Rise and shine, Wakey Wakey! Did you miss some late night college football thrillers to open Week 1? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the biggest moments from late Saturday night to get you ready for some Sunday — you read that right because it’s Labor Day weekend — college football action.

LSU wins the Death Valley battle, knocks off Clemson

The biggest game of the night was No. 4 LSU at No. 9 Clemson. Both teams are nicknamed the Tigers. Both teams have stadiums nicknamed Death Valley. Both teams are ranked in the top-10.

The game had the makings of a movie script and lived up to the hype. It all game down to the fourth quarter where LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw his only touchdown of the game when it mattered most to give the Bayou Bengals a 17-10 victory.

Jump Ball. It’s not even fair. @TreyDez_Green 📺 | ABC pic.twitter.com/c2gLCKEIqh

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) August 31, 2025

A pair of catch of the year candidates

Florida’s Vernell Brown and Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Johnson each enter their name in the Catch of the Year race last night with spectacular one-handed grabs. Which one do you think was better?

Vernell caught it 🎱 pic.twitter.com/AQbFy4yScC

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 31, 2025

CATCH OF THE YEAR FROM COASTAL CAROLINA pic.twitter.com/V4HurZerIf

— Sidelinr Sports (@sidelinrsports) August 30, 2025

HBCU game-winning touchdown

The Labor Day Classic is one of the elite rivalries in HBCU football featuring Houston area HBCUs Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern. This year’s rivalry had all the makings of a classic leading into the game, with preseason trash talk and more.

It was only fitting that the game came down to the wire. After Texas Southern took the lead with a touchdown with 1:16 to play in the fourth quarter, PVAMU drove the ball 84 yards down field for a walk-off touchdown as time expired.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M WINS THE LABOR DAY CLASSIC ON A WALK-OFF TOUCHDOWN!!! 🟣🟡

Cameron Peters ➡️ Rodney Ojo FTW!#SCTOP10 @pvamufb_

📺: SWAC TV | @theswac pic.twitter.com/4wAvVetNWu

— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) August 31, 2025

Cal’s freshman quarterback puts world on notice

The Cal Bears found their QB1 while you were sleep. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is a name you need to know after Week 1. The 6’3” 225 lb. quarterback from Hawaii started his first game as a true freshman against Oregon State and put on a show. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns, dotting up the Oregon State secondary. JKS for short, he looks like the next-big-thing out west.

Cal opens 2025 with a 34-15 road win in Corvallis! 🐻

– True freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele: 20/30, 234 YDS, 3 passing TDs + 30 rush YDS
– WR Trond Grizzell: 5 REC, 83 YDS, 1 TD
– RB Brandon High Jr.: 10 carries, 41 YDS, 1 TD

Golden Bears take down Oregon State 34-15!… pic.twitter.com/4ODaLSwACm

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) August 31, 2025

Another FCS-over-FBS upset

Austin Peay didn’t just beat FBS opponent Middle Tennessee State, the Governors dominated. FCS squad Austin Peay led 21-0 in the second quarter and never looked back. The closest MTSU ever got was 10 points.

𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗦! 🎩🏈

THAT’S POWER FOOTBALL. @austinsmitty_ PUNCHES IT IN FROM TWO YARDS OUT.

📺 –> https://t.co/SGvq1lyROc#WeWILL | #LetsGoPeay pic.twitter.com/H5ODyBOcD1

— Austin Peay Football (@GovsFB) August 31, 2025