Stock up, stock down from college football Week 1: Mike Norvell continues to fall
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As SMU took down Florida State on Monday night, the first full week of college football is now in the books. A few of the top-25 teams looked mortal, while underdogs proved to be tough.
Oregon struggled to beat Boise State, playmakers emerged, and there was more controversy surrounding college football.
Here’s whose stock is rising and whose stock has fallen.
MORE:Predicting AP Top 25 college football poll entering Week 2 of 2026 season
Stock up: WRs making their Heisman case
Football is a passing game and the majority of the time, the credit goes to the QB. But there are a few star WRs in college football this season, and both Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith made their Week 1 case be in the early conversations for the Heisman Trophy.
Toney set a Miami record in his Week 1 debut, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three TDs in the Canes’ 45-6 win over Stanford. Duke transfer Darian Mensah quickly found Toney and somehow, the Cardinal left him open for the entire night.
Then Jeremiah Smith had a first half to remember. The third-year WR caught eight passes for 151 yards and two TDs — all in the first half. Ohio State won that game 56-3 over Ball State.
Both Toney and Smith are going to be forces all year long.
Stock down: Mike Norvell’s case to remain FSU’s coach
Mike Norvell is probably on the biggest hot seat in college football, and Week 1 did nothing to cool that seat down. His Florida State Seminoles weren’t overly impressive in Week 0 against New Mexico State, and on Monday night, the Seminoles had every chance to upset No. 19 SMU.
The Mustangs turned the ball over four times, but FSU couldn’t capitalize. SMU gained 585 yards of total offense and kicked a late field goal to beat the Seminoles, 27-24.
Norvell’s team will now head to Alabama in Week 3. Good luck there.
Stock up: Lane Kiffin-Sam Leavitt marriage
It’s hard to argue that any team was more impressive than LSU on Saturday. The Tigers had to wait for a two-hour weather delay to take the field, but it didn’t matter.
Lane Kiffin’s debut was a success, and LSU beat down Clemson, 51-10. While Dabo Swinney is left speechless, Kiffin continues to talk and make headlines, but one headline that isn’t being discussed enough is his QB Sam Leavitt.
The Arizona State transfer was superb and fits Kiffin’s offense to perfection. He threw for 230 yards, one TD, and one INT. But he also ran for 113 yards and two TDs.
Stock down: Stadium clocks and lights
It’s not college football if there isn’t controversy and strange delays.
Clockgate struck Ann Arbor on Saturday night as it appeared Michigan was upset by Western Michigan. QB Bryce Underwood’s Hail Mary attempt soared through the end zone as time expired. But after review, one second was placed back on the clock, and Underwood’s next attempt was perfection. Michigan won the game.
Plenty of talk has escalated from that, and then on Monday night, the SMU-FSU game went old school. A power surge took the stadium lights out of Doak Campbell Stadium, and nearly two hours later, the game began.
But to start the game, there was no scoreboard, no PA, no ref communication and no iPads for the players. College football went way back in time in order for the Mustangs and Seminoles to play.
Stock up: Pitt’s choice at QB
Ahead of the 2025 season, Eli Holstein was expected to soar as Pitt’s QB. But he ended up getting benched in favor of then-freshman QB Mason Heintschel, who ended up throwing for 2,354 and 16 TDs as the starter.
And 2026 has proven the Panthers’ choice right. Not only is Holstein on the bench at Virginia, but Heintschel’s Week 1 performance might’ve gone unnoticed. Not only is Pitt not ranked, but it played Miami (Ohio). However, Heintschel had the most impressive performance of any QB this weekend.
He threw for 453 yards (75.6 completion percentage) and seven TDs in a 59-14 victory. If Heintschel continues to play at a high level, we will be talking about Pitt contending for the ACC this season.
Stock down: Bryce Underwood
Michigan and Bryce Underwood had a perfect start to the game on Saturday, going right down the field and scoring a TD against Western Michigan. But that was it.
Underwood appeared to regress from Year 1 to Year 2. He was back to throwing off his back foot, predetermining his target, and that led to more mistakes. Even his first Hail Mary attempt went out of the end zone, not giving his WRs a chance. That’s inexcusable.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham said Underwood is still Michigan’s QB — for now. But his play has to turn a corner and the Wolverines need to see improvement. Michigan hosts Oklahoma this weekend, and it’s a pivotal game for Underwood.
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