OXFORD — The first week (first week-and-a-half? Week 0 complicates the calculus) of the 2024 college football season has come and gone and … wow. That was certainly something!
Several teams did what we thought they would — teams like Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Missouri took care of business against the undermanned teams they were supposed to. Georgia flexed its muscles in a big way against Clemson, showing everyone why the Bulldogs are the team to beat. USC and Notre Dame made huge statements with victories over LSU and Texas A&M, respectively, and Florida State probably wishes the season never started in the first place.
Here were my rankings for the week, and here is the actual Week 2 poll, which was released this afternoon. Ole Miss held serve at No. 6.
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Oregon
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
- Alabama
- Penn State
- Missouri
- Michigan
- Utah
- USC
- Miami
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma State
- Oklahoma
- Kansas State
- Arizona
- LSU
- Kansas
- Iowa
- Georgia Tech
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Texas A&M
Among the biggest movers this week from the preseason poll were USC (positive), Miami (positive), Georgia Tech (debuting in the poll) and Florida State (very-much not positive). Let’s get to the breakdown.
The top 10
Top-ranked Georgia and then-No. 14 Clemson were locked in a one-score game at halftime before the Bulldogs unleashed their fury, outscoring the Tigers 28-3 in the second half. I don’t know if it’s so much that Clemson is worse than we thought (their offense is a bit iffy) as it is Georgia is somehow better. Carson Beck was sharp, the defense was fast and freshman running back Nate Frazier looks like another future star. Ohio State wasn’t particularly sharp early against Akron, but the Buckeyes wound up with a healthy 52-6 win over the Zips. I moved Texas above Oregon because the Longhorns dominated Colorado State while the Ducks beat FCS Idaho (albeit a very good FCS team) by just 10 at home. Now, the total yards disparity tells a different story — Oregon outgained the Vandals 487-217 — but the Ducks weren’t able to completely shake Idaho until late. I still think Oregon is very good, but I’m keeping my eye on the Ducks.
Notre Dame only moved up two spots for me, but the Fighting Irish were really impressive, notching a win at Kyle Field over a ranked Texas A&M team. Ole Miss and Alabama blew out their opposition, but I had the Rebels ahead of the Crimson Tide from the get-go, and nothing this weekend really changed my mind on that front. Penn State’s win at West Virginia was impressive, Missouri’s win over Murray State was a bludgeoning and Michigan’s win over Fresno State wasn’t dominant but got the job done. We’ll know a lot more about the Wolverines next weekend after they host Texas. For now, the defending national champions will get the benefit of the doubt.
The rest
Utah predictably handled Southern Utah in Cam Rising’s return. USC made a statement in its first game as a member of the Big Ten (still doesn’t feel quite right), scoring a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to overcome then-No. 13 LSU. The Trojans and Tigers both had new quarterbacks and new-look defenses, and all seem to be in good shape. Miami’s 41-17 shellacking of Florida was impressive. Not because I think Florida is going to be particularly great, but because the Hurricanes went on the road to a packed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and did everything they wanted to the Gators. Tennessee did what it was supposed to against Chattanooga, and Nico Iamaleava looked like the guy we thought he would. We’ll learn more about the Volunteers this week against NC State.
I have Oklahoma State ahead of Oklahoma here, which might surprise some. But I thought the Cowboys’ win over the defending FCS champions was more impressive than what the Sooners did in a 51-3 win over Temple; Oklahoma totaled 378 yards of offense against the Owls and surrendered three sacks. Kansas State beat up on UT Martin while Arizona won a very strange 61-39 shootout over New Mexico. That Wildcats offense is something else. Kansas appropriately dismantled Lindenwood and Iowa … put up nearly 500 yards of offense? Yes, it was against Illinois State, but progress is progress.
Georgia Tech’s win over Florida State in Ireland doesn’t have quite the luster it did following the Seminoles’ second-straight loss to open the season, but the Yellow Jackets have been very solid so far in two games. The last addition to the top 25 for this week on my end was Louisville, which means NC State exited the premise. The Wolfpack have a chance for a major statement this weekend against Tennessee, but they struggled for a good portion of their game with Western Carolina and trailed after three quarters. Louisville, who was among the first few teams out of the initial poll, beat Austin Peay 62-0. I’m keeping Texas A&M in because they lost a pretty tight one to a very good Notre Dame team.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
