"The thing about first impressions is you can't take them back. Some are underwhelming, like Arch Manning's at Ohio State or Nico Iamaleava's at UCLA. Some could be a harbinger for big things ahead, like Florida State steamrolling Alabama following a 2-10 season in 2024, or LSU finally winning an opener under Brian Kelly against the toughest Week 1 competition it has faced. Jackson Arnold had a tough first go-around at Oklahoma, but his first impression with Auburn left Tigers fans tickled."
"First impressions can be deceiving -- shoutout to Kenny Trill and a magical night in 2014 -- but they also provide much-yearned-for context to the power rankings. LSU's defense looked significantly better, as did Utah's offense and Texas A&M's passing game. We'll learn more about Michigan and Oklahoma, and specifically quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and John Mateer, this coming week in Norman, but so far, so good."
"Despite debuting eight new starters and a new coordinator in Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes defense shined in a 14-7 victory over Texas. Ohio State came up big when it mattered most, stuffing Texas four times on fourth down, including twice inside the Buckeye 10-yard line. Offensively, quarterback Julian Sayin played a clean game in his first career start. He completed 13 of 20 passes, while avoiding any big mistakes. He didn't take a sack and didn't turn the ball over. Coach Ryan Day suggested the Buckeyes will gradually open up the offense moving forward. But while their young passer settles in, the Buckeyes showed they can win with defense. The defending national champs also showed they remain the team to beat. -- Jake Trotter"
First impressions in college football create early context for rankings and can be either misleading or revealing. Some debuts were underwhelming, such as Arch Manning at Ohio State and Nico Iamaleava at UCLA, while others hinted at breakout potential, including Florida State's dominant win over Alabama and LSU finally winning an opener under Brian Kelly. LSU's defense, Utah's offense, and Texas A&M's passing game showed notable improvement. Jackson Arnold struggled at Oklahoma but impressed at Auburn. Ohio State's defense excelled in a 14-7 win over Texas, and Julian Sayin delivered a mistake-free first start, suggesting the Buckeyes can rely on defense while the offense opens gradually.
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