2024 College Football Season Week 1: Early Shockers and Takeaways

We have officially wrapped Week 1 of the 2024 College Football season and just one game into the schedule, a lot was revealed about the Top 25 teams in the nation, along with several unranked teams who are poised to play “spoiler” this season.

No. 10 Florida State

Head Coach Mike Norvell and the No. 10-ranked Seminoles were poised to avenge last year’s injury-ridden and really, tragic end to the 2023 College Football season.

With incoming transfer quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, the Seminoles were expected to be 2-0 after a Week 0 matchup against Georgia Tech and Week 1’s game against Boston College. Instead, the complete opposite has happened.

While the new 12-team playoff format will give some programs a second and maybe even a third chance to make the playoff, the Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, and the Week 1 dominance by Boston College IN Tallahassee, it seems like it may be time to call it wraps on the Seminole’s playoff hopes. 

Again, they have played two games already this season, their leading passer (Uiagalelei) has 465 passing yards and one touchdown this season. Their leading rusher (R. Williams) has just 48 rushing yards , and their leading receiver (J. Douglass) has 121 receiving yards.

We haven’t even hit Week 2 of the College Football season and the Seminoles are dead-men walking while their fans are avoiding following through on some pretty bold bets on social media.

Manhunt for Florida State Seminoles fan who made a bold statement on social media continues as college football fans are determined to hold him to his word >>

See you next year, FSU fans.

No. 8 Penn State

Highlights? We got 'em. 📼 pic.twitter.com/EeeNW2EqJA

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) September 1, 2024

While Florida State may be the biggest shock to the college football world so far, it would not be too far off to say that Penn State and their new and improved offense is another huge surprise this season. 

In a season with three new coordinators, a second-year starter at QB, and what looked to be a very weak wide receiver room, the No. 8-ranked Nittany Lions marched into Morgantown, West Virginia, and handled the Mountaineers in front of their home crowd (sorry Drew). 

While Penn State has always been solid defensively, and Tom Allen is not too far back of a step from now Duke head coach Manny Diaz, the explosive offense that OC Andy Kotelnicki has brought to the offense may be that missing piece the Nittany Lions have been looking for since the Trace McSorley days. 

While it is very early on, and there will be harder tests to come for the Nittany Lions this year, Saturday’s 34-12 win had to be a pleasant sight for the Happy Valley faithful. 

The SEC 

SEE YA! 👋@JalenMilroe

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/3ij95r0pe1

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 1, 2024

After week one, it is clear to say the SEC looks damn good. Yes, I’m fully aware it’s Week 1 and a ton of SEC schools play team’s that are suited to play against the top high school football teams in America rather than a Power 5 program, but the results are undeniable.

I mean seriously, the majority of the scores from Week 1 in the SEC resemble video game numbers when I absolutely destroy my little cousin who can barely hold a controller.

While it may be expected, you can’t deny that a conference posting SIX shutouts against any opponent in College Football is impressive. FIVE more teams held their opponent to just one score. That’s dominant no matter how you view it, right?

Nine SEC offenses scored more than 50 points in their season opener which also included two ranked wins for the SEC. I mean hell, even Vanderbilt won week one against Virginia Tech.  Florida, No. 13 LSU, and No. 20 Texas A&M all took losses, but they were both to ranked teams (No. 19 Miami, No. 23 USC, and No. 7 Notre Dame respectively).

I wouldn’t be worried about much of anything given that it’s only Week 1 and to be frank, the only SEC team I’d be worried about right now is South Carolina who barely snuck past an Old Dominion team that honestly, should not be sniffing a win against a Power 5 school. 

The Season Spoiler Conference? 

Earned. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/mVpatkxF7w

— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) September 3, 2024

We already know that two ACC teams (Georgia Tech and Boston College) have ruined the season for another ACC team in Florida State, but they won’t be the only schools to cause a shake-up in the Top 25 this season.

Keep an eye on Pitt, who looks mighty dangerous with Bama transfer Eli Holstein under center and Duke, a team that should crack the Top 25 in the coming weeks, as under-the-radar teams to make some noise this season.

The Fran Brown era at Syracuse is underway and while they are certainly garnering some attention, they won’t be expected to really shake the CFB landscape this year, but they could end up causing some late-season chaos. 

Georgia Tech has shown in their two games that Haynes King is legit, and they are not a team to be looked past, with Notre Dame, Miami, NC State, and Georgia all within their last five games of the season, the Yellow Jackets will have the chance to be a wrecking ball to a few teams seasons. 

Join The Chase

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Melina Meyers of USA Today Sports