North Carolina vs. TCU
Summary
The marquee game for the Week Zero College Football slate was North Carolina vs. Texas Christian (TCU). It wasn’t a particularly exciting matchup and the North Carolina Tar Heels walked away with an odd +5 win.
Major Stat Lines
Both teams scored ten points in the first quarter. TCU didn’t find a way to put up points for the rest of the game but North Carolina notched a safety in the second quarter and a field goal in the third quarter to seal the deal. In terms of the Power 4 universe Bill Belichick and company helped the ACC gain the initial edge with a win over the Big 12.
North Carolina had the edge in terms of total and passing yards, +41 and +57, respectively. TCU beat out North Carolina with yards earned on the ground, 106 yards to 90 yards. Penalties were a major sore spot for the Horned Frogs. They had 11 penalties compared with three for North Carolina. That translated up to 89 penalty yards enforced against TCU and 20 yards against North Carolina.
| North Carolina | TCU | |
| Total Yards | 322 | 281 |
| Passing Yards | 232 | 175 |
| Rushing Yards | 90 | 106 |
Impact Players
TCU’s standout player was junior running back Jeremy Payne. Payne finished the game with 142 rushing yards and averaged 5.7 yards per touch.
North Carolina’s standout player was junior tight end Jelani Thurman. He finished the game with four catches for 94 yards.
North Carolina State vs. Virginia
Summary
The ACC had a Week Zero in-conference matchup between North Carolina State and Virginia. It was a rout and Virginia walked out of its home stadium in Charlottesville with a +26 victory. The Cavaliers scored in every quarter of the game while North Carolina State was only able to put up eight points (off a touchdown and 2-point conversion) during the third quarter.
Major Stat Lines
Virginia outearned North Carolina State by +245 yards in total. Most of that came on the ground. Virginia tallied up 258 rushing yards compared with North Carolina State’s 76 rushing yards. The passing yard deficit was less pronounced for North Carolina State but they only completed 52% of their 12 pass attempts compared with Virginia’s 81% accuracy rate on nine attempts.
| North Carolina State | Virginia | |
| Total Yards | 168 | 413 |
| Passing Yards | 92 | 155 |
| Rushing Yards | 76 | 258 |
Impact Players
Virgina’s senior quarterback kicked off the 2026-27 season with an outstanding performance. Beau Pribula passed for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 110 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry.
San Jose State vs. USC
Summary
The Big Ten’s USC faced off against San Jose State during Week Zero. The Trojans logged their first win of the season with a +46 differential. USC scored 28 points in the first half and scored one touchdown apiece in the third and fourth quarters. San Jose State scored for the first time, a field goal, in the third quarter and then racked up 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Major Stat Lines
| San Jose State | USC | |
| Total Yards | 336 | 505 |
| Passing Yards | 234 | 341 |
| Rushing Yards | 102 | 164 |
Impact Players
USC’s senior quarterback, Jayden Maiava, finished the game with 286 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. The Trojans had a freshman receiver, Trent Mosley, who put on an standout performance to kick off the 2026-27 season. Mosley logged seven catches for 118 yards and one touchdown.
Hawaii vs. Stanford
Summary
Stanford walked away from Week Zero with a +10 win over Hawaii. The game’s first three quarters were relatively quiet for both teams. Hawaii scored seven points in the second quarter and Stanford put up 23 points across the first three quarters. Hawaii logged 20 points in the fourth quarter, while Stanford tallied up 14 point to stay ahead.
Major Stat Lines
The Cardinal had a +161 total yard advantage, with a lot concentrated on the rushing side of things. Stanford finished the game with 173 yards, compared with 46 yards by Hawaii.
| Hawaii | Stanford | |
| Total Yards | 322 | 483 |
| Passing Yards | 276 | 310 |
| Rushing Yards | 46 | 173 |
Impact Players
Stanford’s senior quarterback, Davis Warren, closed out Week Zero with 310 yards through the air and one passing touchdown. Cardinal running back Micah Ford tallied up 99 yads, averaged 4 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns.
Florida State vs. New Mexico State
Summary
Florida State finished Week Zero of the 2026-27 season with a +17 victory over New Mexico State.
Major Stat Lines
Florida State had the +100 total yards advantage and was +170 in terms of rushing yards.
| Florida State | New Mexico State | |
| Total Yards | 419 | 319 |
| Passing Yards | 202 | 272 |
| Rushing Yards | 217 | 47 |
Impact Players
The Seminole’s senior quarterback, Ashton Daniels, finished the game with 202 passing yards along with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown. Florida State’s sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah had a standout season opener. Kromah tallied up 115 yards on the ground, averaged 8.2 yards per touch and logged one rushing touchdown.
Alabama State vs. Southern
Summary
The 2026-27 CFB season got kicked off with an in-conference SWAC matchup in Week Zero. Alabama State and Southern faced off in Birmingham, with Alabama State claiming a +13 victory. Southern outscored their opponent7-3 in the game’s first quarter and both teams put up ten points in the second quarter. But Alabama State shout out Southern in the second half while also tacking up 17 points.
Major Stat Lines
Alabama State only had the total yardage edge by +16. They edged out Southern 192-174 in rushing yards but had a -2 yard deficit through the air.
| Alabama State | Southern | |
| Total Yards | 351 | 335 |
| Passing Yards | 192 | 174 |
| Rushing Yards | 159 | 161 |
Impact Players
The Hornet’s senior quarterback, Andrew Brody finished the game with 192 passing yards and one passing touchdown. The Jaguars’’ junior quarterback, Christian Johnson, closed out the eek Zero opener with 174 passing yards and one thrown interception. Johnson also logged 81 rushing yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry and one touchdown on the ground.
Young receivers on both squads had standout performances to begin the season. Alabama State sophomore Randall King finished with four catches for 77 yards and one receiving touchdown. Southern freshman Daejawn Smith walked away with four catches for 76 yards.
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