Week 1 College Football Rankings: LSU and FSU Lead the Pack

In college football, early-season rankings always stir up excitement and debate. The latest edition of The Athletic 136 shakes things up after a wild Week 1.

Big performances from several teams brought major changes. LSU jumped to No. 1, and Florida State made a huge leap to No. 3.

Let’s dig into what’s behind these moves and the performances that changed the landscape.

LSU Takes the Top Spot

LSU grabbed the No. 1 spot in The Athletic 136 after a gritty 17-10 win over Clemson. They pulled this off on the road, against a Clemson team loaded with experience.

LSU really took over in the second half. Their overall effort sealed the deal for the top ranking.

Ohio State started at No. 1 after beating Texas 14-7, but LSU’s win just looked better—especially against a tougher opponent.

Factors Influencing LSU’s Rise

Several things pushed LSU to the top:

• Dominant Second Half: LSU took control after halftime, showing real grit and skill.
• Strong Opponent: Beating Clemson on the road? That’s no small feat.
• Performance Metrics: The stats and game control stood out to the ranking committee.

Florida State’s Meteoric Rise

Florida State rocketed from No. 49 to No. 3 after a convincing 31-17 win over Alabama. This victory made a statement—maybe the Seminoles are ready to compete at the top this season.

Still, it’s worth wondering how much this win will matter as Alabama’s season unfolds. If Alabama stumbles, maybe the shine fades a bit.

Key Elements of Florida State’s Win

Florida State’s jump comes down to a few key things:

• Decisive Victory: Beating Alabama 31-17 isn’t something you see every day.
• Team Performance: Both offense and defense showed up big.
• Potential Future Impact: The value of this win could shift, depending on how Alabama looks down the line.

Other Notable Movements

Plenty of other teams saw their rankings change after Week 1. Miami edged out Notre Dame 27-24 and jumped to No. 4.

Texas, Clemson, and Notre Dame landed at Nos. 5-7 after losing to other top-10 teams. Penn State dropped from No. 1 to No. 8, even though they beat Nevada—other teams just had flashier wins.

Teams on the Rise

Some squads made big moves thanks to strong showings:

• Utah: Climbed from No. 18 to No. 11 after crushing UCLA 43-10.
• Auburn: Rose to No. 15 after a 38-24 road win at Baylor.
• South Florida: Became the top Group of 5 team at No. 20 with a 34-7 rout of Boise State.

Teams Facing Challenges

Not everyone had a good week. Alabama dropped to No. 23 after losing to Florida State.

Boise State tumbled to No. 54 after a rough game against South Florida. North Carolina slid all the way to No. 76 after getting blown out by TCU.

Factors Leading to Declines

Several things caused these drops:

• Poor Performances: Teams that didn’t show up saw their rankings plummet.
• Strength of Opponents: Losing to a top team hurts less than losing to someone unranked.
• Overall Game Metrics: Struggles on defense and third-down conversions really dragged some teams down.

Looking Ahead

The rankings are bound to shift as the season rolls on. Teams with tough schedules coming up have a shot to climb if they notch big wins.

On the other hand, slipping against weaker teams could send them tumbling.

Upcoming Key Matches

Some huge games are on the horizon and could shake things up: