Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts after an LSU touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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Lane Kiffin noted after his LSU Tigers embarrassed Clemson, 51-10, that he “didn’t expect their offense to be that dysfunctional.” Such commentary may be coming from college football’s most dysfunctional coach, but the truth during the Week 1 clash was that the Tigers from Clemson were a mess.
While a run of 12 straight seasons (2011-22) with 10-plus wins that included a pair of national titles was most impressive, the Tigers head into their Week 2 matchup against visiting Georgia Southern having lost eight of their 15 games against FBS opponents. Remarkably, Clemson has scored less than 28 points in seven of its last eight home games against FBS teams. The exception was when the Tigers put up 45 points against Duke last November 1….and lost!
To Kiffin’s point Saturday night, Clemson had all of eight first downs, converted one of 13 third-down opportunities and were outgained by an incredible 499 yards. (For the record, in last year’s 17-10 season-opening defeat against Brian Kelly’s LSU squad, Clemson was only 3-for-13 on third downs.)
Dabo Swinney’s Tigers have been leaking oil for a while, and some might argue since an Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee at the end of an 11-win season in 2022. Clemson has unquestionably had some nice wins since, including against No. 12 Notre Dame to jumpstart a strong finish to a 2023 season that had appeared lost. There also have been some damning defeats. In fact, in their last four season-opening games, all losses, the Tigers have been outscored by LSU (twice), Georgia and Duke to the tune of 130-30! You read that correctly.
Following the humiliation in Baton Rouge, Swinney said that he was not sure who his quarterback will be against visiting Georgia Southern on Saturday. To think we are only headed into the season’s second full week of action.
Here is a look at three other power conference teams that came up small in Week 1.
Michigan’s Millisecond
Kyle Whittingham’s debut in Ann Arbor left much to be desired. A last-millisecond Hail Mary was answered, though did not mask the ugliness of the Wolverines’ performance in a 13-12 win over Western Michigan. The Broncos returned to Kalamazoo disappointed, though holding their heads high following quite an effort in the Big House. WMU also collected $1.5 million.
The maize and blue had more turnovers (3) than touchdowns (2), were penalized nine times and totaled all of 276 yards. The defense, while yielding only four field goals, allowed WMU to chew up 13:40 on a 20-play drive that resulted in a go-ahead fourth-quarter field goal. First-year DC Jay Hill’s unit did not register a takeaway.
“We’ve got plenty to fix,” said Whittingham, whose team was No. 16 in the preseason AP poll, during his Monday presser. “We have no shortage of things to accomplish this week.”
Preseason No. 10 Oklahoma visits the Big House on Saturday. It will be Whittingham’s first game against the Sooners as a head coach.
Oklahoma State’s losing streaks
This had a “more things change, more they stay the same” appearance to it. Eric Morris’ debut on the Oklahoma State sideline seemed to be a carryover from the mess of the last two years under Mike Gundy. A 24-10 loss at Tulsa with a roster loaded with North Texas transfers, including American Conference standouts at the glamour positions, has saddled the Pokes with nation’s longest losing streak (thanks to Rutgers) at 12. It is also two straight setbacks against the Golden Hurricane after having won 10 straight.
While the Golden Hurricane was far from stellar in committing nine penalties for 102 yards and going 1-for-11 on third down, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker turned the ball over three times (2 INTs) and averaged a paltry 4.9 yards per pass attempt. Such numbers were a far cry from what he posted as a redshirt freshman at UNT last season when he led the nation in passing yards per game (313) and yards per attempt (9.4) while placing fourth in efficiency. By no means was the Cowboys’ ineffectiveness entirely on him, of course. In fact, the defense did not once take down Tulsa quarterback Baylor Haines.
By the way, the combination of the loss at Tulsa and what happened in Jersey (below) last Thursday also give Oklahoma State the nation’s longest losing streak against FBS opponents at 21 games. The Cowboys’ last such win? At Tulsa in 2024.
Oregon visits Stillwater on Saturday.
Rutgers at bottom of Raritan
The was no Hail Mary finish in Piscataway last Thursday evening, though plenty of Hail Mary’s have likely been recited since what was as dismal a performance as any veteran RU fan might have seen. That it saying something given the many laughable outcomes prior to Greg Schiano’s first stint “On the Banks of the Old Raritan.” At least most of those were expected.
What took place against UMass was difficult to put into words, though more than a few of choice made the rounds on various social media platforms. How could they not? Such was the extent of a 37-21 loss to a program coached by former Rutgers defensive coordinator, Joe Harasymiak. The Minutemen scored 30 straight points after falling behind 7-0 and snapped a 16-game losing streak that dated to a 2024 win over Wagner. They also snapped a 23-game skid versus FBS teams with the previous such victory at Army in October 2023.
Rutgers turned the ball over four times, the quarterbacks were sacked five times, and the ground game did not produce a run of more than five yards. And UMass took home $1.55 million. Speaking of money, should Schiano be let go at the conclusion of this season he would be owed $18.5 million.
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