College football Week 1 winners and losers: What are the results in the opening week 2023?

The Week 1 games always represent the gentle start to the college football season, but the absolute kickoff was spectacular. The schedule was jam-packed with high-profile games showcasing top teams and players, and there were even a few upsets. But who and which teams were the winners and also the losers in Week 1 of the College Football season?

Winners

Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders made an impressive debut as the coach of the Colorado football team. The Buffs managed to pull off an upset against the prestigious No. 17 TCU team in Fort Worth. Sanders’ top recruit, Travis Hunter, also performed well in the game. Hunter, the No.1 recruit in the class of 2022, committed to play for Sanders at Jackson State and followed him to Colorado. Hunter played receiver and cornerback in his Colorado debut and was on the field for 129 snaps. As a receiver, he caught 11 passes for 119 yards, including a remarkable 43-yard reception on a crucial third-and-16 play in the fourth quarter. Moreover, as a cornerback, he had three tackles and played excellent coverage, making scoring difficult for the opposition.

Jalen Milroe

The quarterback competition in Alabama was a significant topic of discussion as the season approached, and Jalen Milroe emerged as the starting quarterback. In his debut game 2023, he played exceptionally well as Alabama began the season with a 56-7 victory over Middle Tennessee. Milroe completed 13 of his 18 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 48 yards and two scores. He appeared to have complete control over the Alabama offense, which Tommy Rees now coordinates. This performance should provide a significant boost of confidence to Milroe and his coaches, particularly with the game against Texas next weekend in Tuscaloosa.

Michael Penix

Washington’s senior quarterback, No. 11, made a spectacular start to his Heisman campaign by scoring 450 yards and five touchdowns against Boise State. Penix, who transferred from Indiana in 2022, is one of the most efficient passers in the FBS and could be a strong contender for national recognition if Washington tops the Pac-12. Despite a slow start, the Huskies secured a 56-19 victory, with four of Penix’s touchdowns coming in the second quarter. He has been an under-the-radar superstar this season.

Losers

Baylor

Texas State played exceptionally well and caused a 42-31 upset loss against the Bears. Despite being a 27.5-point favorite, Baylor only had a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter. After that, the Bobcats led the game, and Baylor could not stop them from converting on all four fourth-down attempts.

Things got worse for Baylor when their quarterback, Blake Shapen, had to leave the game due to an injury with only six minutes left. Sawyer Robertson replaced him, but he threw an interception and fumbled the ball on his two drives.

Next week, Baylor will face a tough challenge against Utah, who beat Florida on Thursday. The 2023 season seems like a rebuilding year in Waco, which is not great for any program. Baylor won six fewer games in 2022 than in 2021, making the situation even more challenging.

Florida

Florida’s loss to Utah on the road may not be considered shameful since the Utes have won 25 out of their last 26 games at Rice-Eccles Stadium. However, how Florida lost on Thursday night raises concerns about their coaching staff. The Gators committed several mistakes during the 24-11 loss, such as having two players wearing No. 3 on a punt return, which gave the Utes a first down and directly led to a Utah touchdown. This was one of many miscues from the Gators, including ill-timed procedural penalties, a shanked 31-yard field goal attempt, and an interception by Graham Mertz off Ricky Pearsall’s hands deep in UF territory. Additionally, Florida’s defense allowed Utah third-string quarterback Bryson Barnes to throw a 70-yard touchdown pass on the second play from scrimmage with the help of the speedy Nate Johnson. The combination of Barnes and Johnson proved good enough to beat Florida.

South Carolina

In their season opener against No. 20 North Carolina, the Gamecocks had a chance to make a statement. They held a 14-10 lead with three minutes remaining in the first half. However, they struggled on both sides of the ball and couldn’t keep up with Drake Maye and the Tar Heels’ offense. Maye continued his impressive performance from last year, easing concerns about the team’s change in offensive coordinator. This loss is a missed opportunity for USC, who won eight games under Shane Beamer last year. The team was also a popular preseason pick to finish as high as third in the SEC East.