College football rankings update
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
ESPN's FPI moved Texas past Ohio State for No. 1 after Week 1.
The reshuffle shows how much one weekend can reset the season's pecking order.
Background
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season produced chaos and controversy, including No. 2 Oregon's fourth-quarter comeback against new Pac-12 member Boise State and No. 16 Michigan's controversial Hail Mary win over Central Michigan. Ohio State entered the season as the preseason consensus No. 1, but ESPN's overhauled Football Power Index after Saturday's games put Texas on top. Polls from the AP, Coaches and ESPN's SP+ were all refreshed in the days that followed.
How it unfolded
- Sep 6, 2026ESPN overhauled its weekly Football Power Index after Week 1, with Texas (30.3, +1) jumping Ohio State (30.0, -1) for No. 1.
- Sep 6, 2026ESPN refreshed its Top 25 poll for Week 2; Iowa sat at No. 25 after a 40-0 win over Northern Illinois, Virginia at No. 24, Florida at No. 18 and Penn State at No. 17, all unchanged.
- Sep 8, 2026Updated US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 were released after Week 1, along with conference-specific versions for the ACC and Big Ten.
- Sep 8, 2026ESPN published updated 2026 SP+ rankings for all 138 FBS teams as of Sept. 8.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- On3's Alex Byington wrote that Week 1 action indicates fans are in for another exciting season, and said Texas is ready for revenge Saturday after its 59-7 rout of Texas State.
- Analysts
- SI called Lane Kiffin's debut of his new-look LSU team the statement of the opening weekend after a 51-10 domination of Dabo Swinney's Clemson side.
- Analysts
- USA TODAY NETWORK's Craig Meyer wrote that the ACC made its presence felt on the national stage over the first full week, while Clemson's 51-10 loss intensified scrutiny of the program's direction under Dabo Swinney.
- Analysts
- The Freep's John Leuzzi wrote that the Big Ten's Week 1 slate had an upset, two shutouts, upset watches, controversy and enough suspense to test fans' heart rates over the holiday weekend.
Still unverified
Michigan's Hail Mary victory over Central Michigan is described as controversial. After Bryce Underwood's initial Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete as time expired, officials reviewed the play and restored one second to the clock, giving the Wolverines one final snap; Underwood then connected with JJ Buchanan for a game-winning 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown.