The bell has rung on Week 1. Let's check the stocks.

Stock up

1. Ryan Nassib: Making his first start at quarterback for Syracuse, Nassib completed 17 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Akron. That earned him Big East player of the week honors.

2. The West Virginia kicking game: The Mountaineers' kickoff coverage, which had been pretty awful the last couple of years, allowed only 94 return yards on six kickoffs against Coastal Carolina. New punter Gregg Pugnetti averaged 49.2 yards on six attempts, including a 71-yarder.

3. Jordan Thomas: The Rutgers true freshman got 15 touches in the opener against Norfolk State. While he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he flashed his speed and quickness and showed he can be an asset to the Scarlet Knights' offense.

4. Steven Bravo-Brown: A true freshman walk-on, Bravo-Brown got thrown right into the fire for South Florida. The receiver had four catches for 48 yards against Stony Brook.

Stock down

1. The Cincinnati offense: The Bearcats were among the nation's top-scoring teams last year, and that figured to continue under Butch Jones. But Cincinnati mustered only 14 points at Fresno State -- none in the second half -- as the offensive line allowed eight sacks. And receiver Vidal Hazelton has been lost for the year to a torn ACL.

2. Pitt's red zone offense: The Panthers were inside Utah's 20 four times but came away with just one touchdown and three field goals. Pitt was one of the best teams in the country in red zone offense the past two years. It will need sevens, not threes, against upcoming opponents Miami and Notre Dame.

3. Connecticut's defensive front: We wondered about the Huskies' secondary. Turns out, UConn got pushed around up front by Michigan last week. The defensive line is undersized and lacks experience. "We've got to get a lot more physical," Randy Edsall said.

4. Louisville's wide receivers: Adam Froman completed just six passes to receivers against Kentucky, and none for more than 15 yards. Junior college import Josh Bellamy was hurt early and Troy Pascley continued to be inconsistent. The Cardinals lack players who can stretch the field and keep defenses honest.

Player of the year race: Offense

1. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: Devine assumes the top spot after rushing for 111 yards against Coastal Carolina.

2. B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida: Daniels was strong out of the gate, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns and running for a score versus Stony Brook.

3. Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt: When your career low for rushing yards is 75, that means you've had a great career. Lewis will bounce back.

4. Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut: As disappointing as the Huskies were, Todman still had 105 yards and a score against Michigan.

5. Nassib: Might as well give the reigning offensive player of the week some love.

Player of the year race: Defense

1. Robert Sands, S, West Virginia: Had 1.5 tackles for loss and anchored a defense that pitched a shutout versus Coastal Carolina.

2. Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers: Silvestro had four tackles for loss against Norfolk State.

3. Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt: Disappointing effort against Utah for the preseason favorite, as Romeus had no sacks or quarterback hurries in the loss.

4. Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: Team's defensive effort was poor, but Wilson continued to be a tackling machine with 12 stops.

5. Mike Holmes, DB, Syracuse: Won the league's official defensive player of the week award for his performance at Akron.

Dion Lewis vs. Noel Devine:

Lewis: 25 rushes for 75 yards (3.0 ypc) and one touchdown

Devine: 23 rushes for 111 yards (4.8 ypc) and one touchdown

Tom Savage vs. B.J. Daniels

Savage: 10-of-19 for 148 yards and one touchdown; rushed six times for 18 yards

Daniels: 15-for-22, 264 yards and two touchdowns; rushed five times for 23 yards and a score