyRnE?is=821Iy1Ib5av7yfct)t That’s from the Big 10. They claim it shows 1 second on the clock. They also claim the NBC clock was synchronized. Not sure what to make of those contradictory findings. In the video angle view they use above, you don’t ever see the player touch the ball. There’s just a ref that says “now”. I wonder if they make the same call if the teams were reversed. College football is definitely back! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681/20 "2026-09-06T15:28:45Z")
The statement from the MAC says the video confirms the decision to add a second. > **[MAC Commissioner Responds to Big Ten Explanation in Michigan Miracle vs. WMU](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mac-commissioner-responds-big-ten-114228239.html)** > > MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher says the Big Ten provided video and audio confirming its explanation for restoring one second before Michigan’s game-winning Hail Mary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2026/1032681.md?page=2)