Clemson’s offensive revival will have to wait at least another week.

In their opening game against top-ranked Georgia, the No. 14 Tigers managed only 188 yards and averaged just 3.6 yards per play, resulting in a disheartening 34-3 defeat. During the first half, Clemson only crossed into Georgia’s territory twice; one possession ended in a loss, and the other was thwarted by a penalty. The Tigers finally scored via a 26-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, but by then, the Bulldogs held a commanding 13-0 lead. Georgia quickly extinguished any hope of momentum by responding with a touchdown on the next drive.

Having narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff last season, Georgia appears ready to steamroll their opponents in pursuit of a third national championship in four years. For Clemson, even minor successes felt like victories; significant gains were nearly miraculous.

Second-year starting quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards, averaging a mere 4.9 yards per attempt, and threw an interception. His receivers struggled to find open space against Georgia’s defense, while the offensive line failed to create openings, leading to a paltry 46 rushing yards on 23 carries. This lackluster performance has unfortunately become a familiar theme over the past three seasons, mirroring Clemson’s decline from the national spotlight.

Georgia’s dominance is expected. The Bulldogs showcased a strong defensive effort alongside an efficient offense: Carson Beck went 23 for 33 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, kicking off his Heisman Trophy campaign impressively. Additionally, a committee of seven running backs combined for 163 yards and two scores, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

The significant disparity in performance indicates how far off Clemson is from being a serious title contender. The last time these teams faced off, in 2021, Clemson appeared just a few steps behind Georgia, who won that game 10-3. Now, however, the gap seems to have widened drastically, creating what feels like an insurmountable distance.

This reality positions Georgia as the biggest victor and Clemson as the biggest disappointment of Week 1 in the 2024 season. Here’s a look at the other teams:

Winners

Penn State

The No. 9 Nittany Lions showcased a revamped offense, amassing 457 yards with an impressive 7.6 yards per play in their 34-12 victory at West Virginia. Quarterback Drew Allar threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per pass. This performance validates head coach James Franklin’s decision to hire coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who previously had success at Kansas. A critical moment in the game came with a late half-ending touchdown drive, concluding in a swift 73-yard play in only three tries, allowing Penn State to lead 20-6 at halftime. Following a lengthy weather delay, the Nittany Lions secured two additional touchdowns in the second half, solidifying their status as a top contender in the Big Ten and the playoff race.

Dylan Raiola

The five-star freshman made a spectacular debut at Nebraska, completing 19 of 28 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant 40-7 home victory over Texas-El Paso. Raiola’s addition is a significant upgrade for Nebraska under coach Matt Rhule, positioning the Cornhuskers as a strong contender for eight or more wins this season.

Tennessee

It’s just Chattanooga, so let’s temper our enthusiasm, but the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers secured a staggering 69-3 victory, highlighted by an impressive debut from redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit. Iamaleava completed 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns, including a 59-yard connection with Dont’e Thornton Jr., before exiting the game early. Remarkably, he set a new school record for passing yards in a half with 313 yards, beating the previous record held by Tyler Bray since 2012.

Ohio State and Texas

These two playoff hopefuls started strong. Ohio State’s new quarterback Will Howard generated 246 total yards, while several freshmen made significant contributions, leading the No. 2 Buckeyes to a 52-6 triumph over Akron. Notably, five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith made a splash with six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman running back James Peoples added 30 yards and a touchdown on just six carries alongside starters TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who collectively gained 120 yards. Meanwhile, Texas overwhelmed Colorado State 52-0, racking up 545 yards of offense as they prepare for a massive non-conference encounter with No. 8 Michigan next week. Arch Manning, the redshirt freshman, also threw his first career touchdown, finishing with 95 passing yards.

Ashton Jeanty

In the most thrilling game of the week, Boise State prevailed over Georgia Southern 56-45 in a wild back-and-forth matchup that featured a combined 35 points scored in the fourth quarter. The standout player was Boise running back Ashton Jeanty, who had already captured attention as a potential Heisman contender after his performance.

Last year, he rushed for 1,347 yards and caught 569 yards as a receiver. Jeanty set new records for the program by achieving 267 rushing yards in a single game and scoring six touchdowns, just two shy of the overall Bowl Subdivision record of eight.

Alabama

There was little doubt that No. 5 Alabama would easily defeat Western Kentucky, resulting in a 63-0 win in coach Kalen DeBoer’s first game. This is certainly a solid start for the coach stepping in for Nick Saban, who faces significant pressure and scrutiny. Jalen Milroe and the offense appeared to adapt well to the Crimson Tide’s new system, scoring 42 points in the first half and completing three touchdowns of 54 yards or more. Notably, true freshman receiver Ryan Williams, an exceptional 17-year-old who moved up from the 2025 recruiting class, contributed with two impressive receptions totaling 139 yards.

Notre Dame

In a thrilling moment, No. 7 Notre Dame executed a decisive touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to secure a 23-13 victory over No. 20 Texas A&M. Despite a lackluster offensive showing apart from this key drive, the defense remained strong. Duke transfer Riley Leonard was pivotal, accounting for 221 yards of offense, particularly excelling in the late stages—an encouraging sign for the team. The critical question remains: Can he endure the physical demands of carrying the ball 12 times and maintain his health? This will likely determine the Fighting Irish’s success in 2024. Additionally, the true strength of the Aggies remains uncertain and may take weeks to assess. Nonetheless, fans should feel positive about Notre Dame following such a win in one of the toughest road environments in the nation. In other words, if you had a prediction of around 11-1 for this year’s schedule, this performance should not diminish your confidence.

Losers

Florida

The pressure is mounting on Billy Napier after a disappointing 41-17 defeat to Miami at home, showcasing the extent to which the Florida program has declined in his third year. In this crucial rivalry matchup, the Gators struggled to compete. The schedule only complicates matters as Florida is set to face eight ranked teams, including five consecutive ranked opponents to close out the regular season. While the Hurricanes have evidently improved, notably with new quarterback Cam Ward throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns, the Gators’ performance in the Swamp raises serious concerns about Napier’s future. It signals that this year’s team could become just the second since 1980 to suffer eight or more losses.

Virginia Tech

A heartbreaking overtime loss to Vanderbilt has completely dashed any optimism surrounding the Hokies, who ended the previous season on a high note. This loss has also pushed Virginia Tech out of the Top 25 conversation. Despite being down 17-3 at halftime, Tech rallied to take a 27-20 lead, only for the Commodores to level the score with less than two minutes left in regulation. Though this result may not carry significant weight overall—given that a playoff pathway would necessitate an ACC title—losing to Vanderbilt could define the season and potentially derail a promising campaign before September unfolds.

ACC

While Miami performed well, the overall start to the ACC season has been lackluster. Clemson faced a heavy defeat against Georgia, and Virginia Tech lost to Vanderbilt. No. 21 North Carolina State had difficulties overcoming Western Carolina. Just last week, No. 10 Florida State began the ACC’s downtrend with a loss to Georgia Tech. This has resulted in a concerning start for the conference, which is already struggling to positively influence public perceptions compared to the Big Ten and SEC. Continuous poor performances and losses in non-conference play could severely impact the playoff selection committee’s choices, as they evaluate numerous contenders from the Power Four for the available seven at-large bids.

Rice

Coach Mike Bloomgren’s team, the Owls, has made noticeable improvements, including securing back-to-back bowl invitations before this season. However, Rice is still on the brink of bowl eligibility. The 2022 squad finished the regular season with a 5-7 record but was selected for the LendingTree Bowl due to its high Academic Progress Rate. Last year’s team ended with a 6-6 record, only to face a heavy loss against Texas State in the First Responder Bowl. To reach the six-win threshold, Rice must secure victories at home, particularly against teams like Sam Houston State; however, they were overpowered, conceding 178 rushing yards, forcing two turnovers, and losing 34-14. The Bearkats, who went 3-9 the previous season as transitional FBS members, were ranked fifth in the Conference USA preseason poll.