LSU didn’t just walk into Week 1; they blew the doors off Clemson with a jaw-dropping 51-10 victory, immediately seizing the No. 1 spot in the debut Top 10 rankings. Coach Lane Kiffin’s Tigers absolutely drubbed Clemson, so much so that the national conversation somehow shifted from Kiffin’s rousing debut to Dabo Swinney’s uncertain future. That’s how dominant they were. These Tigers from Baton Rouge are fast, big, and tough, and after years of searching, they’ve finally found a run game in Red Stick.
LSU’s Ground Attack and Notre Dame’s Second-Half Surge
That LSU ground game was no joke, topping 300 yards rushing in Week 1. A huge chunk of that came from Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones, a redshirt sophomore who powered his way to an impressive 5 yards per carry and scored twice. This wasn’t just a win, folks; it was the most convincing victory over a power league opponent in Week 1, barely edging out Miami. It’s no wonder they’re sitting atop the rankings. Meanwhile, Notre Dame, a trendy pick to make a deep playoff run this season, also made a statement by cruising to a 41-13 win over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.
The Fighting Irish entered the season with an experienced and talented guy behind center in CJ Carr, and despite losing two top running backs, they brought back a ton of dynamic skill players. That salty defensive unit returned 10 starters and their top six tacklers from last year. And let me tell you, that defense showed up big time against the Badgers: five of Wisconsin’s eight drives ended in punts, and UW managed a paltry 284 yards of total offense, thanks in part to LB Drayk Bowen and the crew. While they only held a 13-10 halftime lead, Coach Marcus Freeman told NBC postgame that his team was “pressing” in a lackluster first half. But they flipped a switch. The second half turned into an absolute whipping, with a pick-6, a 28-yard touchdown pass, and two rushing scores from new featured back Aneyas Williams. Freeman credited the “establishment of the rushing game” for keeping the offense on track. That performance sprung Notre Dame to the No. 2 spot.
A New Way to Rank Them: No Preseason Hype Allowed
Now, a quick word about these new Top 10 rankings: it’s a Judgement Free Zone, which is wild! They do NOT consider any preseason polls or past season results. What happened last year, or what some analyst predicted, is firmly in the past. This system rewards teams that take on tougher early-season opponents. That’s why you won’t find teams like Georgia (who played Tennessee State) or Ohio State (who faced Ball State) in these initial rankings. It makes for an unusual group in the first few weeks, but by midseason, it might just look like every other poll out there. For now, it’s all about what you put on the field when it counts.
LSU is geared up to host Louisiana Tech next week, looking to maintain their dominant form. Notre Dame, coming off their impressive second-half surge, will be back in action against Rice. It’s going to be exciting to see if these early frontrunners can keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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