📈 College football Power Rankings: Who’s No. 1?

📈 College football Power Rankings: Who's No. 1?. Skip to main content Skip to navigation College football Power Rankings: First impressions of the Top 25 following Week 1Ohio State Buckeyes10hESPNNews or noise?

What happened

Ohio State Buckeyes10hKyle Bonagura and Mark SchlabachCollege football Power Rankings: First impressions of the Top 25 following Week 1Ohio State Buckeyes10hESPNNews or noise? Virginia Tech Hokies4dAndrea AdelsonLet's predict the NFL draft — eight months early: Kiper's 10 big preseason takesTexas Longhorns4dMel Kiper Jr. playPaul Finebaum sounds off on clock controversy in Michigan's win (2:01)Associated PressMultiple AuthorsSep 8, 2026, 02:26 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLSU jumped back into the top 10 in the first Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the regular season on Tuesday, while Oregon slipped out of the top five, and Michigan fell out of the rankings altogether after it needed a second-chance Hail Mary try at home to beat Western Michigan.

After an entertaining Week 1, which teams did our college football experts vote into the Top 25? Ole Miss Rebels2dDavid Hale'I've never seen it like this': Welcome to the Lane Kiffin ShowLSU Tigers3dDavid Hale'Shipwrecked': Alabama's East Carolina jab leads Week 1 college football trollsSan José State Spartans2dESPN Staff'I Will Always Love You': Tennessee holds multiple tributes for Dolly PartonTennessee Volunteers3dKalan HooksNever too early for a hot seat: Which coaches could be in line for big job openingsMinnesota Golden Gophers8dAdam RittenbergAt Virginia Tech, what does success look like for James Franklin?

Or, in Michigan's case, 59:59 and the longest final second in college football history. First impressions aren't everything, but they provide a glimpse of what could be coming, and informed ESPN's first set of in-season Power Rankings. — Adam Rittenberg 1. Miami HurricanesPreseason ranking: 7Mensah and Toney might be the most frightening QB-WR duo in college football.

The wider picture

Skip to main content Skip to navigation Michigan out of AP Top 25 after win; LSU up to 8thLSU Tigers2hIowa band member taken off life support after collapsing at gameIowa Hawkeyes4hAdam RittenbergNotre Dame safety Johnson, DL Onye to miss a few weeksNotre Dame Fighting Irish3hAdam RittenbergDabo accepts criticism for loss, pushes back on roster buildingClemson Tigers3hSandusky pulls recantation claim in retrial questPenn State Nittany Lions5hRobert Klemko'Shipwrecked': Alabama's East Carolina jab leads Week 1 college football trollsSan José State Spartans2dESPN StaffWay too early Bubble Watch: Who looks good for CFP?

NC State Wolfpack10hHeather DinichCollege Football Playoff predictions after Week 1Ohio State Buckeyes10hESPN StaffBowl projections: Which teams could we see in the postseason following Week 1 results? Wisconsin? (1:40)Heather DinichSep 8, 2026, 04:22 PM ETMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLeaders of the College Football Playoff on Tuesday agreed to open a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN, signaling their greatest interest yet in a 24-team CFP field that could begin as soon as 2027, sources told ESPN. "[ESPN] has a deep commitment to college football every week.

Skip to main content Skip to navigation Champions League Power Rankings before MD1: Who's No. Why top Premier League clubs sign wingers who don't score goals13hRyan O'Hanlon2026 Ballon d'Or: Full men's, women's short lists, host city change, more3hChris WrightMLS Power Rankings: Griezmann catapults Orlando into the playoff picture1dJoe LoweryNWSL Power Rankings: Washington leaps to top spot as Gotham, San Diego slip up1dArianna CasconeArsenal show Chelsea, Premier League who's boss; Inter the team to beat in Serie A1dGabriele MarcottiArsenal too familiar, Man United underwhelming: Lessons from WSL's opening weekend11hEmily KeoghTransfer rumors, news: Arsenal set for Rice talks to ward off Real Madrid interest8hESPNPutellas to Bayern; Paralluelo to Arsenal: Women's transfers we wish we'd seen2dYash ThakurChelsea are on the rise, but Arsenal remain kings of Premier League2dMark Ogden and James OlleyAnother game, more dropped points: Are Man United still a work in progress?

Here are your Champions League Power Rankings before Matchday 1. LSU Tigers1dBill ConnellyProjecting the CFP top 12 after Week 1: Marathon opening slate sets up massive Week 2Ohio State Buckeyes2dHeather DinichSMU-FSU played with limited power: 'Old school'Florida State Seminoles21hAndrea AdelsonCan Pete Golding get Ole Miss out from Lane Kiffin's shadow?

What has been reported

Running back Turbo Richard, the Boston College transfer, led Indiana with 58 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while adding a 38-yard reception. A bigger challenge comes with this week's trip to Georgia Tech, but Brandon passed his first college test. — Bill Connelly 19. The Utes certainly appear to with returning starter Devon Dampier and sophomore Byrd Ficklin, who collectively powered Utah's 66-14 win over Idaho on Thursday. Courtroom drama over the eligibility status of LSU players trying to return to college from NFL training camps took the spotlight in the days leading up to the game, and then Sam Leavitt and his teammates made fast work of Clemson.

17 to unranked after holding off North Dakota of the Football Championship Subdivision last year. The Power 4 conference championship games have media value of at least $200 million, according to sources, and that doesn't include the tens of millions the games generate in tickets, sponsorships and other gameday revenue. While they work things out in defense and midfield for the long slog of a domestic season, a star-studded first-team and gentler draw than their peers — only their Pot 1 opponents, Atlético and Inter, will truly trouble — should empower them to be a genuine threat in this competition.

How the CFP and Heisman markets are taking shape after Week 1Ohio State Buckeyes10hPamela MaldonadoWeek 1 overreactions: LSU is back!

What happens next

Virginia Tech Hokies4dAndrea AdelsonLet's predict the NFL draft — eight months early: Kiper's 10 big preseason takesTexas Longhorns4dMel Kiper Jr. playIs Stephen A. more confident in Ohio State or Texas ahead of primetime clash? (2:32)ESPNMultiple AuthorsSep 8, 2026, 07:00 AM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSometimes a team needs the full 60 minutes to make its first impression. A highly anticipated first impression can follow a week of controversy, and then blasts of lightning, like coach Lane Kiffin's did at LSU.

After the weather delay, Kiffin's crew unleashed a storm on Clemson, surging to a 51-10 win and holding massive edges in total yards (644-145), rushing yards (309-40) and first downs (38-8). Week 1 brought a range of first impressions from notable teams. Miami's Malachi Toney set a team record with 234 receiving yards against Stanford, but he wasn't the only wideout to strike the Heisman pose, as Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith sparkled with 151 yards and two touchdowns in his season debut.

Indiana began its national title defense with more offensive efficiency led by transfers, while returning quarterbacks such as Texas' Arch Manning, Georgia's Gunner Stockton and Ohio State's Julian Sayin started off strong, albeit against weaker opponents. Oregon's Dante Moore also delivered, but his team's first impression was not one of a national title contender, as the Ducks struggled to shake free of Boise State in a 34-27 win.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across espn.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.