The first full week of the college football season is in the books, and the proclamations and overreactions are flying everywhere like DJ Uiagalelei's passes (too soon?).
Things haven't started well for Uiagalelei and Florida State, although the Seminoles have company with their in-state rival Florida. Clemson is also reeling after a rough second half in Atlanta. Miami, meanwhile, is off to a blistering start behind quarterback transfer Cam Ward. Georgia, Penn State, Notre Dame and USC -- fueled by a revamped defense, of all things -- also made big statements in Week 1.
The Week 2 slate features an obvious headliner matchup in Ann Arbor, as defending national champion Michigan hosts reigning Big 12 champion Texas, now in the SEC. There are also some intriguing rivalry games in the heartland, as Deion Sanders takes his Colorado team to Nebaska, while Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz returns from suspension to host Iowa State. Tennessee and NC State will meet up in Charlotte in the last neutral-site matchup for a while.
College football insiders Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg have digested Week 1 (and Week 0), and have talked to people around the sport to get their reactions to what we just saw, and the storylines to watch in Week 2.
Jump to a section:
Most notable Week 1 surprise
How is Colorado this year?
What does Georgia's blowout of Clemson mean?
The keys to Michigan-Texas | Is it finally Miami's year?
Upset picks | Emptying the notebook
What's the Week 1 surprise you're buying as legit for the rest of the season?
Dinich: Penn State is a legit CFP contender. That win at West Virginia -- which would have been a hostile and disorienting environment even without the two-hour weather delay -- set the tone for the Nittany Lions. Earlier this week James Franklin said that while he was with Pat McAfee on campus Friday, "that place was about to explode. We walked into it, and it was a hornet's nest." With the win, ESPN Analytics gives PSU a 70% chance to reach the playoff. "We need to get better this week," Franklin said. "If we get better each week, then those things should take care of themselves. I haven't seen a computer win a game for a football team yet, but I'm glad you're talking about it."
Rittenberg: At Georgia Tech, toughness isn't a suggestion or a motto. "It's a way of life, it's who you are," coach Brent Key told me. "It's also something that can constantly be improved. You know, babies aren't born tough, c'mon. Anything that you can improve can also be getting worse." Georgia Tech's toughness has been on display during a 2-0 start, which led to the team's first AP Poll ranking since 2015. A team with a clear identity can go a long way, especially in the wide-open ACC.
Key identifies four areas where toughness is measured: running the ball when the defense expects it; stopping the run when it's coming; blocking and shedding blocks on the perimeter; and covering kicks. Key, a longtime offensive line coach, spends less time with the line - "They're supposed to be tough," he said - and stressing the other areas. Some of his favorite plays have come from 170-pound wide receiver Malik Rutherford, who blocked a defender out of bounds to spring a Jamal Haynes run against Georgia State, or kicker Aidan Birr chasing down a returner after a coverage bust. "It cements the pillars of our program, what's important," Key said. "Malik had a big night receiving, but he got player of the game for the way he blocked. It's got to be who you are all day, every day."
What are you hearing about this year's version of Colorado?
Rittenberg: Coaches who watched the Buffaloes' season-opening win over North Dakota State saw some of the same strengths and some of the same weaknesses but also some new elements. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is going to get his numbers in the pass game, featuring two-way star Travis Hunter and others, but he also continues to take sacks and hits, a problem throughout last season. The reasons are twofold. "He rarely takes a bad hit or bad sack when he's got first-level or second-level opportunities," said a coach who has studied Colorado. "He's legitimate, he progresses, he's got rhythm and timing, but it's a lot of vertical pass game. Some of the hits that he took were when he was extending things, and he's just buying time and he takes a hit late. They're still not very good up front." Those are areas to watch against an experienced and sound Nebraska defense on Saturday night.
Dinich: One Big 12 head coach told me that after watching Colorado last week, he thinks the Buffaloes are "one of the most skilled groups in the nation on offense" and that Sanders is the "real deal." The offensive line obviously still has question marks, he said, but there was some noticeable improvement on defense from last year. As for Hunter? "Hunter is the best player in the nation."
Rittenberg: Hunter certainly could be, HD, although I'm concerned about his total number of reps and the potential for injury. Colorado seemingly has upgraded its defensive line, with transfer additions like edge rushers Dayon Hayes and Samuel Okunlola from Pitt. Last season, Colorado tied for 107th nationally in defensive pressure rate, creating sacks, quarterback hits or quarterback pressure on only 29.3% of dropbacks. "These guys will have a chance to play fast and play free up front, and that makes them a lot tougher and more physical," said a coach who has studied Colorado. "Those new edge guys that they got are much better than what they had."
Dinich: They very well might be, but it would be surprising if that translated into a significant improvement in the win column. According to ESPN Analytics, Saturday's game at Nebraska is just one of the seven losses the Buffs will have this year.
Did Georgia's rout of Clemson say more about the future of the Dawgs or Tigers?
Dinich: Clemson, because everyone already knows what Georgia is: "Georgia is an NFL team right now," one coach said. As for the Tigers? One former Alabama assistant remembers what Clemson was like when it was competing for the national title. "Those 50-50 balls back then for them were 90-10 balls," he said. "It was so different."
Rittenberg: Georgia's defense will make a lot of offenses look bad this season, and could even resemble the historically elite 2021 Bulldogs D. But what sticks about Clemson to coaches and other observers is that the offensive personnel issues aren't new, especially along the line and at wide receiver. "I'm not shocked that they weren't good on offense," an NFL scout said. "I don't know if you can change offensive line coaches and miraculously get better. It's a recruiting issue more than it is a coaching issue -- probably a little bit of both."
Dinich: So that brings back the controversial issue of the transfer portal, and one head ACC coach told me Dabo Swinney can still win without using the portal. All coaches, he pointed out, have the opportunity to recruit the same guys who wind up in the portal when they're in high school. "It's not as much about recruiting as it is identifying," the coach said. "We all have our misses and we all have our hits. You gotta have really good sets of eyes on your staff, and guys with conviction who are willing to do the hours and hours of work to find out what is the legitimate DNA and makeup of the guys you're bringing to your program. It's all about the people."
Rittenberg: Clemson is certainly doing its homework on who it recruits, but is the program casting a wide-enough net? As my colleague David Hale pointed out, Clemson excels in player retention. Clemson also makes far fewer scholarship offers than most of its peer programs. So the misses seem to sting even more. The good news is no remaining opponents will come close to having Georgia's talent, but Clemson must lock in for a good Appalachian State team on Saturday. "This will be an interesting week for them, how they're going to prepare for a team that's going to have some swagger going in there," an ACC coach said. "App State's not afraid of anybody. They're tough and physical. I'd be surprised if they don't make it a really good game."
How can Michigan slow down the Texas offense?
Rittenberg: The process may actually start on offense, where Michigan needs to play the game at its pace and limit possessions for Texas by staying on the field. When I was in Ann Arbor last week, I was surprised how long it took for Michigan to mount a sustained, run-fueled drive. They didn't do that until the fourth quarter, when they marched 75 yards after Fresno State had closed to within a score. A former Michigan lineman told me at halftime that the Wolverines were getting beat up front, and tight end Colston Loveland said after the game that the team's physicality "was there at times and lacked at times, too. Maybe someone didn't strain enough." If Michigan can control the tempo and keep interior defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant fresh, Texas could be forced into more obvious passing situations than it wants, especially with a limited running back room. "The front four, they're a pain in the butt to block," Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore told me this spring. "They can move, they can stop the run, they can twist, they can pass rush. It's a beautiful thing when you have four guys who can get home with the quarterback."
Dinich: I asked Texas coach Steve Sarkisian about that "limited running back room" this week, and he is still bullish on the players he has there -- mainly because they are behind a veteran offensive line and tight end. He pointed to Jaydon Blue's experience, Tre Wisner's effectiveness, and said he was impressed with what he saw from freshman Jerrick Gibson. The Longhorns will also continue to use receiver Ryan Niblett in their running game. "They're tough, they can run between the tackles, and they all have elite speed," Sarkisian said.
Rittenberg: There's certainly no shortage of talent in Austin. One thing that struck me and other press box observers last week was how much Fresno State went after Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, a likely top 10 NFL draft pick in 2025. Johnson eventually made the Bulldogs pay with an 86-yard pick-six to put away the game, but it will be interesting how much quarterback Quinn Ewers and Texas' talented receiver group will challenge him. Johnson told me this summer that after playing last season at 75-80% health-wise, he's looking forward to what he can do at full strength. "To play corner, you've got to be able to run," he said. "So being out there on an island, you can't really run when your leg's 80% and somebody else you're going against is 100%. I want to be there every month, every moment I can for my team this year."
Dinich: While Sarkisian is aware of Johnson, he's focused on his own defense, too, where he said the run defense "got a little big leaky in the first game." He also said there were a few things offensively they want to clean up, like some missed assignments, snap infractions, and blocking on the perimeter. He's preparing for two different styles of play in both Michigan quarterbacks. When Alex Orji runs the ball, he said, "they started to get yards in chunks." Regardless of what happens, Sarkisian said he'll remind his team on Friday, "this one game is not going to define our season, whether we win it or we lose it, but it will serve as a really good barometer." With the expanded playoff, Sarkisian said "these games don't kill you if you don't win them."
Did Miami's rout of Florida say more about the future of the Canes or Gators?
Dinich: The Canes. Miami coach Mario Cristobal wanted to keep in perspective that it was just one game, but at the same time said it was "validation of arriving at a place where the starting point was very low in terms of everything -- culture, program, talent level, all that stuff -- and validation of hard-working people, good people, working really hard." He also said it's "a little bit of foreshadowing, a sign of some of the things to come. We feel like we're building it the right way. We're just getting started, and it's a great start, but we do feel that our best days are ahead of us."
Rittenberg: They certainly could be, especially in an extremely vulnerable ACC. Miami certainly hit on quarterback Cam Ward, who another ACC coach described as "the best portal quarterback in the country." What I like about Miami is that while it swung big and hit on transfers like Ward and running back Damien Martinez (Oregon State) and defensive linemen Tyler Baron (Tennessee) and Simeon Barrow Jr. (Michigan State), the team also has been developing those it recruited, especially on defense. "We feel like we've got four really good ends, and we've got some guys inside, which will give us a lot of depth," Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry told me. "I love being four-down. Last year, because we ran out of bodies, we had to go down to some three-down stuff and play some extra 'backers. But we shouldn't have to do that."
Dinich: Cristobal is a Miami guy through and through, having played there under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson, so you'll never hear him badmouth the program, but he will concede that for several years, "It just hasn't looked like Miami football." After back-to-back elite recruiting classes and a strong transfer portal class that brought in Ward, Cristobal called it "a great combination. It's layered to continue to build and develop. And so many guys are getting playing time...That's a massive difference between the day that we arrived and what it looks like now."
Rittenberg: Florida is still waiting for the positive differences under coach Billy Napier, who dropped to 11-15 with the Gators after the Miami loss. There are some trouble spots with personnel, but those who watched the opener cited bigger problems, like the defensive scheme and Florida's desire -- or lack -- to simply compete. "We thought it would be a very competitive game," an SEC assistant told me. "Both programs are in Year 3, but it doesn't seem like Florida's in the same position as Miami is. It didn't seem like there was a lot of fight [with Florida]."
What's your Week 2 upset pick?
Rittenberg: San Diego State (+6) over Oregon State. My quest for respectability in upset picks begins in my home state, where first-year San Diego State coach Sean Lewis has brought an exciting, high-powered offense to The Mesa. After a slow first half in their opener, San Diego State racked up 42 points in barely a quarter and a half, recording two defensive touchdowns and getting 223 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Marquez Cooper. Oregon State also ran the ball extremely well in its opener (362 yards, four touchdowns), but San Diego State will get its first notable home win under Coach Lew.
Dinich: Tulane (+10) over Kansas State. Look, it's called an upset because nobody thinks it will happen, OK? I'm going with the Green Wave at home and the defense will be the difference -- just like it was in Manhattan, Kansas in 2022 when it made three fourth-down stops in the second half. With rookie starting quarterbacks for both teams, defense and special teams will be critical. Keep an eye out for Tulane CB Rayshawn Pleasant, who had a 100-yard pick six in the season opening win against Southeastern Louisiana.
Let's empty the notebook. Who else is generating the most buzz after Week 1 and what else are you hearing?
Dinich:
Notre Dame earned a critical win at Texas A&M, but it was only the start of what first-year offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock wants to do. Considering this was an SEC road trip in one of the conference's loudest venues, and there were a combined six starts on the young offensive line entering that game -- and they didn't allow a sack -- it was a good start.
"What I'd like to do is go into every game with no hesitation, or no fear, no apprehension whatsoever with the situation we had with the players up front, the unknowns of a quarterback who hadn't played in over a year, the unknown with the skill positions to a certain extent," he said. "How carefree can you be?"
He said the Irish were measured, especially early in the game, and the defense allowed them to settle in. He said he wants to see them "make the routine plays routine," and get to the point where they can do some of those things "in your sleep." There's no talent issue, he said, but there's an experience issue, and the more they understand the scheme, the consistency will come with it.
According to ESPN Analytics, Boise State has more than a 50% chance to win every game this season -- except for Saturday's game at Oregon, where the Ducks have an 80% chance to win. But if Oregon plays the way it did in its season-opener against Idaho, though, the game could be closer than expected. First-year Boise State coach Spencer Danielson told me this week the Broncos need to "limit their offensive explosive plays, and be explosive as an offense. The game is going to come down to who takes the ball away on defense and who protects it on offense."
With Oregon State and Washington State unable to come to a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West, both of those schools will be treated as independents again next fall. A source familiar with the discussions told ESPN the schools were too far apart on financial terms with the MWC, so they plan to look at alternative options to build their schedule for 2025. It's unlikely those schools will join the ACC in the near future, especially with the ongoing legal battle between the league and FSU and Clemson. And the Big 12 doesn't have any interest in adding those schools, according to sources.
One source said that NC State quarterback Grayson McCall "missed out on probably three touchdowns" in Saturday's win against Western Carolina, and that the key for the Vols will be to keep the Wolfpack off-schedule. Because of Tennessee's offense, the defense is expecting NC State to do everything it can to run the football and the clock, so the Vols will try to force them into third-and-long as much as possible. "NC State does a good job of changing it up," the source said. "Where it could be second-and-12, most people think they're going to throw the football. Well, they'll throw a run or a quarterback draw. And now he gets six or seven yards and you're in third-and-manageable. That's where we have to be great when it comes to keeping them off-kilter."
Rittenberg:
UNLV coach Barry Odom can list the players who have shined at inside linebacker in his defenses: Drew Sanders, Grant Morgan, Bumper Pool at Arkansas; and Nick Bolton, Cale Garrett and Kentrell Brothers at Missouri. Even Rebels defensive coordinator Mike Scherer played the spot for Odom at Missouri.
Odom has another gem in Jackson Woodard, a transfer from Arkansas who earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2023 and opened the season with three sacks and four tackles for loss in a 27-7 win at Houston.
"For us to be a good defense, we've got to have a linebacker that can run and do the things that Jackson's able to do," Odom told ESPN. "He's going to be an inside rusher, he's going to be an edge rusher, we can put him in man coverage, he can play zone-drop principles. We try to create mismatches with that spot."
After reaching the Mountain West title game in Odom's first season, UNLV once again should contend because of a defense featuring Woodard and others, including safety Jalen Catalon, who earned All-SEC honors under Odom at Arkansas, and reunited with the coach this year. Catalon had two interceptions, including a pick-six, against Houston.
"Stat line was great, but there were things that he did that don't show up that are exactly what we need out of that spot," Odom said. "It goes back to his familiarity with the system."
Vanderbilt is 1-0 after an overtime win over Virginia Tech, thanks largely to its New Mexico State connection. During the offseason, Vandy coach Clark Lea looked to New Mexico State for offensive coordinator Tim Beck, quarterback Diego Pavia and others, including Jerry Kill, who revived the NMSU program as head coach and now serves as Lea's chief consultant.
Pavia, who led New Mexico State past Auburn and to its first 10-win season since 1960, delivered in his first game with the Commodores, completing 12 of 16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a team-high 104 rushing yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot senior completed 61.6% of his passes last season, a jump in accuracy but an area he has continued to emphasize.
"We had two balls dropped, so it really should have been 14-of-16 [passing]," Beck told ESPN. "He's worked extremely hard on it. What will help his accuracy is what we do with him. We can't leave him in the pocket all the time, obviously, because he's not very tall, but as long as we move him around some and give him some different options, and he's smart with a football, he's extremely accurate."
Beck likes the players who surround Pavia, from tight end Eli Stowers to running back Sedrick Alexander to wide receivers Quincy Skinner Jr. and Junior Sherrill. The New Mexico State group has brought to Vanderbilt an understanding of how a program can change course.
Tennessee appeared in only one of our post-Week 1 CFP predictions, but perhaps our buddy Chris Low is onto something. There's optimism around Tennessee's roster, both internally and externally, as the Vols have star power on both sides of the ball, including redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. "Tennessee has good everything right now," said a coach who will face the Vols this fall. "Their NIL's pretty damn aggressive. They've been able to load their roster."
Iamaleava and pass rusher James Pearce Jr. are two of the headliners, but Tennessee has other strengths, including defensive tackle, where four seniors are in the rotation. "Our interior defensive linemen, any one of those can probably start anywhere in the country," a Tennessee source said. "We have superior depth in the defensive line."