College Football Power Rankings: Top performances and first impressions from Week 1
After five straight days of college football, Week 1 is in the books. There was a school-record-breaking performance from Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava in his freshman debut, showing the preseason hype around him was warranted. Other programs didn’t have as ideal a weekend, but it’s only Week 1.
Can Iamaleava maintain his performance when the Volunteers take on top-25 opponent NC State in Week 2? What does LSU need to improve on after a tough last-second loss to USC?
Our experts voted on who should be in the top 25 and gave their first impressions on each school based on Week 1 performances.
It was a new season but the same results for Georgia’s tenacious defense in its 34-3 rout of Clemson in Atlanta. The Bulldogs limited the Tigers to only 13 first downs and 188 yards of offense. Clemson passed the 50-yard line only twice. Georgia linebackers Jalon Walker and Raylen Wilson and end Mykel Williams applied good pressure on Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik, and freshman safety KJ Bolden looked more than ready in his first college game with four tackles.
All-American safety Malaki Starks moved to the star position because of Joenel Aguero‘s injury, and Starks adjusted well. Depth on the defensive line remains a concern, especially if Williams (ankle) and tackle Warren Brinson (leg) are sidelined for long. Williams was wearing a walking boot on his left foot when he left Mercedes-Benz Stadium. — Mark Schlabach
The Buckeyes have yet another rising star wideout in true freshman Jeremiah Smith, who shined in his Ohio State debut. Smith dropped his first pass off his chest on the opening drive. After that, he was unstoppable. He finished with 92 yards receiving on six catches and became the first Ohio State freshman in 26 years to debut with two touchdown receptions.
Smith joins Ohio State’s enviable array of dangerous playmakers, which includes preseason All-American wideout Emeka Egbuka and standout running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who combined for 120 rushing yards in Ohio State’s 52-6 victory over Akron. The offense got off to a slow start in coordinator Chip Kelly’s first game calling plays. But in the second half, Ohio State got rolling behind a promising performance from senior transfer quarterback Will Howard. Once it settles in with all the new pieces, this Ohio State offense figures to be a juggernaut. — Jake Trotter
Answers to the biggest questions surrounding the Longhorns will have to wait until next weekend’s visit to Michigan, but this was a comprehensive start from Texas. Quarterback Quinn Ewers opened his junior season 20-of-27 for 260 yards with three touchdown throws, including an eye-catching, no-look touchdown strike to Matthew Golden before halftime.
Freshman pass catcher Ryan Wingo led Texas with 70 receiving yards on four catches, and Arch Manning got in on the action, too, going 5-for-6 for 95 yards and a passing touchdown while adding another score on the ground. Props as well to a Longhorns secondary that held Colorado State (306.5 passing yards per game in 2023) to 74 yards through the air. A big test awaits at Michigan Stadium in Week 2. — Eli Lederman
Kalen DeBoer’s debut at Alabama underscored why he rose from relative obscurity to replace the greatest college coach of all time in Nick Saban. DeBoer’s offenses are dominant and flashy, and Alabama’s had room to grow after last season. The Crimson Tide stormed out to a 42-0 halftime lead against Western Kentucky, which had never trailed by so many points at the half since it joined the FBS in 2007.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe had 169 yards and three touchdowns on only four completions in the first half, and recorded his third career game with at least three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns. Freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams had touchdown receptions of 84 and 55 yards in his debut, while running back Justice Haynes and others had big nights. Alabama held WKU’s typically powerful offense to 103 passing yards, 2.2 yards per play and zero points. — Adam Rittenberg
It wasn’t pretty, but as rock fights go, Notre Dame came out of this one looking pretty good. The Irish held off Texas A&M 23-13 behind a gutty performance from Riley Leonard and a dominant defensive effort. Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler each picked off passes, and the Irish stuffed two critical fourth-down tries to preserve the win.
Perhaps most significant, Notre Dame seems to have found a clear lead back in Jeremiyah Love, who had 91 yards and the go-ahead TD, while Clemson transfer Beaux Collins emerged as a playmaker in the passing game. — David Hale
Penn State’s hire of Andy Kotelnicki resonated more than most offensive coordinator additions because of what it represented. If Kotelnicki could spark quarterback Drew Allar and an offense that lacked explosion in 2023, the Nittany Lions would be a complete CFP contender. Allar and the Nittany Lions’ offense looked like a different unit in Kotelnicki’s debut, stretching the field — and West Virginia‘s talented defense — for 34 points and 457 yards in an impressive road win. In the first half alone, Allar passed for 199 yards and three touchdowns and connected on completions of 50 and 55 yards.
An offense that produced one 100-yard receiving performance all last season saw Harrison Wallace III reach triple digits on an 18-yard touchdown from Allar late in the second quarter. Penn State’s defense continued to thrive under new coordinator Tom Allen, keeping West Virginia out of the end zone for more than three quarters and allowing just 3.7 yards per play. — Rittenberg
One week in, the Rebels’ electric offense leads the country in scoring thanks to a thoroughly dominant 76-0 win over FCS team Furman. Jaxson Dart threw for 418 yards and scored six total touchdowns in two quarters. Tre Harris, Juice Wells and the Rebels’ countless playmakers shined, and a reloaded offensive line held up nicely.
Pete Golding’s defense forced nine three-and-outs. A 52-point halftime lead allowed Lane Kiffin to send in the backups for the entire second half. Ole Miss finished with 772 total yards, the most by any Rebels team in Kiffin’s tenure. All in all, that’s about as clean of a season opener as one could hope, and the head coach admitted afterward he couldn’t find much to be critical about. — Max Olson
It’s the first game of the season, but the No. 3 team in the country isn’t supposed to struggle like this. What made Oregon’s hard-earned 24-14 win over FCS opponent Idaho — at home, no less — even more confounding is that it gained 487 yards on offense, held its opponents to just 217 total yards, had 31 first downs and only one turnover, and held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of game time. So, how did the Oregon end up with only 24 points? In short, the Ducks were sloppy. The offensive line was a sieve, allowing three sacks, accounting for seven of Oregon’s eight penalties that cost it 60 yards and stalled a handful of promising drives.
Oregon appeared to move the ball at will, and Oklahoma transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel debuted for the Ducks with 380 yards and 7.8 yards per pass, as well as two touchdowns, but he also had a fumble and threw the ball 49 times. Gabriel completed 41 of those 49 passes, but the balance between him and the running game didn’t look to be quite established as the Ducks barely crossed 100 yards rushing as a team. Even though the defense looked close to midseason form, to say there’s room for improvement for Dan Lanning’s team would be an understatement as it heads into much tougher matchups. — Paolo Uggetti
As soon as quarterback Cam Ward arrived via the transfer portal in January, expectations around the Hurricanes in Year 3 — under Mario Cristobal — started to rise. Everyone saw why against the Florida Gators in a performance that will go down in the history books in the once annual rivalry. Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns, often looking nonchalant as he stepped back to pass. Maybe that is because his offensive line protected him all day, giving him the confidence to sit in the pocket and take his time. Even when he did have to scramble out, he still made jaw-dropping plays, including one across his body to Jacolby George in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Beyond his performance, Miami is starting to look the way Cristobal has planned since his arrival: Tough and physical on the offensive and defensive lines. The Hurricanes will be favored in their next three nonconference games, starting Saturday against Florida A&M. But Cristobal knows a big opening win only means so much. To back up the statement that was made, they have to keep winning. — Andrea Adelson
The Wolverines’ national title defense began with a surprise on offense, as Davis Warren, not Alex Orji, earned the starting quarterback job. Warren had predictably mixed results in the opener against Fresno State but capped Michigan’s best drive of the night, a 75-yard surge in the fourth quarter, with an 18-yard touchdown pass to star tight end Colston Loveland. The senior QB had an interception and only 118 passing yards, as he struggled to get in rhythm with his wide receivers.
Michigan didn’t free up Donovan Edwards in the run game, although Kalel Mullings looked capable with 92 rushing yards on 15 carries. The defense helped with an 86-yard pick-six from cornerback Will Johnson and another interception from Zeke Berry that set up a touchdown. But coach Sherrone Moore said “everything” must improve as Michigan prepares to host Texas in Week 2. — Rittenberg
Murray State was never likely to trouble the Tigers, but Missouri jumped to a 28-0 lead in just 11:22 and kept piling on in a comfortable start to an expectation-filled season in Columbia. Brady Cook found Luther Burden III for a 16-yard score on the opening possession.
Transfer rushers Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll combined for 5.1 yards per carry and each found the end zone in their team debuts. And the Tigers’ defense, led by first-year coordinator Corey Batoon, finished as the only FBS unit to allow fewer than 100 yards in Week 1, albeit against a Murray State offense that averaged 16.6 points per game last fall. — Lederman
If you didn’t buy Nico Iamaleava stock this offseason, the price just went up. Tennessee’s redshirt freshman phenom threw for 314 yards and three TDs on 22-of-28 passing in his first home start, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, and rolled to a 69-3 win over Chattanooga Mocs.
The Vols threw for 414 yards, rushed for 304 and scored on 10 of 13 drives against a preseason top-10 FCS opponent, and their defense didn’t let the Mocs cross midfield once in the first half. This team looks ready to take on a top-25 foe with NC State up next. — Olson
It was about as ideal of a start to the season as the new-look USC team could have hoped. With the eyes of the entire sport on the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic, Lincoln Riley’s team didn’t just hang with an SEC opponent, it beat one in a 27-20 win over LSU. The revamped Trojans defense under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn looked worlds better and far more sound than its previous iteration, while new starting quarterback Miller Moss proved why — for at least one game — Riley was right to hand over the team to him instead of a transfer quarterback. Moss showed incredible poise as USC’s offense stalled in the middle of the game while the defense (who would have thought?) kept the Trojans in it by holding the Tigers’ offense at bay long enough for Moss to engineer a winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of what was an electric game.
It is, indeed, only one game, but there is plenty of promise now surrounding a USC team that could have easily gotten away with a down year given all the changes. Instead, Moss and the offense look ready to play with anyone, while the Trojans appear to be stronger than before. There’s a long way to go, but that’s as good of a first impression as any and likely Riley’s signature win in three seasons as USC’s head coach. — Uggetti
Welcome back, Cam Rising. After missing last season because of a serious knee injury, the Utes quarterback completed 10 of 15 passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 49-0 win against Southern Utah. If there was any concern about Rising’s ability to regain his previous form — he guided the Utes to two Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl berths in 2021 and 2022 — those thoughts likely faded quickly Thursday.
Still, considering the quality of the opponent, this week’s game against Baylor will be a much better barometer for how the Utes will fare in their first season in the Big 12. — Kyle Bonagura
Jackson Arnold threw for four touchdowns in his first regular-season start, and the Sooners forced six turnovers in a season-opening rout of Temple. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said Arnold played “really efficiently.” But the offensive story belonged to wide receiver Deion Burks. The Purdue transfer notched three scores before halftime in his Oklahoma debut, becoming the fifth Sooner in program history to register three touchdowns in a half.
There were issues for Oklahoma — 1-for-12 on third down, struggles across a new-look offensive line, a long-term injury for wide receiver Jalil Farooq — but the Sooners cruised in the opener. They now look ahead to a Week 2 visit from a Houston team that suffered a 27-7 defeat to UNLV in Week 1. — Lederman
The Cowboys were in control from start to finish in a 44-20 win against South Dakota State, the defending FCS national champion. It wasn’t a dominant performance by any means — OSU outgained SDSU by just six yards — but a comfortable win was exactly what the Cowboys needed to start the campaign against a dangerous opponent.
After rushing for 1,732 yards last season, Ollie Gordon II ran for 104 yards and a pair of scores on 27 carries, while Alan Bowman threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Oklahoma State can now shift its full attention to this week’s game against Arkansas, which visits Stillwater. — Bonagura
The Avery Johnson era began with a 41-6 win over UT Martin, with the quarterback going 14-of-21 for 153 yards passing and two touchdowns along with three carries for 37 yards. He also threw his first interception.
The Wildcats’ defense smothered the Skyhawks, allowing just 134 yards, eight first downs and only 0.9 yards per rush, and Kansas State blocked a punt in the first quarter and returned it one yard for a score. — Dave Wilson
Garrett Nussmeier showed a ton of confidence in his biggest test yet as the Tigers’ new QB1, but the Tigers have a lot to clean up after coming up short on Sunday night in Las Vegas in a 27-20 loss to USC.
Too many undisciplined penalties (10) and missed opportunities ultimately added up to a blown lead and 14 points surrendered in the final six minutes, leaving a frustrated Brian Kelly questioning his team’s focus and lack of killer instinct. It’s far too soon to say this team is in trouble, but Kelly’s postgame anger certainly speaks to how winnable this game felt and how disappointing it is to start 0-1 yet again. — Olson
The Jayhawks put away FCS Lindenwood before a competitive game had a chance to materialize, building a 34-0 lead by halftime and cruising to a 48-3 triumph. Kansas was so dominant that it needed only 15 pass attempts from Jalon Daniels (9-of-15, 148 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and eight carries from Devin Neal (112 yards, 2 TDs). Nine different players registered rushing attempts. It was a predictable result against an overmatched team, and it doesn’t do much to inform speculation about what the rest of the season might look like for the Jayhawks. — Bonagura
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan might have delivered the offensive performance of the college football season in Week 1, catching 10 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns. The truth is, McMillan could have challenged the FBS single-game receiving yards record of 405 had Arizona wanted to force this issue in the fourth quarter. Any conversation about who the first receiver in the 2025 NFL draft will be should start with McMillan.
The Wildcats also were explosive rushing the ball, as Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Quali Conley combined on 23 carries for 196 yards (8.5 yards per carry). But it wasn’t all good for the Wildcats in coach Brent Brennan’s debut: They allowed 39 points and 471 yards to New Mexico, which lost last week to FCS Montana State. — Bonagura
The Hawkeyes got off to an alarming start offensively, managing just a pair of field goals in the first half in new offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s debut. But in the second half, quarterback Cade McNamara and the Hawkeyes found their groove. McNamara threw three touchdown passes, as the Hawkeyes coasted to a 40-0 win over Illinois State.
Iowa played without coach Kirk Ferentz, who served a one-game suspension for a recruiting violation; assistant head coach Seth Wallace helmed the team in his place. The Hawkeyes struggled offensively all last season, finishing last in the Big Ten in a multitude of categories. On Saturday, they showed promise in the second half behind McNamara, who missed the final nine games of last season with a knee injury. The Hawkeyes should be tough defensively again. If they can get more from the offense, they could prove to be a surprise playoff contender. — Trotter
The Wolfpack have been billed as a sleeper contender in the ACC, but during the early going in a 38-21 win over Western Carolina, they struggled to find a rhythm and consistency with their revamped offense. That all changed in the second half, as Jordan Waters jump-started the run game (123 yards, 2 TDs) and signal-caller Grayson McCall got more comfortable (318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT).
The star of the show was wideout KC Concepcion, who picked up where he left off last season with nine receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, NC State coach Dave Doeren said he would never apologize for a loss. It gets much harder this week, as the Wolfpack take on Tennessee in a huge game not only for potential playoff ramifications but also to help the ACC start to change the narrative about the conference as a whole. — Adelson
The Aggies could never get in an offensive rhythm in a game that marked a disappointing beginning to a new era in College Station. Drawing a top-10 Notre Dame team brought a national television audience and a raucous crowd of 107,315, and the defense played up to its billing for the first half, which ended in a 6-6 tie. The Irish then ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the second half as they pulled away for a 23-13 win. But the bigger concern as A&M transitions to new coordinator Collin Klein’s offense is the performance of quarterback Conner Weigman, who was 5-of-16 for 61 yards and threw two interceptions on throws of five or more yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information. — Wilson
The Tigers’ punchless offensive performance against Georgia’s formidable defense raised questions about their trajectory with quarterback Cade Klubnik running the show. Klubnik completed 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards with two sacks and one interception. Wide receiver Antonio Williams played well with six catches for 76 yards, but the Tigers didn’t get much production in the passing game from anyone else.
Tailback Phil Mafah ran for 59 yards on 16 attempts. The Tigers went 4-for-13 on third down. The good news: Clemson probably won’t face a defense as good as Georgia’s again in the regular season. The Tigers will try to get better in Saturday’s home game against Appalachian State. — Schlabach
It might not be the most stylish way to win games, but Georgia Tech is a perfect mirror of its coach, former O-lineman Brent Key. The team has 16 former linemen on its staff, and physicality is the foundation of everything Key wants to do on both sides of the ball. So far, it has worked.
In upsetting Florida State in Week 0, the Jackets dominated the line of scrimmage. In a win over Georgia State on Saturday night, Tech ran for 225 yards and three scores. It’s exactly the recipe Key thinks can carry the program to the next level. — Hale
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
NEW ORLEANS — Considering that half-century in the college football netherworld, Tulane is amid what can only be considered a football renaissance. Spearheaded by former coach Willie Fritz and perpetuated by first-year coach Jon Sumrall, Tulane has won the American Athletic Conference (2022), beaten USC in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and is ranked No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Few could have projected Tulane’s place in the national conversation before the recent surge, as Tulane (8-2) looms as an improbable contender — along with No. 13 Boise State and No. 24 Army — for the CFP bid that goes to the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion.
“They were a beached whale for a lot of years and decades,” former Tulane athletic director Kevin White told ESPN. “The schizophrenia from the campus community was real, relative to college athletics. You’d put on a helmet and shoulder pads when you went to the board meetings.”
These days, the helmets and shoulder pads are saved for the games.
And Tulane has a coach in Sumrall, 42, who is considered to be one the most promising in the sport and embodies the institution’s grander ambitions that come with the taste of success.
And that puts Tulane in a compelling place as a university, as it’s seeing the benefits of recent football relevance and pondering the investments required to stay in the mix and, someday, position itself for a power conference.
“To be able to sustain success is really rewarding, I think, for everybody involved,” Sumrall said in his office last week. “Our players, our staff and the university as a whole, the challenges that come with mid-major football Group of 5 football if you will. Anytime right now you feel like a coach leaves, you’re like, ‘All right, this could go really bad.’ But we’re very fortunate to, things have stabilized.”
Tulane is undefeated in the AAC and a win at Navy (7-2) on Saturday (noon ET on ESPN2) would clinch a spot in the program’s third consecutive conference title game. Tulane beat UCF two years ago, lost to SMU last season and would play Army with a win Saturday.
That type of consistent success — as often happens at the mid-major level — has led to turnover. Athletic director Troy Dannen left for Washington (then soon again for Nebraska) after hiring Fritz in December 2015 and building the program with him. Fritz left for Houston after going 23-4 his final two seasons and beating USC in the Cotton Bowl following the 2022 season.
And Tulane has found itself institutionally trying to both sustain and maximize the success. It hired Huron Consulting, of which White is a senior adviser, to do what COO Patrick Norton calls a “basic diagnosis” of the athletic department.
“[Athletics is] really important to our brand,” Norton said. “Now, how do we capitalize on that? That’s still, I think, in some ways to be determined. I mean, this is fairly recent for us, success from the Cotton Bowl, which was really an amazing experience for the university. One that we hadn’t gone through in a very, very long time.”
One of the clearest signs of Tulane’s football aspirations came immediately after last season. In the wake of Fritz’s departure to Houston and in essentially athletic director David Harris’ first week on the job, they lured the hottest coach in the Sun Belt. Sumrall had won back-to-back league titles at Troy while going 23-4, and drew interest in the last cycle from Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
Sumrall agreed to a six-year deal that’s believed to be near the top of the AAC. For a place that lagged behind so far and for so long, Harris’ immediate aggression and commitment showed that Tulane didn’t want to drift off the map for another half-century.
“Jon has had a great impact on us,” Harris told ESPN. “I think his name and his success coming in the door gave what we were continuing to try to build here at Tulane, immediate credibility because people knew his background, his success, what he had been able to do at Troy, the connection that he had had here [as a former assistant].”
To remain in the conversation for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, Tulane will need to keep winning and get help from some of Boise State’s Mountain West foes. But it’s entirely viable, and a testament to the school’s ability to maintain through significant turnover.
Tulane’s place in the national conversation is a fitting dividend from it’s increased investment in football. It was an object of the desire of the Pac-12 and continued success could vault it into conversations as leagues remain in flux.
Norton said that the travel in the Pac-12 loomed as an issue for Tulane and the school didn’t see a certain financial benefit from a move.
“We were leaving something that is more certain to less certain,” Norton said, “and frankly, it’s not the Pac-12 that we always knew, that we grew up with that John Wooden and UCLA and USC. It just wasn’t the same. I’m not saying that these schools aren’t solid, very good schools, but it’s not the same. And it was different than what we wanted, and so I think the decision wasn’t that hard, but we listened.”
But being courted by a league is a sign of Tulane’s evolution and success in athletics. And Sumrall said he has felt the support.
“I think that the readiness and the commitment is real,” Sumrall said. “I think that the university is seeing what football can do for the university. It’s galvanized so many people and I think it’s created a lot of exposure, and I think that that only empowers the desire to maybe help it grow even further.”
Sumrall spent three as an assistant coach at Tulane from 2012-14. He loved the city, watched guys like Leonard Fournette and Odell Beckham Jr. play high school ball. He loved the culture of the city — his favorite steakhouse is Mr. John’s down on St. Charles Avenue, and he has dabbled with the alligator cheesecake at Jacques-Imo’s. He always thought the collision of local talent and the city’s uniqueness could yield big dividends for a program stuck in neutral so long.
“So to me, that mixture of things was something that stood out to me when I was here previously,” Sumrall said. “And then the moment that’s been created with the most recent success the last few years really showed, I think, that there was an opportunity to maybe capture some positive things that have happened.”
Sumrall’s final season as an assistant coach coincided with the move to Yulman Stadium on campus and to the AAC in 2014. That marked a move out of the SuperDome, a cavernous dark hole for Tulane games that Sumrall likened to “playing in a cave.”
Since he has returned, Sumrall has seen the team being on campus and the success under Fritz energize Tulane football in New Orleans. He complimented Dannen’s decision to bring back the Angry Wave logo — fitting for a quirky city like New Orleans — and said the excitement felt today can be linked to the campus hosting football games.
“Ten years ago when I was here, I don’t think anybody here gave a damn. The city didn’t care,” he said. “There was no connection. Now you feel like a real connection. So that part’s really cool.”
Sumrall values that connection. He and his wife, Ginny, live nearby and take frequent walks on campus. She joins him when he traverses campus on Thursdays and checks in on the players classes, something Sumrall likes to do as a way to connect with the players. His presence there also stresses the academic component, which is critical at Tulane.
The roster that Sumrall as assembled is a modern mosaic of what roster building looks like, as he brought in 58 new players, including 53 transfers. He also has benefited from holdovers at quarterback and tailback who’ve both emerged as stars.
Tailback Makhi Hughes leads the AAC in rushing yards with 1,209. He averages 5.7 yards per carry and has scored 13 rushing touchdowns and two more receiving.
Quarterback Darian Mensah has thrown for 2,059 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has completed 65.6% of his passes and has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Group of 5.
Mensah has led a balanced offense under veteran coordinator Joe Craddock that is No. 4 nationally in scoring with 41.0 points per game. Tulane is also Top 20 in scoring defense and total defense under coordinator Greg Gasparato.
Sumrall’s teams at Troy had a knack for winning close games, as Sumrall joked they went a “modest 12-2” his first year there. So far at Tulane, his team has lost only to then-No. 15 Oklahoma and then-No. 17 Kansas State, and it has handled the rest of the competition. In Tulane’s eight wins, it has won by an average of more than 30 points.
As Tulane enters the finishing kick, the program will face the same micro conundrum that it faces in the macro as a university in athletics — retaining talent and spending enough money in order to remain competitive. That includes coaches, staff and players, in an era where the financial separation is distinct compared to the power leagues.
While there’s limited movement expected in Power 4 coaching this year, Sumrall’s 31-6 career record will make him coveted this year and beyond. Mensah, who has three years of eligibility left, has authored the type of season that already has quarterback-needy schools putting together bids.
The success for Tulane is real, but so is the annual challenge to maintain it. With the ambition and momentum Tulane has gathered comes the challenge of keeping it going.
“As you look at the next several years, and the changing landscape of college athletics, people feel that there’s really a place for Tulane within the college football landscape and just overall being a stronger athletics brand,” Harris said. “And so to be in this position is incredibly exciting. It’s a big responsibility because you want to be a part of keeping the trajectory going up and keeping the excitement going and keeping the momentum going.”
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Neil Paine
Hockey is a notoriously chaotic sport in which you need a large sample of games to know what’s real versus what’s just noise. For instance, it is estimated that it takes the entire 82-game NHL season to give us as much information about team quality as just 32 NBA games — or less than half the regular season — do.
So it’s always risky to draw grand conclusions from what we see over the first month of play on the ice. But that can’t stop us from finding interesting trends emerging from the early portion of the schedule.
Here are seven initial developments that have taken us by surprise in 2024-25 so far:
1. Ovechkin’s comeback against Father Time
One of the biggest storylines heading into the season was Alex Ovechkin‘s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record, with the Great 8 starting the season trailing The Great One by 41 scores.
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Sean Allen
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Victoria Matiash
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Victoria Matiash
Fantasy Hockey
- ESPN.com Fantasy Contributor since 2010
- Part-time anchor at NEWSTALK1010
Another week, another No. 1 landing spot for the Winnipeg Jets in the ESPN NHL Power Rankings. But who finishes 2-32?
Plus, it’s another fantasy hockey takeover week, with Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash identifying one player per team who is off to a slow start (relative to his teammates or expectations) and advising fantasy managers whether to have patience or panic at this time.
And as a reminder, it’s not too late to join ESPN Fantasy Hockey. Sign up for free and start playing today!
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list here.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 8. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 88.24%
Cole Perfetti, LW (28.9% rostered in ESPN Fantasy leagues): As difficult as it is to find fault with anything Jets-related these days, Perfetti isn’t quite meeting 2024-25 fantasy expectations yet. But the 22-year-old remains cemented on the Jets’ second scoring line and power play, and he has pitched in enough multipoint showings to merit another look in deeper leagues. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ FLA (Nov. 16), vs. FLA (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 73.33%
Brent Burns, D (69.5%): The writing had been on the wall, faintly sketched with a carpenter’s pencil, but now it’s been retraced in ink. Shayne Gostisbehere has the power play on lock, and Burns doesn’t put up the points without it now. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. OTT (Nov. 16), vs. STL (Nov. 17), @ PHI (Nov. 20), @ NJ (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 67.65%
Gustav Forsling, D (68.8%): Playoff heroics can inflate rostership numbers even this far into the future, but Forsling isn’t a must-have fantasy contributor. You can find a defenseman with a higher ceiling among your league’s free agents. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 16), @ WPG (Nov. 19), @ CHI (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 78.13%
Marc-Andre Fleury, G (51.8%): As long as Filip Gustavsson continues to perform dependably well, the veteran No. 2 isn’t going to play much. There are other lesser-rostered backups in the league — Jake Allen and Jonathan Quick come to mind — who offer more fantasy punch than Fleury. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. DAL (Nov. 16), @ STL (Nov. 19), @ EDM (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 70.00%
Matt Roy, D (45.6%): After a breakout fantasy campaign with the Kings last season, cut Roy some slack. He has had only a handful of games to get used to his new teammates, and the minutes are there to get the job done. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ COL (Nov. 15), @ VGK (Nov. 17), @ UTA (Nov. 18), vs. COL (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 70.00%
Mika Zibanejad, C (95.6%): Zibanejad has had slow starts before — 1.78 FPPG in 2021-22 and 1.93 FPPG last season — yet still finished over 2.00 FPPG. His current 1.58 FPPG isn’t alarming. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 17), @ VAN (Nov. 19), @ CGY (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 68.75%
Brayden McNabb, D (52.3%): Returning to his selfless ways — highlighted by five blocked shots against the Ducks Wednesday — McNabb is already working back into his fantasy managers’ good graces. While hardly a prolific producer, the veteran should start pitching in a few more points, too. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ UTA (Nov. 15), vs. WSH (Nov. 17), @ TOR (Nov. 20), @ OTT (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 65.00%
Luke Hughes, D (39.1%): He did an admirable job filling in for an injured Dougie Hamilton as a rookie last season, but unless that situation arises again, it looks as though Hughes is out of the limelight for this campaign. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ TB (Nov. 16), vs. CAR (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 66.67%
Roope Hintz, C (79.8%): Some bad puck luck, illustrated by his 6.7% shooting percentage through six recent contests (career: 16.5%), is partially to blame for Hintz’s current skid. But the perennial 30-plus goal scorer is bound to get back on track soon, especially once Peter DeBoer inevitably juggles his lines again. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 16), vs. ANA (Nov. 18), vs. SJ (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 63.33%
Filip Hronek, D (51.9%): He’s averaging approximately a single shot and blocked shot per game. Unlike last season, the compensatory scoring isn’t there to make up for those shortcomings. Hronek appears far more valuable to the Canucks as Quinn Hughes‘ defensive partner than to his fantasy managers. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. CHI (Nov. 16), vs. NSH (Nov. 17), vs. NYR (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 58.33%
Quinton Byfield, RW (43.2%): The lack of a single power-play point is one concern, along with his removal from the top unit. Through the fantasy lens, so is Byfield’s third-line role. If all remains as is, we might be in for another season of inconsistent fantasy returns. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. DET (Nov. 16), vs. BUF (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 61.11%
Matthew Knies, LW (42.4%): He has been making hay while the sun shines, so to speak, as he gets first power-play unit access while Auston Matthews is out. The confidence boost should carry over to when Matthews returns, and they are linemates again. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. EDM (Nov. 16), vs. VGK (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 55.88%
Jeff Skinner, C (45.0%): Afforded the opportunity to compete alongside just about every Oiler up front, including two of the best centers in the biz, the veteran winger has nonetheless failed to offer much of a productive presence. Now Skinner appears relegated to Edmonton’s fourth line. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ TOR (Nov. 16), @ MTL (Nov. 18), @ OTT (Nov. 19), vs. MIN (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 56.67%
Jake Guentzel, LW (98.8%): Guentzel’s overall output is fantastic already, but with just two power-play points so far, he has yet to add his usual production with the man advantage. If he does, his already strong fantasy profile could get a big boost. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 16), @ PIT (Nov. 19), @ CBJ (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 52.94%
Devon Toews, D (66.7%): While it has taken the defender time to warm up after a delayed start to 2024-25, Toews now appears back in his groove: blocking shots, contributing to the score sheet and skating more minutes than nearly everyone else. Cale Makar‘s partner hasn’t averaged 0.58 points per game throughout his career by accident. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. WSH (Nov. 15), @ PHI (Nov. 18), @ WSH (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 53.13%
Linus Ullmark, G (84.8%): The Senators are showing signs of competing, and we know Ullmark is capable of being among the best. Patience might already be paying off with some of his recent road outings against tough division rivals. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 16), vs. EDM (Nov. 19), vs. VGK (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 55.88%
Nazem Kadri, C (78.4%): While no one is scoring much for the Flames these days, including their No. 1 center, this too shall pass. Perhaps it’ll play out like last season, when Kadri collected two points in October before erupting for 13 in November, then maintained that scoring pace for the duration of the season. Also, he shoots the puck a lot. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 15), vs. NYI (Nov. 19), vs. NYR (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 50.00%
Charlie McAvoy, D (89.9%): The Bruins’ offense might be slower this season, but McAvoy’s 1.64 FPPG is still too low. Give him time. Not enough has changed to drop him far from his 2.29 FPPG average over the past three seasons. Verdict: Patience
Next seven days: vs. STL (Nov. 16), vs. CBJ (Nov. 18), vs. UTA (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 53.13%
Barrett Hayton, C (17.5%): According to analysis by Evolving Hockey, the third-line center (for now) should be scoring more goals in accordance with the quality of his shots. That offers some comfort in light of his current skid. While Hayton certainly needs to play more minutes and shoot on net more often, he doesn’t merit giving up entirely in deeper fantasy leagues. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. VGK (Nov. 15), vs. WSH (Nov. 18), @ BOS (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 52.94%
Brock Nelson, C (76.9%): The Isles’ collective offense isn’t weaker than it has been for several years. Nelson has averaged 2.03 FPPG across the past three seasons. He’ll come around. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 16), @ CGY (Nov. 19), @ DET (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 50.00%
Patrick Kane, RW (66.3%): If the Red Wings’ power play were in the dumps, maybe we could preach patience for Kane. But it’s not, and it might be time to move on from Kane in fantasy. He is getting all the opportunities required and is just not producing. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ ANA (Nov. 15), @ LA (Nov. 16), @ SJ (Nov. 18), vs. NYI (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 50.00%
Dylan Cozens, C (49.3%): It is time to move off Cozens. He had that banner 2022-23 but is now matching the reduced fantasy production that lasted all of last season. Even an uptick in performance might not be enough to get to fantasy relevance from his current 1.41 FPPG. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ PHI (Nov. 16), @ LA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 50.00%
Adam Larsson, D (60.5%): Despite the relative drought, the top-pair defenseman still blocks a sufficient number of shots to merit rostering in deeper standard leagues. Plus, he’ll soon fall back into his usual (however relatively modest) scoring groove. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 17), vs. NSH (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 44.12%
Jordan Binnington, G (55.1%): After winning the season opener against Seattle, the Blues’ No. 1 has yet to beat anyone outside of the Atlantic Division. Shouldering a 4-7-0 record, .887 save percentage and 3.26 goals-against average, Binnington has cost his fantasy managers a total net loss of 1.8 points. Yes, negative points. There are likely brighter days ahead for the banged-up Blues, but when? Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ BOS (Nov. 16), @ CAR (Nov. 17), vs. MIN (Nov. 19), vs. SJ (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 47.06%
Joel Farabee, LW (50.7%): Farabee, Tyson Foerster, Scott Laughton; Take your pick of Flyers who were just picking up some fantasy momentum in their career but have been buried on the depth chart by the new core group. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 16), vs. COL (Nov. 18), vs. CAR (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 38.24%
Teuvo Teravainen, RW (41.4%): The Blackhawks’ offseason acquisition has one goal and zero assists in his past 11 games, and he isn’t shooting with any consistency. Even back on a scoring line with Connor Bedard, Teravainen can’t be counted on to contribute regularly enough. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ VAN (Nov. 16), vs. ANA (Nov. 19), vs. FLA (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 41.67%
Erik Karlsson, D (94.1%): It’s been a season and a quarter now, so what we see from Karlsson as a Penguin might be what we get. He’s not the sole source of offense, so downgraded fantasy output is just the new normal. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ CBJ (Nov. 15), vs. SJ (Nov. 16), vs. TB (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 40.00%
Ivan Provorov, D (19.2%): No one on the Blue Jackets is underperforming in a big way, but even 20% rostership is too high for Provorov. If he’s not on the first pair, you can safely pretend he’s not there. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. PIT (Nov. 15), @ MTL (Nov. 16), @ BOS (Nov. 18), vs. TB (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 38.24%
Gustav Nyquist, RW (16.6%): Once replaced by Steven Stamkos on the Predators’ top line, Nyquist lost most of his fantasy charm. It’s no coincidence the winger was at his most productive when skating alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 15), @ VAN (Nov. 17), @ SEA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 40.00%
Lukas Dostal, G (60.7%): The Ducks allow the most shots against (35.5 per game) while scoring the fewest goals (2.20 per game). Plus, a healthy John Gibson is back to share Anaheim’s crease. Dostal’s successful fantasy run was fun while it lasted. It’s time to move on. Verdict: Panic.
Next seven days: vs. DET (Nov. 15), @ DAL (Nov. 18), @ CHI (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 36.11%
William Eklund, LW (56.2%): The sophomore is playing a ton of minutes, pitching in assists and now skating on a scoring line with Mikael Granlund. Which is a good thing. Yes, we’d all like to see him shoot more. Verdict: Patience.
Next seven days: @ PIT (Nov. 16), vs. DET (Nov. 18), @ DAL (Nov. 20), @ STL (Nov. 21)
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 35.29%
Sam Montembeault, G (22.3%): The Habs don’t look like they’ll win enough for Monty to shine in redraft leagues, but if you drafted him for a keeper league, there are positive signs for the future. Verdict: Patience, at least for the long term.
Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Nov. 16), vs. EDM (Nov. 18)
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