Pirates Drop Opener At No. 13 Alabama, 48-10… Pirates Drop VB First Match of Season to Clemson… Week 1 gets its signature moment when No. 16 Michigan beats Western Michigan on disputed finish

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Crimson Tide makes sailing tough for Pirates

ecupirates.com

• Pirates Drop Opener At No. 13 Alabama, 48-10
• Pirates Drop VB First Match of Season to Clemson

Keelon Russell shows off dual-threat ability as No. 13 Alabama handles East Carolina 48-10 The Associated Press

ECU v. Alabama: First look at the display of talent on the Pirate squad WITN 7

ECU falls to Alabama 48-10 in season opener, turns attention to App State WCTI 12

Russell throws for 249 yards, leads No. 13 Alabama to 48-10 win over East Carolina WTVM

ECU football: No. 13 Bama rolls past Pirates, 48-10 Greenville Daily Reflector (sub req’d)

CFB Week 1 Highlights: East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama (9/5) CBS Sports

USA Today

• Alabama football defense gave ECU one opening, then slammed the door
• Keelon Russell final stats from first Alabama football start vs ECU

AL.com

• Alabama defense kept ‘attacking,’ and East Carolina couldn’t handle it
• Alabama’s top pass-rusher talks key pick six from East Carolina win
• Kalen DeBoer talks Keelon Russell, Ryan Coleman-Williams, run game after Alabama beats East Carolina
• 3 positive and negative signs from Alabama’s blowout East Carolina win
• What Alabama’s dominant football win over East Carolina means moving forward

Around the American Athletic Conference

American Conference

• Florida Atlantic Drops Season Opener at Florida
• Rice Rolls Past Houston Christian, 31-3
• Jaylin Carter scores 4 TDs to lead Memphis past Arkansas State 42-24
• Hartline Era Opens With 19-9 Win Over FIU
• Charlotte Falls to The Citadel in Triple Overtime
• Tulane Drops Season Opener at Duke
• Tulsa Defeats Oklahoma State 24-10
• Navy Opens Season with 42-15 Win over Towson
• McCown Leads UTSA Past UTRGV with Three Touchdown Passes
• Mason Leads Temple Past Rhode Island 38-14
• UNT Drops Season Opener to No. 6 Indiana
• East Carolina Falls to No. 13 Alabama 48-10
• Army Rushes Past Bryant 59-3
• UAB Falls in Season Opener to Illinois

Charlotte 49ers drop season opener 43-41 to The Citadel The Charlotte Post

The Citadel rallies to beat FBS UNC Charlotte in triple overtime Charleston Post & Courier

USF’s defense lifts Bulls to win over FIU in Brian Hartline’s debut Tampa Bay Times

Memphis Commercial Appeal

•  ‘P4 feel’ permeates Memphis football’s first game at renovated stadium
•  Jaylin Carter’s 4 TDs lead Memphis to win over Arkansas State
•  What Jaylin Carter’s emergence means for Memphis football’s season outlook

NOLA.com

• There were plenty of ugly moments in Tulane’s season-opening loss at Duke
• Tulane defensive tackle Kam Hamilton makes three tackles against Duke after receiving court injunction to play fifth year
• Guerry Smith: Three main takeaways from Tulane’s loss at Duke to start the 2026 campaign

Duke football tops Tulane on Sheppard’s big night. Observations from the opener Raleigh News & Observer

UNT shows potential in loss to Indiana before defending national champ pulls away late Denton Record-Chronicle

How Owen McCown provided healthy spark to UTSA’s offense in win over UTRGV San Antonio Express-News

Tulsa World

• Bill Haisten: As Tre Lamb called his shot, TU’s win was not a fluke
• Photos: Tulsa earns historic win over Oklahoma State
• Berry Tramel: OSU’s Morris momentum hits a stone wall called Tulsa

Army football dominates season opener, beats Bryant Times Record-Herald

QB Braxton Woodson leads way as Navy football runs over Towson, 42-15  Annapolis Capital

The Associated Press

• Jadan Baugh runs wild in the Swamp as Florida opens the Jon Sumrall era with a 66-21 win over FAU
• Rice rolls up 465 yards on ground in 31-3 win over Houston Christian
• Gavin Garcia rushes for 3 TDs to lead The Citadel past Charlotte 43-41 in 3OT

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Bill Belichick’s Son Investigated for Allegedly Giving Drugs to UNC Player Charlotte Observer

Report Explains How Bill Belichick Could Be Fired Soon As New UNC Investigation Unfolds Sportsnaut

WRAL

• Lombardi resigns as UNC investigators probe allegations of drug use, sex within football program
• Lombardi won’t have to pay UNC for resigning early

Charleston Post & Courier

• Bayou blowout: Clemson drops season opener to No. 11 LSU
• Swinney: Credit to LSU after latest opener thumping, but Clemson’s shortcomings are its own
• Charleston Southern no match for Georgia Southern as Bucs fall to 0-2
• Jabree Coleman leads Gamecocks’ rushing attack in season-opening rout of Kent State
• Everything Shane Beamer said after a win over Kent State

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

• David Teel: Virginia Tech opener with James Franklin was a party and blowout of VMI
• ODU holds off Norfolk State as crosstown foes renew rivalry in 1st matchup since 2019
• JMU opens Billy Napier’s coaching era by turning back Liberty
• Area natives help Maryland post whopping shutout as Hampton U plays first Power Four foe
• No. 17 William & Mary forces 6 turnovers, survives late scare against Delaware State
• No. 18 CNU pulls away in second half for Anchor Bowl victory vs. Apprentice School

The Associated Press

• Wait just a second: No. 16 Michigan catches second-chance Hail Mary, survives scare vs WMU
• Week 1 gets its signature moment when No. 16 Michigan beats Western Michigan on disputed finish
• No. 16 Michigan escapes an ‘epic loss’ thanks to a disputed replay and a second-chance Hail Mary
• Lane Kiffin’s debut with No. 11 LSU matches the hype in a 51-10 victory over outmatched Clemson
• Lane Kiffin’s debut at LSU delayed by lightning as Tigers move ahead without NFL signees
• Moore throws for 3 TDs and No. 2 Oregon overcomes a slow start to beat Boise State 34-27
• Stockton has 3 TD passes and Frazier runs for 3 scores as No. 3 Georgia beats Tennessee State 63-3
• Arch Manning throws four TD passes and No. 5 Texas eases past Texas State in season opener 59-7
• Marcel Reed sparks No. 8 Texas A&M in a 50-0 rout of Missouri State
• UCLA opens Bob Chesney era with a 45-24 win over former Pac-12 rival California
• Thomas and Arnold lead UNLV past Hawaii 21-6 to win fourth straight Island Showdown
• Maryland rushes for 6 touchdowns, gains 646 yards of offense in a 62-0 win over Hampton
• Johnson throws for 281 yards and Georgia Southern defeats Charleston Southern 31-0
• Hawkins, Overton carry Virginia Tech over VMI 73-3 in Franklin debut