As the legendary pro wrestling icon and philosopher Ric Flair famously stated, "to be the man, you gotta beat the man." In the realm of college football, the defending national champion Ohio State still holds that title. Despite the preseason rankings that favored Texas, largely due to the hype surrounding freshman quarterback Arch Manning, reality struck hard at the Horseshoe this past Saturday. The Buckeyes now find themselves in a position to leapfrog Penn State and reclaim the No. 1 spot when the Associated Press releases its first Top 25 rankings of the regular season on Tuesday.
In addition to Ohio State, look for No. 9 LSU to gain traction for the top ranking following their hard-fought 17-10 victory over No. 4 Clemson. If LSU ascends to the top position, it will mark the second-largest jump in history, second only to Miami's leap from No. 10 to No. 1 in 1984. Analyzing the Week 1 outcomes, it’s possible that Penn State could drop a spot or two, especially after a dominant 46-11 win over Nevada that failed to impress voters.
While Texas fans may feel disappointed, they can take solace knowing that Arch Manning, despite facing Ohio State, has immense potential and will not encounter such tough competition every week. In contrast, Alabama fans are left feeling disheartened and justifiably anxious. Coach Kalen DeBoer experienced his fourth loss to an unranked opponent in just 14 games with a 31-17 defeat against Florida State. His predecessor, Nick Saban, suffered similar setbacks, but over a span of 235 games.
Ohio State's impressive 14-7 victory over No. 1 Texas wasn't solely due to the performance of new quarterback Julian Sayin, who indeed outplayed Manning, but rather a formidable defense that halted four out of five fourth-down attempts. New defensive coordinator Matt Patricia executed a game plan that baffled Manning with a variety of pre-snap looks.
Meanwhile, No. 9 LSU celebrated its first season opener win in six years, showcasing an improved defense that kept Cade Klubnik of Clemson on his toes, limiting the Tigers to a mere 4.5 yards per play. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had a solid performance, positioning himself as a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy by default.
No. 10 Miami also had a noteworthy outing, edging out No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24, which served as a strong debut for their revamped defense under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman. On the contrary, Texas faced a tough reality check as it became the first preseason No. 1 to lose its opener since BYU upset Miami in 1990. While Manning remains a focal point due to his lineage, he will face less intense scrutiny with upcoming matchups against San Jose State, UTEP, and Sam Houston.
The silver lining for Clemson is that they won’t encounter a defense as formidable as LSU's again this season. Shortly after No. 8 Alabama's loss, discussions about DeBoer’s hefty contract buyout of $70 million began circulating on social media. Penn State, now ranked No. 2, showcased offensive prowess by scoring on its first nine possessions against Nevada.
No. 5 Georgia enjoyed a straightforward 45-7 victory over Marshall, aided by quarterback Gunnar Stockton, who threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more. Meanwhile, No. 14 Michigan saw Bryce Underwood receive a C-plus grade for his performance in a 34-17 win against New Mexico, though he outshone previous true freshman starters.
In a nail-biting finish, No. 17 Kansas State narrowly escaped a loss to North Dakota, scoring a touchdown with just 42 seconds left, resulting in a 38-35 victory. No. 24 Tennessee asserted itself with a 45-26 win over Syracuse, suggesting they may have benefited from the switch between Nico Iamaleava and Joey Aguilar from UCLA.
Lastly, No. 25 Boise State faced a significant setback against South Florida, losing 34-7, indicating their struggles without Ashton Jeanty. As the season progresses, keep an eye on BYU, which received the most points among unranked teams in the preseason poll, following a dominant 69-0 victory over FCS Portland State. With an open ranking spot after Boise State’s loss, opportunities await.
Utah demonstrated its efficiency by going 14 of 17 on third downs and scoring on all six trips to the red zone against UCLA. Quarterback Devon Dampier, who led the Mountain West Conference in total offense the previous year, proved he is a force to be reckoned with.
