By ERIC OLSONUpdated 12:28 PM EDT, September 1, 2025Share
As pro wrestling great and noted philosopher Ric Flair famously said, to be the man, you gotta beat the man.
Defending national champion Ohio State is still the man in college football.
The purveyors of preseason rankings had anointed Texas largely because of what in retrospect was an overabundance of hype surrounding Arch Manning. Reality hit at the Horseshoe on Saturday, and now the Buckeyes are in position to jump Penn State and return to No. 1 when The Associated Press’ first Top 25 of the regular season drops Tuesday.
Look for No. 9 LSU to garner support for No. 1, as well, after its 17-10 victory over No. 4 Clemson. An eight-rung promotion to the top spot would be the second-biggest jump of all time. In 1984, Miami went from No. 10 to No. 1 in the first regular-season poll.
Given the Week 1 results, Penn State might even drop a spot or two. A 46-11 win over lowly Nevada doesn’t necessarily move the needle upward with voters.
Texas fans surely are let down but can take solace in the fact that Manning has a high ceiling and won’t be playing Ohio State every week.
Alabama fans, on the other hand, are gutted and rightly worried. Kalen DeBoer has lost to four unranked opponents in his first 14 games following a 31-17 defeat at Florida State. His predecessor, Nick Saban, lost to four unranked teams in his 235 games over 17 years leading the Crimson Tide.
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Look for them to move up
— No. 3 Ohio State beat No. 1 Texas 14-7 not because new quarterback Julian Sayin outplayed Manning — he did — but because of a dominant defense that made stops on four of five fourth downs. New defensive coordinator Matt Patricia made all the right calls and flummoxed Manning with a mix of pre-snap looks.
— No. 9 LSU won its first opener in six seasons, leaning on an upgraded defense in what was expected to be a battle of quarterbacks. LSU never let Cade Klubnik get comfortable and held Clemson to a paltry 4.5 yards per play. Garrett Nussmeier was solid and probably is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy by default.
— No. 10 Miami’s 27-24 win over No. 6 Notre Dame, after some anxious moments, turned out to be a great launch for the Hurricanes’ new and improved defense under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman.
Look for them to drop
— Texas became the first preseason No. 1 to lose its opener since BYU knocked off Miami in 1990. Manning will continue to be in the spotlight — he plays for Texas and he’s a Manning, after all — but it won’t be as intense with San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston the next three opponents.
— The good news for Clemson is the Klubnik-led offense won’t see a defense as good as LSU’s again.
— It wasn’t long after No. 8 Alabama’s loss that DeBoer’s contract buyout price of $70 million was bandied on social media.
They are who we thought they were
— No. 2 Penn State got points on its first nine possessions against Nevada.
— No. 5 Georgia had a drama-free 45-7 win over Marshall, with Gunnar Stockton throwing for two TDs and running for two TDs and the defense forcing seven three-and-outs and one four-and-out.
Some good, some bad
— Bryce Underwood gave himself a grade of C-plus, but he was better than any of the three other true freshman quarterbacks who previously started for No. 14 Michigan. He was 21 of 31 for 251 yards and a touchdown in a 34-17 win over New Mexico.
— No. 17 Kansas State was less than a minute away from being the highest-ranked team since 2016 to lose to an FCS opponent. The Wildcats’ touchdown with 42 seconds left let them escape with a 38-35 win over North Dakota.
— No. 24 Tennessee’s 45-26 win over Syracuse showed that the Volunteers might have gotten the better end of the Nico Iamaleava-Joey Aguilar switcheroo with UCLA. Aguilar threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Iamaleava struggled and was sacked four times in a 43-10 home loss to Utah.
— No. 25 Boise State obviously was going to miss Ashton Jeanty. The Broncos’ 34-7 loss at ascending South Florida suggests they miss him terribly.
Knocking on the door
— BYU received the most points of unranked teams in the preseason poll. A 69-0 win over FCS Portland State is no big deal — the Vikings have been outscored 111-0 in two games — but there’s a spot available after Boise State’s loss.
— Utah was 14 of 17 on third downs and scored on all six trips into the red zone against UCLA. Utes QB Devon Dampier, who led the Mountain West Conference in total offense at New Mexico last year, is the real deal.
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Olson is an Associated Press sports writer based in Omaha, Nebraska. He covers Nebraska, Creighton, the Big Ten and national college sports issues.
By Bjorn Bergstrom,21 hours ago
Week 1 of the 2025 college football season is in the books, as every Division I team suited up over the past few days except the North Carolina Tar Heels and TCU Horned Frogs, who will play Monday night.
It was a wild week — sure to produce changes in the upcoming AP Poll.
In this piece, we’ve put together our own power rankings. This isn’t strictly a snapshot of where things stand now; it’s also a projection of how we view the rest of the season unfolding.
With that in mind, here are our Week 1 power rankings, complete with all 136 Division I teams and full analysis for the top 25.
25) Auburn Tigers
Result: 38-24 W vs. Baylor
The Auburn Tigers were dominant on the ground with 308 rushing yards against the Baylor Bears. Transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold did his part, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns, including a fourth-down conversion that sealed the win.
24) Missouri Tigers
Result: 61-6 W vs. Central Arkansas
It was a complete effort for Missouri, which overwhelmed an inferior opponent. The Tigers finished with 560 total yards while holding Central Arkansas to 227 and forcing two turnovers. Quarterback Beau Pribula was efficient, completing 23 of 28 passes for 283 yards and two scores.
23) Oklahoma Sooners
Result: 35-3 W vs. Illinois State
The Oklahoma Sooners put on a defensive clinic in their season-opener, holding Illinois State to just 151 total yards and three points. Quarterback John Mateer was on fire, throwing for 392 yards and three touchdowns in his first Sooners start.
22) Illinois Fighting Illini
Result: 52-3 W vs. Western Illinois
It was another day at the office for the Illinois Fighting Illini, who dismantled an inferior opponent in Western Illinois. Head coach Bret Bielema’s squad, which has Big Ten title aspirations, looked sharp in all phases.
21) Texas A&M Aggies
Result: 42-24 W vs. UTSA
Quarterback Marcel Reed was the star of the show for the Texas A&M Aggies with 289 passing yards, four touchdowns and a team-high 39 rushing yards. The Aggies’ win was a little closer than they’d like, but it goes in the win column.
20) Louisville Cardinals
Result: 51-17 W vs. Eastern Kentucky
The Louisville Cardinals jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. piled up 545 total yards and 28 first downs to Eastern Kentucky’s 10.
19) Indiana Hoosiers
Result: 27-14 W vs. Old Dominion
Transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza didn’t look fully comfortable in Curt Cignetti’s offense, something that will have to be ironed out quickly for the Indiana Hoosiers to live up to expectations of competing for a CFP berth for a second straight season.
18) BYU Cougars
Results: 69-0 W vs. Portland State
The BYU Cougars eased true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier into his first career start, limiting him to just 11 pass attempts in a blowout win, though three went for touchdowns. It was a classic Week 1 confidence-building stomping for BYU.
17) Alabama Crimson Tide
Result: 31-17 L vs. Florida State
Surprisingly, Alabama was beaten at the line of scrimmage in its Week 1 matchup. Florida State averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored four rushing touchdowns, while the Tide managed just 87 rushing yards. Head coach Kalen DeBoer will need to right the ship quickly — or risk landing on the hot seat..
16) Iowa State Cyclones
Result: 55-7 W vs. South Dakota
The Iowa State Cyclones followed up their emotional overseas victory over Kansas State with a dominant home opener to move to 2-0. Quarterback Rocco Becht was nearly flawless, completing 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns — potentially inching into the early-season Heisman conversation.
15) SMU Mustangs
Result: 42-13 W vs. East Texas A&M
It wasn’t a perfect Week 1 showing for SMU, but it was more than enough. The Mustangs led 21-3 at halftime and cruised to the finish. If they hope to return to the CFP, they’ll need to play with more intensity moving forward.
14) Miami Hurricanes
Result: TBD
13) Tennessee Volunteers
Result: 45-26 W vs. Syracuse
The Tennessee Volunteers proved that losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava wouldn’t derail their 2025 campaign. Tennessee came out firing, jumping to a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and closing strong. Transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar was brilliant, tossing three touchdowns in an inspiring debut.
12) LSU Tigers
Result: 17-10 W vs. Clemson
Head coach Brian Kelly finally secured a Week 1 victory, as the LSU Tigers went into Death Valley and handed Clemson an opening-week loss. Though it wasn’t always pretty, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and company made plays when needed on offense, while the defense harassed a dynamic Clemson unit from start to finish.
11) Ole Miss Rebels
Result: 63-7 W vs. Georgia State
The Ole Miss Rebels poured it on early and often against Georgia State, finishing with 695 yards of total offense and 63 points in a season opener that sparked belief they can contend in a loaded SEC, even with several new faces at key positions.
10) Utah Utes
Result: 43-10 W vs. UCLA Bruins
The Devon Dampier experience couldn’t have started better for Utah. The former New Mexico transfer diced up the Bruins’ defense for 206 passing yards, 87 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. He was excellent — as was the Utes’ defense, which locked down the elusive Nico Iamaleava.
9) South Carolina Gamecocks
Result: 24-11 W vs. Virginia Tech
It wasn’t pretty for most of the afternoon, but South Carolina staved off defeat in its Week 1 win over Virginia Tech. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers made several electrifying plays with both his arm and legs, showcasing himself as one of the top players in the country.
8) Georgia Bulldogs
Result: 45-7 W vs. Marshall
There were questions about how quarterback Gunner Stockton would handle starting duties, given concerns about his ceiling. He put those doubts to rest Saturday, accounting for four total touchdowns (two passing and two rushing) to lead Georgia to a dominant season-opening win.
7) Arizona State Sun Devils
Result: 38-19 vs. Northern Arizona
The Arizona State Sun Devils defense struggled at times against Northern Arizona, but the offense was sharp. The running game totaled 203 yards and three touchdowns on 9.7 yards per carry. That, paired with star quarterback Sam Leavitt, looks like a winning formula for the Sun Devils.
6) Penn State Nittany Lions
Result: 46-11 vs. Nevada
The Penn State Nittany Lions routinely dispatches inferior opponents early in the season, and 2025 was no exception. The offense was explosive, and the defense — led by North Carolina transfer linebacker Amare Campbell — was equally impressive. Campbell finished as the team’s leading tackler.
5) Texas Longhorns
Result: 14-7 L vs. Ohio State
Quarterback Arch Manning didn’t look like the Heisman favorite he’d been hyped to be, failing to eclipse 200 passing yards in his third start for Texas. Credit Ohio State’s defense, but the Longhorns will need to improve significantly if they hope to contend for a national title.
4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Result: TBD
3) Clemson Tigers
Result: 17-10 L vs. LSU
The Tigers dropped a physical battle to LSU, a result that will likely knock them down in the AP poll. Still, the Tigers showed toughness and flashed dynamic playmaking ability. They remain high in the power rankings because, despite the 0-1 start, they’re still in the national title mix. This could be the wake-up call Clemson needed after an offseason full of hype.
2) Oregon Ducks
Result: 59-13 W vs. Montana State
The Oregon Ducks jumped on Montana State from the opening whistle, building a 38-3 halftime lead. Head coach Dan Lanning rotated players early and often, revealing a deep and talented roster that looks ready to defend its Big Ten title and chase a national championship.
1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Result: 14-7 W vs. Texas
In a game expected to carry major postseason implications, the Ohio State Buckeyes defended home turf and sent the Longhorns packing with a loss. The defense was stout, intercepting Arch Manning once and holding Texas to a single touchdown.
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