2026 · Week 1 · Sep 3 – Sep 7

Week 1 standouts

Not the box score — the move. Every rating below is opponent-adjusted, so a line put up against a top-10% unit counts for more than the same line against a sieve. ▲ is what this one game did to the player's career rating; the number beside it is where they now stand — and it has to be above the median at the position to make these boards.

Quarterbacks

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1255)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1LOUILincoln KienholzSeason debutCareer-high rating
Louisville · FBS
MISSMississippipass D 1356 · top 10%18/29, 307 yd, 2 TD · 14 car, 69 yd, 1 TD▲131322
2ASSUDom SantiagoSeason debutCareer-high rating
Assumption · D2
KUTZKutztownpass D 1268 · top 25%26/35, 343 yd, 3 TD, 1 INT · 10 car, 32 yd, 2 TD▲121293
3UMASWilliam "Pop" Watson IIICareer debut
Massachusetts · FBS
RUTGRutgerspass D 1310 · top 10%19/22, 197 yd, 3 TD · 6 car, 40 yd▲111311
4PITTMason HeintschelSeason debutCareer-high rating
Pittsburgh · FBS
MIA_Miami (OH)pass D 1269 · top 25%31/41, 453 yd, 7 TD · 5 car, 23 yd▲111344
5TRINRJ WestSeason debut
Trine · D3
UUChicagopass D 1228 · top 25%26/38, 420 yd, 5 TD, 1 INT · 9 car, 37 yd, 1 TD▲101282
6USCJayden MaiavaCareer-high ratingFirst game over 1450
Southern California · FBS
FRESFresno St.pass D 1376 · top 10%23/25, 349 yd, 3 TD · 3 car, -2 yd▲101450
7CO_SHauss HejnySeason debutCareer-high rating
Colorado St. · FBS
WYOWyomingpass D 1364 · top 10%23/33, 214 yd, 5 TD · 7 car, 39 yd▲101321
8N_DACJ CarrSeason debutCareer-high rating
Notre Dame · FBS
WISCWisconsinpass D 1385 · top 10%19/29, 239 yd, 2 TD · 2 car, -6 yd▲101381
9W_FLTy'Ray DavisCareer-high rating
University of West Florida · D2
C_ARCentral Ark.pass D 1168 · above avg14/17, 227 yd, 3 TD · 9 car, 75 yd, 1 TD▲91293
10NC_IGarret WilsonSeason debut
North Central (IL) · D3
BETHBethel (MN)pass D 1213 · top 25%19/30, 325 yd, 4 TD · 7 car, 37 yd▲91334

Running backs

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1222)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1FURMIsaiah DavisCareer-high rating
Furman · FCS
TENNTennesseerush D 1438 · top 10%8 car, 113 yd, 1 TD · 1 rec, 3 yd▲191300
2LSUDilin JonesSeason debutCareer-high rating
LSU · FBS
CLEMClemsonrush D 1478 · top 10%23 car, 113 yd, 2 TD · 1 rec, 1 yd▲181316
3NO_DCharles Langama
North Dakota · FCS
STSt. Thomasrush D 1398 · top 10%11 car, 120 yd, 1 TD▲181277
4UCLAAnthony WoodsSeason debut
UCLA · FBS
CALCaliforniarush D 1394 · top 10%8 car, 118 yd, 2 TD · 1 rec, 1 yd▲181319
5FINDChristian DavisSeason debut
Findlay · D2
UUIndyrush D 1342 · top 25%12 car, 107 yd, 2 TD▲181236
6DICKDane SorensenSeason debut
Dickinson · D3
RANMRandolph-Maconrush D 1330 · top 25%21 car, 148 yd, 2 TD▲171271
7LENOLJ TurnerCareer-high rating
Lenoir-Rhyne · D2
W_ALWest Ala.rush D 1317 · top 25%8 car, 148 yd, 2 TD▲171300
8MARHRayvon DurantSeason debut
Mars Hill · D2
WINSWinston-Salemrush D 1294 · top 25%28 car, 201 yd, 2 TD▲171264
9N_DAAneyas WilliamsSeason debut
Notre Dame · FBS
WISCWisconsinrush D 1514 · top 10%20 car, 90 yd, 2 TD · 1 rec, 11 yd▲171287
10DUKENate SheppardSeason debutCareer-high rating
Duke · FBS
TULATulanerush D 1400 · top 10%35 car, 227 yd, 2 TD · 3 rec, 19 yd▲161396

Wide receivers

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1242)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1MISSDeuce AlexanderSeason debut
Mississippi · FBS
LOUILouisvillepass D 1353 · top 25%5 rec, 159 yd, 2 TD▲161279
2LSUWinston WatkinsSeason debut
LSU · FBS
CLEMClemsonpass D 1396 · top 10%7 rec, 110 yd, 1 TD▲151301
3YSULynn Wyche-ElCareer-high rating
Youngstown St. · FCS
UKKentuckypass D 1381 · top 10%7 rec, 111 yd, 1 TD▲141311
4SMUYannick SmithSeason debut
SMU · FBS
FSUFlorida St.pass D 1386 · top 10%5 rec, 107 yd, 1 TD▲141294
5OREGJeremiah McClellanSeason debut
Oregon · FBS
BOISBoise St.pass D 1302 · top 25%6 rec, 150 yd, 1 TD▲131292
6PORTTerence Loville
Portland St. · FCS
SDSUSan Diego St.pass D 1336 · top 25%10 rec, 119 yd, 1 TD▲121286
7OHIORiley NeerCareer debut
Ohio · FBS
NEBNebraskapass D 1343 · top 25%6 rec, 104 yd, 1 TD▲121312
8WISCMalachi ColemanSeason debut
Wisconsin · FBS
N_DANotre Damepass D 1480 · top 10%4 rec, 76 yd, 1 TD▲121283
9USCTrent MosleyCareer-high rating
Southern California · FBS
FRESFresno St.pass D 1376 · top 10%4 rec, 104 yd, 2 TD▲111332
10BUCKSam Milligan
Bucknell · FCS
NOVAVillanovapass D 1310 · top 25%13 rec, 135 yd, 2 TD▲111262

Tight ends

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1262)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1SMURandy Pittman Jr.Season debut
SMU · FBS
FSUFlorida St.pass D 1386 · top 10%5 rec, 75 yd, 1 TD▲141288
2MISSCaleb OdomSeason debut
Mississippi · FBS
LOUILouisvillepass D 1353 · top 25%3 rec, 66 yd, 1 TD▲101309
3HOUPatrick OvermyerSeason debut
Houston · FBS
ORE_Oregon Statepass D 1323 · top 25%6 rec, 84 yd▲91278
4CALMason MiniSeason debut
California · FBS
UCLAUCLApass D 1292 · above avg4 rec, 58 yd, 1 TD▲91297
5LSUTrey'Dez GreenSeason debutCareer-high rating
LSU · FBS
CLEMClemsonpass D 1396 · top 10%4 rec, 58 yd▲81342
6OREGJamari JohnsonSeason debutCareer-high rating
Oregon · FBS
BOISBoise St.pass D 1302 · above avg4 rec, 57 yd, 1 TD▲81328
7SE_LLonnie Shinn
Southeastern La. · FCS
S_ALSouth Ala.pass D 1228 · above avg4 rec, 54 yd, 2 TD▲81274
8NC_AAnthony Rucker
North Carolina A&T · FCS
GA_SGeorgia St.pass D 1161 · below avg4 rec, 80 yd, 1 TD▲71266
9PORTTanner BeamanCareer-high rating
Portland St. · FCS
SDSUSan Diego St.pass D 1336 · top 25%4 rec, 63 yd▲71308
10STANBenji Blackburn
Stanford · FBS
MIAMMiami (Fla.)pass D 1409 · top 10%7 rec, 52 yd▲61288

Defensive line

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1253)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1N_ALAvery HowardCareer-high rating
North Ala. · FCS
ARKArkansasoffense 1474 · top 10%9 tkl (4 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sack▲191315
2COLOLamont Lester Jr.Season debutCareer-high rating
Colorado · FBS
GATEGeorgia Techoffense 1428 · top 10%5 tkl (4 solo), 3.5 TFL, 3 sack▲181323
3MARSKelvon McBrideSeason debut
Marshall · FBS
PENNPenn Stateoffense 1458 · top 10%6 tkl (4 solo), 2 TFL, 1 sack▲171298
4FURMEli LipscombCareer-high rating
Furman · FCS
TENNTennesseeoffense 1520 · top 10%6 tkl (2 solo), 2 TFL, 1 sack▲171323
5ARK_Derick Simon Jr.Career-high rating
Ark.-Pine Bluff · FCS
MIZZMissourioffense 1432 · top 10%8 tkl (5 solo), 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack▲151305
6DUKEBryce DavisSeason debut
Duke · FBS
TULATulaneoffense 1386 · top 10%6 tkl (4 solo), 3 TFL, 2 sack▲151330
7MISSBlake PurchaseSeason debutCareer-high rating
Mississippi · FBS
LOUILouisvilleoffense 1483 · top 10%5 tkl (3 solo), 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack▲151309
8FRESJahzon JacksSeason debut
Fresno St. · FBS
USCSouthern Californiaoffense 1540 · top 10%7 tkl (1 solo), 1.5 TFL▲141259
9BAYLDevonte TezinoSeason debut
Baylor · FBS
AUBUAuburnoffense 1426 · top 10%4 tkl (2 solo), 2 TFL, 2 sack▲141323
10FORDJakub MwangelwaCareer debut
Fordham · FCS
ND_SNorth Dakota St.offense 1504 · top 10%3 tkl (3 solo), 2 TFL, 2 sack▲141314

Linebackers

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1252)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1FORDAndrew OsmunCareer-high rating
Fordham · FCS
ND_SNorth Dakota St.offense 1504 · top 10%13 tkl (7 solo), 3 TFL, 1 sack▲191320
2ARK_Robert StevensSeason debutCareer-high rating
Arkansas St. · FBS
MEMMemphisoffense 1420 · top 10%9 tkl (5 solo), 1.5 TFL, 1 sack▲141316
3FRESK'vion ThunderbirdSeason debutCareer-high rating
Fresno St. · FBS
USCSouthern Californiaoffense 1540 · top 10%9 tkl (6 solo), 2 TFL▲131329
4FORDJaylen DawsonCareer-high rating
Fordham · FCS
ND_SNorth Dakota St.offense 1504 · top 10%6 tkl (5 solo), 2.5 TFL▲131318
5NWSTBraydon BrusSeason debutCareer-high rating
Northwestern · FBS
SDAKSouth Dakota St.offense 1444 · top 10%7 tkl (2 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PD▲131336
6ARK_Nate WalkerCareer-high rating
Ark.-Pine Bluff · FCS
MIZZMissourioffense 1432 · top 10%10 tkl (4 solo), 1 TFL▲121300
7TOLEIsaac ZaySeason debut
Toledo · FBS
MICHMichigan St.offense 1326 · top 25%12 tkl (6 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack▲121289
8BETHJake BormanSeason debutCareer-high rating
Bethel (MN) · D3
NC_INorth Central (IL)offense 1467 · top 10%6 tkl (4 solo), 1.5 TFL, 2 QBH▲121293
9CO_CJordan ThompsonSeason debut
Coastal Caro. · FBS
WVUWest Virginiaoffense 1385 · top 10%11 tkl (1 solo), 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sack▲121287
10TULSDax CollinsSeason debut
Tulsa · FBS
OKLAOklahoma St.offense 1343 · top 25%7 tkl (4 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QBH▲121270

Defensive backs

top 10 by rating gainrated above the position median (1268)
#PlayerOpponentLineΔRating
1BECOTre RigbySeason debut
Bethune-Cookman · FCS
UCFUCFoffense 1484 · top 10%6 tkl (4 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack▲251272
2UTEPDonavan HowardSeason debut
Texas at El Paso · FBS
OKLAOklahomaoffense 1454 · top 10%6 tkl (2 solo)▲211280
3W_KYD'Cambren VerrettSeason debut
Western Ky. · FBS
NEVANevadaoffense 1241 · above avg5 tkl (2 solo), 1 TFL▲201273
4MO_SJoel KpassouSeason debut
Missouri St. · FBS
TX_ATexas A&Moffense 1485 · top 10%5 tkl (5 solo)▲191274
5TARLNicc OliverSeason debut
Tarleton St. · FCS
BGSUBowling Greenoffense 1177 · above avg4 tkl (2 solo)▲181271
6TOLEMo ContehSeason debut
Toledo · FBS
MICHMichigan St.offense 1326 · top 25%10 tkl (7 solo)▲161286
7TX_SRyan NolanSeason debutCareer-high rating
Texas St. · FBS
TEXATexasoffense 1490 · top 10%6 tkl (1 solo), 1 INT, 1 PD▲141321
8MT_URickie WilliamsSeason debut
Mount Union · D3
WHEAWheaton (IL)offense 1360 · top 10%5 tkl (4 solo), 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF▲131287
9URGT.J. NealSeason debut
UT Rio Grande Valley · FCS
UTSATexas at San Antoniooffense 1334 · top 25%4 tkl (4 solo)▲131280
10TENNBrendan HaleCareer-high rating
Tennessee St. · FCS
UGAGeorgiaoffense 1560 · top 10%6 tkl (5 solo), 2 PD▲131303

Eligibility: a minimum workload per position (10 pass attempts, 8 touches, 3 catches, 4 tackles or a multi-splash defensive line) so a two-snap cameo can't win the week. Opponent strength is that unit's pre-game rating, ranked against every unit that played this week. The boards above also require that the player's rating after the game sits above the median for his position — measured against every qualified season since 2002 — so a big number against a bad opponent doesn't buy a spot. Everyone who moved big but hasn't cleared that line yet is in Breakout watch.