The thing that makes college football the amazing product that it has always been is what outsiders may see as a criticism. The game is always and forever a complete mess. Think you know who the best team was? Well that guy thinks it’s a different team so now they are both national champions. Assume this team will have the best season based on all their highly recruited talent? Well you forgot they are all 18-22 year olds with zero concept of consistency.

Combine all of that with the fact that the entire regular season lasts just 12 games and it’s primed for chaos. That truncated schedule means each performance, each weekly showcase is wildly important to crafting a team’s narrative. For most teams it takes at least two or three weeks before opinions are strongly held and preseason priors can be thrown out. But with the right kind of performance that can all happen after just one game.

Which team was most impressive in Week 1?

Preseason college football polls still hold a tight grip on the game. So when a team comes out even in just one game and shows something that wasn’t expected in the three months of anticipation leading up to that game, it makes an impression. Even teams with high expectations can shake fans awake with just how good they look. Despite all being ranked in the top 10, it was jarring to see just how good Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, and Indiana looked in their wins, annihilating lesser opponents with jaw-dropping efficiency. LSU looked no less dominant, but likely gets bonus points for doing it against a name-brand program like Clemson. SMU didn’t dominate Florida State by any stretch, but the Mustangs were the only ranked team to play a true road game against a Power Four opponent and get the win.

Which team was most underwhelming in Week 1?

Being on the other side of the expectations game is significantly less fun. Because style points matter in college football, a team can win their game and still be the laughing stock of the country because of how it happened. Looking squarely at you Michigan, Oregon, and West Virginia.

But even that is better than being just flat-out beaten in front of the whole country like Clemson and Oklahoma State had happen. Which brings up the question, is it worse to technically win the game but because of expectations the vibes are bad, or have a program that should be good, but everyone saw how really bad you actually are?

Be on the lookout for results to these surveys and other SB Nation Reacts surveys later this week!