Texas surges to the No. 1 spot in the projected college football rankings after a dramatic 21-point fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State in Week 2 of the 2026 season. Meanwhile, previous top-ranked Ohio State and fellow title contenders face notable shifts following a weekend of upsets.
College football’s early weeks have upended the national poll following a turbulent Week 2 slate that saw several AP Top 25 mainstays suffer costly defeats. The most consequential outcome unfolded in a top-five showdown where Texas erased a late deficit against Ohio State, sparking an immediate shakeup at the summit of the national rankings.
Texas Claims the Top Spot After Staging a Fourth-Quarter Comeback Against Ohio State
Texas takes over the No. 1 position in projections after storming back with 21 fourth-quarter points to defeat Ohio State. The dramatic victory provides a major early-season breakthrough for Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning, avenging prior postseason and regular-season losses to the Buckeyes in previous years.
For Ohio State, the loss ends a brief stay at the top. The Buckeyes opened the 2026 campaign at No. 1 in the AP Preseason Top 25 after receiving 40 first-place votes and coming off a 12-2 season. Despite the setback in Austin, voters are not expected to drop the Buckeyes precipitously given the caliber of the opponent.
Georgia and Notre Dame Maintain Pressure as Front-Runners
Behind the Longhorns, Georgia and Notre Dame continue to build commanding resumes. The Bulldogs annihilated Western Kentucky 70-0 following a 63-point output in their season opener, compiling a combined 133-23 margin across their first two wins. Voters are likely waiting for a power conference opponent before inserting the two-time defending SEC champions back into the top spot.
Notre Dame holds firm near the top of the ballot after rolling past Rice. Marcus Freeman’s squad converted six touchdowns while punting just once across its first seven drives, keeping pressure on the leading contenders as the season progresses.
Oregon Tumbles and Michigan Resurfaces After Early Upsets
While top programs jockey for position, other heavyweights are picking up the pieces. Oregon tumbled from the ranks of the unbeaten after getting stunned by Oklahoma State in Stillwater, snapping a streak inside the AP poll’s top eight that dated back to October 2023. The Ducks opened the season at No. 2 with 14 first-place votes.
Michigan faced a similarly volatile path. After opening unranked following a dreadful season opener, the Wolverines rebounded by defeating then-No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10, forcing voters to reevaluate both programs’ trajectories. Meanwhile, Miami climbed toward the top five after setting a school record with 856 total yards of offense and an ACC-record 42 first downs, bolstered by Darian Mensah throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-15 passing.
Worth a look
