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.
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Ohio State Freshmen Frustration Just Put A New Problem In Public
Ohio States loss to Texas did more than dent the Buckeyes early-season momentum. It also spilled a little of the programs internal frustration into public view, as three freshmen used social media to air dissatisfaction with their roles and limited opportunities, a jarring development for a team that is still trying to settle itself after an important defeat.
Jerquaden Guilford, Brock Boyd and Bey were among the players whose posts drew attention, with language that pointed to a desire for more involvement. For a staff already sorting through a disappointing result, it adds a fresh layer of concern about buy-in and roster harmony, even if there has been no official response yet. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Added New Controversy To Texas' Win Over Ohio State
Texas win over No. 1 Ohio State already had enough postgame baggage after Steve Sarkisian abruptly cut off ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during a brief on-field exchange. The moment itself was awkward enough, but it quickly became a bigger talking point once a fake AI-generated video of Sarkisian slapping Rowe started making the rounds online, giving the upset a strange and unnecessary afterlife beyond the scoreboard.
Arch Manning then poured fuel on the reaction when he weighed in on the clip during a Monday exchange, describing it as hilarious. The comment drew immediate criticism on social media, with some users calling for apologies and public statements from both Manning and Sarkisian, turning a celebratory Texas moment into another reminder of how fast a viral postgame clip can shift the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Needs More Than A Win Against Kent State
Ohio State gets a chance to reset at home this week against Kent State, with the Buckeyes coming off the Week 2 loss to Texas and looking for a cleaner showing on both sides of the ball. The matchup will be carried on FOX and streaming platforms, and on paper it gives Ohio State a comfortable spot to get back on track while working through some of the issues that showed up last time out.
The bigger value here may be less about the result and more about what the Buckeyes can take from it, especially on offense. A lopsided win would be welcome, but Ohio State needs a performance that helps settle the unit, builds confidence after the setback and gives the coaches a better feel for where this team is headed as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]