No reason to delay our Week 1 Cidsports Top 40 College Football ratings: as #20 VA TECH @ #19 Florida State kicks off tonight in Tallahassee

Week 1 of the 2018 College Football season concludes with a Top 20 match up in Tallahassee tonight, as Labor Day weekend concludes with a ACC showdown between #20 Virginia Tech (9-4) @ #19 Florida State (7-6). The Hokies lead by head coach Justin Fuente, entering his third season, were 5-3 in the Coastal Division in 2017. While the Seminoles were 3-5 in the Atlantic Division in 2017, they enter the Willie Taggart era, as the former USF and Oregon head coach returns to lead Florida State into the 2018 season.

#20 Virginia Tech @ #19 Florida State, 7 PM CT on ESPN.

Monday, September 3rd
#20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State	7:00 pm	ESPN

The dean of college football, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, won his 144th
game for the Hawkeyes, as first year player and now special teams coach
LeVar Woods celebrate, at the end of the Iowa-Northern Illinois game on
Saturday, at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes turn their focus to in-state rival,
Iowa State, as the Cy-Hawk game kicks off on Saturday in Iowa City.

1. Alabama (1-0) (2) - we push the Crimson Tide back into the #1 slot, after a 51-14 win over Louisville (0-1) by the defending national champions in Orlando. Week 2 - vs. Arkansas State (1-0) Red Wolves, who won over SE Missouri in the season opener.
2. Clemson (1-0) (1) - the Tigers fall back, after a 48-7 win over Furman (0-1) to kick off the 2018 season. Week 2 - @ Texas A&M (1-0), as the Aggies opened with a 59-7 win over Northwestern State in College Station. 
3. Georgia (1-0) (3) - the Bulldogs opened 2018 with a 45-0 win over Austin Peay (0-1) on Saturday. Week 2 - @ #28 South Carolina (1-0), where Bulldogs take a three game win streak in this series into the 2018 game
4. Oklahoma (1-0) (4) - the Sooners rolled then #25 FAU (0-1) 63-14 to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. UCLA (0-1), as the Chip Kelly era opened at home to a 26-17 loss to Cincinnati (0-1).
5. Auburn (1-0) (6) - the Tigers took down then #5 Washington (0-1) 21-16 in Atlanta on Saturday. Week 2 - vs. Alabama State (1-0), as this is the first meeting between FBS and FCS schools from the same state.
6. Ohio State (1-0) (7) - the Buckeyes won 77-31 over Oregon State (0-1) in Columbus on Saturday, as interim coach Ryan Day lead the squad. Week 2 - vs. Rutgers (1-0), as the Big Ten opener squares off against the Scarlet Knights, who won their opener 35-7 over Texas State (0-1). Ohio State took down Rutgers 56-0 last year, so Week 2 may not be much different than Week 1.
7. Wisconsin (1-0) (8) - the Badgers won 34-3 against Western Kentucky (0-1) on Friday night. Week 2 - vs. New Mexico (1-0), in the first meeting, as the Badgers have won 40 straight home non-conference games by an average of over 27 points per game. 
8. Washington (0-1) (5) - the Huskies drop opener 21-16 to then #6 Auburn (1-0) in Atlanta, so the margin of error for the College Football Playoff gets slim for the favorite in the Pac 12. Week 2 - vs. North Dakota (1-0), in the first meeting between these schools. The Huskies are 27-5 in home openers.
9. Stanford (1-0) (12) - the Cardinal beat then #45 San Diego State (0-1) by the score of 31-10 to avenge last year's 20-17 loss to the Aztecs. Week 2 - vs. #14 USC (1-0), another payback game for the Cardinal ... last year's 42-24 loss on road against the Trojans!
10. Notre Dame (1-0) (13) - the Fighting Irish defeated Michigan 24-17 in South Bend to open 2018 on Saturday night. Week 2 - vs. Ball State (1-0), first meeting ever between the two schools located in Indiana.
11. Michigan State (1-0) (9) - the Spartans were tested in the season opener on Friday night, but pulled out a 38-31 win over Utah State (0-1). Week 2 - @ Arizona State (1-0), as the Sun Devils opened up the Herm Edwards era, with a 49-7 win over UTSA (0-1). A battle in the desert that typically has favored the local Pac 12 school ....
12. Penn State (1-0) (10) - the Nittany Lions had to scramble back and force OT, as PSU beat Appalachian State 45-37 in Happy Valley on Saturday. Week 2 - @ Pittsburgh (1-0), a game that went to the Panthers 42-39 two years ago. 
13. LSU (1-0) (17) - the Tigers took out then #11 Miami-FL (0-1) 33-17 in Arlington on Saturday to win in Week 1. Week 2 - vs. Southeast Louisiana (0-1), as the Lions lost 34-31 @ Louisiana Monroe (0-1).
14. USC (1-0) (15) - the Trojans beat UNLV (0-1) 43-21 on Saturday. Week 2 - @ #9 Stanford (1-0), as the series opens in Week 2 again this season.
15. UCF (1-0, 1-0 AAC) (23) - the Knights won @ UConn (0-1) 56-17 on Thursday night and we will bump the undefeated 2017 program, since they did finished 13-0 last year and new coach Josh Heupel has the offense rolling already. Week 2 - vs. South Carolina State (0-1), as UCF won in the 2016 season opener 38-0 over the Bulldogs.
16. TCU (1-0) (16) - the Horned Frogs pounded Southern (0-1) 55-7 in the season opener on Saturday. Week 2 - @ SMU (0-1), as the former SWC schools square off for their annual showdown on Friday night. The Mustangs lost 46-23 @ North Texas (1-0) in the AAC vs. C-USA showdown.
17. Northwestern (1-0) (35) - the Wildcats opened Thursday night in the Big Ten @ then #36 Purdue, pulling off a 31-27 win for last year's #17 team. Boost them back up. Week 2 - vs. Duke (1-0), who beat the Wildcats 41-17 in Durham, as this year's game returns to Evanston, where Northwestern won 24-13 in 2016.
18. Mississippi State (1-0) (18) - the Bulldogs won 66-3 over Stephen F Austin (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - @ Kansas State (1-0), who struggled in the season opener against South Dakota (0-1) 27-24, as Coyotes miss a tying FG late.
19. Florida State (0-0) (19) - the Seminoles host #20 Virginia Tech to close out Week 1. Week 2 - vs. Samford (1-0), as the Seminoles have hosted at least one FCS program the past ten seasons.
20. Virginia Tech (0-0) (20) - the Hokies travel to Tallahassee to open 2018 @ #19 Florida State tonight. Week 2 - vs. William & Mary (1-0), as the Hokies square off in the 64th meeting in this series.
21. Boise State (1-0) (21) - the Broncos opened 2018 with a win @ then #40 Troy (0-1) 56-20. Week 2 - vs. UConn (0-1), as the Broncos return home, before a Week 3 road trip to P5 Okie State. 
22. Oklahoma State (1-0) (22) - the Cowboys won 58-17 over Missouri State (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. South Alabama (0-1), who lost home opener against LA Tech (1-0) 30-26, as they fall in back to back years against the Bulldogs.
23. West Virginia (1-0) (27) - the Mountaineers beat Tennessee (0-1) in Charlotte 40-14 on Saturday to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. Youngstown State (0-1), as WVU looks to win their 15th straight home opener and eighth under coach Dana Holgorsen.
24. Iowa (1-0) (24) - the Hawkeyes opened 2018 with the 144th win under Kirk Ferentz, as he opened his 20th season, as head coach and past Hayden Fry in all-time win in a 33-7 win over Northern Illinois (0-1). Week 2 - vs. #31 Iowa State (0-0), as the Cyclones come to Kinnick Stadium for the annual Cy-Hawk trophy game. The Hawkeyes pulled out a 44-41 OT win last year in Ames. Twenty years ago, the Cyclones ended a 15 game losing streak to end the 20 year reign of Fry in the State of Iowa, back in 1998.
25. Miami-FL (0-1) (11) - the Hurricane lost 33-17 to then #17 LSU (1-0) in Arlington on Sunday. Mark Richt has struggled in big games, dating back to his 15 seasons at UGA. Week 2 - vs. Savannah State (0-1), as Tigers were pounded 52-0 by UAB (1-0).
26. Michigan (0-1) (14) - the Wolverines debuted new QB Shea Patterson, but they fell short chasing then #13 Notre Dame, in a 24-17 loss in South Bend on Saturday night. Week 2 - vs. Western Michigan (0-1), as the Wolverines have won 25 of last 28 home openers.
27. Oregon (1-0) (29) - the Ducks opened the 2018 season with a 58-24 win over Bowling Green (0-1) Week 2 - vs. Portland State (0-1), as the Ducks continue a non-P5 non conference slate, ahead of hosting #9 Stanford in the Pac 12 opener in Week 4.
28. South Carolina (1-0) (28) - the Gamecocks win opener 49-15 over Coastal Carolina (0-1) in the season opener. Week 2 - vs. #3 Georgia (1-0), as the Bulldogs seek to win their first SEC home opener, since 2013 over Vanderbilt.
29. Texas A&M (1-0) (NR) - the Aggies won 59-7 over Northwestern State, after being left off inadvertently from our preseason ratings. Week 2 - vs. #2 Clemson (1-0), as new HC Jimbo Fisher wins his debut, just in time for the first showdown. He is 4-4 vs. Clemson, while he was at Florida State. 
30. North Carolina State (1-0) (30) - the Wolfpack won 24-13 over James Madison (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. Georgia State (0-1), who were ruffed up by then #8 Wisconsin (1-0) in the road opener.
31. Iowa State (0-0) (31) - the Cyclones, like the Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0), both witnessed each season openers get called for thunderstorms on Saturday night in the Heartland. Week 2 - @ #24 Iowa (1-0), while the Cornhuskers host Colorado (1-0) in Lincoln. Can a Dec 1st twelve game be arranged between these former Big 8/12 opponents to make up the season opening cancellation?  
32. Boston College (1-0) (32) - the Eagles beat UMass (1-1) 55-21 to kickoff 2018 with a victory. Week 2 - vs. Holy Cross (0-1), as Eagles enjoy back to back home games, before a Week 3 Thursday night ACC road opener @ Wake Forest (1-0).
33. Utah (1-0) (33) - the Utes beat Weber State (0-1) 41-10 to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - @ Northern Illinois (0-1), who are looking to rebound after a disappointing 33-7 loss @ #24 Iowa.
34. Washington State (1-0) - the Cougars opened 2018 with a road win @ Wyoming (1-1) 41-19. Week 2 - vs. San Jose State (0-1), first meeting, since 1996. Cougars have dropped three of last four home openers under Mike Leach.
35. Ole Miss (1-0) (NR) - the Rebels opened the 2018 season with a 47-27 win over Texas Tech (0-1) in Houston on Saturday. Week 2 - vs. Southern Illinois (1-0), in their third meeting, ahead of the SEC home opener in Week 3 against the defending national champions.
36. Kansas State (1-0) (34) - The Wildcats pulled out a narrow win over North Dakota (0-1) 27-24 to open 2018. Week 2 - vs. #18 Mississippi State (1-0), as the Wildcats host a Top 25 SEC team for the first time in Manhattan, since the 2014 Week 3 game against Auburn, which they lost 20-14 in route to a 9-4 season under Bill Snyder.
37. BYU (1-0) (NR) - the Cougars won 2018 opener @ then #37 Arizona (0-1) 28-23 on Saturday. The Cougars opened 2016 with a 18-16 win over the Wildcats on the way to a 9-4 season, back in HC Kalani Sitake's first season at the helm in Provo. Week 2 - vs. California (1-0), as the Golden Bears are coming off a 24-17 home season opener against North Carolina (0-1).
38. Houston (1-0) (38) - the Cougars won 2018 season opener @ Rice (1-1) 45-27. Week 2 - vs. Arizona (0-1), as the Wildcats fell short in new HC Kevin Sumlin's debut 28-23 against BYU (1-0).
39. Memphis (1-0) (39) - the Tigers beat Mercer (0-1) 66-14 to open the 2018 season. Week 2 - @ Navy (0-1), as the Midshipmen fall 59-41 in the season opener @ Hawaii (2-0).
40. Kentucky (1-0) (42) - the Wildcats won the 2018 opener 35-20 over Central Michigan (0-1). Week 2 - @ #41 Florida (1-0), who opened the Dan Mullen era, with a 53-6 win over Charleston Southern (0-1). The Wildcats pulled off the home win 28-27 last season over the Gators.

Game watch in Week 2 outside the Top 40

• Georgia Tech (1-0) @ USF (1-0) - winner is good candidate for Top 40 ... USF ended 2017 at #21 in both major polls.
• Colorado (1-0) @ Nebraska (0-0) - in many ways it is fitting the Scott Frost debut will now come against former conference mate, the Buffaloes, as the two teams kickoff at 2:30 pm CT in Lincoln on Saturday. Both programs were sub-.500 in 2017.

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost saw his team rained out on Saturday. His first
official debut will now come Saturday in Lincoln against Colorado (1-0).