Road Maps for CFB's Biggest Week 1 Disappointments to Get Back on Track
Several colossal disappointments emerged on the college gridiron in Week 1 of the 2017 regular season.
For the teams in this group that escaped with a win, Week 1 could be a wake-up call. While they're still 1-0, they now have a week's worth of film to show their players where they need to improve. Ranked teams like USC and Louisville will have plenty of teaching points at their disposal.
Though there weren't many high-profile games in Week 1, a number of Power Five teams have a long way to go to be considered "winners" this season.
Let's take a look at some of the first week's biggest losers and map out a path for how they can right the ship before it's too late.
Florida State Seminoles
1 of 8
Preseason hopes
Despite losing running back Dalvin Cook and defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker to the NFL, Florida State looked like a potential College Football Playoff team. That's why the Seminoles were ranked third entering Saturday night's clash with top-ranked Alabama.
Unfortunately, things didn't go their way. In a battle between two of the nation's top defenses, the Crimson Tide stood stronger. The Seminoles now have to dig themselves out of an early-season hole, which will be even more difficult due to a gut-wrenching injury.
How Week 1 hurts
Not only did Florida State lose to the Crimson Tide, but starting star quarterback Deondre Francois went down awkwardly when Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison brought him down with less than six minutes left in the game. Francois suffered a season-ending patellar tendon injury in his left knee on the play, according to Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat.
The 'Noles still have plenty of time to recover from their opening-week loss, run the table and get back in the national picture. However, that's an uphill battle with Francois out.
The road forward
Head coach Jimbo Fisher now needs to get true freshman James Blackman or another inexperienced signal-caller ready to play after Francois' injury. That's going to be his top priority in the short term.
Florida State also needs to get dynamic freshman Cam Akers more touches, and it must keep its quarterback's jersey clean. In addition, the Seminoles must improve their special teams, as they had a punt and field goal blocked and fumbled a return.
Those things need to happen in a hurry, too. After next week's contest against Louisiana Monroe, the 'Noles play Miami and North Carolina State.
Florida Gators
2 of 8
Preseason hopes
With Florida ranked firmly in the preseason top 20, this looked like the year head coach Jim McElwain would finally resurrect its offense. With multiple promising options under center, Florida had reason for excitement.
Though the team lost eight defensive starters, it still has plenty of talent on that side of the ball as well.
With the SEC East up for grabs, the Gators expect to go to Atlanta for the third consecutive season. A Week 1 win over Michigan would have given them major national exposure.
How Week 1 hurts
The lopsided 33-17 loss to Michigan showed just how far removed the Gators are from the nation's elite teams. Despite losing 11 players to the NFL draft, the young Wolverines still manhandled the Gators.
If not for a pair of pick-sixes thrown by Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight, the score would have been even more lopsided.
Florida had just 11 rushing yards on 27 attempts, and neither redshirt freshman starting quarterback Feleipe Franks or senior transfer Malik Zaire did anything to strike fear into future opponents' hearts. It was ugly from the jump.
The road forward
In two weeks, Florida hosts Tennessee in what often tends to be a testy early-season SEC matchup. That game will go a long way toward deciding who has a leg up in the division. East favorite Georgia looms at the end of October as well.
Before those games, Florida needs to get suspended players like receiver Antonio Callaway and running back Jordan Scarlett back. Most importantly, the Gators need to find a quarterback who can carry this team. The program has been missing that since Will Grier's freshman year.
Texas Longhorns
3 of 8
Preseason hopes
After wandering through the wilderness in the forgettable Charlie Strong era, Texas wanted to turn the page and head into an exciting new season under new head coach Tom Herman.
Instead, the Longhorns suffered an embarrassing 51-41 home loss to Maryland that led to boos from the Austin faithful at halftime.
"I told our guys, never get used to this feeling, but that if we all thought that we were going to come in here and in nine months sprinkle some fairy dust on this team and think that we've arrived, then we're wrong," Herman said afterward, according to ESPN.com's Tom VanHaaren.
How Week 1 hurts
The Longhorns' loss to Maryland was disappointing for multiple reasons, not just the 263 rushing yards Texas allowed or the miserable miscues. It scuttled Texas' offseason momentum toward being a meaningful program again.
That transformation wasn't going to happen overnight, but losing to Maryland—which finished 6-7 a season ago—was a shocking setback. The Longhorns were supposed to win this game easily.
With a daunting upcoming schedule, Herman needed early proof that what he's doing works. This wasn't it.
The road forward
In short, it's brutal.
Considering the Horns were in the preseason top 25, a bowl game should be their floor this season. But with USC, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on the schedule all before Oct. 22, they could easily start 2-5 before their schedule lightens up.
By then, who knows what could happen? Coaches can lose their players when they're reeling that much. This difficult early-season schedule coupled with the loss against the Terrapins could test Herman's mettle.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Texas A&M Aggies
4 of 8
Preseason hopes
No, Texas A&M wasn't ranked entering this season, and the Aggies were expected to have question marks while rotating two freshman quarterbacks in Nick Starkel and Kellen Mond. But everything is bigger in Texas, including expectations.
That's why Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin's seat was especially hot entering the season. The temperature now must be unbearable following a 45-44 loss at the Rose Bowl against UCLA, during which the Aggies were ahead 44-10 in the third quarter.
Losses like that end coaching tenures.
How Week 1 hurts
What just happened? You likely asked this as you turned the channel from the exciting West Virginia-Virginia Tech game and saw the score, especially if you were flipping back and forth between games.
It's hard to see Sumlin surviving this, even if he makes it through the season. The Aggies are known for their hot starts and collapses later on, but it's now happening in single games. In the season opener, no less.
The College Station faithful should have little to no confidence in Sumlin right now.
The road forward
How do you rebound from this? It was the biggest FBS comeback since 2006, according to Dan Greenspan of the Associated Press. The Aggies rotated between their two freshman quarterbacks until Starkel suffered a left foot injury in the second half and did not return.
From there, both Texas A&M's defense and Sumlin's job security fell apart.
The Aggies now face even more question marks as they prepare for a grueling SEC West slate. While Rosen is the best quarterback they'll face, they have better opponents on their schedule than the Bruins.
West Virginia Mountaineers
5 of 8
Preseason hopes
With West Virginia welcoming the ideal quarterback to run Dana Holgorsen's offense in Florida transfer Will Grier, the excitement is high in Morgantown. The Mountaineers' 31-24 loss to Virginia Tech that fell 15 yards short shouldn't douse that.
While it hurts to lose a game against a geographical rival in a series that has been going on since 1912, it may not matter in the long run.
The Mountaineers entered the season hoping to be better than a fringe top-25 team. That could still be the case.
How Week 1 hurts
The loss to the Hokies is tough to stomach because Grier and the offense played so well, but they fell just shy. The game also showcased a defense that played at a high level early on but got gassed late.
With a tough Big 12 slate upcoming, the Mountaineers can make up ground quickly. But this one stings because these two teams outside of the top 20 played like they should be ranked higher, and WVU fell just shy of a win.
To come that close and lose is a gut-punch, even if it's a moral victory.
The road forward
Had the Mountaineers pulled this game out, we'd be talking about a possible 7-0 start. They have upcoming games against East Carolina, Delaware State, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor, none of whom figure to pose much of a problem.
Yes, West Virginia could lose to the Horned Frogs, but it should be favored in all of those before closing the season with tougher tests such as Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma.
The Mountaineers have time to build defensive depth and experience, and Grier should only get better. If they close strong, they could make noise in a conference that is expected to be decided in Oklahoma.
It already appears Grier's arm—and his hair game—are on point.
USC Trojans
6 of 8
Preseason hopes
With Sam Darnold back for his redshirt sophomore season and so much talent around him, head coach Clay Helton's team was expected to be in the mix for the College Football Playoff. Not only that, but Darnold is one of the early favorites for the Heisman Trophy.
This could be a memorable year that builds off the 2016 season-changing momentum which culminated with a Rose Bowl victory against Penn State. The Trojans want to return to the dominant ways of the Pete Carroll era.
A 49-31 Week 1 win over a rebuilding Western Michigan team isn't the way to do that.
How Week 1 hurts
Thankfully for the Trojans, a win still counts as a win even if it's short on style points.
The game did expose some weaknesses, however. Though the whole nation didn't get to watch the game —it was on the Pac-12 Network—these Broncos aren't of the same caliber as P.J. Fleck's old squads. The Trojans defense was vulnerable, and Darnold played far below the level he did a year ago.
USC trailed 21-14 in the third quarter and only held a seven-point lead at one point in the final quarter. Additionally, Darnold's nine-game streak of multiple touchdown passes was snapped.
The road forward
All is not lost. Many teams have looked shaky to start the season and turn into powerhouses later on.
The Trojans only need to think back to last year's 52-6 season-opening loss against Alabama and look how far they came by the end of the year. This team touts plenty of talent and the kind of difference-makers to win important games.
To do so, they'll have to fill some defensive holes and get better play from their stud quarterback.
Louisville Cardinals
7 of 8
Preseason hopes
Despite closing the 2016 season with three straight losses, Louisville had high hopes entering the year with junior Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson back. However, the Cardinals must find playmakers and defensive stars to contend in the ACC.
With Bobby Petrino at the helm and Jackson calling plays, there are reasons for Louisville to be excited.
The ACC is going to be solid, and the Cardinals should be firmly in the mix.
How Week 1 hurts
Just like USC, the Cardinals are 1-0 after a closer-than-expected win in Indianapolis against Purdue, but the 35-28 victory shouldn't leave anybody on that end of the Bluegrass State feeling warm and fuzzy.
The Cardinals lost three fumbles, two of which were inside the 2-yard line. They were also flagged for nine false starts and 16 total penalties on the day.
"We've got a lot of work to do, obviously," Petrino said afterward, per Tim Sullilvan of the Courier-Journal. "Our team stuck together and fought hard. When you're not executing the way you want to execute, it challenges your poise and your leadership, and I thought we had a lot of leadership."
The road forward
The Cardinals had a major scare when All-American cornerback Jaire Alexander suffered a leg injury against Purdue, but his father told Jeff Greer of the Courier-Journal that he's day-to-day and avoided a major injury. Louisville can only hope he's back in two weeks to play Clemson.
Beyond that, the Cards must teach their young, inexperienced players more discipline, as they need a better supporting cast around their stars. On the bright side, the Cards had three interceptions and four sacks against the Boilermakers even with Alexander going down in the second quarter.
They'll play much better competition soon.
South Florida Bulls
8 of 8
Preseason hopes
Even though South Florida has to adjust to life without former head coach Willie Taggart, who bolted Tampa to take over for Mark Helfrich at Oregon, this season began with plenty of excitement.
Do-it-all senior quarterback Quinton Flowers was expected to lead an explosive offense, and with Charlie Strong taking over, the defense appeared poised to receive a jolt. South Florida has playmakers all over the field thanks to Taggart's recruiting successes.
The Bulls are expected to contend for a major bowl berth with teams such as Boise State, Western Michigan and Memphis for the guaranteed "Group of Five" spot.
How Week 1 hurts
This was the second game for Strong's Bulls, and neither performance inspired much confidence.
The Bulls got off to a sluggish start against San Jose State before rebounding and winding up with a 42-22 win last week. This past weekend, the Bulls were tied with Stony Brook at 17 apiece in the fourth quarter.
Yes, they won 31-17, but…Stony Brook? Really?
"I thought today we were awful," Strong said, according to TheDailyStampede.com's Connor Akeman.
That about sums it up.
The road forward
Playing like they have the first couple of weeks won't cut it. But the Bulls don't have any daunting tests for a while.
The upcoming schedule consists of UConn, Illinois, Temple, East Carolina, UMass and Tulane. Houston, Tulsa and Cincinnati are the only big tests on the American Athletic Conference schedule, and those are later in the year. But if the Bulls keep playing the way they have during the first two weeks, anybody can beat them.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
