_The first weekend of college football lived up to the hype with both thrilling comebacks and beatdowns of epic proportions. Where do teams stand after the first weekend in the AP Top 25 Poll, and what are the storylines going forward?_
**Alabama reigns supreme:** You knew it. Your neighbor across the hall knew it. Everyone knew it. But seeing Alabama demolish No. 20 Southern California proved that the Crimson Tide is once again the team to be beat in college football. Alabama doesn’t rebuild; they reload, and they did exactly that.
**This year’s version of “The Game” should be circled on everyone’s calendar:** If they continue on the path they’re on, Ohio State and Michigan could be a matchup between top-five programs. The game could carry not only Big 10 implications, but also playoff implications. However, it’s nowhere close to certain that the teams will both be undefeated when they play. Ohio State has games at Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan State while Michigan has road games at Michigan State and Iowa and a home game against Wisconsin. How much fun would it be if they were both undefeated when they play, though?
**Houston gives Group of Five a chance at the playoff:** As the only ranked school in the Group of Five – a group of non-Power Five conferences – they have by far the best chance to make the Playoff out of any team in the smaller conferences. Houston is currently No. 6 after beating Oklahoma and have “easy” opponents all the way up to a Thursday home matchup against Louisville on Nov. 17. Win that game against Louisville, and the committee will have to think of a really good reason to keep Houston out of the playoff.
**Lamar Jackson and Louisville will challenge Florida State and Clemson for Atlantic Coast Conference crown:** Yes, I know they played Charlotte, and Charlotte may very well be the worst team in all of college football this year, but you have to admit Lamar Jackson’s first half was awfully impressive. They also control their own destiny in the ACC, as they have both Florida State and Clemson on the schedule. I’m not saying they will win both of those games, but it will certainly be must-watch TV.
**Kirby Smart and Georgia are now favorites to win Southeastern Conference East:** Georgia opened the season with an impressive victory over North Carolina, moving the Bulldogs up to No. 9 in the AP Poll. Combine that with the fact that both Tennessee and Florida struggled in week one, and you can say that Georgia should be the favorite to win the SEC East. A home game against Tennessee on Oct. 1 should answer all of our questions.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_