College Football is back! Week 0 started with a surprise when Florida State lost to Georgia Tech in Ireland. FSU was the AP’s number 10 team going into the game and we had them ranked as the number 16 team in the nation here at Rivalry Sports.
We won’t drop them too far as they figure to bounce back, but it just shows that each new season of College Football brings new surprises and each team has to bring it every day. Take a look below to see the Top 5 teams for each Power 4 conference.
Weekly Rivalry Sports Top 5 for each Power Conference
SEC TOP FIVE
The SEC is ready to try to prove their dominance again. Although Michigan from the Big Ten won the National Championship last year, the SEC is looking to take back the crown by having a team from their conference win the National Championship this year.
1. Georgia (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 1
Georgia looks to run their streak of regular season wins to 40 games with a win over a tough Clemson team to start the season.
Last Week SEC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Clemson at 12:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. Ole Miss (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 6
Ole Miss starts the season with their highest expectations ever as a football program. They start with a manageable game against Furman, but to truly take the next step that most believe they can, they need to show that they are dominant against the teams they should dominate.
Last Week SEC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Furman at 7:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. Alabama (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 5
Kalen DeBoer starts his regime as the Tide’s coach against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. It is a game that Alabama is heavily favored in, but this is the opportunity for DeBoer to show that Alabama will continue to be a dominant program.
Last Week SEC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Western Kentucky at 7:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. Tennessee (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 15
The Volunteers start the season against a smaller in-state opponent that should be overmatched. Let the hype begin for the Nico Iamaleava era!
Last Week SEC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs University of Tennessee Chattanooga at 12:45 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
5. Missouri (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 11
Coach Eli Drinkwitz is out to prove that he has turned Mizzou into a perennial contender and that task starts with a night game against Murray State.
Last Week SEC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Murray State at 8:00 PM EDT Thursday 8/29/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from SEC Top 5 Rankings:
N/A
Big Ten TOP FIVE
Everyone knows that the B1G is loaded in their top tier programs, but they are also looking to prove that the conference has depth. Adding 4 quality teams from the former Pac-12 goes a long way in improving both the top and the depth of the conference.
1. Oregon (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 3
The Ducks are looking to prove that they can come in and win the B1G in their first year in the conference. That goal starts with a tune up game against Idaho which they should win handily.
Last Week B1G Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Idaho at 7:30 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. Michigan (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 9
The defending champs have mostly been overlooked this year. Replacing their coach as well as most of the starters on offense and defense has led a lot of pundits to overlook them. However, Michigan returns top tier talent and if their depth shows up, they will look to repeat their magical season of last year.
Last Week B1G Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Fresno State at 7:30 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. Ohio State (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 2
Without question the Buckeyes are one of the most talented teams in all of college football. Their rest test will be proving that they are mentally tough enough to go undefeated in a season of oversized expectations. They should start strong against Akron.
Last Week B1G Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Akron at 3:30 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. Iowa (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 25
The Hawkeyes look to improve on Offense this year after replacing offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz with Tim Lester. If Lester can get this unit to improve and the defense shows up like always, then the Hawkeyes will look to win double digit games again this year.
Last Week B1G Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Illinois State at 12:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
5.Penn State (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 8
Penn State has their easiest path to the CFP ever as it now expands to 12 teams and the Nittany Lions don’t play Michigan, Oregon, or Iowa this year! They will start the 2024 season against a good West Virginia team.
Last Week B1G Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: @ West Virginia at 12:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from Big 10 Top 5 Rankings:
N/A
BIG-12 TOP FIVE
The Big 12 has added some competitive teams to the conference and they look to prove that the Big 12 belongs in the same conversations as the Big 10 and the SEC.
1. Utah (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 12
The talented newcomer to the conference looks to compete for a conference title in their first season in the Big 12 and even a CFP berth. They start the season with a manageable game against Southern Utah.
Last Week BIG-12 Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Southern Utah at 9:00 PM EDT Thursday 8/29/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. Oklahoma State (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 17
The Cowboys not only hope to win the Big 12, they plan on making a run for a spot in the CFP. Having superstar RB Ollie Gordon II on the team certainly helps.
Last Week BIG-12 Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs South Dakota State at 2:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. Kansas State (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 18
Sophomore QB Avery Johnson officially takes over for the departed Will Howard and looks to compete for a conference championship.
Last Week BIG-12 Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs UT Martin at 7:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. Kansas (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 22
Kansas starts with a game they should win against Lindenwood without question. The big question is can they keep QB Jalon Daniels healthy throughout the year?
Last Week BIG-12 Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Lindenwood at 8:00 PM EDT Thursday 8/29/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
5. Arizona (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 21
Arizona is a team that could exceed everyone’s expectations and that starts with winning the games you are supposed to win. They need to start the season off on a good foot with a win against New Mexico.
Last Week BIG-12 Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs New Mexico at 10:30 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from BIG-12 Top 5 Rankings:
N/A
ACC TOP FIVE
The ACC has already kicked off the season in Week 0 with an unexpected win by Georgia Tech over powerhouse Florida State. While Florida State still has time to turn their season around, the ACC needs a couple of their teams to rise up the rankings and compete for spots in the CFP.
1. Clemson (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 14
I say never count out coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, but they start the season with a very difficult game against powerhouse Georgia. With a win, Clemson resets all expectations for the season, but even a loss leaves a conference championship and the CFP in their sights.
Last Week ACC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Georgia at 12:00 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
2. Florida State (0 – 1) AP Ranking – # 10
Coach Mike Norvell has the unenviable task of getting the Noles to buy in for the rest of the season after the season opening loss to Georgia Tech. We will see just what FSU is made of by how they handle the rest of the season, starting with a tough game against Boston College this week.
Last Week ACC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Boston College at 7:30 PM EDT Monday 9/2/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. NC State (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 24
Transfer QB Grayson McCall gets to prove that he can lead the Wolfpack offense with a manageable game against Western Carolina in Week 1.
Last Week ACC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Western Carolina at 7:00 PM EDT Thursday 8/29/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. Miami (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # 19
Ever since Coach Mario Cristobal came back a couple of years ago to take over his alma mater there have been big expectations. Although he has recruited well, the product on the football field has been less than stellar. They have a chance to start the season off on the right foot with a win against their hated in-state rival Florida.
Last Week ACC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: vs Florida at 3:30 PM EDT Saturday 8/31/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
5. North Carolina (0 – 0) AP Ranking – # Unranked
Sure the Tar Heels lost star QB Drake Maye, but count out coach Mack Brown’s team at your own risk. NC looks to start their season off with their first opening day road win since 1992!
Last Week ACC Ranking: # N/A
Week 1 Opponent: @ Minnesota at 8:00 PM EDT Thursday 8/29/24
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from Big 12 Top 5 Rankings:
N/A
NOTABLE Week 1 GAMES
Take a look at some of the highest ranked or most intriguing games of the week listed below.
- # 14 Clemson @ # 1 Georgia – The highest ranked game of the week can set the tone of the season for both teams.
- UNC @ Minnesota – Two good teams that both want to be top 25 teams.
- # 8 Penn State @ West Virginia – This is the season that Penn State can show they belong in the top tier of college football. On the other hand West Virginia could start their season off with a bang with a win!
- # Miami @ Florida – Two bitter in-state rivals compete in a must win for both schools!
- # 7 Notre Dame @ # 20 Texas A&M – Notre Dame is looking to take the next step and make the CFP, and Texas A&M is looking to turn their program around with the start of the Mike Elko era!
- # 23 USC @ # 13 LSU – Both teams lost their superstar QB’s to the NFL. Which team can handle the transition better?
Rivalry Sports Lock Pick of the Week – #5 Alabama over Western Kentucky 45 – 13
Rivalry Sports Underdog Pick of the Week – Florida over Miami
Check back in for updated Top 5 Rankings next week!
Week 1 Game Picks
| Game | Rivalry Sports Pick – Dustin Kirby | Guest Picker – Stephanie Kirby |
| Clemson @ Georgia | Georgia | Clemson |
| Furman @ Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Ole Miss |
| Western Kentucky @ Alabama | Alabama | Alabama |
| Tennessee Chattanooga @ Tennessee | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| Murray State @ Missouri | Missouri | Missouri |
| Idaho @ Oregon | Oregon | Oregon |
| Fresno State @ Michigan | Michigan | Michigan |
| Akron @ Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State |
| Illinois State @ Iowa | Iowa | Iowa |
| Penn State @ West Virginia | Penn State | Penn State |
| Southern Utah @ Utah | Utah | Utah |
| South Dakota St @ Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State |
| UT Martin @ Kansas State | Kansas State | Kansas State |
| Lindenwood @ Kansas | Kansas | Kansas |
| New Mexico @ Arizona | Arizona | Arizona |
| Boston College @ Florida State | Florida State | Florida State |
| Western Carolina @ NC State | NC State | NC State |
| Florida @ Miami | Florida | Miami |
| North Carolina @ Minnesota | North Carolina | Minnesota |
| Total |
