Alabama opened the post-Saban era with a 31-17 loss that laid bare a thin line and a stagnant ground game, fueling questions about fit, recruiting and future direction. The Misery Index flags the Tide as America’s steadiest source of Week 1 misery, while Stanford, Northwestern and Baylor offer other cautionary tales of programs under pressure. Colorado and Washington face scrutiny as high-profile hires seek to prove worth, and a bevy of big-name programs flirt with expectation versus result in a season full of sharp turns for fantasy and bets alike.

Arch Manning’s rough Texas debut, DeBoer’s buyout chatter in Seattle, and Deion Sanders’ Crimson-tinged scrutiny frame a season where late-game clock decisions, offensive line play and turnover discipline will drive fantasy value and betting lines more than any single fantasy star. The Misery Index pivots from simply wins and losses to the stories choking the fantasy numbers and shaping early-season rosters.