welcome back to HQ so we gave you the NFL Power Rankings let's take you to the college rankings this is courtesy of our 247 Sports partner Brandon Marcelo and here is how the college slate looks after week one of action no surprise the dogs stay on top after handling business against Clemson Ohio State staying at number two Texas at three or Miss at 4 I want to point your attention though to Notre Dame because last week they were number seven this week they are number five after a big Road win over Texas A&M let's break down these power rankings as we bring in the curator of the list our Brandon Marcelo we've also got Danny canel in the house who I'm I'm sure has a lot to talk about after this weekend but guys let's start with that number or number five I should say Notre Dame Brandon you moved them up to number five uh they were underdogs in that one Kyle Field we know is not an easy place to play and they walk out of there with a win so what did you learn about Notre Dame after that win this weekend well Riley Leonard's Riley Leonard he's just a gamer he can carry a team on the ground and in addition to throwing some big passes but for Notre Dame they proved a lot what we thought defensively they're an elite defense they still are from last season more importantly they've got some receivers now they've got receivers that are some big boys out there in big drives and that drive to take the lead late they made big plays on the ground they made big third down plays in the passing game with new receivers and transfers that came in in addition to Riley Leonard at quarterback this Notre Dame team had a gritty win at A&M very tough atmosphere against I think still a good A&M team maybe not top 25 worthy maybe on the edge right now but Notre Dame got it done this weekend in a gritty win with a lot of new pieces very impressed with them and of course their schedule the rest of the way very conducive to be a playoff team a lot of people saying after week one you could already lock them in yeah Brandon we talked about the coming into the schedule it was a three- game schedule it looks closer to like a two game schedule and maybe it was a one game schedule depending on what we see out of A&M because that Florida State team 0 and2 that looks like a lock for Notre Dame especially if Florida State doesn't improve the USC game though I think is better that's a stronger one here's why I'm not quite sold on Notre Dame just yet in the top five you mentioned Riley Leonard who was good he needs to take another step forward as a passer we've already known what he could do as a runner it was great to see him back that physical capability based off the offseason surgery that he had coming off that injury that he suffered at Duke I still do need him to take another step as a passer the other thing about this defense they were phenomenal I don't know how good A&M is going to be offensively Conor Wegman was really a disappointment a lot of people had hyped him up myself included and he fell short how much of that was because Notre Dame's defense showed up and showed out or how much it was because of ineptitude for the Aggies we'll have to see I do think you're right though Bron they almost could already start punching their ticket buying tickets to the playoffs because that schedule should be pretty manageable for them A&M uh one of several SEC teams to to take a a lump in week one as Danny Canelo has pointed out on social media to try to hide the uh the tears from Tallahassee let's go to LSU one of those teams at number 11 um look Brian Kelly showing all that emotion after the game pounding on the table uh we talking USC right now just outside of the top 10 after the win over LSU Lincoln Riley might have found something there he's got the quarterback and does he have a defense Brandon yeah I think so I though I don't want to overreact too much after week one with them I mean I had LSU and USC right next to each other at like 12 and 13 going into this season so I bumped USC just up a little bit based off this weekend's results as well but very impressed with Miller Moss I mean we could continue to talk and sing his Praises he completed 73% of his passes in his last two starts dating back to that bowl game last season Lincoln Riley at this point just stop questioning whether he's going to have a good quarterback because that's all he does is develop great quarterbacks and Heisman Trophy contenders I'm not going to go that far yet with Miller Moss but man he looks the part defensively though they do look like a good defense I'm not going to say grade or El leite or anything like that but it's good it's much better than what it was last season when they're chasing everybody around I know it's just a cliche to say they're bigger faster stronger but but they are bigger and stronger I'm not going to say faster but they play more fundamentally sound than they did last season and that's because of their new DC they're doing a great job right now let's see what they do over the next few weeks as they get along especially in the Big 10 have to go on the road a little bit but USC very impressive in their first showing with the retool defense yeah I I left impressed with both teams right I mean I actually feel better about LSU than I did going into the season because their defense had Mass of issues and they were able to pretty much contain USC to keep it from being the shootout that everybody thought we were going to see a game in the high 30s potentially but I was impressed with USC you mentioned the added bulk and they covered it during the broadcast the, 1400 lb added which I kind of laughed at this offseason but they did somehow look more physical most impressively was their tackling I thought they tackled better the schemes that D Lynn the new defensive coordinator had I thought were really smart they didn't give up the big play they kept everything in front of them and now all of a I look at USC I did not have them in that upper tier of the Big 10 and now I absolutely think they belong in that conversation with Ohio State Oregon Michigan Penn State and USC I think they're in that upper tier so I'm a little bit more bullish you're right though it is a long season we'll see how they do all of a sudden that game against Penn State gets way more intriguing I cannot wait to see what this Trojans team does but I'm a Believer right now I'm wondering if you're a believer in Miami at this point because after they H took care of business against Florida in the swamp something that they haven't done in in several several years here I think cam Ward went out there and made a statement Brandon I want to hear from Danny first though just your thoughts on Florida and really Miami what they were able to do I am I'm higher on Miami than Brandon is I I think they're a top five team and I know we have to let this thing play out you have a number two in your power R I thought it was one of the Georgia I thought was the most impressive team this weekend Miami I thought was second most impressive that was complete domination a game that they were only supped to win by a field goal they go out and dominate from start to finish and for one reason also cam Ward is the playmaker that we thought we could see a lot of people said well it was at Washington State or it was at Incarnate Word what does he do when he goes against the likes of an SEC opponent he went out there and played like a man amongst boys toying with Florida's defense cool calm collected in the pocket waiting for the big plays to get there I thought he was Sensational the defense was getting after the Gators and I know the Gators may not be very good this season and we'll see what happens they might be a four or five win team but I thought the way that they dominated the game was one of the more impressive things I thought from the season and I they're clearly now the favorite to win the ACC yeah I I'm just I'm holding off a little bit on them still because I just think Florida is that bad um they just don't look the part they didn't look very well prepared at all cam W's just an absolute gamer he's a game changer we saw it at Washington State carrying that team and as you said having to do so much that he put himself in trouble A lot of times having to turn the ball over just to try and win some games but Miami he's got so many more weapons around them and how about cam McCormack who we're looking at right now this ninth year of college catching a touchdown pass just great stuff but listen Miami is stacked we knew their defensive line was going to be very talented but you kind of Wonder going into the season it's great to have all those pieces but can they gel together and play very well as Danny canel would know Florida State's got a lot of pieces on their defensive line not doing so well right now but Miami is looking very good with all the pieces they've brought in over the last couple years they've gelled together I think what really makes Miami so dangerous is that this is a very close-knit team I don't know if you guys saw that video that leaked out of the locker room after Miami's win but Mario and those players are so sick and tired of hearing about all the naysayers and then everybody questioning them they are really rallied around that of it's Miami against the world in a lot of ways this past weekend we had the old boys from the 90s Miami USC Notre Dame impressive wins the quote unquote villains of college football are back on top right now and I can't wait to see this season unfold with that Trio of teams doing so well early in the year there was another team that was pretty good in the 90s too I'm just saying it doesn't look so back Danny canel's nolles yeah former AC play the year over there just a little uh with with Florida State struggles with with what Clemson did in in the first week it seems like the ACC is Miami to win let's jump back into the Big 10 and kind of look ahead to the Marquee matchup of this upcoming week the Michigan Wolverines fall out of Brandon's top 10 they're down to 14 after a a lackluster showing against Fresno they're a seven and a half Point dog at home against Texas this week Brandon are they going to are they going to get beat for the first time in years oh I I think so Texas way too powerful way too explosive I think the thing with Texas has really impressed me in their opener again don't want to overreact but under Steve sarkeesian he likes to lean on maybe three to five receivers every year but he has expanded that rotation he wants six to eight guys to lean on and this past week all four touchdown catches for them were by transfers newer guys on the roster Texas is spreading that ball out a little bit more spreading the wealth their defense is still pretty dang good I really like them going to Michigan going in the big house and Michigan listen their offense we knew was probably not going to be as explosive as it was last year but having to start a former Walker on Davis Warren as good as he might be they're not going to be that explosive they're going to be prone to maybe making mistakes when they do try to push the ball down the field and as we saw this past week they're little Herky jerky offensively no matter who the quarterback is out there they don't have a lot of confidence no matter who the signal caller is back there and that's a big- Time concern for me not just against Texas this week but for the rest of the season in the Big 10 Brandon I think a lot of people were wondering oh cuz are we too down on Michigan because of the pieces they lost and the question mark no more Jim Harbaugh no more JJ McCarthy I saw you saw some glaring weaknesses on display now they could clearly change all the critics Minds by going out there and having impressive performance versus Texas you mentioned the quarterbacks trying to go with two for a majority of the game rolling them out there every other play was really awkward saw some of that the offensive line where was an off this is a university that's had tremendous offensive line play it wasn't there and Donovan Edward who I thought would pick up right where Blake corm left off he was almost non-existent running the football the one bright spot I think that you could take away from this one that possibly you get back in there and play well against Texas the defense the defense did play well enough had the pick six to kind of give them a little bit of breathing room late they are going to have their hands full against Texas but I'm with you Brandon I'm a little bit down on Michigan after what we saw in week one would they be better with Kade mcamera this season the Michigan Wolverines uh yeah I think from what we've seen so far yes Iowa only a few spots behind me oh my gosh off now in Iowa City i r Marcelo bringing us his power rankings for week one now that week one is done we turn our attention to week two and that means there's plenty of content coming your way on the cover three podcast you can hear more from Danny canel as well as the rest of our crew chip Patterson Bud Elliot Tom forelli bringing you the latest in college football news [Music]