Texas may have grabbed the No. 1 spot in the latest college football rankings after that wild comeback over Ohio State, but the early read on the College Football Playoff picture points somewhere else for the top seed.
Based on how the season is shaping up, Miami looks like the team sitting in the best position to claim No. 1 when the committee eventually sorts out the bracket. The Hurricanes have the kind of résumé that jumps off the page in this format: ACC champion, a scorching offense with Darian Mensah under center, and a schedule that should keep testing them all the way to the finish, including Notre Dame. The gap between Miami and the rest of the ACC is described as a wide one, and right now that matters.
Georgia also has a strong argument in the SEC lane. The Bulldogs’ offense has rolled through overmatched opponents, and while the tougher conference games will reveal more, they still look like the team to beat at the top of the league. If the committee is sorting champions and weighing depth, that profile carries plenty of weight.
In the Big Ten, Ohio State’s case only gets stronger with Oregon slipping. Even with defensive losses and some difficult road trips still ahead, the Buckeyes are emerging as the clearest pick to win the conference.
Notre Dame remains very much in the mix, though the schedule debate isn’t going away. Critics may say the Irish caught a break, but they still have BYU, Miami, and SMU coming up, and those games should tell the real story about whether this is the playoff team it has been billed as.
Texas, meanwhile, has the profile of an SEC runner-up that the selection committee would likely favor over the Big Ten’s second-place team. That win over Ohio State gives the Longhorns more room to breathe as they head into a stretch that includes as many as six ranked opponents.
Elsewhere in the projected field, Texas Tech gets the nod as the Big 12 champion. It is not being framed as a true two-quarterback offense, but the addition of Tommy Castellanos gives the Red Raiders another wrinkle to throw at opponents.
Indiana sits as the projected Big Ten runner-up after blasting its first two opponents and, according to this early read, should keep rolling until mid-October when it heads to Nebraska.
Arizona State has the pieces to make noise too. Sam Leavitt runs a dynamic offense that can attack downfield, and the defense can bring pressure up front, but there are still questions about how that group will hold up physically against SEC fronts when it comes to running the ball. That uncertainty could keep the Tigers out of the conference title race.
SMU is another ACC contender worth watching. The Mustangs will get a serious test this weekend on the road against ranked Louisville, but quarterback Kevin Jennings and the defense have looked like a team capable of contending for the conference crown.
Alabama’s defense has shown some encouraging signs, and dual-threat quarterback Keelon Russell has added real explosiveness to the offense. Even so, the Crimson Tide still need to prove they can move people around up front and run the ball with more force.
USC is also in the conversation as a team that could push Oregon out of the playoff picture from the Big Ten. With Jayden Maiava at quarterback, the Trojans have started to tighten things up on offense, and Gary Patterson’s presence on defense is helping them take early steps toward becoming more cohesive.
As for the highest-ranked Group of Six champion, that spot belongs to a team that already made noise with a seven-point loss at Oregon. That result still carries real value, especially after the Ducks lost the following week, and the latest win over previously unbeaten Memphis only strengthens the case.
In Other News...
Indiana Defense Faces A Big Week 3 Boost Before Big Ten Play
Indianas defense looked the part in Week 2, smothering Howard for just 57 total yards while piling up five sacks and a pick-6. Even with both starting cornerbacks, Jamari Sharpe and AJ Harris, sidelined since Week 1, the back end held firm, and the Hoosiers have reason to feel better about their depth after backups Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell stepped in and handled the assignment.
The bigger development now is the possibility of getting healthier before the schedule tightens. Curt Cignetti has sounded optimistic about Sharpes chances of returning for Week 3 against Western Kentucky, and Indiana would like to get both corners some live reps before Big Ten play begins. How quickly that secondary gets back to full strength could matter just as much as the shutout-style performance it put on last week. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hoosier Kahlil Benson Just Landed A Massive Week 1 Test
Kahlil Bensons path from Indiana to the Chiefs just got a whole lot more interesting. The undrafted rookie offensive lineman, who signed a three-year deal in Kansas City, was moved into the mix at left tackle after an injury to starter Josh Simmons, and now he has been named to open the 2026 season at the position.
For Hoosier fans, it is a notable development because Benson is being asked to handle one of the most demanding jobs on the line after doing his college work at right tackle and right guard, not left tackle. He has started games at both spots, but this is a different level of responsibility, and it gives him an immediate chance to prove he can hold up in a premium role right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Has One Edge Ohio State Fans Suddenly Can't Ignore
The kicking game has become one of the quiet reasons this Indiana-Ohio State matchup deserves extra attention. When the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet Oct. 17, Indiana will bring a weapon that could matter in a tight game: Nico Radicic has been steady and accurate, giving the Hoosiers a level of trust at the end of drives that can shape how an offense is called and how a defense is forced to react.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has had to live with some recent kicking frustrations in pressure moments, including a missed 45-yard try against Texas and other important misses in recent games. In a matchup that could be decided by field position and a single possession, that kind of contrast is hard for Buckeyes fans to overlook, and it gives Indiana a subtle but real edge heading into the showdown. [Read more 🡒]