The preseason poll is fun because we think we know all this stuff about this team and that team. We’ve parsed returning production databases, read up on what new coordinators in new places said about their new systems, watched an unhealthy amount of spring football scrimmages, and then tried to settle in to rank who we think the top teams in the sport are.

The poll that comes out after Week 1 is the real game-changer. Teams have played other teams. We have results that either confirm or refute perceptions. We have data to support guesses. The poll that comes out after Week 1 provides the opportunity for pollsters to be the most reactive they’ll be at any point in the season. You aren’t beholden to your preseason rankings; if a team starts 0-1, they don’t have to stay ahead of other 1-0 teams just because you thought they were the 17th-best in the country.

That’s how I approached the week. You’ll notice there is not a single team listed below that has a loss on its schedule. You are what your record says you are. In the cases of LSU, Florida State, Clemson, and Texas A&M, there were concerning signs amid losses.

(Maybe this is too harsh to LSU in particular. I had the Tigers 11th in my preseason ballot and I have dropped them from the top 25 after a 27-20 defeat on a neutral field to a team I now have ranked. I understand the argument for keeping them inside the top 25. They’re right on the edge, but this is my philosophy and I’ll stick to it.)

So, without further ado, here’s how I ranked the top 25 teams in the country for the ballot I submitted for Saturday Down South’s official preseason top 25.

1. Georgia

Last week: 1

There was a thought Georgia could do that to Clemson in Week 1. I’d argue that no one should have expected anything less than the 34-3 a**-whooping Kirby Smart’s group handed the Tigers. And that’s coming from someone who picked Clemson to win the ACC. No team is as talented. No team is as hungry.

2. Alabama

Last week: 5

I bumped the Crimson Tide up after what I thought was the most impressive of the SEC’s Week 1 shutouts. Led by 279 total yards and 5 scores from Jalen Milroe, the Tide averaged 9 yards per play and had 5 plays from scrimmage that gained at least 39 yards. Kalen DeBoer has weapons all over the offense, and a ball-hawking defensive back in Keon Sabb.

3. Texas

Last week: 4

Texas punted on its opening possession and threw a pick on its final possession of the first quarter to end the frame with just a 7-0 lead on Colorado State. From there, UT scored on 7 straight possessions to run away from the Rams and win 52-0.

4. Ohio State

Last week: 3

Another in the “played with its food” category from Week 1. The Buckeyes beat Akron 52-6 but this was a 17-3 game at the halftime break. Freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith (6 catches, 92 yards, 2 scores) looks like an immediate star.

Related: The Buckeyes take on Western Michigan in Week 2 and are once again a massive favorite. Head to one of our favorite sports betting apps in OH to win real money betting on Ohio State this season. 

5. Penn State

Last week: 6

Don’t look now but the Nittany Lions might finally have an offense to match the defense. Penn State faced the toughest test of anyone atop the Big Ten (West Virginia on the road, with weather a factor) and yet it was the Big Ten’s only elite that completely controlled its game. If there’s a Week 1 overreaction that might be legit, it’s that Andy Kotelnicki is the answer James Franklin has been searching for.

6. Ole Miss

Last week: 7

The Rebels beat the absolute tar out of Furman. They had a 52-0 lead and a 502-124 advantage in yardage at the half. Tre Harris (8 catches, 179 yards, 2 scores) is an absolute dude.

7. Oregon

Last week: 2

I think Oregon is still a top-5 team in terms of talent. But the Ducks didn’t play to their potential in Week 1. They ran 87 plays and only managed 24 points. It’s likely that was just a blip and not something more concerning, but the Ducks take a hit for not being more clinical.

8. Missouri

Last week: 8

The Tigers shut out Murray State and only allowed 85 yards of offense. They raced out to an early lead (28-0 after the first) and the defense kept its foot on the proverbial throat throughout the rest of the game. Murray State averaged 1.7 yards per play.

9. Notre Dame

Last week: 10

The defensive performance from Notre Dame was predictable. One of the best secondaries in the country a year ago made Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman see ghosts. The surprise was in the way the offense played. In the second half, an inexperienced offensive line came together and Notre Dame averaged 7 yards a play to leave College Station with a 10-point win. The ground game ran for 198 yards at 5.8 per carry. Consider this my mea culpa. Notre Dame’s offensive line rose to the challenge.

10. Miami

Last week: 22

Miami gets points for winning in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, even if quarterback Cam Ward thought it was just another walk through a park. Florida might be worse than we thought. Miami seems pretty good. I was high on the Hurricanes coming into the season but they needed to earn some respect. Putting up 41 points and 529 yards of offense does that. This was one of the most impressive wins of Week 1.

11. Tennessee

Last week: 14

There is nothing that could be said about Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava at this point that would feel too boisterous. In 1 half of work, the sophomore threw for 314 yards and 3 scores while completing 79% of his passes. The Vols put up 69 points and 718 yards of offense. I wrestled with including UT in the top 10. The Vols are plenty deserving of it.

12. Michigan

Last week: 9

Would it be too early to say Michigan looks uncomfortably Iowa-ish? The Wolverines gave up just 10 points and 39 rushing yards (adjusted for sacks) in a 30-10 win over Fresno State. The defense looked exceptional. The offense looked problematic. Davis Warren won the starting quarterback job and struggled. Alex Orji threw 2 passes and 1 of them was in the dirt. Donovan Edwards was a no-show. Outside of the tight end we already knew was awesome, no Michigan player had more than 15 yards receiving.

13. Oklahoma

Last week: 13

Jackson Arnold didn’t have the best game but Oklahoma did it in all 3 phases during a 51-3 win over Temple. The Sooners hit all 3 of their field goals, including 1 from 50. They scored on a 21-yard fumble return — 1 of 6 turnovers forced in the game. They ran for 230 at 7.2 yards a carry (adjusted for sacks). They sacked Temple 6 times. And Arnold threw 4 touchdowns.

14. Oklahoma State

Last week: 19

The Pokes had a 10-0 lead after 1, a 38-13 lead after 3, and never really let South Dakota State find a footing in the game. Ollie Gordon II had 146 total yards on 31 touches and scored 3 touchdowns. The Cowboys gave up 2 big-play touchdowns, but they also only allowed 1 red zone trip and held SDSU to a field goal on that drive.

15. USC

Last week: unranked

“That was some pretty good Big Ten football today,” Lincoln Riley said with a rye smile after USC beat LSU 27-20. Might as well dance on the Pac-12 grave after playing in the same stadium that hosted the most recent Pac-12 championship games. But Riley wasn’t wrong. USC outdueled LSU in one of the showcase games of the weekend. Miller Moss looked awesome.

16. Kansas State

Last week: 15

Avery Johnson completed 14 of his 21 passes for 153 yards, 2 scores, and 1 interception in his 2024 debut. He also ran for 37 yards and was not sacked. The Wildcats were fine to let Will Howard walk after last season because it opened the door for Johnson. So far, no regrets.

17. Utah

Last week: 16

More than anything, it was just wonderful to see Cameron Rising back on a football field again. A 49-0 win over Southern Utah marked the first game in well over a year for Rising, who shredded his knee in the Rose Bowl game to close the 2022 season. In his return to the field, Rising played just 1 half, completed 10 of his 15 passes for 254 yards, and threw 5 touchdowns.

18. Iowa

Last week: 21

Unserious Iowa was in full effect once again, but with a new twist. In the first half, the Hawkeyes outscored an FCS team at home 6-0 while the offense averaged 4 yards a play and the pass game struggled to do much of anything. Iowa won the second 30 minutes 34-0 while putting up 345 yards. The pass game went 13-for-14 for 177 yards and 3 scores. After 6 penalties in the first half, Iowa had just 1 in the second half. The defense was outstanding throughout, but you already knew that.

19. Arizona

Last week: 23

Tetairoa McMillan is your Dude of the Week in college football. In a 61-39 win over New Mexico, the junior receiver caught a program-record-tying 4 touchdowns and went for a program-record 304 yards through the air. It was the fifth consecutive game with at least 100 receiving yards for McMillan, the best receiver in college football.

20. Kansas

Last week: 24

The Jayhawks beat Lindenwood 48-3 behind 331 rushing yards and outstanding defensive play. Kansas won the yardage battle 8.2 to 3.5. It was a thorough domination.

21. Louisville

Last week: 25

The Cardinals rolled Austin Peay 62-0. Quarterback Tyler Shough looked perfectly fine, throwing for 232 yards and 4 scores. The backups completed 9 of 10 passes, the ground game rumbled, and the defense allowed only 106 yards.

22. Washington

Last week: unranked

The Huskies beat Weber State 35-3 in their first game under Jedd Fisch. Quarterback Will Rogers completed 20 of his 26 passes. Running back Jonah Coleman ran for 127 yards and 3 scores on 16 touches. Wideouts Giles Jackson and Denzel Boston had equally impressive days. Washington gave up a few too many big plays on the ground but was a no-fly zone against the pass. Weber State threw the ball 32 times and gained just 98 yards. The Dawgs had 7 pass breakups.

23. Auburn

Last week: unranked

When Hugh Freeze and Payton Thorne both said a remade receiving corps had inspired confidence the pass game would be different in 2024, I was inclined to believe them. In Week 1, they backed the talk up. Thorne threw for 322 yards and 4 scores. Four different receivers went over 62 yards and 5 different receivers caught a touchdown in Auburn’s 73-3 win over Alabama A&M

24. Memphis

Last week: unranked

Memphis had a 31-0 lead at halftime on North Alabama and cruised to a 40-0 victory. Quarterback Seth Henigan went for 308 with 2 scores on what was mostly a squeaky-clean day for the Tigers.

25. SMU

Last week: 17

I have somewhat of an SMU problem early. I had the Mustangs at No. 17 in the preseason and their inclusion felt completely justifiable — returning quarterback after a big season, high percentage of returning production, both coordinators back, defending conference champion, ranked in the final AP poll of 2023. SMU is also 2-0 to open the year. But it has not looked good. The Mustangs benched their starting quarterback in the opener and struggled with a poor Nevada team. I thought about Georgia Tech, but couldn’t justify dropping a team that was 2-0 from my rankings for a GT team just because it beat a team I don’t have ranked. I thought about Kentucky, but the Wildcats haven’t even played a full game yet. SMU has this spot for now, maybe BYU will make things easier on me next week.

Dropped out

LSU (11), Florida State (12), Clemson (18), Texas A&M (20)

Right on the cut line

Kentucky, Georgia Tech, LSU