Spicy Sophie Cunningham loves our vets and football season, 380-pound high school TANK & sad Rutgers fireworks

Sophie Cunningham Fires Up Football Fans as College Season Returns; Colorado Stuns Georgia Tech on the Road

The first Friday of September delivered something sports fans had been waiting months for: a full opening weekend of college football, with games rolling from Thursday night through the holiday and into Labor Day itself.

WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham, playing for the Indiana Fever, captured the mood of the moment. Addressing fans ahead of the new season, Cunningham was unequivocal about her enthusiasm.

"It's the start of a new football season. We are hyped. We're excited. We're about to kick some butt this year. Come out, be loud, and show your Mizzou pride," she said.

Cunningham has spent the WNBA season welcoming military veterans to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever's home arena, an effort that has drawn praise from fans across the country.

Colorado Escapes Atlanta With Wild Finish

Thursday night delivered one of the early season's most dramatic moments. Colorado rallied to stun Georgia Tech 14-13 on the road, sealed by a blocked field goal as time expired. The defensive stand set off a wild celebration from the Buffaloes' sideline and traveling supporters, with players and fans taunting the Georgia Tech student section after the final play. One Colorado player even attempted to leap into the stands before being ushered back, a move that ended better than many similar attempts across sports history.

UMass Stuns Rutgers in Piscataway

In one of the weekend's biggest upsets, the UMass Minutemen toppled Rutgers on the Scarlet Knights' home field, handing the program its worst defeat of head coach Greg Schiano's second stint. The victory was UMass's first win over an FBS opponent since 2023, a milestone that did little to ease the sting in Piscataway. Rutgers reportedly paid UMass roughly $1.5 million for the game, the second-largest guarantee for a loss in college football history.

Adding insult to injury, postgame fireworks went off as scheduled despite the home team's loss, leaving Rutgers fans to endure a celebration after a defeat. USC visits Rutgers next week, and a first home win may not come until the Scarlet Knights host Howard the following week.

Readers Weigh In on the 1980s

The column also featured reader responses to actor Ryan Reynolds's recent claim that the 1980s were a difficult decade to live through, a remark that puzzled many given the decade's cultural footprint.

Jeff D. of the 1980s childhood cohort recalled the decade fondly, citing the Challenger explosion and the rescue of "Baby Jessica" from a well as defining national moments. "Her rescue was a joyous moment for the country," he wrote, expressing skepticism that such unity would be possible today.

Brian S. offered a more nuanced view, acknowledging Reynolds's hyperbole while pointing to the nuclear anxiety of the era, including the 1983 television film "The Day After," which he said "terrified the nation." Brian argued that the nuclear threat contributed to a "let's just enjoy ourselves" attitude that defined the decade, adding, "Now, having said all of that, I'd give anything to go back there. You often write, 'What a time to be alive.' Well, the 80's truly embodied that."

Eric P. was more blunt. Calling the 1980s "one of the best decades in history," Eric praised the music, the cars, and an era when, in his words, "nothing woke about sports." He also shared a personal highlight: hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer over former Mariners pitcher Mark Langston in an alumni game. "This Reynolds idiot was 8-9 years old and there was no strife," Eric wrote. "Won't watch his piece of s— movie on general principles."

Looking Ahead

The weekend's marquee matchup arrives Saturday night, when Clemson hosts LSU in a clash that has already generated headlines. Earlier in the day, Baylor faces Auburn and Boise State takes on Oregon in two of the more intriguing afternoon contests. The NFL season opens Wednesday night after the holiday, closing out a stretch that fans are treating as one of the most generous on the sporting calendar.