Five takeaways from college football's Week 0

The Dan Mullen era at  UNLV got off to a rocky start

The former Florida and Mississippi State head coach spent the last three seasons away from coaching, but he's returned to the sideline at UNLV. The Rebels needed all 60 minutes to hold off FCS Idaho State, 38-31, despite being favored by 25.5, according to DraftKings.

It's not like Idaho State is an FCS juggernaut either. The Bengals have won just 10 games since 2021, but behind 555 yards of total offense they nearly pulled off the upset. UNLV's saving grace was four interceptions. 

It's just one game, but it showed there's work to do for Mullen. A short week of practice is in store ahead of a Friday matchup at Sam Houston State.

Jalon Daniels made a statement

Looking for a Heisman-worthy performance? Look no further than Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels. He was nearly flawless in the first half of KU's 31-7 win over Fresno State, going 13-for-15 for 145 yards and two touchdowns. H e didn't need to finish the blowout and wound up with three total touchdowns.

Daniels' talent is unquestioned, but his health has hampered both his career and the Jayhawks. He started every game last season, which was a welcome sight after missing 10 games in 2023 to a back injury and four games in 2022 for a shoulder injury. If he stays healthy, KU could be a factor in the Big 12 race.

Stanford has fallen hard

From 2009-18, Stanford won at least eight games each season. More recently, the Cardinal haven't won more than four games in each of the last six seasons.

New quarterback Ben Gulbranson struggled in his Stanford debut, going 15-for-30 for 109 yards and a pick. Meanwhile, Hawaii's Micah Alejado (27-for-39 for 210 yards and two touchdowns) suffered a foot injury early in the game, but hobbled his way through the game to give his team a 23-20 victory.

Stanford has lost nine of its last 10 games dating back to September 28, 2024. These are tough times for a once-proud program.

Week 0 needs a little more energy

College football's Week 0 isn't a new thing, but it does feel like the sport needs to decide how big it's going to be. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become the tentpole event of Week 0, bringing two quality programs to Ireland. 

However, the game generates excitement in the early part of the day, but the rest of Saturday left much to be desired. There isn't another marquee matchup, and it seems the primetime slot could provide another big moment to kick off the season.

Schedules are made well in advance, but a fun idea would be to have the defending champion play in primetime during Week 0. Honor the champion, raise a banner and give the program an opportunity to stand alone in the limelight before the full slate of Week 1 games.