College Football Week 1: Top 25 lessons learned about the Top 25

6. Penn State – There was no Rose Bowl hangover for the Nittany Lions who raced out to a 35-0 lead at halftime against Akron. Saquon Barkley ran for 172 yards and a pair of scores. He should have a third, but it was called back after a review indicated he stepped out of bounds. Barkley also showed he’s pretty sick as a receiver too. Trace McSorley added 280 and two scores through the air. Penn State looks poised to build on last year’s success. The Heisman is a quarterback award, but Barkley is the leader in my Heisman conversation right now.

7. Oklahoma – The first game for Oklahoma without Bob Stoops as the coach since 1999 ended like so many of the ones with did him on the sideline did, with a win. Lincoln Riley picks up his first win of his career and Baker Mayfield looks as comfortable as ever. Mayfield finished 19-of-20 with 329 yards and three scores before giving way to Texas A&M transfer Kyler Murray who threw his first of what will be many touchdowns in the rout over UTEP. Oklahoma at Ohio State next week will be a litmus test for both to see if either is a College Football Playoff contender.

8. Washington – The Huskies were another team that started slowly in Week 1. That’s fine in the first game of the year, especially when you’re playing Rutgers, who isn’t much of a threat to do much. The rushing attack didn’t provide much support for Jake Browning but I wouldn’t put too much stock into that. Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman will be fine. Despite leading 10-7 at the half, the Huskies won 30-14 and Browning and Dante Pettis were able to make some big plays when they needed them.

9. Wisconsin – The Badgers trailed 10-0 into the second quarter vs. Utah State and the overrated tweets were pouring through on Twitter. Then, Wisconsin woke up and scored 59 unanswered points to win going away. Jonathan Taylor ran for 87 yards and a score in his freshman debut. Tight end Troy Fumagalli, wearing No. 48 in honor of his teammate, Jack Cichy who is out for the year with an injury, had five catches for 105 yards and a score. He’s one of the best in the country at the position.

10. Oklahoma State – Mason Rudolph had one fewer touchdown pass (3) than he had incompletions (4) in the Pokes 59-24 win over Tulsa on Friday night. Two of Rudolph’s scores went to All-American James Washington who had six catches for 145 yards. Perhaps most important were the Cowboys’ 332 yards and four scores on the ground. If they have this type of balance offensively all year, this offense will be among the most dangerous in the country.