Week 1 didn’t just shake up the college football conversation - it changed ESPN’s College Football Playoff board in a big way.
After the opening weekend, the panel’s updated CFP predictions leaned hard into a familiar group at the top. LSU, Georgia and Texas were unanimous selections, while Alabama picked up five votes. Oklahoma earned three, Ole Miss got three and Texas A&M received two.
The 11-person panel still spread its attention across several contenders, but the top of the rankings was dominated by the same names over and over again: Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia, Miami and Oregon all showed up in multiple projected playoff fields.
Andrea Adelson had Notre Dame at No. 1, followed by Ohio State, LSU and Miami. Her top 12 also included Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, USC, BYU and Boise State.
Kyle Bonagura went with Ohio State at No. 1 and Notre Dame at No. 2, then slotted Texas, Indiana, Georgia and LSU in the next four spots. Miami, Texas Tech, Alabama, Oregon, BYU and Boise State rounded out his field.
Bill Connelly gave LSU the top spot, with Notre Dame and Ohio State next. His playoff included Oregon, Georgia, Miami, Texas, Ole Miss, Indiana, Texas Tech, Pittsburgh and UMass.
David Hale’s list started with Notre Dame, LSU, Ohio State and Texas. Miami, Georgia, Indiana, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oregon, BYU and Boise State completed his projection.
Eli Lederman had Ohio State at No. 1, with Notre Dame and Miami behind it. Georgia, Oregon, Texas, Texas Tech, Indiana, LSU, BYU, Ole Miss and Boise State filled out his 12.
Max Olson also put Ohio State first, followed by Miami and LSU. His bracket featured Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, USC and Boise State.
Adam Rittenberg’s top four were Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami and Georgia, with Texas, Oregon, Indiana, BYU, LSU, Alabama, USC and Boise State making the cut.
Mark Schlabach backed Ohio State at No. 1, then Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas. Oregon, Indiana, Miami, LSU, BYU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and North Dakota State completed his field.
Jake Trotter was the lone panelist to place Texas at No. 1. Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Indiana, Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, BYU, Alabama and Boise State followed.
Paolo Uggetti also had Ohio State on top, with Georgia and Texas next. Oregon, Notre Dame, Miami, Indiana, LSU, BYU, USC, Alabama and Boise State finished his ranking.
The first week is always a snapshot, and ESPN’s panel made that clear. Some projections were steady, some were aggressive, and a few were already reshuffled by what happened on the field.
In Other News...
LSUs SEC Fight Could Shift The Balance Alabama Lives With
The SECs legal fight with LSU has taken another turn, and it is the kind of conference business that rarely stays contained to one school. The league has amended its federal court lawsuit and is preparing to meet about possible punishment tied to LSUs institutional control and the football program, a dispute that puts the conferences authority and its willingness to enforce it back in the spotlight.
For Alabama, any league-wide shakeup involving LSU matters because it can alter the balance of a conference the Crimson Tide lives in every week. The SEC has also alleged that LSUs executive officers do not have meaningful control over coach Lane Kiffin and the football program, and the most extreme option on the table would require a two-thirds vote to terminate LSUs membership. Whether it gets anywhere near that point is still the unresolved part, but the fact it is being discussed says plenty about how serious the conflict has become. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces An Early SEC Test It Can't Afford To Sleepwalk Through
Alabama got through its Week 1 tune-up against East Carolina, but the rhythm of the season changes fast now that SEC play arrives. The Crimson Tides first conference test comes against Kentucky, a team that brings a different look than the usual early-September opponent and one that has already spent the offseason reshaping itself on the sideline and at quarterback.
Will Stein is in place as the Wildcats new head coach, and Kentucky also added a transfer quarterback who was impressive in the opener. That combination is enough to make this more than a routine league game for Alabama, which cannot afford to treat it like a soft landing after the nonconference schedule. The Tide will need to be sharp from the start if they want to avoid turning an early SEC roadblock into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Sent A Confusing Early Message In The Polls
The first full college football polls of the regular season offered an early read on where the sports powers stand, and Alabama got a mixed one. Ohio State stayed No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches polls, LSU surged to No. 8 after a convincing win over Clemson, and Michigans split showing in the rankings underscored how quickly the first month can reshape a rsum.
For Alabama, the picture was less clean. The Crimson Tide climbed to No. 12 in the AP poll after handling East Carolina, but the Coaches poll told a different story by placing them one spot lower. It is still early, of course, but the discrepancy is the kind of small signal that tends to matter in September, especially for a program used to being evaluated with very little margin for error. [Read more 🡒]