The thing about first impressions is you can't take them back. Some are underwhelming, like Arch Manning 's at Ohio State or Nico Iamaleava 's at UCLA . Some could be a harbinger for big things ahead, like Florida State steamrolling Alabama following a 2-10 season in 2024, or LSU finally winning an opener under Brian Kelly against the toughest Week 1 competition it has faced. Jackson Arnold had a tough first go-around at Oklahoma , but his first impression with Auburn left Tigers fans tickled.

First impressions can be deceiving -- shoutout to Kenny Trill and a magical night in 2014 -- but they also provide much-yearned-for context to the power rankings. LSU's defense looked significantly better, as did Utah' s offense and Texas A &M' s passing game. We'll learn

See Full Page