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The best opening weekend in college football history provided us with no shortage of hot topics.
But not every scorching take is an overreaction. Sometimes, it’s quite clear — even after one game — that things are heading in the wrong direction.
So it’s time for the panic meter. Here are thoughts on six teams and whether it’s time for the fan base to give up hope.
1. How worried should Texas be about Arch Manning? The redshirt sophomore, making his third career start, didn’t play great at Ohio State. But he also twice came within inches of touchdowns (once on a fourth-down sneak and another on an incomplete pass in the end zone) that could have possibly led to a Texas victory. Yes, Manning’s Heisman hopes took a hit, and the Longhorns — who lost eight starters on offense — were probably overhyped as the preseason No. 1 team.
But this also isn’t 2009 anymore. You don’t have to go undefeated to make the BCS national championship game (like Texas did that season) or start your Heisman campaign with a memorable performance right out of the gate to win the trophy. Ohio State lost twice last season and won the national title. LSU’s Jayden Daniels won the Heisman in 2023 after losing 45-24 in the opener to Florida State when he threw for 346 yards, one touchdown and one pick.
Manning has a long way to go to look like a legit Heisman contender, but he has three cupcakes (San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston) over the next few weeks to work the kinks out with his receivers. Reinforcements are also on the way (Stanford transfer receiver Emmet Mosley V didn’t play at Ohio State). Manning still has a ridiculously talented defense backing him, too. If Texas turns things around and lives up to its preseason hype, overrated won’t be a word college football fans will be using for Manning very long. Panic meter: 3 (out of 10)
2. Can Kalen DeBoer and Alabama recover? The Crimson Tide turned out to be Week 1’s biggest frauds. There was nothing fluky about the way Florida State and former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn ran the ball right down the throats of the Crimson Tide, who had 14 missed tackles and looked nothing like 13.5-point favorites. Oddsmakers probably should’ve been more open to the idea of Florida State being capable of pulling off the upset, but the Seminoles were coming off a 2-10 season with new faces everywhere.
The bigger question: What happens next in Tuscaloosa? Since an impressive road win over Georgia propelled them to the No. 1 spot in the AP poll last October, Alabama is 4-5 in its last nine games against Power 4 opponents, with four of the losses coming to unranked teams. That’s a fireable offense at a program with as rich of a history as Alabama. But DeBoer’s buyout is $70 million if he’s fired before the end of the season. Alabama doesn’t have oil money like Texas A&M to pay him to go away, as Paul Finebaum put it Monday on ESPN. Some changes will take place in Tuscaloosa (including some time on the bench if loafing continues), but it won’t include DeBoer getting fired this quickly. Panic meter: 8
I think @finebaum could sell commemorative DVDs of today’s episode to Auburn fans.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) September 1, 2025
3. Is Notre Dame still a national championship contender? That’s easy. Yes. With redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr making his first career start, it was surprising that running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were not a bigger part of the game plan. Notre Dame rushed for 93 yards in Sunday’s loss at Miami. Last year, the Fighting Irish failed to hit the 100-yard mark only once — in the national title game against Ohio State.
But Irish fans should be encouraged by what they saw from their new quarterback. Carr made one costly decision, an ill-advised pass that turned into an interception following a series of tips, but he showed moxy under pressure (11 of 15 for 91 yards, one touchdown when blitzed, per TrueMedia) and nearly guided the team to a fourth-quarter comeback. Last year’s starter, Riley Leonard, couldn’t make the throws Carr made Sunday, and a talented Irish offensive line has plenty of time to fix some of the breakdowns that cost them against the Hurricanes.
Carr is only going to improve, and Notre Dame has only one more game against a team that will be in this week’s AP Top 25 — Texas A&M at home in two weeks. Panic meter: 1
4. Should Clemson still be considered the favorite to win the ACC? I think so. The Tigers blew a 10-3 second-half lead to LSU and lost on their home field to a high-quality SEC opponent. Garrett Nussmeier might be the best quarterback in college football this season, and LSU spent big money to secure the No. 1 portal class. There’s no shame in this loss.
Clemson fans, however, should be concerned about the injuries to top receiver Antonio Williams and starting safety Khalil Barnes, as well as the lack of a running game. If we learned anything Saturday about Clemson, it’s that QB Cade Klubnik isn’t good enough to carry the Tigers past a team as good as LSU on his own.
The good news for Clemson: This wasn’t a conference loss. The Tigers don’t play Miami in the regular season and host Florida State. Panic meter: 4
5. How bad do things look for Nico Iamaleava and UCLA? It’s not good. There was very little to be encouraged about in the 43-10 loss at home to Utah on Saturday night. Iamaleava was sacked four times and completed 11 of 22 attempts for 136 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led UCLA in rushing with 47 yards. Iamaleava took ownership, saying he needs to play better. But the real question: Where is the help going to come from?
Nico overthrowing wide open TDs 😂 pic.twitter.com/LfaRMT1Ada
— Ashley Schaeffer Vol (@SchaefferVol) August 31, 2025
UCLA lost its most experienced receiver, Kaedin Robinson, to a court ruling (his eligibility waiver was denied) and signed only one offensive transfer who started for a Power 4 team last year: Iamaleava.
The defense was dreadful, getting gashed for 492 yards by the new-look Utah offense. The Utes are good — they might win the Big 12 — but this was still very alarming. UCLA still has three games against teams currently ranked (Penn State, Indiana and Ohio State) as well as a home game against an improved Washington team and the rivalry game at USC. It would be surprising at this point if UCLA improved from last year’s 5-7 record. Panic meter: 9
6. Are Boise State’s hopes of a return to the College Football Playoff over? After getting dominated at South Florida on Thursday night, the Broncos probably need to upset Notre Dame on Oct. 4 to get into the selection committee’s good graces. But that’s a headache down the road for coach Spencer Danielson.
Life after Ashton Jeanty looks ominous. The Broncos averaged only 3.2 yards per carry against the Bulls after averaging 6.1 per carry last season. The defense wasn’t great, either, allowing 7 yards per play (more than any game last season) and 10.2 yards per passing attempt. Panic meter: 6
(Photo of Arch Manning: Kyle Robertson / USA Today)
