The NFL’s opening weekend wasn’t just about the Chiefs dropping one to the Chargers or Josh Allen and the Bills’ comeback win against Lamar Jackson’s Ravens—it quietly lit the fuse on one of college football’s loudest barbershop debates. Who really owns the crown of Wide Receiver U? 2 programs stand alone in that conversation: LSU and Ohio State. Both have sent freakish talents to the league, and both have receipts, but Week 1 of the 2025 season might’ve swung the balance harder than folks expected.

Let’s start with the Buckeyes, because they didn’t just show up—they showed out. Emeka Egbuka, fresh off being a first-round draft pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, balled like he’d been in the league for years. 4 catches, 67 yards, two touchdowns, and the game-winner from Baker Mayfield? Nah, that’s not easing in—that’s staking your claim.

Word on the street, and straight from Bucs WR Mike Evans, it was Emeka Egbuka who dialed up that game-winning play with under a minute left. ESPN even noted it was the most PPR fantasy points by a rookie wideout in Week 1 since 2019. More than just stats, Egbuka was a difference-maker, especially lined up outside, where he racked up 14.8 of those fantasy points. For Ohio State, it was validation—the pipeline keeps pumping, and the “next man up” factory line is still running.

But Egbuka wasn’t alone in flying the Buckeye flag. Garrett Wilson, now reunited with his old college quarterback Justin Fields in New York, went full WR1 mode. Seven receptions, 95 yards, and a 33-yard touchdown? That’s chemistry you can’t fake. Pro Football Focus gave him an 86.1 grade, second-best among all receivers in Week 1. Meanwhile, Chris Olave in New Orleans fought through a chest injury but still led the Saints in targets, reminding folks why he’s always open. That’s the scary thing with Ohio State—it’s not one or two stars.

Meanwhile, LSU had a bad day in the office, except for Kayshon Boutte. The former Tigers WR literally dropped his best NFL game yet with the Patriots, racking up 103 yards on 6 catches against the Raiders. That made him the first Patriot to go for 100 on opening day since Gronk in 2018. But while Boutte carried the LSU flag proudly, the bigger names didn’t exactly paint the scoreboard purple and gold.

Ja’Marr Chase—fresh off signing that fat $161 million deal—barely showed up, catching just two passes for 26 yards in their ‘win is a win’ victory against the Cleveland Browns. Justin Jefferson fared better, dropping 44 yards and a touchdown in a comeback win, but the impact wasn’t anything diabolical. Malik Nabers had a decent day pulling in 5 grabs for 71 yards on a heavy dose of targets, even if the scoreboard didn’t bless him with a touchdown, while Brian Thomas Jr. didn’t light up the stat sheet—just one catch for 11 yards—but still cashed in on a crafty end-around for six.

The problem for LSU? Ohio State’s numbers are stacking too heavy. Buckeye receivers collectively posted 465 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 36 grabs in Week 1. The Tigers are not even second! Oklahoma slid into the 2nd position. Their wideouts stacked up 260 yards on 23 catches, though no touchdowns, with CeeDee Lamb (110 yards on 7 rec) and Marquise Brown (99 yards on 10 rec) both popping off in Week 1.

The LSU crew landed at 255 yards and one score on 18 catches. Numbers don’t lie, and Week 1 gave us the math. Safe to say, the LSU Tigers didn’t cash in on their potential. Ohio State brought receipts for WRU. And in Week 1 of 2025? The Buckeyes looked like they were running laps around the competition.

If Week 1 felt like Ohio State’s mic drop, the rewind to 2024 keeps LSU squarely in the conversation. Because last year, the Tigers had themselves a season that looked like a video game stat sheet. Ja’Marr Chase didn’t just ball out—he led the entire league with 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing the holy grail: the receiving Triple Crown. Justin Jefferson followed close behind with 1,500-plus yards and 10 scores, while rookie Brian Thomas Jr. turned Jacksonville upside down with 1,282 yards and 10 TDs. And Malik Nabers? All he did was set a Giants rookie record with 109 catches and over 1,200 yards, grabbing a Pro Bowl nod. LSU wideouts weren’t just good—they were running the league.

But again, Ohio State wasn’t just watching. Garrett Wilson quietly stacked a 101-catch, 1,104-yard, 7-touchdown season for the Jets, solidifying himself as a certified WR1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba grabbed 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in Seattle, earning his first Pro Bowl trip. Marvin Harrison Jr. took time to adjust as a rookie and made some crazy catches. And you could see why he’s supposed to be the next great. The Buckeyes had fewer explosive headlines than LSU, but the production was undeniable.

So what do we make of it? LSU’s top end is ridiculous—arguably the best collection of WR1s in the league. But Ohio State’s consistency is menacing. Every single year, another Buckeye walks into the NFL and immediately looks like a starter. Still, LSU isn’t just going to give up the belt. Chase, Jefferson, Nabers, and Thomas Jr. are all capable of flipping the script by midseason. If Chase shakes off that slow Week 1 and goes nuclear again, the debate’s back on.