NCAA FBS Top 25 Week 1

1. Alabama 1-0 SEC: Alabama defeated many people’s Mountain West’s favorites 55-0! The Mountain West may be only a shadow of their glory days with Utah, TCU, and BYU, but the conference saw a resurgence last season with Utah State, San Diego State, Air Force, and Fresno State. Nevada was even quite good. So, to win over the 2021 Mountain West Champions in such dominate fashion is quite impressive.
2. Georgia 1-0 SEC: Georgia’s 49-3 victory over Oregon was the best win this week by far! The Bulldogs dominated a team that could have very well been in the CFP, and who knows, may still work themselves back in there. But, the Bulldogs better beware. While the Ducks have potential, last season they were deceiving. On paper, they were quite good with wins over teams like Ohio State, but in game, they looked quite awful even in their wins.
3. Ohio State 1-0 Big Ten: The Ohio State scheduled a Top 5 matchup and won. Despite this win, the Buckeyes did not display much excitement. Most Buckeye teams in the past decade would have defeated the Fighting Irish by +20. So, Ohio State really needs to work on their offense or risk losing out on a CFP spot.
4. Texas A&M 1-0 SEC: Texas A&M did not play as well as they should have defeating a good team for FCS. But, the Aggies still look to be the top favorites to win the SEC West besides Alabama and therefore are clearly a Top 5 team for now.
5. USC 1-0 Pac-12: USC looked spectacular in their 66-14 win over Rice. This was USC’s most dominating win since the Pete Carroll days and while this hype will probably ware off, these rankings are not for hindsight, rather they are for how teams have performed. The Trojans for now look to be a Top 5 team and the favorites to win the Pac-12.
6. Clemson 1-0 ACC: Clemson played a close game and then would dominate the last 20 minutes of the game where the Tigers outscored Georgia Tech 27-0.
7. Oklahoma 1-0 Big 12: Oklahoma defeated a top C-USA team in UTEP handily. This is quite impressive for the new Sooners’ head coach and they continue to look like favorites to win the Big 12.
8. Michigan 1-0 Big Ten: Michigan won big over Colorado State, a team that could either be really good or really bad. It is tough to tell which Rams team will show up this year for CSU, so this huge Wolverines win it hard to analyze until the future. Yet, a 51-7 win is always good and keeps Michigan comfortably in the Top 10.
9. Oklahoma State 1-0 Big 12: Oklahoma State looked really good against Central Michigan and despite the final score being 58-44, the Cowboys actually were much better than this against the Chippewas on Saturday. The Cowboys started to tone down their play in the 4th Quarter which led to CMU coming back to make the score closer. Oklahoma State will need to score lots to compete for the CFP and in the CFP if they make it, so this first win was a good sign for the Cowboys’ future.
10. Baylor 1-0 Big 12: It may have been Albany, but the Bears dominated with 69 points. It looks like regular Baylor service is back and that means lots of points and thus lots of wins. For now, they are clearly at Top 10 team.
11. Notre Dame 0-1 Independent: If the Buckeyes are as good as expected, and the Fighting Irish continue to compete like they did on Saturday, there is a very good chance that Notre Dame will be in the CFP. But, Notre Dame cannot be Top 10 with a 0-1 record.
12. Arkansas 1-0 SEC: Arkansas either just beat a Top 4 team or beat a good team in a rebuild. Either way, the Razorbacks look ready to cut away at the SEC and after last season’s massive improvements, Arkansas is mighty capable of being a Top 10 team.
13. Florida 1-0 SEC: Florida defeated a really good Utah Utes team at home. If the Gators keep this up, Florida will challenge Georgia for the SEC East title.
14. BYU 1-0 Independent: BYU dominated South Florida 50-21. This win was impressive because the Cougars displayed elite talent to defeat a team full of elite athletes. BYU looks ready to once again go for the CFP, but the Pac-12 looks much better this year and so it will be difficult in the long run to compete for it. However, at the same time, if BYU really does go 12-0 in the regular season, they will almost be a shoe-in for the CFP due to the Pac-12’s improvement thus making BYU better according to the pickers.
15. Mississippi State 1-0 SEC: The Bulldogs dominated a respectable Memphis side, 49-23. This win shows that Mississippi State can dominate a good athletic and competitive team, which bodes well for their SEC games in the future.
16. Kentucky 1-0 SEC: Kentucky looks strong and dominated one of the MAC favorites at home. Miami (Ohio) may not be a Georgia or Florida, but they are a top team in an FBS conference. Therefore it was a good win for Kentucky.
17. Oregon State 1-0 Pac-12: The Beavers dominated Boise State and should contend in the Pac-12 this season.
18. Wisconsin 1-0 Big Ten: Wisconsin did not get too much of a test against Illinois State but passed it anyway. The Badgers do not look as good as previously.
19. Miami (Florida) 1-0 ACC: Miami might have played Bethune-Cookman, but they thoroughly dominated scoring 70 points!
20. Michigan State 1-0 Big Ten: The Spartans looked good in their win over Western Michigan, and due to it being an in-state matchup, the score was actually quite impressive to win by +20.
21. Washington 1-0 Pac-12: Washington dominated many people’s MAC favorites, Kent State, and it was never really close. Washington has the talent to compete with any team and the home field advantage to defeat any team.
22. Air Force 1-0 Mountain West: Air Force dominated Northern Iowa, a team that often plays close to Iowa and Iowa State. As of now, Air Force looks like the clear Mountain West favorites in a conference that looks to be rebuilding.
23. Arizona 1-0 Pac-12: Arizona dominated one of the best college football teams in the past decade, away, on their opening night at their new stadium. The Wildcats may not stay this good and probably will not, but as of now, they are putting up Top 25 performances.
24. UCLA 1-0 Pac-12: UCLA has the most talent out of any team on the cusp of the Top 25. Despite starting off slow, UCLA dominated Bowling Green both offensively and defensively. Their ability to use many of their wide receivers and tide ends bodes well for the season because it shows they have depth to compete for a CFP spot given their easy relative schedule and their Power 5 status. The Bruins also have a QB and RB that legit could contend for a Heismen Trophy as they have stellar numbers.
25. TCU 1-0 Big 12: TCU dominated a Power 5 conference team away, in the second half. But, their first half looks worrying because that slow start was against the Buffaloes who look to be the worst team in the Pac-12, and a team that may expect to not win a single game this season due to their poor play and tough schedule.

• Pittsburgh 1-0 ACC: The Panthers are supposed to be good, and did defeat Big 12 opposition in the Mountaineers, and an old rival. Still, the Panthers just do not look like a Top 25 team yet. As the season goes on, they probably will be up there.
• Houston 1-0 AAC: Houston defeated a very good UTSA side in a packed Alamo Dome away. The Cougars’ offense looks electric, but their overall performance was not Top 25. In future weeks, they probably will display Top 25 showings, but not yet.
• Utah 0-1 Pac-12: Utah should be back in the Top 25 soon. The Utes are really good and were unlucky not to defeat the Gators. The Utes are now the second favorites to win the Pac-12 and has a very good chance to win every game from here on out, and make it to the CFP, barring other teams results and Florida’s.
• Texas 1-0 Big 12: A win against UL Monroe is always a plus, and to win by 42 points is incredible, but the Longhorns still look like they will struggle to be a Top 25 team. They need more to get into the Top 25.
• Ole Miss 1-0 SEC: Ole Miss did not look like a Top 25 team on Saturday and that is why they find themselves lower on the list than what many people would expect. But, they still defeated what could be a really good Troy team by 18 points.
• Kansas State 1-0 Big 12: Kansas State defeated a really good FCS team in South Dakota, 34-0. The Wildcats look good, but they will need more offense to compete in the Big 12.
• Wake Forest 1-0 ACC: Wake Forest is supposed to be good, but a win over VMI is not good enough to land them in the Top 25, not when other teams had much more inspiring performances against much better teams. They do not deserve this ranking yet, but will most likely earn it as the season goes on.
• Arizona State 1-0 Pac-12: Arizona State played very well with their new additions in a 40-3 home win over in-state rivals, Northern Arizona from the Big Sky in FCS. ASU has the talent to win the Pac-12, but their program is in such disarray that until they defeat a quality FBS opponent, they still are expected to finish middle of the Pac-12 to below the middle.
• UCF 1-0 AAC: A big win over SC State 56-10 suggests the Golden Knights are back to a Top 25 program, but more wins are needed to solidify this feeling.
• Cincinnati 0-1 AAC: The Bearcats need to hope that either Arkansas is really good or that they just had an off game. Either way, it will be difficult for the Bearcats to recover given that Group of 5 teams often do not get a second chance for the CFP, and until last year, never got any chance. Being undefeated was basically a pre-requisite, but they still have a lot to play for.

Conference Rankings:

Conference: Out of Conference Record

1. SEC: 14-1; Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Missouri, Auburn, South Carolina, LSU, Vanderbuilt
2. Big 12: 9-1: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU, Texas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, West Virginia, Kansas
3. Pac-12: 9-3: USC, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona, UCLA, Utah, Arizona State, Oregon, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Washington State, Colorado
4. Big Ten: 8-0; Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers
5. ACC: 10-2; Clemson, Miami, Pittsburgh, Wake Forrest, Florida State, NC State, Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Boston College
6. Mountain West: 9-5; Air Force, Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming, Boise State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Colorado State, Hawaii
7. AAC: 4-7; Houston, UCF, Cincinnati, SMU, East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, Memphis, South Florida, Temple, Navy
8. Sun Belt: 8-6; Old Dominion, South Alabama, James Madison, Appalachian State, Louisiana Lafayette, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Arkansas State, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Marshall, Texas State, Louisiana Monroe
9. MAC: 5-7; Ohio, Toledo, NIU, CMU, EMU, Miami (OH), Akron, WMU, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ball State
10. C-USA: 6-10; WKU, UTSA, FAU, UAB, FIU, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Rice, MTSU, UTEP, Charlotte

• Independent: 3-6; Notre Dame, BYU, Liberty, UCONN, Army, NMSU, UMASS

Photo from ESPN

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