Week 1 of college football was supposed to be a breeze for the nation’s top teams, a chance to flex on overmatched opponents and show why they have national championship dreams. Most of the highest-ranked squads delivered exactly that, with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 Georgia winning their openers by a combined 119-9. Even No. 11 LSU quickly shoved Clemson into the “overmatched” tier. But then there was No. 2 Oregon. The Ducks walked onto the field as 24-point favorites against Boise State and somehow got pushed until the very end in a nail-biting 34-27 win. Seriously, they had to “saddle up” to avoid a catastrophic home loss.
The Ducks Got Lucky, Not Dominant
Let’s be real, the Ducks’ performance earned them a C+ grade for a reason. They played a team with a pulse, sure, but they committed way too many costly defensive penalties. And talk about special teams woes, Evan Stewart botched a couple of punt returns that could have swung momentum. Worse, when it mattered most, Oregon struggled big time converting on third and fourth downs. After the game, head coach Dan Lanning was honest, saying, “There’s a lot that we can do a lot better.” That’s the understatement of the week, coach. They were fortunate to escape with that win. Their national title odds are still sitting at +900, but they’ve got work to do.
Georgia and Ohio State Flexed Like Expected
In stark contrast to Oregon’s close call, No. 3 Georgia delivered an absolute masterclass. They earned a clean ‘A’ grade after a ruthlessly dominant 63-3 win against Tennessee State. There were zero holes to poke in that performance. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and forced five straight TSU three-and-outs to start the game. They even got plenty of backups reps, with 15 different Bulldogs catching passes and a whopping 31 defenders recording tackles. That’s the kind of depth that screams national championship contender. Their title odds are at +750.
No. 1 Ohio State also handled business with a 56-3 win over Ball State, earning a B+. They found it harder than it should have been to get the running game going early, and they even gave up a couple of first-half sacks. But Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith looked like certified stars, and the Buckeyes ultimately limited Ball State to fewer than 3 yards per play. That’s the kind of drama-free beatdown you expect, even with a few hiccups. Their title odds are the best at +600. No. 5 Texas also picked up a B+ with a 59-7 win over Texas State, though Texas State did move the ball effectively against that “vaunted” Texas defense.
This early in the season, it’s all about shaking off the rust and building momentum. For some, like Georgia, it’s about confirming what we already knew: superior talent and a dominant gear. For others, like Oregon, it’s a harsh wake-up call that they need to clean things up, and fast, if they want to live up to those expectations. We’re just getting started, so buckle up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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