College football Week 1: Recap the highlights, scores and more

We are signing off for the night. Thank you for joining us this holiday weekend. College football is in full swing, and Week 1 featured plenty of notable moments. Let's recap some of the top stories from this past weekend. 

A perfect sendoff for Lee Corso

In his final appearance on College GameDay, Lee Corso went a perfect 6-for-6 with his last picks, reminding everyone why he’s been a Saturday morning staple for decades. From Florida State's upset win over Alabama, to Ohio State shutting down No. 1 Texas, Corso closed his final chapter in college football, undefeated. 

✅ No. 24 Tennessee 45, Syracuse 26
✅ No. 13 South Carolina 24, Virginia Tech 11
✅ Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17
✅ No. 10 Miami 27, No. 6 Notre Dame 24
✅ No. 9 LSU 17, No. 4 Clemson 10
✅ No. 3 Ohio State 14, No. 1 Texas 7

Seminoles stun No. 8 Alabama with 31-17 win 😲

Unranked Florida State stunned college football this weekend with a 31-17 upset over No. 8 Alabama. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos, a transfer from Boston College, made an immediate impact in his Seminole debut, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown. The win snapped Alabama’s 23-game streak in season openers.

Florida State fans wasted no time storming the field at Doak Campbell Stadium — check out the scene below. 

Won today |

— FSU Football (@FSUFootball)

Early HBCU game-of-the-year candidate

Rivalry? Check. Trash talk? Check. Epic finish? Check.

The 2025 Labor Day Classic between Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern had it all. The game was tied entering the fourth quarter and then saw three lead changes.

It all came down to the final play when Prairie View quarterback Cameron Peters found Rodny Ojo in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M WINS THE LABOR DAY CLASSIC ON A WALK-OFF TOUCHDOWN!!! 🟣🟡

Cameron Peters ➡️ Rodney Ojo FTW!

📺: SWAC TV |

— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports)

FCS over FBS upsets

Down goes Goliath! Two FCS teams knocked off FBS opponents in Week 1. On Friday night, Tarleton State kicked things off with a double-overtime win over Army, 30-27. Then on Saturday, Austin Peay jumped out to a 21-0 lead over Middle Tennessee State and never looked back, dominating in a 34-14 FCS-over FBS upset.
 

Good morning Texan Nation!

— Tarleton State Football (@TarletonFB)

👉 To relive all the action from this past weekend, check out the results from every game. 

👋That’s all from us for now— while we are gone, UNC and TCU will continue on ESPN. Click here for live scoreboard and stats.
 

If this is what week 1 looks like, imagine what's still to come. Each of these plays had fans calling it the “catch of the year,” and it's only September. 

Coastal Carolina — Brooks Johnson

Redshirt junior tight end Brooks Johnson hauled in a backhanded catch while blanketed by a defender. Although the Chanticleers fell 48-7 to Virginia, Johnson's highlight stood out as one of the top plays of the night.
 

CATCH OF THE YEAR FROM COASTAL CAROLINA

— Sidelinr Sports (@sidelinrsports)

University of Florida — Vernell Brown III 

True freshman wide receiver Vernell Brown III pulled in a falling one-handed catch that electrified the crowd. Leaning backwards as the ball came, he still secured it cleanly — an early glimpse into the impact he could make this college football season. 

Vernell caught it 🎱

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB)

Pitt — Cataurus "Blue" Hicks

Wide receiver Cataurus "Blue" Hicks, a transfer from Louisville, made his presence felt in a big way for his first game with the Panthers. For his second touchdown of the day, he extended his left hand while running towards the end zone and secured the ball in stride, showcasing the playmaking ability that Pitt fans will be eager to see more of this season. 

ONE HANDED GRAB BY BLUE 😱

Second TD of the day for 3️⃣

📺

Pitt 34, Duquesne 6

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB)

Miami — Cj Daniels

LSU transfer wide receiver CJ Daniels hauled in an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a touchdown, pushing Miami’s lead to seven just before halftime. The grab not only extended the Hurricanes' advantage but also gave them a surge of momentum going into the locker room. 

CJ DANIELS WITH AN INSANE ONE-HANDED CATCH FOR THE MIAMI TD 😱

— TSN (@TSN_Sports)

If these opening highlights are any indication, fans can expect plenty more jaw-dropping catches as the season unfolds. From true freshmen making their first impressions, to transfers stepping into new roles, the stage is set for even more plays that will define games in the weeks ahead.
 

Week 1 of college football has already been thrilling — but wait, there's more!

The final game of Week 1 will be played Monday night as TCU visits North Carolina 8 p.m. ET. The game will be the first collegiately for new Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick, winner of six Super Bowls as the head coach of the New England Patriots. But he won't be the only star on the sidelines.

 that Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Lawrence Taylor, Julius Peppers, Eric Church, Chase Rice and Blake Snell will be some of the starpower on UNC's sideline tonight.

So in addition to Belichick's six Super Bowls, you'll have six NBA finals rings, two more Super Bowl rings, two World cup wins, two Olympic gold medals, 10 Grammy nominations and two Cy Youngs.

Loaded.

Good morning! Did you miss some late night college football? It was a Sunday after all.

Don't worry, we'll catch you up. 

Canes knock off the Irish in the renewed rivalry matchup

No. 10 Miami defeated No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 in a Sunday night thriller. The renewal of this historic rivalry certainly lived up to the hype. 

In his Miami debut, quarterback Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns, including this catch of the year candidate from CJ Daniels to close the half.

CJ. DANIELS.

Hey , you might want to take a look at this one 🤯🔥

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball)

But defensive lineman Reuben Bain Jr. may have stolen the show with his pivotal interception to give Miami the momentum they needed in the fourth. The Canes maintained control for most of the contest; however, when it came down to the wire, the game was tied 24-24 with 1:04 remaining on the clock. Miami found the edge when Carter Davis knocked a 47-yarder through the uprights to push the Canes ahead for the final time. 

Picked off by Rueben Bain and Hard Rock is jumpin' 🟠🟢

📺 ABC x

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball)

But wait, there's more. 

In the final game this holiday weekend, Bill Belichick makes his collegiate coaching debut when his North Carolina Tar Heels take on TCU at 8 p.m. ET on FBS 1. Click or tap here for the scoreboard.

 

What a way to finish the half!

LSU transfer WR CJ Daniels makes an acrobatic one-handed touchdown catch to give Miami a seven-point lead heading into the locker room.

LSU TRANSFER WR CJ DANIELS ONE-HANDED SNAG FOR THE MIAMI TD🤯

(via ABC)

— On3 (@On3sports)

It took a minute for the offenses to get going in this one, but the points are starting to roll in late in the first half.

Notre Dame redshirt freshman QB CJ Carr gets his first career TD in style, scrambling to avoid the sack and finding Micah Gilbert open in the end zone—also for HIS first career TD.

Carr makes it happen ☘️

1️⃣3️⃣➡️1️⃣4️⃣

📺 ABC ☘️ |

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball)

No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 10 Miami are gearing up for a major Week 1 top-10 showdown, renewing an old-school rivalry—with some new faces.

Notre Dame is coming off of a devastating loss to Ohio State in the 2025 CFP National Championship, while Miami looks to build off of last year's success, with a new face under center in Carson Beck.

It's all happening at 7:30 ET.

Here we go ☘️☘️

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball)

No. 13 South Carolina opens the season 1-0, beating Virginia Tech, 24-11, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Gamecocks' offense struggled to pull away in the first half, only taking a 10-8 lead into halftime, but the defense stood strong, holding the Hokies to just two early field goals—the other two points in the half came from a safety in the first quarter. VT never found the end zone, only adding another field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 11 points.

LaNorris Sellers and company really turned it on in the fourth quarter, spurred by an 80-yard punt return TD from Vicari Swain.

*caution: headphone users beware*

Vicari Swain with the 80 yard punt return and this place is ELECTRIC //

— Aflac Kickoff Game (@AflacKickoff)

Sellers was excellent in the win, starting the game with a physical first-drive rushing TD. He threw 12/19 for 209 yards and a 64-yard passing touchdown to track star WR Nyck Harbor:

TALK YOUR TALK!

— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB)

Next up on the docket tonight is a top-10 matchup between old-school rivals: No. 6 Notre Dame heads down south to face No. 10 Miami, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Fans are gearing up to see the Hurricanes step onto the field for the first time tonight, but the rain has been pouring down long before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium. Weather could be a big factor in tonight's top-10 matchup between No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 10 Miami.

It’s nasty out here at Hard Rock Stadium

— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4)

Virginia Tech hung around with No. 13 South Carolina in the first half. While the Hokies could not find the end zone, a safety and two field goals have kept them within two points of the Gamecocks heading into the locker room.

VT kicker John Love made one from 30 yards earlier in the half, and he nailed this 56-yarder at the end of the half:

A 56 YARD KICK?? JOHN. LOVE. THE MAN YOU ARE. is now tied for the longest field goal in Aflac Kickoff Game history (prev: Chic-Fil-A Kickoff Game), tied with Auburn (2016) |

— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB)

Long field goals are nothing new for Love, as he went 3-for-4 from 50+ yards last season including a 57-yarder against Miami and a 60-yarder vs. Minnesota in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.