College Football Power Rankings after Week #1
A weekend of blowouts led us to the game of the week on Sunday night.
Ole Miss and Louisville traded punches in the second half as the quarterbacks took center stage in a showdown between a veteran and a rising star, but the Rebels walked off with the win as time expired in Week 1's only ranked-against-ranked matchup.
Ole Miss 41, Louisville 38 was a perfect segue into Labor Day after many of the elite teams ran away with wins in Week 1. Case in point, the SEC mostly ran away with games, going 16-0 with an average margin of victory of 37.6 points. It's the first time since 1997 that the SEC ended Week 1 undefeated.
In the CBS Sports Power Rankings model, we saw some big shifts, with a couple of teams falling out of the rankings and a few more making big jumps after better-than-expected performances.
Miami and LSU are among the latter after their offenses demolished Power Four opponents in Week 1.
If you're wondering how this model works, here's a brief explainer to put your mind at ease: A model I developed runs, pulling data on opponent-adjusted efficiency, Elo, and week-to-week consistency across all 138 FBS teams. It includes other data as well. The model runs every Sunday afternoon. After that, I go through it by hand and make tweaks.
In September, that second step is much more important because one game gives the model almost nothing to read, and it leans hard on preseason projections based on a variety of data points, including returning production. That's why LSU climbs to third after dismantling Clemson, and why Michigan and Clemson fall out of the top 25 entirely after appearing there before the season.
You can expect a lot of volatility in the CBS Sports Power Rankings during the first three weeks of the season. The model needs fresh data to detect trends and build resumes. The data will carry more weight, and the human corrections will get smaller, as the season progresses.
Let's get into it …
Rankings movement below reflects changes from the end of the 2025 regular season.
BIGGEST MOVERS
23 LSU 9 UTAH
1
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OHIO STATE The Buckeyes start the season at No. 1 in the power rankings and could solidify that spot this week with a win at No. 5 Texas. They put up 671 yards in a 56-3 victory against Ball State. Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Legend Bey, who made a mistake on a decision to return a kickoff out of the end zone, also picked up 74 yards of offense and scored on a reception. -- 1-0
2
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MIAMI (FLA.) It's starting to feel like the early 2000s in Miami. The Hurricanes' offense couldn't be stopped in the season opener at Stanford. They put up 549 yards, the most in a Miami opener against an FBS school since 2001. Darian Mensah might be the best quarterback in the country. He threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns with only three incompletions. Still, Malachi Toney is the best player on the field. The sophomore finished with 234 yards and three touchdowns on 12 catches, striking the Heisman pose after every score. Miami has the most loaded offense in the country. 12 1-0
3
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LSU LSU looked great in its 51-10 destruction of Clemson. A Lane Kiffin team scored 40-plus points for a fourth straight season, QB Sam Leavitt was stellar on the ground and through the air, and Blake Baker's defense is elite. You could argue that LSU should be No. 1, and you wouldn't hear much of an argument from me. That opener was darn near perfect, but let's get a couple more games on the resume with this new roster before moving up. NR 1-0
4
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INDIANA Josh Hoover busted his face wide open and also threw four touchdowns in his Indiana debut, creating an early meme and some early confidence this season. Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh stabbed a ball for a one-handed touchdown. The defense was solid. And the Hoosiers extended their nation-leading winning streak to 17 with a 52-16 win against North Texas. What else could you want from the defending national champs? 2 1-0
5
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TEXAS Texas did a lot more against Texas State, a high-powered offense, than I expected. The Longhorns rolled to a 59-7 win behind a solid performance from Arch Manning (305 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT) and Ryan Wingo, who caught seven passes for 121 yards and a score in the first half. Auburn transfer Cam Coleman was great in his debut, catching two touchdowns on three catches. Will Muschamp's defense forced three turnovers, including two fumbles. All is set for an epic showdown Saturday with Ohio State. 6 1-0
6
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GEORGIA The Bulldogs scored 63 points, the most in a season opener since 1941, in a 60-point win against FCS Tennessee State. The mismatch in 100-degree heat was apparent from the first play. Gunner Stockton completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three TDs. Next up is Western Kentucky. 3 1-0
7
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NOTRE DAME The Irish pulled away from Wisconsin the second half, outscoring the Badgers 28-3 to finish a 41-13 victory at Lambeau Field. D.J. McKinney sparked the run with a 55-yard pick six in the third quarter. Aneyas Williams rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, a solid debut as the go-to running back. Keep an eye on safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive tackle Jason Onye, who left the game with leg injuries. -- 1-0
8
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OREGON Oregon struggled early in the season two years ago under Dan Lanning, then went undefeated and won the Big Ten title. So, concern yourself with the Ducks if you want, but the 34-27 win against Boise State, a legitimate threat to reach the CFP, does not concern the power rankings all that much. 3 1-0
9
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USC The Trojans' stable of freshmen is dynamic, and the defense might actually be ... great? USC defeated Fresno State 39-0 and scored two safeties in the school's first shutout since 2024. Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt also became the first freshman duo with 100-plus receiving yards in an FBS game since 2020. Oregon looms large in the LA Coliseum on Sept. 26. 9 2-0
10
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OLE MISS Lucas Carneiro kicked a walk-off, 48-yard field goal to deliver Ole Miss a 41-38 victory against Louisville. He's now 6 of 7 on kicks to tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter. The offense took some time to warm up, but QB Trinidad Chambliss remains elite. Busted coverages in the secondary are concerning, however. That's something to watch in two weeks when LSU comes to town. 6 1-0
11
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OKLAHOMA John Mateer looks healthy and supremely fit, and he recorded his first three-touchdown performance since the season opener a year ago. Isaiah Sategna took over the game early, returning a punt 88 yards for a touchdown and finished with 76 yards receiving with a touchdown. The trip to Michigan this week suddenly doesn't look all that daunting. 2 1-0
12
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ALABAMA Color us impressed with the Crimson Tide. The defense held ECU to 162 yards, and QB Keelon Russell provided a much-needed dynamic as a runner, refreshing an offense that was stuck in the mud last season with no running game. The Tide outrushed ECU 227-2. Russell may hold onto the ball a tad too long, but he'll improve. 2 1-0
13
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TEXAS TECH Eh? Will Hammond threw for a career-high 298 yards but also had an interception to go along with a touchdown in a 33-10 victory against FCS Abilene Christian. We're not sure we'll learn much this week, either, when the Red Raiders travel to Oregon State. 7 1-0
14
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TEXAS A&M The Aggies' defense held Missouri State to only 67 yards and recorded the school's first safety in nine years, and 10 different receivers caught passes in a 51-0 victory. The first half wasn't sharp offensively, but Texas A&M warmed up in the second half, scoring 31. The Aggies host Arizona State in a sneaky good game Saturday during the noon window. 6 1-0
15
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PENN STATE Matt Campbell's debut produced the first shutout win by a first-year Penn State coach since 1915. The Nittany Lions blanked Marshall 45-0. Rocco Becht, the most experienced quarterback in the country, threw for 271 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. NR 1-0
16
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TENNESSEE Freshman QB Faizon Brandon scored five touchdowns, including three passing, in a 56-9 win against FCS Furman. Brandon threw for 226 and three scores and ran for 68 yards and two more TDs. Three quarterbacks played for the Vols. Up next is a trip to Georgia Tech, which is reeling after a heartbreaker against Colorado. NR 1-0
17
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IOWA Kirk Ferentz recorded Iowa's largest shutout win in a season opener in 21 years with a 40-0 victory against Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes scored 33 in the first half. Kamari Moulton rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries. Hank Brown got the start after an elongated QB battle with Jeremy Hecklinski. The Cy-Hawk is up next. 7 1-0
18
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MISSOURI Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns on only six possessions - all in the first half - in a 54-14 victory against UAPB. The Border War with Kansas kicks off Friday. NR 1-0
19
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WASHINGTON Washington held off Washington State, pulling away for a 24-10 win, its 11 Apple Cup victory in the last 13 meetings. Demond Williams scored twice and threw for 268 yards to go along with 61 on the ground. The defense held Wazzu to zero third-down conversions. NR 1-0
20
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BYU Bear Bachmeier scored four touchdowns, including three through the air (tying a career high) in a 63-7 victory against FCS Utah Tech. The Cougars host Arizona on Saturday. 7 1-0
21
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SMU SMU sits inside the top 25 before its first game of the season tonight against Florida State in Tallahassee. NR 0-0
22
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LOUISVILLE Lincoln Keinholz seemed antsy in the first half but settled down and looked the part of a former five-star quarterback, answering every Trinidad Chambliss touchdown with one of his own. He was exceptional in the second half and only strengthened the Cardinals' place as a contender behind Miami in the ACC. NR 0-1
23
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FLORIDA Maybe Jon Sumrall is the new Steve Spurrier. Florida defeated FAU 66-21, the most points scored by the Gators against an FBS team since 2001. Jadan Baugh was exceptional, picking up where he left off last season, running for 160 yards and three TDs on only 14 carries. Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo threw three TDs and scored on the ground. NR 1-0
24
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UTAH The Utes scored a four-year high of 66 points in a 52-point win against Idaho in Morgan Scalley's second game as head coach. Devon Dampier threw for 176 yards and three TDs and sat out most of the second half after building a sizable lead. The Utes host Arkansas on Saturday. 9 1-0
25
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VIRGINIA TECH Enter Sandman. Enter James Franklin. It was a party in Franklin's debut at Virginia Tech. The Hokies drilled Virginia Military Institute 73-3, the largest win for the school since 1922, and allowed only 83 yards. Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkmeyer threw for 224 yards and two TDs. NR 1-0
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Week 1 College Football Recap Sept. 6, 2026
At what point does time lose its meaning? Physicists point to the speed of light or the edge of a black hole, but for the Big Ten, the boundary is apparently a national television broadcast.
It turns out the clock ticking on your screen and the official timing utilized by officials don't always sync up. Michigan managed a wild 13-12 escape against Western Michigan thanks to a second Hail Mary attempt, a miracle from a replay review that found a single second left after Bryce Underwood's initial pass was ruled incomplete. Social media, predictably, exploded with skepticism and conspiracy. To the naked eye, the clock had clearly hit triple zeroes on the broadcast before Broncos safety Micah Davis made contact with the football in the back of the end zone.
The conference's synchronization efforts revealed a jarring disparity: while the NBC feed showed zeroes, the replay system captured a lone, precious second remaining the moment Davis made contact with the ball. Under the letter of the law, a play is whistled dead the instant a player begins from an out-of-bounds position, leaps, and touches the ball in bounds.
The logic is sound, and the rule is undeniable. However, we're left with a bigger, nagging disconnect. Why is the official timing used by the Big Ten's replay center operating on a different wavelength -- however fractional -- than the broadcast clock eyed by millions of fans across the country?
The Big Ten synchronizes all broadcast cameras for the replay system, including a camera on the game clock, 85 minutes before games with a strobe system "to ensure all cameras are aligned." The conference explained that "a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium" was used to make the ruling. That replay center's video, made public after the game, clearly shows one second on the clock when Davis touches the ball. On the NBC broadcast, that wasn't the case.
I generally steer clear of the conspiracy rabbit hole, and maybe it is a total overreaction to suggest the Big Ten actually nailed the call. Still, witnessing that sequence on a standard television feed makes the ensuing outrage entirely understandable. I even began wondering in this litigious era of players, schools and conferences suing each other, if maybe Western Michigan could somehow take this decision to court.
"Not unless Michigan has enacted a Dumbass Football Referee Act," noted sports attorney Tom Mars told me in a text message late Saturday.
The core issue remains: how do we bridge the gap between the digital clock on our screens and the one officials scrutinize? Is synchronization even achievable in our current reality? Only the steady march of time will truly provide an answer, and let's be honest, none of us are breaking the laws of relativity any time soon.
Now, let's dive into the deep end and truly overreact to what was an occasionally chaotic, if sometimes mundane, opening weekend of college football.
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LSU might be the best team in the country
If an overhauled roster can erupt for 51 points against a respectable, if uninspiring, Clemson defense in the season opener, what kind of offensive ceiling does Lane Kiffin's squad possess once they find their rhythm?
The question drifted into the realm of the hypothetical as the worst loss of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's career turned into a chore to watch. Clemson was essentially stuck in reverse on the ground until the fourth quarter, falling to minus-10 yards rushing at one point in the third quarter. Kiffin may have assembled a collection of blue-chip mercenaries in a single cycle, but it stands to reason this group is only scratching the surface after only a few months together in Baton Rouge. If that's true, is it really an overreaction to crown them as the nation's top team right now?
The ingredients are there: a veteran signal-caller with playoff reps in Sam Leavitt, a ground attack that bullies opponents, and a defense anchored by returning coordinator Blake Baker.
The No. 1 conversation becomes unavoidable if Kiffin marches back into familiar territory and handles a top-10 Ole Miss team in two weeks.
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Oregon will be fine
Is this more like an underreaction? Oregon trailed Boise State, battled back, took the lead, traded punches with Boise State and then held on for a 34-27 win.
The Ducks were subpar running the ball -- only two rushes went over 10 yards -- and struggled on third (4 for 12) and fourth downs (0 for 3), but there were glimpses of greatness from quarterback Dante Moore and the receivers, particularly Dakorien Moore. The defense also limited the Broncos to 274 yards but didn't force any turnovers.
So, yeah, not the best debut, but watching the game and examining the numbers paints a much clearer picture of an elite team that just had a bad day. The Ducks will still be a factor in the Big Ten race.
But I am concerned about in-game adjustments on offense. It took Oregon too long to develop answers to Boise State's game plan. The loss of offensive coordinator Will Stein could be a bigger deal than I first believed heading into the season. Something to monitor.
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Ryan Coleman-Williams will hurt 'Bama
Alabama looked good in a 48-10 win against ECU. The running game, which was a disaster last season, finally appears stable (227 yards) and quarterback Keelon Russell provides a needed dynamic as a runner (though he needs to get a better sense of when to throw the ball away).
Is Alabama a playoff team? Who knows. Debate that all you want, and I'm sure you will, but I'm more concerned about receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. He led the Tide with 130 yards on five catches, but the stats don't cover up the ugliness. He dropped two passes in the first half on throws he should have easily snagged, doing little to erase doubt after he led the country with 13 drops last season.
The former five-star's route running is sharp, his speed and elusiveness exceptional, but his tendency to leave his feet adds unnecessary difficulty. Call it the yips or an unbreakable technique, but he's gotta find a way to improve. He rebounded later in the game, of course, but he needs to solidify himself as Alabama's go-to guy receiver in pivotal moments -- just as he did against Georgia two years ago as a freshman.
Believe me, those moments are going to pop up on that schedule.
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Miami has the best offense in the country
Dissect the stats all you want, but I know what I saw in Week 1. My eyes didn't see a better offense with more playmakers than the Miami unit Mario Cristobal and coordinator Shannon Dawson put on display in a 45-6 demolition of Stanford.
Malachi Toney announced himself in the premature Heisman Trophy conversation -- and reminded everyone by striking the pose after his three touchdowns -- but the key to the success is Duke transfer Darian Mensah. The quarterback threw for a career-high 401 yards and five touchdowns and had only three incomplete passes. There's on target and then there's en fuego. Only four other quarterbacks did what he did Friday night (90%, 400 yards, five TDs) this century, and two of them (Baker Mayfield and Jameis Winston) won the Heisman Trophy.
As much as we want to jump on the Toney bandwagon, and, boy, I'm on it until the wheels fall off, the facilitator deserves a big bump and more attention.
But back to my thesis: Cooper Barkate is an incredible safety blanket at receiver, Josh Moore is a smooth downfield threat, and the running back room is stacked with gamebreakers like Mark Fletcher Jr. and North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown, a fire-breathing Pokemon if I've ever seen one, bullying linebackers in the middle of the field.
The best offensive unit in the country is stationed in South Beach.
3 coaches may have already sealed their fate
The facade at Rutgers crumbled in spectacular fashion, suffering a 37-21 humiliation at home against a UMass squad that arrived carrying the weight of the country's lengthiest losing skid.
Meanwhile, Dave Aranda watched his Baylor team fall a few agonizing inches shy of a signature upset over Auburn.
As for Dabo Swinney, that 41-point thrashing at the hands of LSU feels less like a temporary dip and more like a precipitous slide toward a career-ending pink slip.
Not all losses are equal, but the opening verse by the coaches set the tone for what's to come. Aranda entered the season on one of the hottest seats in the country and he did nothing to cool it in the 17-16 loss. As you expect, Aranda's defense was solid. They sacked Byrum Brown five times and picked him off three times. Still, the lack of offense and yet another injury to the injury-plagued DJ Lagway doesn't bode well for the remainder of the season. The defense can't do it all for 12 games.
Swinney's decline began years ago with his refusal to embrace the transfer portal or secure elite talent via substantial NIL packages. Although he signed a career-high 11 transfers last offseason, he remains hesitant to fully adapt to college football's modern era. Swinney spent the offseason defending his program by citing past achievements -- such as ranking seventh in wins this decade and claiming an ACC championship two years ago -- but repeating these same statistics for three consecutive years has worn thin with Clemson fans.
Schiano has already fallen short of expectations and the promise of a stronger, more united Rutgers. He told us in July that this offseason was his first with vertical alignment among the administration and coaches. NIL had improved. The roster, too. "We have the resources that are starting to match expectations," he said.
After the loss as a 29.5-point favorite, you could sense he lost touch with the reality at Rutgers. "Never saw it coming," he told reporters. "And I've been doing this a long time."
The buyouts are expensive. Clemson would owe Swinney at least $57 million. Schiano's buyout is $18.5 million if Rutgers waits until the end of the season. Aranda is in the same neighborhood.
Week 2 is the trap for Schiano. Boston College, picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC, fell 34-15 at Cincinnati in Week 1. Rutgers travels to Chestnut Hill on Friday.
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USC looks like a playoff team
Jayden Maiava is off to a blistering start, the defense is doing things the program hasn't achieved in nearly two decades and a slew of freshmen are burning defensive backs in coverage.
USC looks the part of a playoff team through two games. Five of the top six pass-catchers in the 39-0 blowout of Fresno State on Friday night were freshmen or sophomores, and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Trent Mosley each had over 100 yards, something two USC freshmen haven't done since at least 1973, when the school began keeping records. He said in the preseason, and he's following through: Lincoln Riley intends to lean on the youngsters that made up his No. 1-ranked recruiting class.
And then there is Maiava, who completed 92% of his throws for 349 yards and three touchdowns, the best completion percentage at USC since 1995. He's thrown five touchdowns and only six incompletions through two games.
The story, however, is the defense. Hall of Famer Gary Patterson came in to develop a championship-level unit, and you couldn't ask for a better early return. USC hasn't allowed a point in back-to-back first halves for the first time since 2009. The Trojans scored two safeties Friday, which is believed to be a first in USC history.
Looks like Riley finally has something cooking in Los Angeles -- and it's not the hot bleachers at the LA Coliseum.
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Flowers for Tarleton State
Tarleton State held on for a 20-13 win at Bowling Green, giving the Texans their second FBS win in as many seasons. The FCS program jumped from Division II after a few playoff runs there. The athletics department has been actively seeking a spot in the FBS, while the likes of Sacramento State managed to snag a spot in the MAC. If you're curious, the Texans already have more wins against MAC teams this season than the Hornets, who bought their way into the conference this year and lost at Eastern Michigan in Week 0.
Something tells me Tarleton State will get its wish fulfilled and move up to the FBS sooner rather than later. The Texans already have an incredible basketball arena, and the department's commitment is in place to compete at the next level.
