By Tiffany Williams –
Florida State wasted no time making a statement in Week 1, toppling No. 8 Alabama 31–17 on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos set the tone in his Seminole debut, throwing for 152 yards on just 14 attempts while rushing for a team-high 78 yards and a score. Micahi Danzy added 56 rushing yards and a touchdown, and FSU piled up 230 yards on the ground as part of 382 total. The defense suffocated Alabama’s run game, holding the Tide to only 87 rushing yards — their fewest in an opener since 1975 — and made the key stops late. After Alabama cut it to 24–17 early in the fourth, Florida State answered immediately with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Gavin Sawchuk’s touchdown run to seal it. The loss snapped Alabama’s 23-game streak in season openers and marked its first regular-season non-conference road loss since 2003.
Fifth-ranked Georgia rolled to a 45–7 win over Marshall in Athens, extending the nation’s longest active home win streak to 32 games. Gunner Stockton did it all, throwing for 190 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 73 and two more scores. Georgia’s defense overwhelmed the Herd, holding them to just seven first downs and 207 total yards while forcing a blocked punt in the first half. Freshman transfer Zachariah Branch added fireworks, hauling in a 47-yard touchdown on a quick screen. Kirby Smart improved to 10–0 in season openers with Georgia, which hasn’t lost a home game since 2019.
In Fayetteville, Arkansas opened with a 52–7 rout of Alabama A&M behind Taylen Green’s six-touchdown performance. The transfer quarterback threw for 322 yards on 24-of-31 passing while distributing scores to five different receivers. After A&M answered the Razorbacks’ first touchdown with one of their own, Arkansas pulled away with 45 unanswered points. The Bulldogs managed just 235 total yards in Sam Shade’s head coaching debut, while Arkansas racked up 552.
Ole Miss showed off its offensive firepower in a 63–7 dismantling of Georgia State. The Rebels piled up points in bunches while the Panthers’ lone highlight came on a second-quarter touchdown pass to Javon Robinson. Despite forcing two turnovers, Georgia State couldn’t slow Ole Miss and converted only 2-of-15 third downs.
Georgetown got off to a flying start at Davidson, riding three first-quarter touchdowns from Savion Hart to a 51–14 win. Hart finished with 201 all-purpose yards, including a 69-yard run and 79-yard catch. The Hoyas’ quarterbacks, Danny Lauter and Dez Thomas, combined for over 250 passing yards, while the defense contributed four sacks and an interception.
William & Mary let a fourth-quarter lead slip away at Furman, falling 23–21. Tyler Hughes threw for 208 yards and a score while adding a rushing touchdown, and the Tribe outgained the Paladins 352–237. But Furman kicker Ian Williams proved the difference, drilling field goals from 52, 42, and 32 yards, the last with 2:43 left to steal the opener.
West Virginia handled Robert Morris 45–3 in Morgantown behind Nicco Marchiol’s steady play and a dominant ground attack that piled up second-half touchdowns. Jahiem White scored twice on the ground, while the Mountaineers capped things off with long runs by Cyncir Bowers and Scotty Fox Jr. RMU’s lone points came on a second-quarter field goal.
Sacred Heart christened its renovated Campus Field with a gritty 12–7 win over Stonehill. Chuck Webb led the way with 83 rushing yards and the game’s only offensive touchdown, while the defense delivered a safety and multiple red zone stops. Stonehill had a late chance but was denied on fourth down in the closing minutes.
Sports Insider Daily 