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AP Top 5
1.Georgia 1-0 (0-0) SEC This week: Tennessee Tech (0-1) (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN+/SECN+)
2.Ohio State 1-0 (0-0) Big Ten This week: Western Michigan (0-1) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, BTN)
3.Texas 1-0 (0-0) SEC This week: @ Michigan (1-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
4.Alabama 1-0 (0-0) SEC This week: South Florida (1-0) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
5.Notre Dame 1-0 Independents This week: Northern Illinois (1-0) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, NBC)
Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:
Risers
3.Texas 1-0 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #4 (Defeated Colorado State 52-0)
4.Alabama 1-0 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #5 (Defeated Western Kentucky 63-0)
5.Notre Dame 1-0 Independents Week 1: #7 (Defeated 20.Texas A&M 23-13)
9.Missouri 1-0 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #10 (Defeated Murray State 51-0)
11.Utah 1-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 1: #12 (Defeated Southern Utah 49-0)
12.Miami 1-0 (0-0) ACC Week 1: #19 (Defeated Florida 41-17)
13.USC 1-0 (0-0) Big Ten Week 1: #23 (Defeated 13.LSU 27-20)
14.Tennessee 1-0 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #15 (Defeated Chattanooga 69-3)
15.Oklahoma 1-0 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #16 (Defeated Temple 51-3)
16.Oklahoma State 1-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 1: #17 (Defeated South Dakota State 44-20)
17.Kansas State 1-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 1: #18 (Defeated UT-Martin 41-6)
19.Kansas 1-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 1: #22 (Defeated Lindenwood 48-3)
20.Arizona 1-0 (0-0) Big 12 Week 1: #21 (Defeated New Mexico 61-39)
21.Iowa 1-0 (0-0) Big Ten Week 1: #25 (Defeated Illinois State 40-0)
Fallers
7.Oregon 1-0 (0-0) Big Ten Week 1: #3 (Defeated Idaho 24-14)
10.Michigan 1-0 (0-0) Big Ten Week 1: #8 (Defeated Fresno State 30-10)
18.LSU 0-1 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #13 (Lost to 23.USC 27-20)
25.Clemson 0-1 (0-0) ACC Week 1: #14 (Lost to 1.Georgia 34-3)
Dropped Out
Florida State 0-2 (0-2) ACC Week 1: #10 (Lost to Georgia Tech 24-21 and Boston College 28-13)
Texas A&M 0-1 (0-0) SEC Week 1: #20 (Lost to 7.Notre Dame 23-13)
New
22.Louisville 1-0 (0-0) ACC Week 1: NR (Defeated Austin Peay 62-0)
23.Georgia Tech 2-0 (0-0) ACC Week 1: NR (Defeated 10.Florida State 24-21 and Georgia State 35-12)
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)
Saturday, September 7
3.Texas (1-0) @ 10.Michigan (1-0)
12 PM ET, FOX
In the game of the day, Texas heads to the Big House to face Michigan in Ann Arbor in a match up of two of last season’s College Football Playoff teams. The Longhorns were dominant in their 52-0 home opener against Colorado State. Quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards three touchdowns, and one interception. Freshman receiver Ryan Wingo caught four passes for 70 yards while freshman tailback Jerrick Gibson had ten carries for 67 yards and a score. Ewers’ will have to depend on more of his weapons on the outside, including Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, and Houston transfer Matthew Golden to stay undefeated on the road in Ann Arbor. Ahead last Saturday’s opener against Fresno State, new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore surprisingly named Davis Warren as his starting quarterback instead of Alex Orji, who many expected to be named the starter this offense. Warren accounted for 118 passing yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception in the Wolverines’ up and down 30-10 win over the Bulldogs. Warren, running back Donavan Edwards (27 rushing yards), and tight end Colston Loveland (87 receiving yards and 1 TD) will have to help lead their offense to a much better performance in week 2 against the Longhorns if they want to improve and win this game. The Wolverine defense was good enough in their week 1 victory but they will have to better when the Longhorns’ hot offense comes to town. Projected Score: Texas 34, Michigan 24
Iowa State (1-0) @ 21.Iowa (1-0)
3:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+
In a battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy and the state of Iowa, the Hawkeyes look to build upon their 40-point performance against the Cyclones at home in Kinnick Stadium. Former Michigan signal-caller Cade McNamara was terrific in Iowa’s season opener, going 21-31 for 251 yards and 3 TDs against Illinois State. In the backfield, running backs Kaleb Johnson (119 yards and 2 TDs), Kamari Moulton (65 yards), and receiver Reece Vander Zee (66 yards and 2 TDs) powered the Hawkeyes to victory. Iowa is known for their defense and linebackers Jay Higgins will look to get in the backfield and force problems against Matt Campbell’s offense, led by signal-caller Rocco Becht, who threw for 266 yards and 2 TDs in their 21-3 win over North Dakota. Going into a hostile Iowa City environment, the Cyclones must get something out of their offensive weapons, including running back Abu Sama III (36 yards) and receiver Jaylin Noel (135 yards and 1 TD). Defensive back Jontez William had an impressive season opener with 11 tackles and knocking down one pass against North Dakota. He will have to help lead the Cyclone defense against an improved Iowa offense. The winner of this game will gain momentum as conference play looms in the coming weeks for both programs. Projected Score: Iowa 24, Iowa State 17
South Carolina (1-0) @ Kentucky (1-0)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
Kentucky had an odd opening game against Southern Miss on Saturday night in their 31-0 win. A lightning delay caused a late start and an early end to their dominant win. Former Georgia QB Brock Vandagriff threw for 169 yards, 3 touchdowns, and rushed for 35 more. Barrion Brown caught two of Vandagriff’s touchdowns but only had 28 receiving yards. Defensive back Zion Childress and linebacker D’Eryk Jackson will look to contain South Carolina’s La’Norris Sellers (114 yards and no touchdowns) and Rocket Sanders (88 yards and 1 TD), who struggled in a 23-19 victory over Old Dominion at home in Columbia. It is possible that former Auburn signal-caller Robby Ashford could replace Sellers at some point during this game if the starter does not improve early against the Wildcats. The one huge bright spot in the Gamecocks’ win over the Monarchs were the two interceptions by defensive backs O’Donnell Fortune and Jalen Kilgore. Shane Beamer’s team will need to force turnovers against the Wildcats if they want to keep their coach’s name out of hot seat talk early this season. Projected Score: Kentucky 28, South Carolina 17
Colorado (1-0) @ Nebraska (1-0)
7:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
Five-star freshman Dylan Raiola’s debut under center for his father’s alma mater, the Nebraska Cornhuskers went well in a dominant win over UTEP, 40-7. Raiola, who spent time committed to Ohio State and Georgia during his high school career, threw for 238 yards and 2 TDs. He got the ball down field to two targets in particular, Isaiah Neyor (121 yards and 1 TD) and Jahmal Banks (61 yards and 1 TD). Defensive back Malcolm Hartzog was impressive in the season opening win over the Miners, getting five tackles and one interception. Hartzog and the Cornhuskers defense will look to avenge a loss last season when the Colorado Buffaloes come to town this Saturday. Deion Sanders’ team is again being led by his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Sanders threw for an impressive 445 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 interception in a back and forth 31-26 win against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in week 1. Travis Hunter took just two plays off the entire game, catching seven passes for 132 yards and 3 TDs and making three tackles defensively. It was Jimmy Horn Jr. who led the way receiving for the Buffaloes, catching seven passes for 198 yards and 1 TD. Sanders’ team will have to be much better rushing the ball when they head to Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers as starting tailback Dallan Hayden had just 20 yards on nine carries in the opener. The Buffaloes’ defense must be better after giving up 449 yards to the Bison in Boulder on August 29th. Matt Rhule must trust his star freshman quarterback to lead him to a victory against an old rival in his second season as head coach in Lincoln and I believe Dylan Raiola will give it to him. Projected Score: Nebraska 38, Colorado 28
14.Tennessee (1-0) vs. 24.NC State (1-0) (Charlotte; Duke’s Mayo Classic)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
NC State was slow to open in as they trailed in the fourth quarter of their 38-21 win to open their season against West Carolina in Raleigh. They travel a few hours to Charlotte to face Tennessee in what is a huge game between teams from the ACC and the SEC. The Wolfpack need to start faster if they want to beat an offensive juggernaut like the one Josh Heupel has been leading over the last couple of seasons in Knoxville, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava (22-28, 314 yards, 3 TDs). Former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall got it going in the second half against the Catamounts, throwing for over 300 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Running back Jordan Waters exploded for 123 yards and 2 TDs while receiver Kevin Concepcion caught nine passes for 121 yards and 3 TDs and tight end Justin Joly caught five passes for 75 yards. McCall and the rest of the NC State offense will have to make sure they have similar production against a Tennessee defense that is improved from 2023 to get their second win of the season. The aforementioned Iamaleava got the ball down the field to receivers Dont’e Thornton Jr. (3 catches, 105 yards, and 2 TDs), Bru McCoy (6 catches and 89 yards), and Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II (5 catches and 59 yards) to help the Volunteers get the win over Chatanooga. Tailback Dylan Sampson also turned in a great performance behind Iamaleava in the backfield, rushing for 124 yards and 3 TDs on just 12 carries. Defensive back Will Brooks (5 tackles) and linebacker Jalen Smith (4 tackles) will look to rattle Robert Anae’s offense so the Vols can help their offense and go for the win in this week 2 showdown. This Saturday night match up will be close but the Volunteers should prove that they are ready to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over the Wolfpack. Projected Score: Tennessee 35, NC State 24
