Weekly college football top 25 rankings are a big part of every season, and Athlon Sports will update its top 25 following the games each weekend. The first weekend of the 2024 season was headlined by Notre Dame's road victory at Texas A&M, USC's upset of LSU in Las Vegas, Miami's blowout against Florida, and Georgia's easy win versus Clemson. The Bulldogs take the No. 1 spot in the post-Week 1 top 25 rankings, followed by Ohio State, Texas, and Ole Miss. With the first week of the '24 season officially in the books, here are the top 25 teams in college football:
College Football Top 25 Rankings (After Week 1)
1. Georgia (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Clemson
Total domination for coach Kirby Smart's team in a 34-3 win over Clemson. Quarterback Carson Beck threw for 278 yards, with newcomers in running back Nate Frazier (83 yards) and receivers London Humphreys and Colbie Young delivering key performances. Also, Georgia's defense limited the Tigers to 188 total yards.
2. Ohio State (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Akron
The Buckeyes overcame a sluggish first half to pound Akron 52-6. New quarterback Will Howard threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense held the Zips to 177 total yards. True freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith was as good as advertised (six catches for 92 yards and two scores).
3. Texas (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Colorado State
Quarterback Quinn Ewers (20 of 27 for 260 yards and three scores) was sharp in an easy 52-0 win over Colorado State. The favorable matchup against the Rams allowed Ewers a chance to get on the same page with new targets in Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo, and Matthew Golden. Up next: A huge showdown against Michigan.
4. Ole Miss (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Furman
The Rebels cruised to an easy 76-0 victory over Furman on Saturday night. Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns, while the defense limited the Paladins to 172 yards.
5. Alabama (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Western Kentucky
New coach, same Alabama. Kalen DeBoer's debut was a success, as the Crimson Tide averaged 9.2 yards per play, and the defense held Western Kentucky to 145 yards in a 63-0 blowout. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams (two catches for 139 yards and two scores) was impressive.
6. Notre Dame (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Texas A&M
The Fighting Irish scored the biggest win in Week 1 with a 23-13 victory at Texas A&M. New quarterback Riley Leonard couldn't get much going through the air (158 yards) but ran for 63 yards, with running back Jeremiyah Love also chipping in 91 hard-fought yards. Notre Dame's defense suffocated the Aggies' offense, limiting this group to just 246 yards over 68 plays. It's only Week 1, but this victory is huge for Notre Dame's playoff hopes.
7. Oregon (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Idaho
New starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel (380 yards and two touchdowns) was productive in his Oregon debut, but the offensive line and ground game sputtered in a sluggish 24-14 win over Idaho. The Ducks have a lot of issues to clean up before next Saturday's game versus Boise State.
8. Penn State (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated West Virginia
The hire of Andy Kotelnicki as Penn State's offensive coordinator is already paying dividends. The Nittany Lions displayed a much-improved attack in Saturday's 34-12 road win at West Virginia. Quarterback Drew Allar completed 11 of 17 throws for 216 yards and three touchdowns, and the ground game churned out 222 yards over 42 carries. Penn State's defense limited the Mountaineers to just 246 yards.
9. Miami (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Florida
The 'Canes made one of the biggest statements of Week 1 in a 41-17 victory at Florida. New quarterback Cam Ward (26 of 35 for 385 yards and three touchdowns) was sharp in the Swamp, and the defense limited the Gators to just 261 yards. Coach Mario Cristobal's team should be the favorite to win the ACC.
10. Michigan (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Fresno State
It wasn't necessarily pretty, but the Wolverines began their national title defense with a 30-10 win over Fresno State. The offense is clearly a work in progress (269 yards) for new coach Sherrone Moore and question marks remain about the offensive line and quarterback play. However, as Saturday night showed, Michigan's defense remains dominant (247 yards allowed and one interception return for a touchdown).
11. Missouri (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Murray State
High expectations surround Missouri in 2024, and coach Eli Drinkwitz's squad started the year on a high note with an easy 51-0 win over Murray State. Transfer running backs Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll shined, while a couple of other portal additions - Toriano Pride and lineman Chris McClellan shined on defense in the shutout.
12. Tennessee (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Chattanooga
The potential of quarterback Nico Iamaleava (22 of 28 for 314 yards and three scores) was on display in Tennessee's easy 69-3 win over Chattanooga. The Volunteers recorded 718 total yards and limited the Mocs to just 10 first downs and 227 yards over 59 plays.
13. Utah (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Southern Utah
Quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe looked sharp in their return to the gridiron after missing all of 2023 due to injury. Rising completed 10 of 15 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns, while Kuithe caught four passes for 69 yards and three scores in a 49-0 blowout of Southern Utah.
14. USC (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated LSU
An improved defense and the solid play of new quarterback Miller Moss was enough for USC to upset LSU 27-20 on Sunday night. After struggling with tackling, poor angles, and big plays allowed under coach Lincoln Riley's first two years, the Trojans' defense looked like a completely different group under new coordinator D'Anton Lynn.
15. Oklahoma (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Temple
The Sooners cruised to a 51-3 win over Temple in their first game as a member of the SEC. However, coach Brent Venables' team lost receiver Jalil Farooq due to a foot injury, and a revamped offensive line remains a concern after an inconsistent performance against the Owls.
16. Kansas State (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated UT Martin
The Wildcats used 24 points in the second half to pull away for a 41-6 victory against UT Martin. The offense pounded away with 283 yards on the ground, and the defense limited the Skyhawks to just 134 yards on 55 plays.
17. Oklahoma State (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated South Dakota State
South Dakota State wasn't an easy Week 1 matchup, but Oklahoma State used a solid all-around effort to win 44-20. Quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 267 yards, and running back Ollie Gordon II ran for 104. The Cowboys allowed only 388 yards and limited the Jackrabbits to just three third-down conversions on 13 attempts.
18. LSU (0-1)
Week 1 Result: Lost to USC
The Tigers fell short in a high-profile opener for the third year in a row under coach Brian Kelly. Although the defense looked improved under new coordinator Blake Baker, this unit still allowed 7.5 yards a snap in a 27-20 loss to USC.
19. Clemson (0-1)
Week 1 Result: Lost to Georgia
A 34-3 loss to Georgia will only increase the questions around coach Dabo Swinney and his reluctance to go into the portal for more help each offseason. Although the Tigers remain one of the ACC's top teams, the gap between this program and Georgia (or some of the other top programs) has widened in recent years. A struggling offense (188 yards) also needs to find solutions before conference play.
20. Kansas (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Lindenwood
Quarterback Jalon Daniels threw for 148 yards and one touchdown against Lindenwood in his return to the Kansas lineup after missing nearly all of '23 due to injury. The Jayhawks didn't have to sweat much in an easy 48-3 win on Thursday night.
21. Arizona (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated New Mexico
New coach Brent Brennan's debut was a success, as Arizona defeated New Mexico 61-39 on Saturday night. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan torched the Lobos for 304 yards and four touchdowns over 10 catches.
22. Texas A&M (0-1)
Week 1 Result: Lost to Notre Dame
Mike Elko's debut ended with a disappointing 23-13 loss to Notre Dame. The Aggies should have one of the SEC's top defenses, but this team won't finish in the top 25 unless the offense makes major strides behind quarterback Conner Weigman (12 of 30 for 100 yards).
23. Louisville (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Austin Peay
Coach Jeff Brohm's offense (571 total yards) was firing on all cylinders in a 62-0 win over Austin Peay. Leading the way were strong performances by transfer quarterback Tyler Shough (232 yards and four scores) and receiver Ja'Corey Brooks (seven catches for 83 yards).
24. Iowa (1-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Illinois State
Illinois State was a favorable matchup for Iowa, but after last season, any signs of life on offense are notable for coach Kirk Ferentz's squad. Quarterback Cade McNamara threw for 251 yards and three scores, and the ground game recorded 241 yards in the 40-0 victory on Saturday.
25. Georgia Tech (2-0)
Week 1 Result: Defeated Georgia State
After an upset win over Florida State in Week Zero, the Yellow Jackets avoided a letdown by beating Georgia State 35-12.
Related: College Football Rankings: Predicting AP Top 25 Poll After Week 1
Related: College Football Bowl Projections for 2024-25
Related: College Football Group of 5 Coaches Poll: Week 1
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