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ESPN workersSep 2, 2024, 10:00 PM ET
After five straight days of school football, Week 1 is within the books. There modified into as soon as a college-file-breaking efficiency from Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava in his freshman debut, displaying the preseason hype spherical him modified into as soon as warranted. Assorted programs didn’t occupy as ultimate a weekend, nonetheless it be easiest Week 1.
Can Iamaleava withhold his efficiency when the Volunteers address high-25 opponent NC Enlighten in Week 2? What does LSU wish to enhance on after a tough closing-2nd loss to USC?
Our consultants voted on who’ve to soundless be within the high 25 and gave their first impressions on every college according to Week 1 performances.
No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs
It modified into as soon as a new season nonetheless the the same results for Georgia’s tenacious defense in its 34-3 rout of Clemson in Atlanta. The Bulldogs restricted the Tigers to easiest 13 first downs and 188 yards of offense. Clemson handed the 50-yard line easiest twice. Georgia linebackers Jalon Walker and Raylen Wilson and forestall Mykel Williams utilized lawful stress on Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik, and freshman security KJ Bolden seemed bigger than ready in his first college recreation with four tackles.
All-The US security Malaki Starks moved to the well-known individual place thanks to Joenel Aguero‘s injury, and Starks adjusted successfully. Depth on the defensive line remains a discipline, especially if Williams (ankle) and take care of Warren Brinson (leg) are sidelined for prolonged. Williams modified into as soon as wearing a strolling boot on his left foot when he left Mercedes-Benz Stadium. — Tag Schlabach
No. 2 Ohio Enlighten Buckeyes
The Buckeyes occupy but one other rising well-known individual wideout in lawful freshman Jeremiah Smith, who shined in his Ohio Enlighten debut. Smith dropped his first hotfoot off his chest on the outlet power. After that, he modified into as soon as unstoppable. He done with 92 yards receiving on six catches and modified into the first Ohio Enlighten freshman in 26 years to debut with two touchdown receptions.
Smith joins Ohio Enlighten’s enviable array of harmful playmakers, which entails preseason All-The US wideout Emeka Egbuka and standout working backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who blended for 120 speeding yards in Ohio Enlighten’s 52-6 victory over Akron. The offense bought off to a tiring birth up in coordinator Chip Kelly’s first recreation calling plays. But within the 2nd half, Ohio Enlighten bought rolling within the motivate of a promising efficiency from senior switch quarterback Will Howard. As soon as it settles in with your total new pieces, this Ohio Enlighten offense figures to be a juggernaut. — Jake Trotter
No. 3 Texas Longhorns
Solutions to the biggest questions surrounding the Longhorns will have to wait except next weekend’s focus on over with to Michigan, nonetheless this modified into as soon as a entire birth up from Texas. Quarterback Quinn Ewers opened his junior season 20-of-27 for 260 yards with three touchdown throws, including an gape-catching, no-watch strike to Matthew Golden sooner than halftime.
Freshman hotfoot catcher Ryan Wingo led Texas with 70 receiving yards on four catches, and Arch Manning bought in on the action, too, going 5-for-6 for 95 yards and a passing touchdown whereas including one other obtain on the ground. Props as successfully to a Longhorns secondary that held Colorado Enlighten (306.5 passing yards per recreation in 2023) to 74 yards through the air. A mighty test awaits at Michigan Stadium in Week 2. — Eli Lederman
No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide
Kalen DeBoer’s debut at Alabama underscored why he rose from relative obscurity to change the easiest college coach of all time in Cut Saban. DeBoer’s offenses are dominant and flashy, and Alabama’s had room to grow after closing season. The Crimson Tide stormed out to a 42-0 halftime lead in opposition to Western Kentucky, which had by no plan trailed by so many parts at the half since it joined the FBS in 2007.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe had 169 yards and three touchdowns on easiest four completions within the first half and recorded his third profession recreation without a longer decrease than three touchdown passes and two speeding touchdowns. Freshman huge receiver Ryan Williams had touchdown receptions of 84 and 55 yards in his debut, whereas working motivate Justice Haynes and others had mighty nights. Alabama held WKU’s in overall grand offense to 103 passing yards, 2.2 yards per play and 0 parts. — Adam Rittenberg
No. 5 Notre Dame Combating Irish
It wasn’t reasonably, nonetheless as rock fights hotfoot, Notre Dame came out of this one having a watch reasonably lawful. The Irish held off Texas A&M 23-13 within the motivate of a gutty efficiency from Riley Leonard and a dominant defensive effort. Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler every picked off passes, and the Irish stuffed two severe fourth-down tries to take care of the gain.
In all likelihood most well-known, Notre Dame looks to occupy stumbled on a transparent lead motivate in Jeremiyah Love, who had 91 yards and the hotfoot-ahead TD, whereas Clemson switch Beaux Collins emerged as a playmaker within the passing recreation. — David Hale
No. 6 Penn Enlighten Nittany Lions
Penn Enlighten’s rent of Andy Kotelnicki resonated bigger than most offensive coordinator additions thanks to what it represented. If Kotelnicki could additionally spark quarterback Drew Allar and an offense that lacked explosion in 2023, the Nittany Lions would be a total CFP contender. Allar and the Nittany Lions’ offense seemed admire a diversified unit in Kotelnicki’s debut, stretching the discipline — and West Virginia‘s gifted defense — for 34 parts and 457 yards in a courageous avenue gain. Within the first half alone, Allar handed for 199 yards and three touchdowns and linked on completions of 50 and 55 yards.
An offense that produced one 100-yard receiving efficiency all closing season saw Harrison Wallace III attain triple digits on an 18-yard touchdown from Allar gradual within the 2nd quarter. Penn Enlighten’s defense continued to thrive below new coordinator Tom Allen, keeping West Virginia out of the discontinuance zone for bigger than three quarters and allowing correct 3.7 yards per play. — Rittenberg
No. 7 Ole Dash away out Rebels
One week in, the Rebels’ electric offense leads the country in scoring thanks to a thoroughly dominant 76-0 gain over FCS workers Furman. Jaxson Hurry threw for 418 yards and scored six total touchdowns in two quarters. Tre Harris, Juice Wells and the Rebels’ endless playmakers shined, and a reloaded offensive line held up properly.
Pete Golding’s defense compelled 9 three-and-outs. A 52-level halftime lead allowed head coach Lane Kiffin to ship within the backups to your total 2nd half. Ole Dash away out done with 772 total yards, primarily the most by any Rebels workers in Kiffin’s tenure. All in all, that’s about as trim of a season opener as one could additionally hope, and Kiffin admitted afterward he could presumably not in finding powerful to be severe about. — Max Olson
No. 8 Oregon Ducks
It be the first recreation of the season, nonetheless the No. 3 workers within the country isn’t any longer of direction supposed to battle admire this. What made Oregon’s no longer easy-earned 24-14 gain over FCS opponent Idaho — at home, no less — even more confounding is that it gained 487 yards on offense, held its opponents to correct 217 total yards, had 31 first downs and easiest one turnover, and held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of recreation time. So, how did the Oregon discontinuance up with easiest 24 parts? In rapid, the Ducks had been sloppy. The offensive line modified into as soon as a sieve, allowing three sacks, accounting for seven of Oregon’s eight penalties that designate it 60 yards and stalled a handful of promising drives.
Oregon gave the impact to hotfoot the ball at will, and Oklahoma switch quarterback Dillon Gabriel debuted for the Ducks with 380 yards and 7.8 yards per hotfoot, as successfully as two touchdowns, nonetheless he additionally had a fumble and threw the ball 49 occasions. Gabriel done 41 of these 49 passes, nonetheless the steadiness between him and the working recreation didn’t watch to be reasonably established because the Ducks barely crossed 100 yards speeding as a workers. Even supposing the defense seemed discontinuance to midseason fabricate, to bid there’s room for enchancment for Dan Lanning’s workers would be an understatement as it heads into powerful more challenging matchups. — Paolo Uggetti
No. 9 Miami Hurricanes
As soon as quarterback Cam Ward arrived through the switch portal in January, expectations spherical the Hurricanes in 300 and sixty five days 3 below Mario Cristobal started to rise. Every person saw why in opposition to the Florida Gators in a efficiency that can hotfoot down within the history books within the as soon as-annual rivalry recreation. Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns, in most cases having a watch nonchalant as he stepped motivate to hotfoot. Perhaps that’s on epic of his offensive line protected him all day, giving him the boldness to take a seat down within the pocket and take his time. Even when he did have to slide out, he soundless made jaw-shedding plays, including one across his physique to Jacolby George within the motivate of the discontinuance zone for a touchdown.
Beyond his efficiency, Miami is beginning to seem at the vogue Cristobal has planned since his arrival: Sophisticated and physical on the offensive and defensive traces. The Hurricanes shall be preferred of their next three nonconference video games, beginning Saturday in opposition to Florida A&M. But Cristobal is aware of a mighty opening gain very best device so powerful. To motivate up the issue that modified into as soon as made, they have to establish winning. — Andrea Adelson
No. 10 Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines’ nationwide title defense started with a surprise on offense, as Davis Warren, no longer Alex Orji, earned the beginning quarterback job. Warren had predictably blended ends within the opener in opposition to Fresno Enlighten nonetheless capped Michigan’s easiest power of the evening, a 75-yard surge within the fourth quarter, with an 18-yard touchdown hotfoot to well-known individual tight discontinuance Colston Loveland. The senior QB had an interception and easiest 118 passing yards, as he struggled to salvage in rhythm with his huge receivers.
Michigan didn’t liberate Donovan Edwards within the bustle recreation, regardless that Kalel Mullings seemed capable with 92 speeding yards on 15 carries. The defense helped with an 86-yard pick-six from cornerback Will Johnson and one other interception from Zeke Berry that space up a touchdown. But coach Sherrone Moore acknowledged “every thing” have to enhance as Michigan prepares to host Texas in Week 2. — Rittenberg
No. 11 Missouri Tigers
Murray Enlighten modified into as soon as by no plan seemingly to misfortune the Tigers, nonetheless Missouri jumped to a 28-0 lead in precisely 11:22 and kept piling on in a cheerful birth up to an expectation-stuffed season in Columbia. Brady Cook dinner stumbled on Luther Burden III for a 16-yard obtain on the outlet possession.
Transfer rushers Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll blended for 5.1 yards per lift and each stumbled on the discontinuance zone of their workers debuts. And the Tigers’ defense, led by first-year coordinator Corey Batoon, done as primarily the most efficient FBS unit to allow fewer than 100 yards in Week 1, albeit in opposition to a Murray Enlighten offense that averaged 16.6 parts per recreation closing fall. — Lederman
No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers
As soon as you didn’t aquire Nico Iamaleava stock this offseason, the designate correct went up. Tennessee’s redshirt freshman phenom threw for 314 yards and three TDs on 22-of-28 passing in his first home birth up, breaking the college file for passing yards in a half, and rolled to a 69-3 gain over Chattanooga.
The Vols threw for 414 yards, rushed for 304 and scored on 10 of 13 drives in opposition to a preseason high-10 FCS opponent, and their defense didn’t let the Mocs fallacious midfield as soon as within the first half. This workers appears to be like to be ready to address a high-25 foe with NC Enlighten up next. — Olson
No. 13 USC Trojans
It modified into as soon as about as ultimate of a birth up to the season because the brand new-watch USC workers could additionally occupy hoped. With the eyes of your total sport on the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Basic, USC coach Lincoln Riley’s workers didn’t correct hold with an SEC opponent, it beat one in a 27-20 gain over LSU. The revamped Trojans defense below new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn seemed worlds better and powerful more sound than its outdated iteration, whereas new beginning quarterback Miller Moss proved why — for no longer decrease than one recreation — Riley modified into as soon as upright at give up the employees to him as a substitute of a switch quarterback. Moss confirmed grand poise as USC’s offense stalled through the game whereas the defense (who would occupy notion?) kept the Trojans in it by keeping the Tigers’ offense at bay prolonged sufficient for Moss to engineer a winning touchdown power within the final minutes of what modified into as soon as an electrical recreation.
It’s, certainly, easiest one recreation, nonetheless there is a couple of promise now surrounding a USC workers that could additionally occupy without concerns gotten away with a down year given your total adjustments. Instead, Moss and the offense watch ready to play with someone, whereas the Trojans seem like stronger than sooner than. There could be a prolonged system to hotfoot, nonetheless that’s as lawful of a first impact as any and seemingly Riley’s signature gain in three seasons as USC’s head coach. — Uggetti
No. 14 Utah Utes
Welcome motivate, Cam Rising. After lacking closing season thanks to a serious knee injury, the Utes quarterback done 10 of 15 passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 49-0 gain in opposition to Southern Utah. If there modified into as soon as any discipline about Rising’s capacity to obtain his outdated fabricate — he guided the Utes to 2 Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl berths in 2021 and 2022 — these suggestions seemingly extinct snappy Thursday.
Silent, pondering the everyday of the opponent, this week’s recreation in opposition to Baylor shall be a plenty better barometer for the vogue the Utes will fare of their first season within the Mountainous 12. — Kyle Bonagura
No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners
Jackson Arnold threw for four touchdowns in his first extraordinary-season birth up, and the Sooners compelled six turnovers in a season-opening rout of Temple. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables acknowledged Arnold performed “of direction successfully.” However the offensive fable belonged to huge receiver Deion Burks. The Purdue switch notched three ratings sooner than halftime in his Oklahoma debut, turning into the fifth Sooner in program history to register three touchdowns in a half.
There had been disorders for Oklahoma — 1-for-12 on third down, struggles across a new-watch offensive line, a prolonged-term injury for huge receiver Jalil Farooq — nonetheless the Sooners cruised within the opener. They now watch ahead to a Week 2 focus on over with from a Houston workers that suffered a 27-7 defeat to UNLV in Week 1. — Lederman
No. 16 Oklahoma Enlighten Cowboys
The Cowboys had been up to speed from birth up to enact in a 44-20 gain in opposition to South Dakota Enlighten, the defending FCS nationwide champion. It wasn’t a dominant efficiency by any plan — OSU outgained SDSU by correct 6 yards — nonetheless a cheerful gain modified into as soon as exactly what the Cowboys wished to birth out up the campaign in opposition to a harmful opponent.
After speeding for 1,732 yards closing season, Ollie Gordon II ran for 104 yards and a pair of ratings on 27 carries, whereas Alan Bowman threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Oklahoma Enlighten can now shift its rotund consideration to this week’s recreation in opposition to Arkansas, which visits Stillwater. — Bonagura
No. 17 Kansas Enlighten Wildcats
The Avery Johnson generation started with a 41-6 gain over UT Martin, with the quarterback going 14-of-21 for 153 yards passing and two touchdowns along with three carries for 37 yards. He additionally threw his first interception.
The Wildcats’ defense smothered the Skyhawks, allowing correct 134 yards, eight first downs and easiest 0.9 yards per bustle, and Kansas Enlighten blocked a punt within the first quarter and returned it 1 yard for a obtain. — Dave Wilson
No. 18 LSU Tigers
Garrett Nussmeier confirmed a ton of self belief in his biggest test but because the Tigers’ new QB1, nonetheless LSU has plenty to trim up after organising rapid Sunday evening in Las Vegas in a 27-20 loss to USC.
Too many undisciplined penalties (10) and skipped over opportunities within the slay added up to a blown lead and 14 parts surrendered within the final six minutes, leaving a frustrated Brian Kelly questioning his workers’s heart of attention and absence of killer instinct. It be a ways too soon to bid this workers is in misfortune, nonetheless Kelly’s postgame madden completely speaks to how winnable this recreation felt and the plan in which disappointing it’s to birth out up 0-1 all another time. — Olson
No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks set away FCS Lindenwood sooner than a competitive recreation had a gamble to materialize, building a 34-0 lead by halftime and cruising to a forty eight-3 triumph. Kansas modified into as soon as so dominant that it wished easiest 15 hotfoot attempts from Jalon Daniels (9-of-15, 148 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and eight carries from Devin Neal (112 yards, 2 TDs). 9 diversified avid gamers registered speeding attempts. It modified into as soon as a predictable result in opposition to an overmatched workers, and it doesn’t manufacture powerful to expose hypothesis about what the relaxation of the season could additionally watch admire for the Jayhawks. — Bonagura
No. 20 Arizona Wildcats
Huge receiver Tetairoa McMillan could additionally occupy delivered the offensive efficiency of the college football season in Week 1, catching 10 passes for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns. Really, McMillan could additionally occupy challenged the FBS single-recreation receiving yards file of 405 had Arizona wished to power this venture within the fourth quarter. Any dialog about who would be the first receiver taken within the 2025 NFL draft have to soundless birth up with McMillan.
The Wildcats additionally had been explosive speeding the ball, as Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Quali Conley blended on 23 carries for 196 yards (8.5 yards per lift). On the choice hand it wasn’t all lawful for the Wildcats in coach Brent Brennan’s debut: They allowed 39 parts and 471 yards to New Mexico, which lost closing week to FCS Montana Enlighten. — Bonagura
No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes bought off to an alarming birth up offensively, managing correct a pair of discipline objectives within the first half in new offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s debut. But within the 2nd half, quarterback Cade McNamara and the Hawkeyes stumbled on their groove. McNamara threw three touchdown passes, because the Hawkeyes coasted to a 40-0 gain over Illinois Enlighten.
Iowa performed without coach Kirk Ferentz, who served a one-recreation suspension for a recruiting violation; assistant head coach Seth Wallace helmed the employees in his place. The Hawkeyes struggled offensively all closing season, finishing closing within the Mountainous Ten in a huge number of categories. On Saturday, they confirmed promise within the 2nd half within the motivate of McNamara, who skipped over the final 9 video games of closing season with a knee injury. The Hawkeyes have to soundless be tricky defensively again. Within the event that they are able to salvage more from the offense, they are able to additionally sigh to be a surprise playoff contender. — Trotter
No. 22 NC Enlighten Wolfpack
The Wolfpack were billed as a sleeper contender within the ACC, nonetheless through the early going in a 38-21 gain over Western Carolina, they struggled to search out a rhythm and consistency with their revamped offense. That every individual modified within the 2nd half, as Jordan Waters soar-started the bustle recreation (123 yards, 2 TDs) and signal-caller Grayson McCall bought more cheerful (318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT).
The well-known individual of the tell modified into as soon as wideout KC Concepcion, who picked up the place he left off closing season with 9 receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, NC Enlighten coach Dave Doeren acknowledged he would by no plan make an apology for a loss. It will get powerful more troublesome this week, because the Wolfpack address Tennessee in a substantial recreation no longer easiest for likely playoff ramifications nonetheless additionally to back the ACC birth up to substitute the narrative in regards to the conference as a full. — Adelson
No. 23 Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies could additionally by no plan salvage in an offensive rhythm in a recreation that marked a disappointing origin to a new generation in College Location. Drawing a high-10 Notre Dame workers brought a nationwide television audience and a raucous crowd of 107,315, and the defense performed up to its billing for the first half, which ended in a 6-6 tie. The Irish then ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns within the 2nd half as they pulled away for a 23-13 gain. However the bigger discipline as A&M transitions to new coordinator Collin Klein’s offense is the efficiency of quarterback Conner Weigman, who modified into as soon as 5-of-16 for 61 yards and threw two interceptions on throws of 5 or more yards, according to ESPN Stats & Files. — Wilson
No. 24 Clemson Tigers
The Tigers’ punchless offensive efficiency in opposition to Georgia’s courageous defense raised questions about their trajectory with quarterback Cade Klubnik working the tell. Klubnik done 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards with two sacks and one interception. Huge receiver Antonio Williams performed successfully with six catches for 76 yards, nonetheless the Tigers didn’t salvage powerful manufacturing within the passing recreation from someone else.
Tailback Phil Mafah ran for 59 yards on 16 attempts. The Tigers went 4-for-13 on third down. The lawful news: Clemson perchance will no longer face a defense as lawful as Georgia’s again within the extraordinary season. The Tigers will strive to enhance in Saturday’s home recreation in opposition to Appalachian Enlighten. — Schlabach
No. 25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
It will no longer be primarily the most natty system to gain video games, nonetheless Georgia Tech is a ultimate mirror of its coach, feeble O-lineman Brent Key. The workers has 16 feeble linemen on its workers, and physicality is the basis of every thing Key needs to manufacture on every side of the ball. To this point, it has labored.
In upsetting Florida Enlighten in Week 0, the Jackets dominated the toll road of scrimmage. In a gain over Georgia Enlighten on Saturday evening, Tech ran for 225 yards and three ratings. It be exactly the recipe Key thinks can lift the program to the subsequent level. — Hale
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