College Football Week 1 Recap: Ohio State Outshines Texas, Alabama Falters, and LSU Stakes SEC Claim

If Week 0 served up some interesting starters for the college football season, Week 1 by comparison felt like a five-course tasting menu. It seemed as if college football fans, starved by months of inactivity, were suddenly tucking into a mouth-watering array of matchups.

On Saturday, defending national champions Ohio State hosted the AP preseason No.1 Texas in Columbus in what proved to be a defensive slugfest before No.8 Alabama and No.9 LSU travelled to Florida State and No.4 Clemson respectively. No. 10 Miami hosted last season's runner up, No.6 Clemson and an eventful first full week of games culminated in the college football debut of Bill Belichick, whose North Carolina team took on Texas Christian University in Chapel Hill.

LSU are the pick of the SEC contenders as Texas and Alabama stumble

Too much pressure on Manning?

With all the hype surrounding University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, It was easy to forget that Ohio State were opening the season at home as national champions, and with a promising passing prospect of their own in sophomore Julian Sayin.

Buckeyes receiver Carnell Tate hauled in a 40-yard throw from Julian Sayin (Image credit: Yahoo Sports)

The Buckeyes passer looked the more composed of the two, finding Carnell Tate on an eye-catching 40-yard touchdown pass, after missing Jeremiah Smith on at least two occasions when he was wide open downfield. In CJ Donaldson, the West Virginia transfer, the Buckeyes have a back who can batter his way through opposition defenses and compliment Sayin's passing game.

Manning started slowly, the occasion seeming to weigh heavier than anticipated on his young shoulders. He threw for just 26 yards in the first half and underthrew his receivers on a number of occasions before appearing to regain his focus in the second half, throwing for 144 yards and a touchdown pass to Parker Livingstone.

Is there too much expectation on the Texas quarterback? Manning started his first away game and third in the college ranks taking on the national champions in their own backyard and a defence marshalled by the scowling Matt Patricia, a Super Bowl winning defensive coordinator. One of his celebrated uncles, Peyton, made his first start against a Top-10 team, No.10 Alabama, threw two interceptions and 138 yards, 32 less than Arch managed against Ohio State. Let's not judge him too quickly.

Texas, like their quarterback, struggled to find their rhythm, but this is Week 1 of a long season and they should be there or thereabouts by the time the College Football Playoff comes around. Based on the potential shown in their opening performance in a convincing 14-7 win, Ohio State should also expect to be in the conversation to retain their crown.

Florida State rejuvenated as Alabama struggle

Following a nightmare 2-10 season, unranked Florida State looked like a team on a mission in their home opener, defeating a No.8 University of Alabama team, 31-17. The Crimson Tide, who missed the Playoff last year, are also undergoing something of a rebuild.

The Seminoles, like their in-state rival Miami last year, have used the transfer portal to transform their quarterback play. The arrival of Tommy Castellanos could transform Florida State's season they way they hoped DJ Uiagalelei's arrival might last season. Castellanos injected an urgency and energy into the Seminoles' offense, running for a touchdown and 78 yards, whilst completing 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards.

Ty Simpson showed encouraging flashes as the Crimson Tide's new quarterback, completing 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Germie Bernard was the pick of Alabama's offense, with 146 receiving yards.

It was the nature, not the fact of Alabama's defeat that was the most alarming. Florida State were dominant on both offensive and defensive lines and in contrast to the energy of Florida State, Alabama were lethargic by comparison. On this performance, head coach Kalen DeBoer has work to do if the Crimson Tide are going to remain relevant through the college football season. let alone challenge for postseason competition.

LSU win the "Battle of Death Valley"

LSU won their first opening day game since 2019, over No.4 Clemson (Image credit: Ken Ruinard/USA Today)

Two of the top ranked quarterbacks in college football faced off in what LSU coach Brian Kelly mischievously referred to as "Death Valley, Jr." in a swipe at No.4 ranked Clemson who play in the same named stadium as the visiting No.9 Tigers from Baton Rouge.

LSU came into the game on a 0-5 streak of opening games. Despite the pregame billing given to their quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and his opposing number, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, a defensive slugfest was settled, 17-10, in favour of LSU.

The appointment of Tom Allen, Clemson's new defensive coordinator hired from Penn State, saw the home team Tigers revert to a more aggressive style of defense reminiscent of the Brent Venables era, but the offense, missing star receiver Antonio Williams through injury, struggled. Klubnik completed just 50% of his 38 pass attempts and threw an interception. He was chased all around the pitch by the impressive LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, who many will be familiar with from the excellent "Any Given Saturday" show on Netflix.

Nussmeier, criticised at times for making rash plays under pressure last season, looked cool under Clemson pressure. His superb touchdown pass to Kentucky transfer Barrion Brown was unjustly ruled out, but he regained his composure to find 6'7" tight end Trey'dez Green for the winning score with 12:18 left in the fourth quarter.

LSU broke their opening game losing hoodoo, running since 2019, and looked the pick of the SEC this weekend.

"These players refused to do anything but find a way to win" - LSU head coach Brian Kelly.

In other games...

No.5 Georgia will feature in the SEC championship race. The Bulldogs swept aside Marshall, 45-7 in Athens. Gunner Stockton, established as Georgia's QB1, was responsible for four total touchdowns, running and passing for two each.

Stockton's predecessor Carson Beck kicked off his career in Miami by leading the No.10 Hurricanes to a surprise 27-24 win over No.6 Notre Dame. Beck threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns. New Fighting Irish passer CJ Carr also impressed on his Notre Dame debut.

A wave of new quarterbacks were on show in Week 1

In addition to Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, Ty Simpson and CJ Carr, a number of teams fielded new signal callers. With quarterback play being such an important measure of teams' success in the college game, the numerous changes in this pivotal position mean that the college football championship race is one of the hardest to predict in recent years.

Washington State transfer John Mateer (392 yards, three touchdowns) and true freshman Bryce Underwood (251 yards, one touchdown) made solid debuts for No.18 Oklahoma and No.14 Michigan respectively. A nod too to Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. The new Wolverines back ran in three touchdowns and 159 yards on the ground. These two Top 25 teams meet in an intriguing Week 2 clash this weekend.

Dante Moore led No.7 Oregon to a 59-13 win thrashing of Montana State and Austin Simmons made his debut for No.21 Ole Miss in their third consecutive 60+ points opening day drubbing, this time a 63-7 win over Georgia State.

A rough debut for "Chapel Bill"

The weekend menu served up the heralded arrival of Bill Belichick to the college football ranks. The former six-time Super Bowl winning head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots led North Carolina against visiting Big 12 contender TCU. For all the expectation surrounding Chapel Hill on game night, with former UNC sporting great Michael Jordan in attendance, this was a chastening evening for Belichick, whose Tar Heels lost 48-14 to the Horned Frogs.

Week 1 didn't disappoint. College football is back.