State of Florida

This kind of performance (and loss) comes straight out of the first two years of the Mike Norvell era. Even as massive player movements created uncertainty in the Power Four, the Seminoles seemed to be establishing themselves as a major contender for a national title and one of the three or four teams atop the ACC. At the very least, the loss in Dublin recalibrates the hype surrounding FSU and resets expectations to somewhere closer to eight wins rather than 10 or more.

DJ Uiagalelei

You get serviceable, occasionally strong, relatively flawless, incredibly cautious quarterback play when Uiagalelei is under center, and if you expect anything more than that, you’re going to be disappointed. The question for Norvell is whether the Seminoles need more than that to win another ACC title — and after one game, the answer is a resounding yes. But there are things you can do to build around Uiagalelei, as Oregon State and former coach Jonathan Smith did last season. That he’ll protect the football is a big bonus; that he can be a weapon on the ground is another, though he was used lightly as a runner in the opener. Maybe Uiagalelei, after three years at Clemson and one game at FSU, just isn’t cut out for the ACC.

Nevada

There are things to build on for new coach Jeff Choate and Nevada, which has gone 4-20 over the past two seasons. Pushing SMU to its limits is a sign of progress, even if the Mustangs aren’t the cream of the crop in the Power Four. Can the same formula be used to find some success in the Mountain West? While it was fun to compete, there’s also a sense of missed opportunity for the Wolf Pack. Pulling off an upset could mean the difference between five wins and a bowl bid, if Nevada lives up to its potential after Saturday night.