Southwest Times Record

Sept. 9, 2026, 6:30 a.m. CT Florida running back Duke Clark scored two touchdowns in the season opener after an injury-shortened freshman year. Clark praised offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner's demanding but effective offensive scheme. The versatile player added 13 pounds of muscle during the offseason and now weighs 208 pounds. Clark's nickname, "Duke," was given to him by his late grandmother.

Sept. 9, 2026, 6:30 a.m. CT The best part of the fall is almost here, bringing in rookies, underdogs, defending Super Bowl champs and even a few furry teammates to the big screens. The 2026 NFL season kicks off Sept. 9 as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots take center stage at Lumen Field for a rematch of Super Bowl LX.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are one of four SEC teams hitting the road for Week 2 of the 2026 college football season, but they're the only one that will be facing a fellow conference opponent. Alabama (1-0), ranked No. 12 in this week's US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 poll, visits the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field Saturday. Kentucky (1-0) is unranked. Year 3 of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa began with a 48-10 win over East Carolina last Saturday.

Kanye Clark, a UCLA transfer, reflected on his Florida Gators debut in the season-opening win against Florida Atlantic. Clark noted that FAU's fast-paced offense presented challenges with tempo and communication in the loud stadium. He credited the team's offseason conditioning program for helping them handle the high number of plays. Clark highlighted DJ Coleman's veteran leadership and key plays as a major benefit to the defense.

Sept. 9, 2026, 5:07 a.m. CT No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) will play its first road game of the 2026 football season in Week 2. The Vols will travel to Georgia Tech (0-1) on Saturday. Kickoff between the Vols and Yellow Jackets is slated for 7 p.m. EDT at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. ESPN will televise the contest between the two former SEC rivals. Saturday's meeting will mark the 44th meeting in the all-time series. Tennessee has a 25-17-2 record against Georgia Tech.

Ross Reily Mississippi Clarion Ledger Sept. 9, 2026, 4:31 a.m. CT Tickets for the upcoming Ole Miss vs. LSU football game are reaching record-high prices on resale markets. The lowest-priced tickets on sites like StubHub and SeatGeek are starting above $500, with premium seats costing over $1,000. These prices are significantly higher than those for recent major games, including a 2025 College Football Playoff match.

The 2026 college football season enters Week 2. ESPN's College Football Power Index was updated after Week 1. No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) won its season opener, 56-9, over Furman (1-1) at Neyland Stadium. The Vols will travel to Georgia Tech (0-1) in Week 2 (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN). Following Week 1, Tennessee is down two spots to No. 18 overall in ESPN's FPI rankings. The Vols are projected to finish their regular season with a 7.1-4.9 record after a 7.3-4.7 preseason record projection.

Sept. 9, 2026, 4:13 a.m. CT The season is barely underway, but it's already time to sound the alarm. College football's annual hunt for frauds has begun. Coaches spent the offseason insisting their teams were tighter, tougher and better than ever. Then the ball was kicked off, and reality arrived. Just one game into a 12-game marathon, some teams look every bit the contender they claimed to be. Others have already raised suspicions. HAYES: LSU must take its SEC punishment.

Week 1 of the college football season always is a reminder of how little we know after months of studying player movement and the strength of teams in the race for the College Football Playoff. Oregon looked like one of the best teams in the country before the first ball was kicked. The Ducks struggled to beat Boise State. LSU was thought to be behind the upper echelon of the SEC. The Tigers went out and dominated Clemson in one of the best performances of the weekend.

The most anticipated game of Week 2 is No. 1 Ohio State visiting No. 3 Texas. No. 24 Michigan will host No. 10 Oklahoma as questions surround the Wolverines' quarterback. The reignited Border War between No. 23 Missouri and Kansas is a crucial game for the Big 12. All eyes will be on Austin. No. 3 Texas will host No. 1 Ohio State in what should be the most impactful non-conference game of the season, just like last year’s 14-7 win by the Buckeyes.