LSU Cracks Top 10 in AP Poll While Michigan Falls Out of Rankings After Shaky Week 1

College football's first week saw LSU emerge as a title contender while the Big Ten raised early doubts about its depth.

LSU's strong opening-week performance has been validated by the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the 2024 regular season, with the Tigers jumping back into the top 10. The poll also confirmed concerns about Big Ten depth: Michigan, the reigning national champion, fell out of the rankings altogether after needing a second-chance Hail Mary to survive its opener, and Oregon slipped out of the top five. The new AP rankings add concrete evidence to earlier reporting that framed the Big Ten's early struggles as a conference-wide concern rather than isolated incidents. LSU and Clemson were among the teams whose stock rose most noticeably after Week 1, while multiple Big Ten programs underperformed expectations. Week 1 results carry outsized weight in College Football Playoff projections because early losses or unconvincing wins can shift selection committee perceptions before conference play begins. The CFP expanded to a 12-team format this season, raising the stakes of every game for teams on the bubble.

Why it matters

Early-season results shape College Football Playoff seeding and perception for the entire year. Conference-wide struggles for the Big Ten could affect how many of its teams ultimately earn playoff berths.

What's next

Week 2 results will offer the first opportunity for struggling Big Ten teams to course-correct and for LSU to further cement its early reputation.

Key facts

• LSU is being discussed as a legitimate national title contender after Week 1
• The Big Ten is described as having a shaky start that raises questions about conference depth
• Clemson is among the teams identified as rising or falling after opening weekend
• The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams this season, increasing the importance of early results
• At least seven teams were identified by SB Nation as having significantly rising or falling stock after Week 1

Bias & framing notes

Both sources are sports opinion and analysis outlets rather than news reporters, and neither provided concrete scores, margins of victory, or specific game details to support their assessments. CBS Sports framed its piece around CFP implications and conference-level narratives, while SB Nation took a broader team-by-team stock approach. The lack of verifiable specifics in the available reporting makes independent fact-checking impossible, which significantly limits confidence in the characterizations offered.

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