Editor’s note: The Athletic 134 is a weekly ranking of all FBS college football teams.
Week 1 has come to an end, and we’ve had a chance to see all the FBS teams in action. Well, almost all of them (sorry Ball State, you’ll have to wait a bit).
Following a weekend that delivered a few surprises and some impressive performances, where do the teams stand in this week’s edition of The Athletic 134?
Georgia takes the top spot after a dominant 34-3 victory over Clemson. And a warm welcome to the top 25, Vanderbilt! The Commodores, who were initially ranked 95th, now find themselves near the top 25 following an exciting overtime win against Virginia Tech, a team that was in the preseason top 25.
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Penn State, Miami, and Georgia Tech have all moved up in the rankings, while Florida State, Florida, and others have slipped down.
A reminder: The rankings may change frequently in the early weeks as teams face various opponents. Wins against tough teams are rewarded, so expect some big movements in the rankings. The emphasis is on results, which can take some time to sort out as all teams get a chance to prove themselves.
Now, let’s dive into the Week 2 edition of The Athletic 134.
1-10
I contemplated moving Notre Dame to No. 2 this week after their impressive win against Texas A&M. However, the Irish remain in this area for now, as other top teams also performed well. Penn State makes its way into the top 10 after a convincing win against West Virginia. Michigan and Oregon barely hold onto their top 10 spots after narrow victories in Week 1.
11-25
USC climbs to No. 15 after a strong performance against LSU, while Clemson barely hangs on in the top 25. Boston College and Vanderbilt make significant jumps after notable wins in Week 1.
26-50
Georgia Tech rises to No. 26, and Coastal Carolina climbs 30 spots to No. 64 after impressive showings in Week 1. TCU and Colorado also make their way into the top 50.
51-75
UNLV narrowly misses the top 50 after a commanding win over Houston. Arizona State’s dominant victory moves them up the rankings, while South Carolina and Texas Tech drop after close games.
76-100
Nevada surges to No. 76 after impressive showings in their recent games. Old Dominion and Georgia Southern move up despite losses, and Sam Houston makes a statement with a solid win.
101-134
Arkansas State drops after a close win, while New Mexico shows promise despite two losses. Florida Atlantic moves up one spot after a narrow defeat.
Stay tuned for more updates in the The Athletic 134 series, part of our partnership with Allstate. The rankings will continue to evolve as the season progresses.
(Photo of Kirby Smart: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
