College football is officially back; the first week certainly did not disappoint.
To Lee Corso’s final picks, Arch Manning’s first collegiate start on the road, and a huge upset, here’s a rundown of how each top 10 team looked this past weekend.
No. 1 Texas—A near comeback in the fourth quarter against Ohio State was not enough, and the Longhorns fell 14-7 in a defensive battle. While the Longhorns’ run game was stellar, Arch Manning looked flustered against the Buckeye defense, and Texas never got into a rhythm until it was too late.
No. 2 Penn State– With a lot of production returning for James Franklin, Penn State got out to a 10-0 lead against Nevada and never took its foot off the gas. After last year’s national semifinal loss to Notre Dame, in which a wide receiver didn’t catch a single pass, Drew Allar relied on his new wideout core, as they hauled in 14 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.
No. 3 Ohio State- Losing defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Penn State? No problem! New coordinator Matt Patrica filled his shoes perfectly. The Buckeyes’ defense overwhelmed Arch Manning, pressuring him to make off-balance throws and forcing an interception. With new quarterback Julian Sayin at the helm, Sayin did enough with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate in the third that sealed the game.
No. 4 Clemson- Cade Klubnik starts his 2025 Heisman campaign with a loss. The Tigers’ offense came out flat against LSU, with the rushing attack only averaging 1.6 yards per carry. Klubnik took two sacks and threw an interception. Clemson’s final possession stalled out, getting stopped on downs in the red zone.
No. 5 Georgia- Another year where the Bulldogs meet Marshall, this time in blowout fashion. Gunner Stockton flashed his dual-threat ability, throwing for 190 yards and two scores while rushing for 73 yards and two scores. USC transfer Zachariah Branch also impressed, catching three passes for 95 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown.
No. 6 Notre Dame—The national runner-ups introduced new starter CJ Carr to begin the 2025 campaign. While Carr impressed, tying the game at 24 on his own touchdown run, the Fighting Irish fell to Miami (FL) on a go-ahead field goal, and Notre Dame’s final drive ended with back-to-back sacks taken by Carr.
No. 7 Oregon- Dante Moore looks ready for the QB1 role in Eugene, as the Ducks routed FCS Montana State 59-13. Moore threw three touchdowns as he was replaced in the middle of the third quarter with the game way out of reach.
No. 8 Alabama- Kalen DeBoer: Welcome to the hot seat. An embarrassing double-digit loss to Florida State, who finished 2-10 last year, certainly will not sit well with the Alabama faithful. Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams had a few drops and was removed from the game due to injury. Germie Bernard was the only reliable weapon for Ty Simpson, catching eight balls for 146 yards.
No. 9 LSU- The real Death Valley belongs to the Tigers. Garrett Nussmeier started his 2025 season strong with a push for the Heisman. He outplayed fellow Heisman contender Cade Klubnik, moving the ball down the field. While he had an incomplete throw after review, the rushing attack for LSU did enough, with the go-ahead score from Caden Durham being the nail in the coffin.
No. 10- Miami (FL)- Georgia transfer Carson Beck has found his joy for football in the Sunshine State. A statement win over Notre Dame in which the Hurricanes bent, but never broke. Carter Davis’ go-ahead field goal with 1:04 remaining in the fourth proved to be the difference.
