Finally, seven months after Super Bowl LX ended, the NFL has returned. But who will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium this upcoming Valentine’s Day?

As the 2026 NFL regular season kicks off with a rematch of Super Bowl LX on Wednesday, we made our predictions for who will play in and win Super Bowl LXI. The Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champs, but we aren’t too bullish on their chances of repeating. And we don’t think the New England Patriots will return to the Super Bowl this year, either.

So, which two teams will go head-to-head in Los Angeles in February? There was only one team that was picked to win the Super Bowl twice among the seven of us, while one of us also predicted that the Dallas Cowboys will return to glory this season.

Here are our full Super Bowl picks ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL season. 

Henry McKenna: 

  Rams Defeat Bengals

Looking at the rosters as they are now, it’s impossible to convince me that the Rams aren’t the most logical and simple selection. There is no team that’s more complete. There is no team that has a better and more proven head coach. Their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is top three. Their WR1, Puka Nacua, is top three. Their defensive line is No. 1. Their top pass rusher, Myles Garrett, is No. 1. And even looking past their superstars, there really isn’t a weakness on their depth chart. 

So while I love a few teams to surprise, including the Bengals (simply by getting to the Super Bowl), I can’t convince myself that there is any team more likely to win the Super Bowl than the Rams. They are the runaway favorites, more than any year I can remember since 2007; it’s not even close.

Score prediction: Rams 26, Bengals 20

Ralph Vacchiano:

  Broncos Defeat Bears

Ralph Vacchiano: Sean Payton is on a mission to put right what once went wrong, and it’s probably not best to stand in his way. He had the best team in the AFC last season and home-field advantage in the AFC Championship Game, and if he hadn’t lost quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle one week earlier, he almost certainly would’ve been coaching in his second Super Bowl. This year he has an even better team. If he can just have a little better luck and health, no one in the AFC will beat them. 

As for the Bears, their road will be loaded because they have to survive a bruising division and find a way past the loaded Rams and defending champion Seahawks. But the Seahawks aren’t what they used to be and the Rams have age and extensive travel issues to overcome. The Bears are a young up-and-comer in the NFC. Their team, and quarterback Caleb Williams in particular, also made a remarkable turnaround in Year 1 of the Ben Johnson Era. Now that they understand what he’s doing, Year 2 could be off the charts.

Score prediction: Broncos 31, Bears 24

Ben Arthur: 

  Texans Defeat Rams

With all due respect to the Seahawks, who allowed the fewest points in the NFL last season, the Texans have the best defense in the league. They’re the most feared, at least, with All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent on every level. It was a unit so good that it could’ve dragged Houston to the Super Bowl last year in spite of offensive inconsistencies, but C.J. Stroud’s disastrous, four-interception performance in the divisional round to the eventual AFC champion Patriots was too much to overcome. Stroud may never reach his rookie year heights again, but he should be at least an average starter this season (what he was for most of 2025, by the way) — with a stronger run game and plenty of motivation from his uncertain, long-term future.

A Texans team that stays on schedule offensively and maintains its dominance defensively can win the AFC and even take down the mighty Rams, who are as hyped as any team we’ve seen in NFL history. 

Score prediction: Texans 24, Rams 21

Steven Ruiz:

  Rams Defeat Bills

If you’re picking against the Rams, you’re betting on them not being at full strength by the time the playoffs roll around. Given the age or usage of some of their key players, it isn’t a bad bet. But on paper, Los Angeles has the league’s best roster, perhaps its best coach and the reigning MVP at quarterback. The Seahawks have enough to push the Rams even if they’re healthy — which is why I’m predicting another matchup between these teams in the NFC title game — but I can’t say the same for any other team in the league. 

The AFC is more difficult to predict. I’ll take the Bills, who have everything they need on offense and should improve defensively with new coordinator Jim Leonhard. They’ll beat Baltimore in a surprisingly low-scoring game to make their first Super Bowl in three decades, only to get blown out by the Rams two weeks later. 

Score prediction: Rams 38, Bills 17

Greg Auman: 

  Chargers Defeat Rams

The battle of Los Angeles! Both L.A. teams competing for a ring in their home stadium is maximum Los Angeles. The Rams have already won a championship there, but the Chargers have a chance to be the story of 2026, with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel getting Justin Herbert to places he’s never been before. 

The Rams will be the team to beat all season, so it won’t be easy to beat Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, but that’s what we’re calling. The Chargers will need to stay healthy in a way they couldn’t last year, but watch out for running back Omarion Hampton emerging behind a dominant offensive line.

Score prediction: Chargers 24, Rams 21

Eric D. Williams: 

  Seahawks Defeat Chiefs

The talk nationally all offseason has been about the super team the Rams have built this year. And the Seahawks use that disrespect as motivation to repeat as champions for the first time since the Chiefs accomplished that feat in 2023. 

Speaking of the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid rebound from a disappointing season last year to reach the Super Bowl together for the sixth time, but they come up short against Mike Macdonald’s aggressive defense.

Score prediction: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 24

Bucky Brooks: 

  Cowboys Defeat Texans

The Cowboys finally end their Super Bowl drought behind a dynamic offense and opportunistic defense. Dak Prescott caps off his MVP regular season with a spectacular performance that helps America’s Team secure the world title.

Score prediction: Cowboys 31, Texans 24

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The 2026 NFL season has just about arrived, which led to one team doing one last bit of business before the start of the regular season. 

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a massive contract extension on Tuesday. The deal will reportedly make Mayfield one of the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks as he was entering the final year of his current contract. 

Meanwhile, the Rams will be without Aaron Donald for their opener in Australia, and the Patriots will be missing a key piece of their backfield for Wednesday’s Super Bowl rematch. 

Here’s the latest from around the NFL on Tuesday.

Baker Mayfield’s summer-long standoff with the Buccaneers is finally resolved. Tampa Bay and its quarterback have agreed to a three-year extension worth $165 million, ending months of speculation about his future, according to an ESPN report. 

The $55 million annual average puts Mayfield in a three-way tie for the third-richest per-year salary at the position, behind only Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, and level with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, according to Spotrac.

It’s a dramatic rise for Mayfield, who signed a one-year, $4 million “prove-it” deal with Tampa Bay back in 2023 before inking a three-year, $100 million extension in 2024. Since taking over the post-Tom Brady era, he’s gone 27-24 as a starter with two playoff berths, highlighted by a 2024 season in which he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. 

Injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin took some shine off last season’s numbers, but with his long-term future now settled, the focus turns to unseating the Panthers atop the NFC South.

Aaron Donald won’t be making the trip to Melbourne. 

The Rams defensive tackle is officially ruled out for Thursday’s season-opening matchup against the 49ers, a decision that comes after he stayed noncommittal about his travel plans earlier in the week.

Donald came out of retirement last month to rejoin Los Angeles, a decision he’s tied partly to the team’s trade for edge rusher Myles Garrett, which further bolstered a line already featuring Kobie Turner and Byron Young. 

With Donald unavailable, Garrett will lead the Rams’ front against San Francisco.

Patrick Mahomes is back. 

Andy Reid confirmed Tuesday that the two-time MVP will start Kansas City’s opener against Denver on Monday, barring a setback, closing the book on his recovery from the ACL and LCL tears he suffered against the Chargers in Week 15.

The return caps a nearly nine-month absence for Mahomes, who saw the Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time in his career last season as the team stumbled to 6-11 without him. He’ll return to a retooled roster that includes new addition Kenneth Walker at running back, and immediately faces a loaded AFC West featuring Justin Herbert and Bo Nix. 

In 14 games last season, Mahomes completed 62.7% of his throws for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions — modest by his own standard, and now a benchmark he’ll look to clear as Kansas City tries to reclaim its division.

New England will be shorthanded in the backfield for Wednesday night’s Super Bowl LX rematch with Seattle. 

TreVeyon Henderson has been ruled out after missing all three practices this week with an ankle injury first suffered on Aug. 24. Center Ben Brown (knee) was also ruled out, and no other Patriots carry an injury designation heading into the game.

Henderson was a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after leading New England in scrimmage yards and touchdowns — 911 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry with nine scores, plus 35 catches for 221 yards and a touchdown — and he didn’t miss a game as a rookie, making this a rare setback in his young career. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, who took over lead-back duties late in New England’s playoff run last season, is expected to step back into that role as the Patriots open their season on the road against the team that beat them in the Super Bowl.

Injury News & Notes

• The Steelers reportedly made an offer to cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but both sides are not close to a deal at this point.
• Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots agreed to an extension that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to multiple reports.
• Veteran running back Tyler Allgeier is listed as the starting running back on the Cardinals’ unofficial depth chart ahead of first-round rookie Jeremiyah Love, who is slotted as RB2 as he continues his recovery from a preseason high ankle sprain

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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been included in very early hot-seat conversations this season, especially after his Tigers’ underwhelming finish in 2025.

Swinney finished 7-6 on the year, marking his worst finish as Clemson’s head coach since his 6-7 record in the 2010 season. After a 10-3 finish and an ACC championship win in 2024, Clemson struggled to build off its success in 2025. 

Entering its season opener at No. 11 LSU, which also marks LSU’s Lane Kiffin’s debut as head coach, Swinney looks to avoid a second consecutive 0-1 start to the season. If that’s the case, here’s a look at Swinney’s contract details and buyout options. 

How Much Is Swinney Making At Clemson?

Dabo Swinney enters his 20th year as Clemson’s head coach. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Swinney signed a 10-year, $115 million contract in September 2022, which has him entering his fifth year in his current contract. After the 2025 season, Swinney made 11.5 million, the highest of any coach in the ACC and fourth-highest in college football. 

How Much Is Swinney’s Buyout After This Season?

If Clemson decided to part ways with Swinney as head coach, without cause, the university would owe $57 million, which is down from the $60 million it would have owed him last season, according to the Greenville News and USA TODAY’s college football coaches salary database. And his buyout will remain at $57 million through the end of his current contract in 2031. 

On the other side, if Swinney leaves Clemson to take over at another program, he would owe the Tigers $3 million in 2026 or 2027, $2 million in 2028 or 2029 and $1 million in 2030, the Greenville News noted. 

However, the previously established “Alabama clause” is still very much in effect, dictating that Swinney would owe Clemson 150% more money if he left specifically for Alabama.

What Is Clemson’s Toughest 2026 Games And Schedule?

Clemson opens up the 2026 season on the road at No. 11 LSU. Additionally, Clemson will also host No. 7 and national champion runner-ups Miami on Saturday, Oct. 3. 

Clemson’s 2026 Schedule:

• Week 1: at No. 11 LSU (Sept. 5)
• Week 2: vs. Georgia Southern (Sept. 12)
• Week 3: vs. North Carolina (Sept. 19)
• Week 4: at Cal (Sept. 25)
• Week 5: vs. No. 7 Miami (Oct. 3)
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7: vs. Charleston Southern (Oct. 17)
• Week 8: vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 24)
• Week 9: at Florida State (Oct. 31)
• Week 10: at Syracuse (Nov. 7)
• Week 11: vs. Georgia Tech (Nov. 14)
• Week 12: at Duke (Nov. 20)
• Week 13: vs. South Carolina (Nov. 28)

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The Oregon Duck is an agent of chaos. The Oregon football team sometimes lives up to that moniker — although Saturday’s season-opening 34-27 win against Boise State offered less chaos and was more of a nail-biter — but we’re here to talk about the mascot itself. 

The Duck is an incredible mascot, complete with creative, fun and beyond weird entrances onto the football field. Over the years, the entrances have ranged from ziplining into the stadium to “Mission Impossible” music to dressing up like Michael Jordan and dunking (and destroying) a children’s basketball hoop. 

Amazing stuff. There is no mascot in college football quite like the Duck.

However, the Duck is also known to lose its head occasionally, whether it’s because it was trolling Deion Sanders too hard or, more recently, falling victim to a stampede of Oregon players running out on the field alongside it. 

Well, Saturday for No. 2 Oregon’s home game against Boise State, the Duck found a solution to keeping its head on while taking the field — whether that was the intention or not. 

Enter a cardboard Oregon Duck cutout, propped up by the actual Oregon Duck, before the Oregon Ducks kicked off the 2026 season. 

Here’s a look back at times the Duck lost its head during unforgettable game entrances:

Expect the Oregon Duck mascot’s next memorable home-game entrance no sooner than Friday, September 18, when the Ducks host Portland State. The team’s Week 2 matchup is on the road at Oklahoma State next weekend.

‘Fear Arch Manning’ USC a CFP sleeper, can Indiana repeat as National Champions, Notre Dame | FTF

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If Lane Kiffin is going to be college football’s villain, he might as well have the entrance to match. 

Ahead of his first game as LSU’s head coach, Kiffin walked the Tiger’s traditional “Tiger Walk” next to former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, comedian Theo Von and model Brooks Nader. 

Because … of course.

Kiffin, who is set to take over at LSU after the team’s underwhelming finish to the 2025 season, has spent the better part of the past year building his case as college football’s most entertaining villain.

First, he left Ole Miss amid a historic season that included the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance to accept the head coaching job at LSU. Kiffin was forced to miss the CFP as Ole Miss’ head coach, with Pete Golding elevated to lead the Rebels in his absence.

Then came the offseason.

Kiffin recruited multiple players who had spent time in NFL training camps this summer back to college football, adding another layer to his already considerable villain résumé.

The first-year LSU head coach was asked about all the outside noise surrounding his program on Saturday morning, ahead of his team’s season opener against Clemson.

“A lot of times to do great things, you’re going to be hated,” Kiffin said.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin recruited multiple players who had spent time in NFL training camps this summer back to college football. (Photo by Gus Stark/University Images via Getty Images}

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It was announced Friday night that former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris — both of whom had brief stints in the NFL — were not added to LSU’s roster, but the moves only added to the intrigue surrounding Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge.

Then came Saturday’s entrance.

Kiffin arrived at Tiger Stadium in a sharply tailored suit and sunglasses, shaking hands and waving to fans as he made his way inside the stadium.

Not exactly your average stadium walk.

But then again, there isn’t much about Lane Kiffin that’s average.

Since arriving in Baton Rouge, the Tigers’ head coach has compiled the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class, per 247Sports. He added star quarterback Sam Leavitt, Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, and Ole Miss defensive standouts TJ Dottery and Princewill Umanmielen. 

Kiffin also added former LSU coach Ed Orgeron, who led the Tigers to an undefeated 14-0 record and national title in 2019, to his staff. Orgeron will serve as special assistant to recruiting and defense.

Kiffin has spent years embracing the attention, and on Saturday, heading into his first game as LSU’s head coach in front of what should be a packed Tiger Stadium, he looked comfortable playing the part.

College football’s villain has officially arrived in Baton Rouge.

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Cavan Sullivan scored in a third straight match to become the first teenager with a goal contribution in five straight and the Philadelphia Union beat CF Montreal 2-0 on Saturday night to extend their unbeaten streak to eight.

The 16-year-old Sullivan added an insurance goal — unassisted in the 75th minute for his fourth netter of the campaign.

Neither team found the net until Danley Jean Jacques scored for the third time — unassisted in the 57th minute to give Philadelphia (7-10-6) the lead. The midfielder matched his career high set last season in 31 appearances.

Andre Blake had a save on a penalty kick by Prince Owusu to keep it 1-0 in the 68th minute. Blake made two saves to earn his fourth clean sheet this season and his 24th in 288 career starts with the Union.

Sebastian Breza saved six shots for Montreal (5-12-6). He had allowed one goal in each of his four starts this season.

The Union improve to 4-3-4 at home, while Montreal falls to 2-9-1 on the road.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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They say it never rains at Tiger Stadium.

They were wrong.

On an evening where a torrential downpour pushed kickoff back nearly 90 minutes, LSU showered Clemson with points over the course of 51-10 throttling to kick off the Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge.

“Imagine if we had pro players,” Kiffin quipped in his halftime interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe — a nod to LSU’s ongoing legal fight with the SEC and its attempt to add former NFL players to its roster.

Imagine, indeed.

Here’s how it all went down, along with my takeaways from LSU’s commanding season-opening win against Dabo Swinney’s struggling Clemson squad.

1. Forget Sam Leavitt’s Arm — His Legs Carried LSU To Victory

Quarterback Sam Leavitt had a standout season opener in LSU’s dominant win. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

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It feels like it’s been a decade since Sam Leavitt led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff. 

Two years and one transfer later, onlookers were reminded what makes Leavitt so dangerous — and why he might just be the perfect fit for Kiffin’s offense — as he dashed for a pair of first-half scores and carved up Tom Allen’s Clemson defense.

The former Sun Devils signal-caller was fleet of foot for a player coming off season-ending foot surgery that, even as he walked into the stadium on Saturday night, appeared as though it might still be hobbling him.

Leavitt finished the evening with 113 yards on 12 carries. But it was his acrobatic scampers of eight and 13 yards in the first half that pushed LSU’s lead at the break up to 28 points and put the hopes of any kind of Clemson Magic being stirred up on the bayou to bed.

LSU will see stiffer competition than the Clemson squad it saw on Saturday night — we’ll get there in a second — but the way the Tigers ran the ball (309 yards on 58 carries) and, especially via their new starting quarterback, provide this offense with a dynamic we may have underrated coming into the campaign.

2. LSU’s Legal Clash With The SEC Lingered Over This Game

Let’s take a moment to discuss who didn’t play on Saturday evening.

In a week when football kicked off in earnest across the country, the most compelling storyline in the enterprise played out in a Baton Rouge courtroom.

LSU has been fighting its own conference over the last three weeks in an effort to bring back a handful of players — including Ole Miss transfers Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris — who had signed with NFL teams.

Lane Kiffin is living up to his reputation as a coach who pushes the limits. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

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LSU’s persistence in pressing the matter drew its share of ire from around the college football and political world, including barbs from attorneys general in Oklahoma, South Carolina and Mississippi — who each shared messages backing the SEC in its efforts to enforce its own rules.

The proceedings came to a head on Thursday as a hearing was held just a few miles from Tiger Stadium and where Judge William Jordan sided with LSU and paved the way for Kiffin’s crew to add Wright and Harris to the roster.

But rather than move forward with adding Wright and Harris and risk a slew of severe penalties from the SEC — which included suspending Kiffin for half the season, a fine that equaled 50% of the program’s annual budget, or even the threat of being kicked out of the league — the Tigers brass stood down.

Dae’Quan Wright warms up prior to the Cleveland Browns’ preseason game against the Buffalo Bills in August. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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“LSU has made a measured decision to keep these two young men off the roster for now while preserving a path for them to be added later,” plaintiff attorney Ryan Downton told me in a statement on Saturday morning. “Everyone should use that space to lower the temperature and look at the facts.”

To Downton’s point, there is still a world where LSU does add Wright and Harris, among others, to its roster down the line.

The SEC, too, filed a suit in federal court that leaked, coincidentally, while conference commissioner Greg Sankey was on the stand in Baton Rouge. Will the suit proceed? Or will LSU move forward with adding a pair of NFL cuts?

Stay tuned.

3. Lane Kiffin’s Offense Isn’t The Only Strength In Baton Rouge

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks celebrates with his teammates during the Tigers’ win vs. Clemson. (Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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LSU’s offense might move at warp speed, but the Tigers defense set the tone on Saturday night.

They barely gave an inch — 40 yards, to be precise — over the game’s first 17 minutes, capped off by defensive end Jordan Ross leaping in front of Clemson quarterback Christian Vizzina’s first-quarter pass and dashing to pay dirt. A 30-yard pick-six at the end of the first quarter to be exact.

Clemson looked completely overwhelmed throughout the early stages of Saturday’s proceedings as the LSU front swarmed Vizzina in just his second start in four years at Clemson — albeit it was no better when he was replaced by freshman Tait Reynolds. 

Purple and white pass-rushers Ross and Princewill Umanmielen were as persistent a presence in the backfield as Vizzina and Reynolds themselves, combining for seven tackles, 2.5 for a loss and two hurries in the first half alone.

Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker was among the few holdovers from Brian Kelly’s staff and spurned heavy interest from Tulane for its head coaching job to return to LSU. Keeping Baker around sure looks apt on Kiffin’s part after at least one game.

4. Clemson Is Running Out Of Answers

Dabo Swinney during his team’s lopsided loss to LSU in Week 1. (Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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And so we’re here, again. Already.

It’s hard to completely overreact to Saturday night’s shellacking in Death Valley — it’s a long season after all — but Dabo Swinney may squarely be on the clock.

These are bizarre times in the Upstate.

Swinney’s resume is genuinely glimmering. Two national titles. Four championship game appearances. Nine ACC titles. Thirteen (!!) 10-win seasons. Hall of Fame stuff.

The more uncomfortable reality is what should we really expect under Clemson and Swinney in 2026 and beyond?

The Tigers have been stubbornly slow at adapting to modern roster-building. The hiring of Garrett Riley and the return of Chad Morris also haven’t exactly been boons for a Clemson offense that has been largely listless since Trevor Lawrence was rushing past Howard’s Rock (In fairness, we’re only one game into the Morris experience Part II).

Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina after being sacked by LSU during the first half. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

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Clemson isn’t close to being a national title contender. That much was abundantly clear during Saturday night’s throttling under the lights in Baton Rouge. But, given the way the Tigers looked for the bulk of the night, are we sure they’re even an ACC or bowl game contender?

Breakups are painful. They’re even messier when they involve a coach who, frankly, deserves a statue outside Memorial Stadium. But it’s nights like Saturday that make the uncomfortable questions about Swinney and the future of this program increasingly prescient.

Perhaps the Tigers lick their wounds and rip through the rest of their schedule.

I’m not holding my breath.

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Every college football season produces a moment that, years from now, will make people look at one another and say, “I remember where I was when that happened.”

For Kyle Whittingham, Bryce Underwood and Michigan football fans everywhere, that moment came Saturday night at the Big House.

The Wolverines trailed in-state foe Western Michigan, 12-7, with one second remaining on the clock. Their season opener, one in which they entered as 27.5-point favorites, was slipping away.

Underwood, Michigan’s highly touted sophomore quarterback, took the snap at midfield and rolled left. He backpedaled, bought himself a moment and heaved a Hail Mary pass into the outstretched arms of wide receiver JJ Buchanan to lift the Wolverines to an unfathomable 13-12 victory over the Broncos.

But should the play have even been allowed to take place?

That is the question that will undoubtedly be on the minds of Western Michigan coaches and players after Underwood’s first Hail Mary attempt sailed out of bounds as the clock hit zero.

Western Michigan players had already begun celebrating what they believed to be a historic victory. Then the officials went to review the play.

TV replays appeared to show the clock reaching zero before the ball touched the hands of a Western Michigan defender. But after the review, the officials ruled that one second remained.

The Big Ten Conference released a statement explaining the decision, saying that “following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s No. 18 started his jump from an established out of bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock.”

The Mid-American Conference and Western Michigan contacted the Big Ten office to seek clarification regarding the replay video and the placement of one second back on the game clock.

MAC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said the Big Ten explained that “the ball touched a player who was out of bounds before the clock reached 0:00, resulting in one additional play.”

That one additional play changed everything.

“The extra second was huge,” Whittingham said in his postgame news conference. “As I watched the first Hail Mary and the ball sailed out of the back of the end zone, as I glanced at the clock, I was pretty sure there was one second left. But that obviously is not up to me.”

And so Underwood did it again. This time, his Hail Mary found Buchanan, sending the Big House into bedlam and lifting the Wolverines to a victory that, for several minutes, had seemed impossible.

Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted the Wolverines to a win over Western Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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“This game will go down in Michigan history,” Whittingham said. “I don’t know if it’s in a positive way, but it will go down in history for certain.”

For most of Saturday night, it looked as if Michigan was headed toward the wrong kind of history.

Underwood started the game strong, leading the Wolverines on an 11-play, 75-yard opening drive that ended with his 1-yard touchdown run. But Lance Taylor’s Western Michigan team refused to give up. The defending MAC champions kicked four field goals and forced three turnovers, including a costly fourth-quarter fumble by Underwood.

The Broncos took their first lead early in the fourth quarter and remained composed until the final whistle, threatening to hand Michigan its most stunning upset loss since Appalachian State walked out of the Big House with a victory in 2007.

Instead, Michigan got one second. And a miracle to follow.

Somewhere from Ann Arbor to college campuses across the country, plenty of people now have a story that begins the same way: 

“I remember where I was when I saw it.”

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Why are we wasting time? 

Let’s dive into my best bets for Week 1 of the college football season.

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You will hear the stats all week, that Georgia coach Kirby Smart never covers these big spreads as a favorite. Smart is 0-15 against the spread in his career when favored by 38 or more points. 

Well, all things come to an end at some point, and this might be the time Smart and Georgia break that streak. 

Tennessee State will be overmatched to the point where Georgia might very well cover this number without even trying to do so. Tennessee State lost convincingly last year to the likes of UT Martin (by 19), Lindenwood (by 22) and Gardner Webb (by 16). 

I like Georgia to finally end the run of failing to cover huge spreads.

Hill’s Pick: Georgia -46.5

Another trend you will hear plenty of this week is Louisville coach Jeff Brohm’s prolific track record in his career as an underdog. 

This one I’m buying into. 

Louisville has a new quarterback in Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz, an athletic runner who will give Ole Miss plenty to think about when trying to also defend Louisville running back Isaac Brown. Brown rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2024, and was on pace to surpass that mark last year before injuries derailed his 2025 season. 

Brown is back and healthy, and with all spring and summer to prepare, I will back Brohm, who is 27-15 in his career as an underdog. 

Hill’s Pick: Louisville +7

Historic Lambeau Field hosts this Sunday night battle, as Notre Dame enters the season opener with high hopes and a loaded roster. 

With future NFL players all over the field on both sides of the ball, I expect the Notre Dame defense to dominate and stifle what is a limited Wisconsin offense. With their sights setting on getting back to the College Football Playoff, look for Notre Dame to get a big lead then milk the clock in a game that stays under the total. 

Hill’s Pick: Under 47.5 Combined Points Scored

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Luke Fickell jumped out of the Cincinnati frying pan straight into the Big Ten fire, and the Wisconsin Badgers are the ones who have been burned. 

Rather than elevating the program as promised, Fickell has stumbled to a 17–21 start with the Badgers. With back-to-back losing seasons, the program has hit a low point it hasn’t seen since Barry Alvarez’s team in 2001.

For 22 straight seasons, Wisconsin football was defined by winning records, Big Ten titles, and annual bowl trips. 

NIL may have reshaped college football, but that’s no excuse to abandon Wisconsin’s football identity. Fickell’s transition hasn’t just been rocky; back-to-back losing seasons mark a drought the program hasn’t experienced since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

(Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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This is the current state of Wisconsin football under Fickell. Given the sheer lack of results, his seat is scorching hot heading into a make-or-break season for the Badgers. 

An expanded roster budget only amplifies the pressure on Fickell and his coaching staff to show clear progress. If not, this could be his final season in Madison. 

With new athletics director Shawn Eichorst now at the helm, moving on from Fickell is financially far less complicated than it was a year ago.

What Is Luke Fickell’s 2026 Salary?

Fickell is under contract through 2032 and set to make $7.8 million this season, ranking him in the top 25 nationally, according to USA TODAY’s college football coaches salary database. But sitting right in the middle of the Big Ten salary stack is a far cry from his actual on-field production.

How Much Is Fickell’s Buyout After This Season?

According to reporting from The Athletic, Fickell’s buyout drops to $19.2 million after this season. While that remains a steep price for Eichorst to navigate, it is a manageable hit for a program of Wisconsin’s size if Fickell fails to turn things around in Madison.

Can Fickell Earn Any Bonuses This Season?

(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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If Fickell can turn things around in Madison, he stands to benefit financially. According to USA TODAY’s college football coaches salary database, he can earn up to $1.45 million in incentives if Wisconsin qualifies for the College Football Playoff and makes a deep postseason run.

Who Are Wisconsin Coaching Replacement Options?

If Wisconsin decides to fire Fickell at some point, it won’t have to look far for replacements. Plenty of realistic options have deep ties to Madison, including three current FBS head coaches who would be natural fits for the program.

At the top of the list is former Badger Jason Eck. After leaving his mark at Idaho, he took over last season at New Mexico and immediately put together a 9-4 record, nearly pushing the Lobos into the Mountain West conference championship game.

Should Eck continue his winning ways at New Mexico, he could be a natural target for the Badgers. A La Crosse native, Eck played offensive line for Wisconsin under Alvarez from 1995 to 1998 before starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the program in 1999.

Dickert might be comfortable with the Demon Deacons, but the Badgers could be intriguing enough to lure him away from the ACC. Coming off an impressive 9-4 first season, Dickert’s stock continues to rise. 

Not only does Dickert have the coaching resume to support a move to the Big Ten, but his deep roots in the state are hard to ignore. Having grown up in Oconto, Wisconsin, and played college football at UW-Stevens Point, local recruiting won’t be an issue.

After leaving Washington State for Wake Forest, speculation quickly began about when Dickert might make another jump toward the Big Ten or even the SEC. He has overachieved at every stop and if Wisconsin wants to take a chance, he could be a natural fit.

With North Dakota State officially making the leap to the Mountain West after two decades of dominating the FCS, the Bison are finally in the FBS. Head coach Tim Polasek has the program primed to prove it belongs from day one.

Polasek has posted a 27-3 record with the Bison since taking over from Matt Entz, capped by an FCS national championship in his very first season. If Wisconsin ever wanted to take an untraditional route and look for a hidden gem, landing a native Badger state product like Polasek could make a lot of sense.

It also helps that Polasek also has deep Wisconsin ties.

He grew up in Iola, Wisconsin and played quarterback for Concordia University Wisconsin, and coached at Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 2003 to 2005. If he were to ever leave the Bison, an opportunity in Madison could be hard to pass up.

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