The Biggest Winners and Losers From Week 1

One week down, and college football has already given us plenty to argue about.

Some teams completely changed how I view them. Others might already be in trouble.

Here are my biggest winners and losers from Week 1.

WINNERS

Boise State

Yes, Boise State lost.

But I’m actually more convinced this team can make the College Football Playoff after watching it.

Boise went into Autzen Stadium and pushed No. 2 Oregon all the way to the end before losing 34-27. The Broncos built a double-digit lead and were tied 27-27 deep into the fourth quarter.

If Oregon is as good as we think it is, that’s hardly a résumé-destroying loss.

Boise State showed it can compete with one of the most talented teams in America. Now it needs to handle business and establish itself as the Group of 6 team to beat.

LSU

What else is there to say?

LSU beat the crap out of Clemson.

Lane Kiffin’s first game ended with a 51-10 win, with LSU outgaining Clemson 644-145. It was the worst loss of Dabo Swinney’s head-coaching career.

LSU entered the season with plenty of hype.

After one game, I’m ready to call the Tigers an elite national championship contender.

Western Michigan

Western Michigan might have lost 13-12, but I’m putting the Broncos in the winners category anyway.

Because as far as I’m concerned, Western Michigan won that game 12-7.

The Broncos appeared to stop Michigan on its final Hail Mary with the clock hitting zero. Then replay somehow determined there was one second remaining, giving Michigan another opportunity. Bryce Underwood threw a 47-yard touchdown on the extra play. Even NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay questioned how officials found that second.

Western Michigan went into the Big House and did everything necessary to pull off a historic upset.

The scoreboard says otherwise.

LOSERS

Michigan

Winning with no honor isn’t winning.

Michigan needed a disputed replay decision and an extra Hail Mary just to beat Western Michigan at home.

The Wolverines committed three turnovers, possessed the ball for less than 20 minutes and were seconds away from one of the most embarrassing losses in program history.

And now Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor this weekend.

After what happened Saturday night, I’m guessing just about the entire college football world outside of Michigan will be rooting for the Sooners.

Maybe karma arrives one week late.

Oklahoma State

New coach.

New quarterback.

New roster.

Same old Cowboys.

Oklahoma State opened the Eric Morris era by losing 24-10 to Tulsa.

Not Oregon. Not Texas. Not even a ranked opponent.

Tulsa.

After completely rebuilding this program during the offseason, losing by two touchdowns to an in-state Group of 6 opponent is about as bad of a beginning as you could imagine.

Florida State

Where do we even start?

First, kickoff against SMU was delayed until 9:15 p.m. because of a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium. The game eventually began without full stadium operations.

Then Florida State’s defense forced FOUR turnovers…

And the Seminoles still lost 27-24 at home.

SMU turned it over four times and still produced 585 yards, while Kevin Jennings threw for 430. Florida State managed just 125 passing yards and went 2-for-15 on third down.

After an unimpressive Week 0 victory, this was supposed to be Florida State’s opportunity to prove it had turned things around.

Instead, the lights went out and so did the Seminoles.

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