Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
On3.com
College Football Rankings: ESPN releases updated FPI Top 25 after Week 1 Saturday slate
By Nick Kosko,
3 hours ago
ESPN released its latest FPI Top 25 rankings after a loaded Week 1 Saturday slate and there were some changes, including some big ones in the top 10.
The first full weekend of college football isn’t over yet, but enough to warrant a look at the rankings. There were a lot of standout performances this weekend.
If any team made a statement Saturday, it was Georgia. The first half was slow, but then the Bulldogs put their foot on the gas in a 34-3 win over Clemson.
It was a dominant display from defense and quarterback Carson Beck. This surely looks like the national title favorite after one game. It’s a long season, but everyone’s chasing the ‘Dawgs.’
Jalen Milroe and Kalen DeBoer (William McLelland / USA TODAY Sports)
The Kalen DeBoer era got off to a great start with a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky, boosting the ranking in the FPI. It wasn’t the toughest game, but it was a flawless performance.
Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide built a 42-0 lead in just 30 minutes as he tossed three scores and went 7-of-9 passing for 200 yards. Despite the new coach, this isn’t anything different for Bama.
Texas did the same as Alabama as it entered the SEC. The Longhorns dominated Colorado State 52-0 at home with Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning both playing under center.
Again it’s one week, but Texas looks like a legit SEC and national title contender this season. A long way to go, but you couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2024.
Ohio State had a balanced approach on offense with Will Howard looking the part at QB. Speaking of looking the part in the 52-6 win over Akron, freshman WR Jeremiah Smith is going to be a problem for everyone else.
The true freshman played high school ball last year and caught six passes for 92 yards and two scores Saturday. National title or bust for the Buckeyes this year.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. (Credit: Frank Hyatt | Blue White Illustrated)
Penn State was elevated in ESPN’s FPI after the delayed win over West Virginia. Lightning halted the contest at halftime, but the Nittany Lions cruised in the second half.
Drew Allar shook off a rocky first quarter and finally looked like the elite passer he was touted as coming out of high school. If he keeps it up, coupled with Penn State’s solid defense, the Nittany Lions could be scary.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman fires up the Fighting Irish. (Photo by Chad Weaver)
It’s tough to go to Kyle Field and win, but that’s what Notre Dame did and boosted its FPI ranking. In the end, stifling defense and timely offense was the difference against Texas A&M.
In the 23-13 win, Riley Leonard didn’t light it up passing, but the run game was efficient with him running 12 times. Jeremiyah Love also had 14 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Tennessee arrived, after one week at least, and moved up in the FPI rankings per ESPN. The one who definitely arrived was QB Nico Iamaleava.
The young gun went 22-of-28 passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns as the Volunteers crushed Chattanooga 69-3. In a few weeks, we might consider this team a legit threat to make a deep run in the CFP.
Oklahoma didn’t break much of a sweat against Temple, but went down in the FPI, only due to Ole Miss honestly. The 51-3 win was nearly flawless for the Sooners.
Jackson Arnold came in and showed why he was a top QB recruit. He finished the win 17-of-25 passing for 141 yards and four touchdowns. Quick day at the office.
Yikes, that was close huh? Oregon won, but only 24-14 over Idaho at home. ESPN’s FPI dropped the Ducks from No. 2 all the way down to the end of the top 10.
Make no mistake, this is still a great football team. But Oregon asked Dillon Gabriel to throw the ball 49 times in this one. Sheesh.
With ESPN’s latest FPI rankings here, we’ll see how the final games of Week 1 determine the full slate of Week 2. But for now, it looks like the top 10 is clear.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Most Popular
Comments / 0