The first regular-season Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, due Monday, could see significant changes after a dramatic opening weekend. No. 2 Oregon won a closer-than-expected game against Boise State, No. 11 LSU routed Clemson, and No. 16 Michigan edged Western Michigan 13-12 after one second was restored to the clock. How the 69-member voting panel of writers and broadcasters assesses these results remains to be seen.

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham and Purdue coach Barry Odom acknowledged Monday they were unaware that the stadium clock visible during Michigan's wild win over Western Michigan on Saturday might not reflect the official game time. The two veteran Big Ten coaches said they were surprised to learn of a possible discrepancy between the clock shown in the stadium and on television and the official timekeeping, raising questions about clock management in college football.

Based on the first regular-season Associated Press Top 25 poll released Tuesday, Mississippi would visit LSU in a first-round College Football Playoff matchup, a game that would pit LSU head coach Lane Kiffin against his former program. Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas would be the top four seeds, while Indiana, Oregon, Miami and LSU would host first-round games. The five highest-ranked conference champions would also factor into the bracket.

High school quarterbacks face a shifting landscape as transfers increasingly fill starting jobs at top college football programs, according to the Associated Press. The report highlights Wisconsin quarterback Ryan Hopkins, a former three-star recruit from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California, who said he felt at home visiting Madison despite being nearly 2,000 miles from where he grew up. His recruitment illustrates the complications prospects now confront as transfer players dominate premier positions.

Frances Tiafoe embraced fellow American Alex Michelsen after defeating him in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in New York. According to the Associated Press, Tiafoe held the 22-year-old in a long hug as Michelsen sobbed into his shoulder following the loss, with Tiafoe saying he really likes his younger opponent. The moment of sportsmanship between the two Americans followed what was described as a crushing defeat for Michelsen.

The Atlanta Falcons have named Tua Tagovailoa their starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Monday. According to the Associated Press, the decision follows a monthslong competition between Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., who started nine games for Atlanta in 2025 before a season-ending torn ACL in November. Penix will be inactive for the matchup. Coach Kevin Stefanski oversaw the quarterback battle during the preseason, which included a game in Miami Gardens, Florida.