College football rankings: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 1

College football rankings: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 1 – Notre Dame up, Michigan down

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals on September 1, 2018 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 01: University of Oregon WR Dillon Mitchell (13) celebrates catching a 9-yard touchdown pass during a college football game between the Oregon Ducks and Bowling Green Falcons on September 1, 2018, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Taylor Cornelius was tasked with replacing Mason Rudolph under center, but his performance wasn’t much of a drop-off from what Mike Gundy has been used to. He threw for five touchdowns as the Cowboys blew out Missouri State 58-17. The Cowboys’ offense didn’t seem to skip a beat, but it’s too early to tell if this is just because it faced an FCS foe.

This is more of a hypothetical outcome and prediction of what will happen on Monday evening when the Hokies travel to Tallahassee to take on the new-look Florida State Seminoles. The Hokies will keep it close and a late touchdown pass by Deondre Francois to Cam Akers will be the difference. Josh Jackson will be on track to a nice sophomore season after a tumultuous offseason. He’ll pass for over 250 yards in the opener, but it won’t be enough.

Coastal Carolina wasn’t exactly the toughest opening-week matchup for South Carolina, but Will Muschamp’s team was able to wipe the floor with the Chanticleers. Jake Bentley looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns and Rico Dowdle rushed for over 100 yards. The Gamecocks put a full game together and they look like dark-horse contenders in the conference.

Oregon’s defense had an up-and-down performance against Bowling Green, picking off two passes, but allowing over 250 yards through the air and another 130 on the ground. Justin Herbert, too, had a roller coaster game, passing for 280 yards and five touchdowns, but he threw two interceptions to a lackluster defense. The run game combined for over 200 yards, but there’s no standout workhorse.

People were expecting a much closer matchup in Week 1 as the Boise State Broncos traveled to Troy, but they were able to blow out the hosting Trojans 56-20. Brett Rypien had a strong game, passing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. The Broncos forced four turnovers and are in the driver’s seat for the top Group of Five spot in the New Year’s Six.

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