COLUMBIA, S.C. — Michigan may be out of the AP Top 25, but nobody has knocked the Wolverines from the top of the Sports Social Pulse™.
One controversial second helped keep Michigan and quarterback Bryce Underwood at No. 1 in the Pulse rankings after Saturday's wild 13-12 victory over Western Michigan.
Social media conversation exploded after officials ruled that one second remained on the clock following an incomplete Michigan Hail Mary against Western Michigan. That extra second made all the difference. Underwood connected with receiver JJ Buchanan on the next play for the game-winning touchdown.
It’s the third consecutive week with Michigan at No. 1 in the Pulse rankings, compiled by the Social Media Insights Lab at the University of South Carolina.
In the hours following the game, social media posts coalesced around three themes:
- Michigan was saved by the refs.
- Western Michigan was robbed.
- Michigan isn’t that good.
“The passion of college football fans was on full display during Week 1,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the University of South Carolina and co-founder of the Sports Social Pulse. “Michigan continues to drive the online conversation, but the program isn’t controlling the narrative.”
LSU made one of the week's biggest moves, jumping into the team Top 10 at No. 4 after a 51-10 rout of Clemson.
| Rank | Team | Sports Social Pulse Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 100 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 65.7 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 63.3 |
| 4 | LSU | 61.6 |
| 5 | UGA | 57.9 |
| 6 | Texas | 56 |
| 7 | Penn State | 55.9 |
| 8 | Florida | 55.2 |
| 9 | Alabama | 54.5 |
| 10 | Oregon | 54 |
Underwood topped the player rankings, with Faizon Brandon of Tennessee coming in at No. 2. Brandon lit up the field against Furman. The SEC Network reported that Brandon was the first SEC player since Auburn great Cam Newton to record three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in his first FBS start.
One new face in the rankings – Pittsburgh QB Mason Heintschel at No. 9. Heintschel tied a school record throwing seven touchdown passes against Miami (Ohio).
Also notable – Arch Manning, who typically comes No. 1 or No. 2, ranked at No. 10 this week.
| Rank | Player | Team | Sports Social Pulse Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryce Underwood | Michigan | 99.2 |
| 2 | Faizon Brandon | Tennessee | 86.1 |
| 3 | Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | 75.4 |
| 4 | Malachi Toney | Miami | 69.2 |
| 5 | Josh Hoover | Indiana | 62.3 |
| 6 | John Mateer | Oklahoma | 60 |
| 7 | Dakorien Moore | Oregon | 59.4 |
| 8 | Sam Leavitt | LSU | 59 |
| 9 | Mason Heintschel | Pittsburgh | 58.6 |
| 10 | Arch Manning | Texas | 56.1 |
To no one’s surprise, Lane Kiffin topped the coaches’ rankings. Kiffin remained at the center of the national conversation surrounding efforts to allow former college players who participated in NFL camps to return to college football. Whatever the off-field noise, Kiffin's LSU Tigers delivered on the field, taking down Clemson in Baton Rouge.
| Rank | Coach | Team | Sports Social Pulse Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lane Kiffin | LSU | 100 |
| 2 | Curt Cignetti | Indiana | 61.3 |
| 3 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | 59.6 |
| 4 | Matt Campbell | Penn State | 59.4 |
| 5 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | 58.6 |
| 6 | Jon Sumrall | Florida | 56.4 |
| 7 | Alex Golesh | Auburn | 55.3 |
| 8 | Kirby Smart | UGA | 55.4 |
| 9 | Bob Chesney | UCLA | 55.1 |
| 10 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | 55.2 |
The Week One rankings are based on social-media activity from Sept 1 – Sept 7.
About the College Sports Social Pulse™
Developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, the College Sports Social Pulse™ transforms social-media conversation into insight about the teams, athletes and coaches shaping the culture and business of college sports.
The Pulse tracks the national conversation across major social platforms and uses advanced analytics to identify who is generating attention, engagement and emotional response — regardless of what happens on the scoreboard.