2024-25 NCAA Football (Week 1)

Games I watched (some of):

(14) Clemson 3-34 (1) Georgia

Kinda mellow in the 1st half, both teams were just feeling each other out. But after halftime, UGA took off and left Clemson way behind. I wasn't a huge fan of Clemson's QB and their defense was just okay, so not sure how good Clemson is. As for UGA, well, I'm pretty sure they don't suck, but not sure how much of a for-real test this Clemson side was for them, so I'm still in wait and see mode on the Bulldogs. Good news for Clemson is they've already played their toughest game, this is an L that will not hurt them and they have plenty of time to round into shape and get back to the top 12 (that's right, 12 teams in the tourney this year). 

(7) Notre Dame 23-13 (20) Texas A&M

Fun game, good W for the Irish. Both teams grind, grudge match of a game all the way through. Down the stretch the Irish made plays and the Aggies couldn't get there. I liked both teams, thought they both played with grit on both sides of the ball. Curious how Notre Dame builds on this victory. Would've been a lot better for A&M if they'd won this, they've got an uphill SEC schedule awaiting them. 

(19) Miami 41-17 Florida

Miami's QB is weird, I like that he plays with confidence, but he takes it a bit too far, plays with a suicide complex or something. But he is talented and that Hurricane offense looked better than it has in years (decades?), so for now at least, I'm in on the Canes. As for Florida, they just never got anything going on either side of the ball. Not sure if they had a bad day or it's just an early game or the Hurricanes are really that good--I dunno. I got no sense of the Gators in this match (and that's not a good sign).  

(23) Southern Cal 27-20 (13) Louisiana State

Fun game! Wow, I loved both QB's, both defenses were pretty good, this was hard fought from beginning to end. There was a moment in the 3rd quarter when it felt like LSU's pass rush was going to take over, but it didn't happen, USC bounced back, made plays in the 4th quarter and gutted it out. LSU was pretty good, this L puts them in a tough spot but they're clearly going to be a tough out in the tough SEC this season. As for USC, great victory, they look like their offense is not going to miss losing their Heisman QB and the defense looks way better than last year, keep an eye on the Trojans. 

Top 25 

Handed their business

(1) Georgia, (2) Ohio State, (4) Texas, (5) Alabama, (6) Mississippi, (7) Notre Dame, (8) Penn State, (9) Michigan, (11) Missouri, (12) Utah, (15) Tennessee, (16) Oklahoma, (17) Oklahoma State, (18) Kansas State, (19) Miami, (22) Kansas, (23) Southern Cal, (24) North Carolina State, (25) Iowa

Won but did not impress

(3) Oregon. Could be that Idaho is good (they're usually a tough squad), but I was expecting a little more firepower from a top 3 Ducks squad. Are they overrated? Just starting slow? Up against a strangely good opponent? We'll see in the next few weeks, I reckon. 

(21) Arizona. The Wildcats finished strong last season, came in with some expectations and while they did put up a 60-burger, they gave up 39 points to New Mexico, which feels like a red flag. Nice offensive performance, but that D needs to be better than this. We'll see, maybe they're just shaking off the dust. 

Bad beat

(13) Louisiana State. Played well, looked good, but not as good as USC.

(14) Clemson, Yeah UGA's just better. Good to challenge yourself early, but....UGA's better.

(20) Texas A&M. They were in this game with Notre Dame, if they could've just held up on a coupla plays, they could've scored themselves a good W out of the gate, instead it's a home loss. Too bad, rough way to open the season but this team is clearly pretty good. 

Not so good

(10) Florida State. Yipes! Being the opening game of the season and losing in a buzzer beater to Georgia Tech is not a good look. Then getting rolled at home by Boston College--the Seminoles were never in this game--is pretty much a season ending defeat. They're not just 0-2, they're 0-2 in their conference! Yeah, they are done, they can maybe play spoiler but I'd be pretty shocked if we see them in the top 25 again this year. The Seminoles were good last year and you'd think they'd be a shoo-in for a 12 team tourney but two conference losses is no bueno, they are finished. 

Next week's intriguing matches

(4) Texas - (9) Michigan (got a feeling that the defending champion Wolverines are gonna get pummeled, we'll see)

(15) Tennessee - (24) North Carolina State (One of these squads is overrated, will we find out which one this week?)

South Carolina @ Kentucky (Two mid-table SEC teams meeting early, one will rise and the other will fall, I think we'll know right away which one is which)