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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Texas Tech Defense Could Get Timely Boost Before Houston Showdown
Texas Techs defense may be headed for a much-needed lift as the Red Raiders prepare for their Big 12 matchup with Houston. Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood said Brenden Jordan is expected to start returning to action, while also pointing to Trey Whites positive impact when he has been available and the value he brings to the unit.
Wood also gave an encouraging update on Jayden Cofield, who is working back from a serious injury and continues to progress well. With White expected to return from injury and Cofield likely to see more snaps as the season goes on, Texas Tech could have more options to lean on at a key point in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Faces An Early Offensive Truth Against Houston
Texas Tech heads into its matchup with Houston still trying to get a clearer read on what this offense really is early in the season. The Red Raiders have shown enough to suggest there is firepower here, but the bigger question is how much of the playbook has actually been put on display and how much more is waiting to come as the competition stiffens.
Houston brings a defense that should give Texas Tech a better sense of where the unit stands right now, which is what makes this one so interesting from the Red Raiders' side. A game like this can expose whether the early production was sustainable or simply a product of favorable matchups, and the preview around it leaves room for the possibility that Houston is the team better positioned to control the night. [Read more 🡒]
Will Hammond Faces A Bigger Texas Tech Test Than Fans Realize
Will Hammond has given Texas Tech a steady start at quarterback to open the 2026 season, completing 76.7% of his passes over two games while averaging 243.5 yards per game with two touchdowns and one interception. The accuracy has been there, but the Red Raiders have largely kept things in front of them, leaning on short throws and check-downs rather than asking Hammond to push the ball downfield very often.
The next step may be less about efficiency and more about volume. Texas Techs running game has not produced enough to take pressure off the passing attack, which means Hammond could be asked to shoulder a bigger load as the schedule stiffens, starting with a key matchup against No. 22 Houston. How much Texas Tech is willing to open up the offense could say plenty about how ready Hammond is for the kind of test that usually exposes a young quarterback. [Read more 🡒]