College and professional football seasons begin with major upsets and dense schedules

The start of the American football season has brought significant results in college football and a dense upcoming schedule for both collegiate and professional leagues.

In Week 1 of college football, No. 1 Ohio State secured a dominant 56-3 victory over Ball State, highlighted by performances from Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. In a major upset, underdog UMass defeated Rutgers, ending a 16-game losing streak. Other notable results include No. 2 Oregon defeating Boise State 34-27 and No. 3 Georgia winning 63-3 against Tennessee State.

Looking ahead, the football calendar is set to be nearly continuous for the next five months. Between September 2024 and February 2027, the combination of NFL, FBS, FCS, and various bowl games and championships will result in scheduled games on at least 125 different days across 24 weekends. The NFL season is set to begin with games on Wednesday, September 9, including a matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.