2024 Blog Poll: Week 1 — The top of the SEC looks even more lethal than advertised

Happy Labor Day, folks! We’re dropping the Blog Poll tonight instead of waiting for the FSU game to finish, because I’m not ranking those jokers — the line play is as cuddly as a game of Red Rover, and the talent is simply not as advertised. Combine that with the ACC taking it on the chin in their marquee game, and I see no reason to not bust this out whilst there is time.

Old timers know the drill already; the two interlopers newbs from the Telecaster and crippling alcoholism section of our nation may be unfamiliar with our criteria, so here goes:

What follows are a few very brief remarks where necessary. The criteria are nebulous, far-ranging, and capricious — strength of schedule, bad and good coaching, injuries, exigent circumstances, home/away results, defense or lack thereof, offense or lack thereof, line play, power poll-ishness, can you cover a spread (Vegas is pretty smart about how good a team is), head-to-head where possible or prudent, and my own lying eyeballs.

Let’s dive in

The top of the SEC looks positively lethal — Alabama, Georgia, Mizzou, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, and Texas all impressed in their own ways, against varying degrees of difficulty. Georgia had the toughest game, of course, but Alabama had the biggest debut to make. Indeed, Kalen DeBoer had to impress against a quality midmajor. Mizzou’s RB depth is remarkable. The Vawls passing game looks to be back up to snuff. And Ole Miss seems to have found a defense to go alongside the SEC’s best (for now) wide receiver. The poverty middle class didn’t look so hot. Oklahoma rang it up on poor Temple, but that passing game has some issues. In particular, the Gators looked horrendous. Florida was always going to have a tough year, but the lack of competitiveness in Year 3 is downright embarrassing. Vandy is 1-0, Florida is 0-1.

I was almost sold on Notre Dame during the preseason. Consider me a believer. That defense, with a competent offense, is a playoff team…and better than any of the ones that Kelly fielded. Speaking of being sold: All hail 2-0 Georgia Tech. Winning ugly, winning manly, winning by #RTDB. Two D1 opponents, two wins — including dispelling the fraudulent ‘Noles. I don’t know that Miami finishes as a Top 15 team, but they looked every bit the part on Saturday.

The Big 10’s Big Two looked like cheeks…as did the middle class (looking at you, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State). It’s a good thing Michigan and Ohio State seem to have defenses that live up to their billing. On the other hand, Iowa looked very good, as did Penn State (though, sadly, Drew Allars still hasn’t progressed as he should). And beware Nebraska: that team is going to wreck some people this year. Maryland’s quiet 50-burger on what is expected to be a bowl team is not to be despised either.

USC was — dare I say, tough? Either that team has been reborn hard under D’Anton Lynn (UCLA’s Gigachad DC), or the LSU Tigers are in for a long year. Perhaps both. Nussmeier poses zero vertical threat. What a waste of all that wideout talent. I’m not writing the Tigers off just yet, but getting mauled in the trenches by USC probably does not bode well. Utah was its usually death-grip self: tasteful offense, smothering defense

Beware Oklahoma State. About every five years, Gundy gets a team with about 18-20 returning starters, and they are hell on wheels. Many thought they’d be in for a tussle against FCS dynasty powerhouse, South Dakota State. A Jacks win was always improbable, but it’s a game Okie Lite could have struggled against. Nope — the Pokes dismantled them…like a team that talented should.

Arizona’s offense didn’t skip a beat. SMU rebounded, and that near-miss to Nevada is a lot more forgivable now. The Wolfpack went on the road and beat Troy, at Troy. Memphis looks like the class of the AAC; as stacked as that team is, it better be.

We’re also keeping an eye on Coastal Carolina, who went to Jacksonville State and demolished the Gamecocks, handing Rich Rod one of his worst home coaching losses. Tim Beck may have something cooking in Year 2. And the JMU Dukes lost a lot of offensive talent, and its coaching staff, but that defense — mercy, are they good.

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