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The 2024 College Football is underway and Florida State is already 0-2. The Pac-12 no longer exists, Texas and Oklahoma are members of the SEC, and the College Football Playoff will feature a 12-team field — leaving more room for error than ever before. Let’s dive into the first Top 25 of 2024.
25. Louisville Cardinals (1-0)
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We entered the season knowing that we wouldn’t learn much about Louisville over the first few weeks of the season. The Cardinals opened their campaign by welcoming Austin Peay to town. Predictably, the Governors provided zero competition. Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough threw four touchdowns in the first half and the backfield combined for 293 yards and three scores on just 28 carries en route to a 62-0 win. Defensively, the Cards held Austin Peay to 106 total yards. Louisville’s first test will come on September 21 when it hosts Georgia Tech.
24. Texas A&M Aggies (0-1)
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It certainly wasn’t the way Texas A&M wanted its year to start, but the team showed some promise in its loss to Notre Dame. A&M’s defense put together a stellar first half in which it limited the Irish to six points. The unit had more trouble in the second half as Notre Dame ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, but it is clear that A&M’s defense will be its strength this season. Unfortunately, the offense struggled immensely. Conner Weigman finished 12-of-30 for 100 yards and two interceptions. On the ground, the Aggies averaged 3.8 YPC. Weigman and Co. will need to play much better if A&M wants to compete in the SEC.
23. LSU Tigers (0-1)
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With six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, LSU held a 17-13 lead over the USC Trojans. Then, the Tigers surrendered two touchdowns in the final 5:44 of play — including the winning TD with :08 on the clock — and fell 27-20. It was an ugly finish for the Tigers on a day in which they committed 10 penalties and left a handful of points on the board. QB Garrett Nussmeier performed well (304 yards, two TDs) but could only lead LSU to three points in the final 15 minutes. The Tigers play Nicholls this week and will travel to South Carolina for their first SEC battle of the season in Week 3.
22. Boise State Broncos (1-0)
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Boise State was viewed as a potential playoff team ahead of the season but its Week 1 performance raised some concerns with its defense. Facing a Georgia Southern team that went 6-7 last year, the Broncos surrendered 45 points and 461 total yards. However, Boise’s offense lived up to the hype. Star running back Ashton Jeanty was unstoppable all afternoon. One of the nation’s top runners, Jeanty gashed Georgia Southern for 267 yards and six touchdowns on 20 carries. The Broncos will need to perform much better defensively if they want to take down Oregon this week.
21. Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0)
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In one of the weekend’s most shocking sights, Iowa’s offense showed signs of life in its blowout win over Illinois State. The Hawkeyes blanked the Redbirds, 40-0, and forced three turnovers while allowing under 200 yards. Offensively, Iowa generated nearly 500 yards and received strong performances from Cade McNamara and Kaleb Johnson. The former Michigan QB threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns — he didn’t top 200 yards last season — and Johnson rushed for 119 yards and two scores on 11 carries. Let’s see if the offense can perform against Iowa State this weekend.
20. NC State Wolfpack (1-0)
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With Florida State in the dumps, NC State is looking like one of the top challengers to Miami in the ACC. The Wolfpack didn’t look great through 30 minutes of their opener against Western Carolina, but the offense came alive in the second half and looked more like the team we expected to see. Jordan Waters scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and finished with 123 yards overall. QB Grayson McCall threw for 318 yards and three scores — all of which were caught by star wideout KC Concepcion (9/121/3). Next, the Wolfpack will face Tennessee in one of Week 2’s marquee showdowns.
19. Arizona Wildcats (1-0)
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It didn’t take long for Arizona to look like a Big 12 team. The Wildcats had their way with New Mexico offensively. Led by possible Heisman candidates in QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa McMillan, the Cats scored 61 points and totaled 627 yards on offense. Fifita threw for 422 yards and four TDs on just 19 completions, while McMillan caught 10 passes for 304 yards and four scores. On the other side of the ball, Zona yielded 471 yards and 39 points. Arizona should have no issues with Northern Arizona, but it will then face Kansas State and Utah in Games 3 and 4, respectively.
18. Kansas Jayhawks (1-0)
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How many of you have heard of Lindenwood? Unsurprisingly, Kansas had zero trouble putting away its FCS opponent. Star QB Jalon Daniels and RB Devin Neal had easy days at the office. Daniels attempted just 15 passes before making way for Cole Ballard, and Neal notched a 112-yard, two-TD day on just eight carries. The Jayhawks will face Illinois in Champaign this weekend — the Illini should provide a much stiffer test.
17. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-0)
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Oklahoma State did not play an ordinary FCS opponent in Week 1. South Dakota State has won back-to-back National Championships and entered last weekend’s matchup winners of 29 games in a row. The Cowboys finished with just six more yards than the Jackrabbits (394-388) but they were in control from the start of the contest. An Ollie Gordon II touchdown run pushed State’s lead to 17-3 with 8:35 remaining in the first half and the lead grew to 41-13 in the fourth quarter. Arkansas comes to town this weekend to take on one of the Big 12’s top teams.
16. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)
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Oklahoma’s first game as a member of the SEC was a breeze. Playing an overmatched Temple squad, the Sooners won 51-3 and dominated on both sides of the ball. The defense forced six turnovers — including a scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter — and consistently gave the offense a short field to work with. QB Jackson Arnold tossed four touchdown passes in the first half. The Sooners have room to improve (1-for-12 on third down) and they should have some room for error before facing Tennessee on September 14.
15. Kansas State Wildcats (1-0)
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Say hello to Avery Johnson. A sophomore out of Wichita, Johnson flashed some of his talent last year in limited action. The dual-threat QB threw for 301 yards and three scores on just 35 attempts and added 225 yards and six scores on the ground. Johnson is now K-State’s QB1 and his first performance was encouraging. In a 41-6 win over UT Martin, Johnson accounted for 190 yards and two scores. Talented back DJ Giddens added 124 yards on 13 carries, and K-State’s defense limited the Skyhawks to 134 yards and eight first downs.
14. USC Trojans (1-0)
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Caleb Williams is now in the NFL, but USC appears to have another star quarterback on its hands. Miller Moss completed 27-of-36 attempts for 378 yards and one touchdown and orchestrated two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to upend LSU. Trailing 17-13 with under six minutes to play, Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 28-yard score. After LSU tied the game, Moss led the Trojans 75 yards in 1:39 to win the game — Woody Marks scored the game-winning TD with :08 remaining. Equally as encouraging for the Trojans, their defense looked far improved under the guidance of new DC D’Anton Lynn. USC will host Utah State this weekend and will then have a week off before heading to the Big House to take on Michigan.
13. Tennessee Volunteers (1-0)
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Two years ago, Tennessee went into California and secured a commitment from a prized QB by the name of Nico Iamaleava. After redshirting last season, Iamaleava is now in charge of Tennessee’s offense — and after one game he looks like a star. The young passer shredded Chattanooga for 314 yards and three TDs in the first half of the 69-3 win. The Vols also saw running back Dylan Sampson rush for 124 yards and three scores on 12 carries. If Iamaleava continues to shine this weekend against NC State, the Vols may begin to receive some CFP hype.
12. Utah Utes (1-0)
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Cam Rising is back on the field and Utah has to feel good about its chances of making a run in the Big 12. Before missing last season with a knee injury, Rising had led the Utes to two Pac-12 titles and back-to-back Rose Bowls. The veteran returned to action for the first time since hurting his knee against Ohio State in the 2022 Rose Bowl and he didn’t miss a beat. En route to a 35-0 lead at halftime, Rising threw five TD passes. Utah blanked the Thunderbirds, 49-0, and will now play host to Baylor.
11. Missouri Tigers (1-0)
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The Tigers didn’t waste any time in their season opener. With 12:42 to play in the first quarter, QB Brady Cook found star wideout Luther Burden III for a 16-yard score. With 3:38 remaining in the first, Marcus Carroll pushed Mizzou’s lead to 28-0. Overall, Mizzou outgained Murray State 489 to 85 and generated 30 first downs — the Racers had five. Buffalo is coming to town this weekend, followed by a visit from Boston College.
10. Michigan Wolverines (1-0)
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The reigning National Champions kicked off their title defense with a decent performance. Predictably, Michigan’s defense looks far more comfortable than its offense. The Wolverines held Fresno State to 10 points and stymied the Bulldogs on third down (2-for-11). Offensively, the Wolverines struggled for a majority of the game. Davis Warren started under center and completed just 15 passes for 118 yards. Donovan Edwards — one of last year’s stars — struggled to the tune of 27 yards on 11 carries. The Wolverines will need a much better offensive showing this weekend if they want to beat Texas.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0)
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No Nick Saban, no problem. Alabama didn’t miss a step in its first game with Kalen DeBoer manning the sidelines. Heisman candidate Jalen Milroe attempted only nine passes all night…and finished with 200 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Milroe totaled 79 yards and two scores on 10 carries. The Tide limited Western Kentucky to 145 total yards in the 63-0 beatdown. USF visits Tuscaloosa this weekend and then the Tide will be on their way to Madison to battle Wisconsin.
8. Miami Hurricanes (1-0)
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There is a chance that Florida is a below-average team, but Miami’s performance on Saturday was very encouraging. Former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward made his debut for the Canes and looked every bit like a Heisman frontrunner. Ward threw for 385 yards and three TDs and never appeared uncomfortable. The Canes looked tough up front on both sides of the ball, as well. With Florida State, Clemson and Virginia Tech looking worse than expected, Miami looks like the clear team to beat in the ACC.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0)
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The Irish don’t have many marquee games on their schedule in 2024, so their win over Texas A&M was massive for their CFP hopes. Notre Dame’s defense is one of the best in the nation and it certainly lived up to the hype this week. Playing in a raucous environment, Notre Dame held A&M QB Conner Weigman to 100 yards (12-of-30) and intercepted two passes. Former Duke QB Riley Leonard was solid in his first game with the Irish (158 passing yards, 63 rushing yards), and Jeremiyah Love established himself as the lead back with a 91-yard, one-TD performance.
6. Oregon Ducks (1-0)
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Well, that was a weird game for the Ducks. Playing host to Idaho, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel completed 41-of-49 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jordan James finished with 95 yards and one TD on 15 carries. Overall, the Ducks outgained Idaho 487 to 217. First downs? 31 for Oregon and 10 for Idaho. The Vandals committed two turnovers to Oregon’s one. Somehow, the final score was 24-14 and the Ducks only led by three with under six minutes to play. Oregon should still prove to be one of the top teams in the nation, but its opening performance left a lot to be desired.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0)
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While Big 10 newcomers Oregon struggled to put away Idaho, Penn State had no trouble dispatching West Virginia in its first action of 2024. The Nittany Lions fielded a really good defense in 2023 but struggled when they had the ball in their hands. Against the Mountaineers, Penn State’s offense operated at a much higher level. QB Drew Allar needed just 11 completions to top 200 yards — and he threw three TD passes, two of which were 50+ yards. Star tailback Nicholas Singleton gained 114 yards on 13 carries and also found the end zone. State’s defense forced three turnovers on the day and didn’t allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
4. Texas Longhorns (1-0)
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Texas had an entire offseason to rue its narrow defeat to Washington in last year’s College Football Playoff Semifinal and it came out of the gates with a convincing win to start the new season. Heisman candidate Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards and three scores before giving way to Arch Manning. Manning looked good, as well, completing 5-of-6 passes for 95 yards and one TD. The Longhorns stifled Colorado State’s offense throughout the game, limiting the Rams to 74 passing yards in the 52-0 demolition. A win over Michigan this weekend could result in the Longhorns jumping to the front of the CFP pecking order alongside Georgia.
3. Ole Miss Rebels (1-0)
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Furman was never going to cause problems for Ole Miss, but the Rebels made sure the Paladins never gained hope during their Week 1 victory. QB Jaxson Dart opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run three minutes into the game and he would add five passing TDs before the first half came to a close to give his team a 52-0 lead heading into the break. The Rebels outgained Furman by 600 yards (772 to 172) and surrendered just seven first downs.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
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It was a tale of two halves for Ohio State’s offense in its 52-6 win over Akron. Chip Kelly’s first game as the OC began with a three-and-out, but the Buckeyes would score on their second drive. Former Kansas State QB Will Howard threw two TD passes in the first half — both of which went to prized freshman Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes took a 17-3 lead into halftime and pulled away in the second half as the offense and defense found their footing. The offense added three TDs after the intermission, and the defense scored two TDs of its own — a Lathan Ransom scoop-and-score and a Gabe Powers pick-six.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)
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We weren’t high on Clemson coming into the season, but Georgia made the Tigers look like a below-average team. The Bulldogs dominated defensively en route to an easy 34-3 win. The Bulldogs held Clemson to 188 total yards and put constant pressure on QB Cade Klubnik. Offensively, Carson Beck threw for 278 yards and two scores, while Nate Frazier led the way with 83 yards and one TD on 11 carries.
