College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Top 25 after Week 1

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 02: Bo Scarbrough #9, head coach Nick Saban, and Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate with the Chick-fil-A Kick-Off Game trophy after defeating the Florida State Seminoles 24-7 in their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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James Williams, RB, Washington State Cougars

PULLMAN, WA – SEPTEMBER 02: James Williams #32 of the Washington State Cougars hurdles Damien Washington #27 of the Montana State Bobcats in the second half at Martin Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

21. Washington State Cougars

Ranking before Week 1: No. 24

The Washington State Cougars didn’t lose to an FCS team to open their season this year.

I repeat, the Washington State Cougars didn’t lose to an FCS team to open their season this year.

Hey, you got to take the positives anytime you can get them and for Mike Leach, there’s plenty to be happy about after not losing to an FCS school again. Sure, the Cougars shut out Montana State with a 31-0 victory on Saturday, but star quarterback Luke Falk looked really sharp in the victory.

Falk had 311 passing yards, three touchdown passes and had just six incompletions in 39 pass attempts against the Bobcats on Saturday. 13 of Falk’s completions went to James Williams, who racked up 163 yards and two scores.

It’s a performance that the Cougs needed, especially being that they host Boise State next weekend and then jump right into their Pac-12 slate this season in Week 3 against Oregon State on Sept. 16. The Cougars have to go to Oregon and in-state rival Washington, but they get Stanford and USC both at home this season.

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