College football rankings indicate a rise for Notre Dame, Penn State, and Miami, while Clemson and Oregon experience a decline in the top 25 polls.

The first week of college football is nearing its conclusion; however, we must await a few more days for the latest update of the AP Top 25 rankings. Nevertheless, the games scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have produced results that will influence the decisions of the voters as they prepare their revised ballots. Typically, this section would be dedicated to forecasting the anticipated changes in the AP Top 25 rankings for Sunday. However, with three ranked teams still set to compete this weekend and a three-day wait for the new AP poll, our attention will instead be directed towards the teams that have generated results capable of altering the rankings. Although there were few matchups involving ranked teams during Week 1, the situation remains dynamic.

1. Georgia's decisive victory over No. 14 Clemson in the season opener is expected to result in the Bulldogs receiving additional first-place votes, bringing Kirby Smart's squad closer to achieving a unanimous No. 1 ranking. Conversely, this outcome will significantly affect Dabo Swinney's Tigers, leading to a reevaluation of their ranking. The matchup on Saturday night between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 20 Texas A&M is also anticipated to influence the rankings, as Marcus Freeman's team secured a notable victory against a ranked opponent on the road in an exhilarating manner. Given the limited number of games featuring ranked teams, we anticipate some shifts in the rankings based on the quality of performance and the nature of victories for those teams in action. Consequently, teams such as Penn State and Miami may experience an upward movement in the rankings, even after securing wins against unranked opponents, as both achieved these victories by substantial margins in challenging away games. Let us examine some of the teams poised for movement when the rankings are updated following Week 1. Additionally, we invite you to join us on Monday night for the official Tomorrow's Top 25 Today, where we will analyze the new AP Top 25 projections after Week 1. For the moment, here are several teams that have altered their ranking prospects following Saturday's games.

Miami (Fla.)

I anticipate that voters will elevate No. 19 Miami by as many as six positions in the revised rankings, surpassing other 1-0 teams due to their more notable victory. Although Florida fielded a team significantly below their preseason expectations—where they were considered slight home underdogs—Miami's 41-17 triumph in The Swamp demonstrated a Hurricanes squad that is already performing closer to its peak than many had anticipated at this stage of the season. While other teams with new transfer portal acquisitions and starting quarterbacks were still resolving their issues, Cam Ward delivered an impressive performance, throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns in one of the program's most significant victories against the Gators.

Clemson

Typically, a defeat to the top-ranked team in the nation does not elicit a significant response from the AP voters; however, this will not apply to No. 14 Clemson. Regardless of the fairness of the situation, the Tigers are poised to face scrutiny that extends beyond their performance over the course of the game. AP voters, much like many observers in college football, have noted Clemson's recent challenges in relation to their historical program standards. Being included in the top 25 rankings is, in part, an indication of a potential return to that level of excellence—or at least a move in the right direction. It is likely that many voters will remove Clemson from their ballots entirely, while others may still place them in the lower 20s. The determination of whether they can maintain a position within the top 25 will hinge on the level of consensus support for the final five spots among the teams ranked there.

Notre Dame up

There is limited potential for advancement from the seventh position; however, sufficient voters at the lower end of Notre Dame's preseason rankings may enable the Fighting Irish to surpass Ole Miss for the sixth spot. Although the Rebels achieved a significant score against Furman, this performance is unlikely to carry the same significance as the accomplishments of quarterback Riley Leonard and an exceptional defense in one of college football's most challenging environments. Notre Dame faced challenges with a new offensive line, a new offensive coordinator, and a new quarterback, which was evident through a series of penalties that hindered their offensive progress. Nevertheless, the defense remained resilient, and Leonard successfully orchestrated two touchdown drives in the second half, securing a victory in one of the day's most prominent matchups.

Texas A&M

It appears improbable that No. 20 Texas A&M will completely exit the top 25 rankings following a narrow defeat to a top-10 opponent. However, some voters may choose to exclude the Aggies from their ballots due to an offensive display that fell short of expectations. Texas A&M boasts a formidable defensive line and positioned itself to secure a victory against Notre Dame; nevertheless, when the situation demanded a decisive touchdown drive, quarterback Conner Weigman and the Aggies' offense struggled to perform effectively. This scenario mirrors the situation faced by Clemson, as voters must decide between teams that have encountered offensive difficulties against top-10 rivals. One team (Texas A&M) engaged in a more competitive contest, while the other (Clemson) succumbed to a higher-ranked opponent. Regardless, both teams are vying for positions near the cut line around No. 25..

 Penn State 

Although No. 8 Penn State faces limited opportunities for significant advancement in rankings, the Nittany Lions delivered a performance that is likely to influence the opinions of voters positioned at the lower end of the ranking spectrum. While other top 10 teams achieved decisive victories against weaker opponents, Penn State made the journey to West Virginia, overcame a weather delay, and maintained a lead throughout their 34-12 triumph over the Mountaineers. The oddsmakers anticipated a Penn State victory, but not by such a considerable margin. The defense exhibited remarkable strength, and quarterback Drew Allar accounted for three touchdowns in the first outing of a revamped offensive strategy. Although it may be challenging for Penn State to enter the top five, discussions regarding their potential will undoubtedly commence following this victory.

Oregon 

While every other team in the top six of the AP Top 25 poll achieved decisive victories over their opponents, No. 3 Oregon encountered a challenging contest against FCS Idaho as the game progressed. It is anticipated that the Ducks will not drop significantly below the No. 5 or No. 6 positions; however, the underwhelming performance of quarterback Dillon Gabriel and an offense that was projected to rank among the nation's elite will likely attract the attention of the voters. Thoughtful assessments regarding whether Oregon's display reflects a regression will emerge as more games against varied opponents are played. Nevertheless, for voters seeking to make changes to their ballots, Saturday's outcome is particularly noteworthy when contrasted with the performances of other top-ranked teams in the poll.