No. 8 BAMA 31 – FSU 31
WOW. The upset of the week.
The Seminoles, coming off a 2–10 season, defeated the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide. Bama entered the game as a 13.5-point favorite.
FSU picked apart a talented Alabama defense. They ran the ball, kept running the ball, and it kept working. The Seminoles racked up 230 rushing yards, with 80 of those yards coming from QB Tommy Castellanos.
The FSU War Chant seemed to be a difference-maker, causing multiple Alabama penalties and timeouts. From the start, the line of scrimmage was dominated on both sides by Florida State, something no one expected. Credit goes to Mike Norvell, who had his team ready and looking in top form.
Statement Game.
No. 9 LSU 17 – No. 4 Clemson 10
Brian Kelly finally got a season opening win and an impressive one. After losing 5 straight season openers, he finally wins. Winning at Clemson, at night, is no easy task, but LSU looked better across the board. They were faster and stronger against a Clemson team with legitimate national championship aspirations.
The one thing LSU lacked last year was a consistent run game. Now, they have one, and a good one led by Caden Durham. Meanwhile, Garrett Nussmeier showed why he’s considered a Heisman favorite.
The biggest difference was time of possession: LSU held the ball for 37 minutes and 10 seconds, while Clemson had it for just 22 minutes and 50 seconds. Clemson’s offense never found a rhythm, and by the fourth quarter, their defense looked completely worn down. Making way for a LSU victory.
No. 10 Miami 27 – No. 6 Notre Dame 24
Carson Beck surprised everyone with two touchdowns and the most impressive stats of the night, no turnovers. Miami winning the turnover battle also helped them prevail.
The Hurricanes defense, led by Reuben Bain, gave first-time starter CJ Carr almost no time to make decisions. Bain was a game changer, while freshman wide receiver CJ Daniels delivered a standout performance that gave Miami’s offense a spark.
Notre Dame’s offense looked stale at times. They seemed to forget about the best running back in the country, Jeremiah Love, who was a non factor in the run game.
In the end, Miami’s early lead and relentless defense proved too much. A huge win in South Bend puts the Hurricanes firmly in the playoff conversation.
No. 1 Texas 7 – No. 3 Ohio State 14
Game of the week.
Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in his first start, showing off his talent against the top ranked Longhorns, in his first start. The Buckeyes’ defense, led by a dominant front and Caleb Downs, held Texas scoreless until the fourth quarter and kept Arch Manning out of rhythm all night.
Texas moved the ball but failed in key moments, including multiple fourth down stops. Ohio State controlled the trenches and made the plays that mattered.
A statement win for the Buckeyes, knocking off the No. 1 team in the country on opening weekend. Ohio State is now the team to beat in college football unless proven otherwise.
