Winners and Losers: College Football Week 1
WINNER: Kyle McCord and the new-look Syracuse Orange
Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord reacts after a play against the Ohio Bobcats during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Rich Barnes - USA TODAY Sports
Eight years is a long time to wait for a national title, big bowl games, heck, even a conference championship game appearance for big-name schools in college football.
For the Syracuse Orange, eight years is since they were just respectable in the ACC, and boy, does Fran Brown’s squad look that way in the second half this weekend.
Despite a poor start, the Orange bounced back and beat the Ohio Bobcats 38-22 behind a 354-yard, four-touchdown performance from the Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord in his ‘Cuse debut.
And yes, it’s been eight years since an Orange quarterback posted those stats, and it took McCord just an afternoon.
Syracuse plays #23 Georgia Tech next weekend in the Dome, one of only three ranked games this season for the Orange as of this article.
LOSER: Confidence in (most of) the new Big Ten (Oregon? UCLA??)
Oregon running back Noah Whittingham hurdles a pair of Idaho defenders in the Ducks’ week one contestion Aug 31st, 2024. Oregon avoided an upset with a 24-14 win over Idaho. Jaime Valdez - Staff Photographer, Portland Tribune
All the hype of a conference title game appearance at the death of the Pac-12, a top-5 ranking, even playing at home, all did little to help the Oregon Ducks in their debut against the Idaho Vandals, winning 24-14 in an uninspired performance.
Yet, let’s be fair, HUGE tipped cap to Idaho to an impressive job with excellent line play and almost besting Oregon despite only 49 rushing yards and losing the turnover battle.
In the same breath, how does Oregon gain 487 yards, just one turnover, 31 (!!) first downs, and very efficient days from both Dillon Gabriel and Jordan James.
Penalties, penalties, penalties. Eight for 60 yards, plus a meager 7-16 on third downs, 1-3 on fourth.
Parley that into UCLA’s performance, just scraping by Hawai’i 16-13 in a rare road game on Oahu.
Back-to-back-to-back field goals save the Bruins even with a great defensive showing, forcing three turnovers and holding the Rainbow Warriors under 300 total yards.
Both teams have a shot at each other in not too long, with UCLA hosting Oregon September 28th.
WINNER: Tetairoa McMillian and the new Big 12
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The Arizona Wildcats must be feeling pretty dang good right now.
The highest preseason ranking since 1999, part of the new Big 12, and now, they might have one of the best wide receivers in the country.
No one accused New Mexico of having the country's best secondary... but WOW Tetairoa McMillian, have yourself a night!
Affectionately known as “T-Mac”, the Hawaiian junior broke several Arionza records: most receiving yards and touchdowns in a game.
T-Mac had six games last season go for over 100 yards, scoring in nine of 13.
LOSER: Death Valley Tigers
(ESPN)
As the background fish in Spongebob said, “Oh brother, this guy stinks.”
It doesn’t matter which Death Valley you choose, both Tigers disappointed this weekend, Clemson being the primary culprit.
Playing Georgia Weeks 1-through-anytime is not a fun prospect, but Dabo Swinney’s group did little to impress in a 34-3 drubbing, tied for the fewest points scored in any Dabo-led Clemson game.
That rough scoreline came after a sleepy 6-0 UGA halftime lead, and Georgia advances to their 40th-straight regular-season win.
For LSU, they certainly fared better in their neutral site game, falling 27-20 to USC in a game they looked to be in control late in the third quarter.
But alas, season-opening Brian Kelly strikes again, his third-straight loss to start a season, and LSU’s fifth.
The last person to blame is Brian Nussmeier, the Tiger starting quarterback who posted an impressive 30-39, 308-yard, two-touchdown stat line.
WINNER: Lincoln Riley, Miller Moss, and the USC Trojans
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On the other side of the coin, you have USC, who earned a marquee win to start their season with, yes, a good defensive performance!!
Despite residing in Heisman-winner Caleb Williams’ shadow last season, Miller Moss proved his worth, passing for 378 yards and a touchdown, including two fourth-quarter go-ahead drives to seal the win.
Kyron Hudson easily wins the play of the night, completing this bonkers one-handed acrobatic snag to help set up the opening touchdown drive for Southern Cal.
LOSER: The Whole Dang State of Florida vs. FBS
Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) celebrates after scoring the first touchdown against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Colin Hackley/AP)
It’s not very easy to start a season ranked No. 10 and fall out of the rankings entirely, but Florida State managed that through back-to-back overwhelmingly weak performances.
The Seminoles began by dropping their Week 0 Irish opener 24-21 to Georgia Tech, a loss shrugged off by Tech’s great performance, first-game jitters, and... jet lag??
Regardless, FSU returned to the friendly confines of Doak Campbell Stadium to face the relatively weaker Boston College Eagles, or so they thought.
The final score: 28-13. No, the fourth quarter wasn’t competitive.
For the first time since 2021, Florida State drops to 0-2 and drops their first game to BC after five straight wins in the series.
DJ Uiagalelei arguably was the roughest spot for the ‘Noles, passing 21-42, 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
FSU’s eastern rivals in Gainsville didn’t do any better, as Florida was chomped so badly by Miami 41-17 that even the Florida recruits were putting up the “U”.
Yikes.
The Gators are on a six-game losing streak dating back to last season, and Graham Mertz’s 11-20, 91-yard, one-pick day did little (if anything) to settle any doubts.
Florida Atlantic and Florida International also lost their respective FBS games, leaving USF and UCF as the only Florida FBS programs with wins after Week 1.