CFB Blitz: Week 1 overreactions

The first full week of the college football season doubles as the only time every team's fan base is allowed to feel positive. It's important to remember that it's a long season and we shouldn't read too much into results from the first week - especially with 12 teams making the playoff. Just kidding! Let's completely overreact to what we have witnessed thus far.

Book LSU's spot in the national title game

Three things have been constants for Brian Kelly during his tenure at LSU: losing the season opener, underwhelming defensive performances, and turning bright red on the sideline. His face looks the same, but the defense shone as Kelly finally won the first game of the season with the Tigers. Their victim was Clemson as LSU's impressive road win launched a likely run at the SEC title.

The 89th-ranked defense from last year was nowhere to be seen, with LSU swarming the Clemson attack throughout the contest. Harold Perkins Jr. once again looked like the star he was in his freshman year. Now a senior, Perkins finished with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a crucial QB hurry on Clemson's final offensive play of the game to seal the victory.

LSU's offense was always talented enough to win the SEC, but this defense makes the Tigers a real national championship threat.

New year, same Clemson

It's a new year but the same story for Clemson when the big, bad SEC stands on the other side of the field. The Tigers were winless against three SEC opponents last year, falling by a combined scoreline of 89-41. Cade Klubnik's final stats in the playoff loss at Texas looked impressive, but he put up most of that production while trailing 31-10. The Clemson quarterback showed yet again Saturday that he - and the offense in general - simply can't get comfortable against SEC defensive units. With absolutely no help from the running game, Klubnik completed just half of his 38 passes and threw one interception.

Clemson essentially played five strong opponents last year, with a three-point comeback over SMU in the ACC title game its lone win against those five teams. That booked the Tigers an unlikely playoff spot. Let's not fall for the same trick in 2025. The defense is as elite as advertised, but unless their offense drastically improves against top competition, they aren't serious title contenders.

Alabama is ordinary without Saban

Turns out Thomas Castellanos was right: The Crimson Tide "don't have Nick Saban to save them." The Florida State quarterback's offseason comments made headlines, and the Seminoles backed them up Saturday as they pounded Alabama at home, running over the visitors for 230 yards on the ground. Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide have now lost three of their last four games outright despite being double-digit favorites in each. That's the same number of losses DeBoer suffered in two full seasons with Washington.

It's the first time Alabama has lost its season opener since 2001 and serves as a stark reminder of why you never want to be the guy who takes a college job after a legend leaves.

Powerhouse Florida State is back

Through Week 1, Florida State adding Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator is the hire of the offseason. The former longtime Auburn head coach remains a thorn in Alabama's side. His offense torched the Crimson Tide with the kind of big-play barrage that was severely lacking last year in Tallahassee. After winning just one FBS game last season, Florida State looked competent and dangerous throughout, running wild on the once-vaunted Alabama defense. Castellanos backed up his offseason boasting with 152 yards passing and 78 yards on the ground.

The last few years have been a roller coaster for Mike Norvell with Florida State, as the coach followed up a 13-1 season with a dismal 2-10 campaign last year. Saturday suggests this version of the Seminoles will touch double-digit wins once again.

Arch was a media creation

He's a quarterback and his last name is Manning, so he must be exceptional, right? That's what we heard about Arch Manning for three years, but Ohio State apparently wasn't listening. The Buckeyes' defense made Texas fans long for Quinn Ewers, holding Arch to 38 yards passing through the opening three quarters. The final stat line flatters Manning slightly, with Ohio State backing off due to a late 14-0 lead, but those who watched the whole game know what they saw. Steve Sarkisian preached patience afterward, saying this was just "chapter one" in the book of Manning, but the Longhorns head coach didn't have to write an overreaction column after Week 1. We do. Until further notice, we're walking back any "Manning for Heisman" takes.

John Mateer for Heisman

Weighed down by poor quarterback play in 2024, Oklahoma raided Washington State for both coordinator Ben Arbuckle and passer John Mateer to fix the issue. All they did in their debut was set a new Sooners record. Mateer torched Illinois State for 392 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to break Baker Mayfield's school mark for a quarterback in their first game. Forget the level of competition - that puts Mateer ahead of elite names like Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, Mayfield, Sam Bradford, and Jason White, all of whom won the Heisman Trophy at some point. Is it an overreaction to make this call after a win over an FCS opponent? Maybe. But if Mateer shines versus Michigan next week, we'll be the first to say "I told you so."

Jackson Arnold is Cam Newton 2.0

This isn't even our own overreaction: Arnold's performance in his Auburn debut somehow led the broadcast booth to make a Newton comparison. Is it a bit insane to compare the Oklahoma transfer to the most dominant quarterback in the last 25 years? Absolutely. Was Arnold's 245 yards of total offense with two touchdowns and - most importantly - zero turnovers a massive relief for a fan base that's recently been plagued by quarterback error? Definitely. Arnold will need to show more growth as a passer after putting up just 108 yards through the air, but he flashed the dual-threat ability that will give the Tigers an enormous upgrade at quarterback this year.

Penn State's got elite receivers

Consider the receiver problem at Penn State officially solved. Sure, Nevada isn't exactly the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the Nittany Lions appear to have cashed in with their transfer portal additions out wide. Trebor Pena and Kyron Hudson combined for 163 yards receiving on 13 catches and one score as Drew Allar threw just four incompletions Saturday. The Nittany Lions' offense with legit threats outside makes them serious title contenders and more than worthy of their No. 2 ranking.

(Of course, Penn State's top two receivers had seven catches for 172 yards in last year's season-opening win, only to finish with zero catches in the playoff loss to Notre Dame, but let's not get stuck in the past.)

Nico was holding Tennessee back

Nico Iamaleava provided one of the offseason's biggest stories, likely marking the first time a collegiate player took part in a contract holdout. The quarterback wanted more money, Tennessee said, "Thanks for your service," and the California native went off to UCLA. Early returns suggest the Volunteers will be just fine without him. Joey Aguilar - who came the other way from the Bruins - shone for Tennessee with 247 yards passing and three touchdowns. Iamaleava only topped 247 yards through the air three times last season.