College Football Rankings 2024: NCAA Top 25 Predictions After Opening Week

The Georgia Bulldogs established themselves as the top team in college football with an overpowering Week 1 win over the Clemson Tigers.

UGA will be the top team in the college football rankings for at least another few weeks before it faces the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 28.

A few other programs showcased their championship potential in Week 1 and that could raise their profile in the Week 2 rankings.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish earned a marquee win on the road over the Texas A&M Aggies, while the Penn State Nittany Lions were one of the most dominant teams of the weekend in their victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Irish and Nittany Lions could get a small bump in the rankings compared to the other top teams who played weaker opposition on Saturday.

Top 25 Predictions

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MORGANTOWN, WV - AUGUST 31: Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (6) runs after making a catch during the college football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the West Virginia Mountaineers on August 31, 2024 at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Georgia

2. Ohio State

3. Oregon

4. Texas

5. Alabama

6. Notre Dame

7. Ole Miss

8. Penn State

9. Michigan

10. Missouri

11. Utah

12. LSU

13. Tennessee

14. Oklahoma

15. Oklahoma State

16. Miami

17. Kansas State

18. Florida State

19. Clemson

20. Arizona

21. Kansas

22. NC State

23. USC

24. Iowa

25. Louisville

Georgia Is Clear No. 1

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 31: Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker (11) reacts after a sack during the AFLAC Kickoff college football game against the Clemson Tigers on August 31, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Georgia made a statement on Saturday with its emphatic victory over Clemson.

Most college football fans and experts believed the Bulldogs would be one of the top teams in the nation, but the way in which they won was impressive.

Georgia held Clemson to 189 total yards and three points in Atlanta.

Carson Beck looked strong in the pocket, the Bulldogs produced 169 yards on the ground and the defense caused all sorts of problems for Cade Klubnik.

Georgia should receive a majority of the first-place votes in the Week 2 poll. The same may happen ahead of Weeks 3 and 4.

The Bulldogs' next test will be on September 28 against Alabama. That will be the first of three road challenges in the SEC. The other two are against the Texas Longhorns and Ole Miss Rebels.

Notre Dame, Penn State with Chances to Move Up

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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Jadarian Price #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second quarter at Kyle Field on August 31, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

The voters in the AP Top 25 and Coaches polls have a tough decision to make when ranking the top eight teams.

Notre Dame picked up a massive road win at Texas A&M on Saturday that should help in the long run with its playoff chances.

Penn State beat an unranked West Virginia team that was coming off a nine-win season. The Nittany Lions won that contest in dominant fashion.

The five teams between Georgia and Notre Dame all played unranked foes at home, so the voters could reward the Irish, and Penn State to a certain extent, with movement of a spot or two toward the top.

At minimum, Notre Dame and Penn State banked road wins that could help differentiate them from other teams in the rankings as the season goes on.