Projected AP Top 25 Rankings After Week 1 College Football Results
Analysts forecast modest shifts in the AP Top 25 poll following a week of dominant performances by most ranked teams, with Ohio State likely to retain the No. 1 spot and LSU expected to rise into the top ten.
Week 1 saw most AP-ranked teams post large victories, prompting analysts to anticipate only modest changes in the upcoming poll. Ohio State, which defeated Ball State by 53 points, is projected to solidify its No. 1 position and possibly gain a few additional first-place votes. Notre Dame’s 28-point win over Wisconsin could lift the Fighting Irish a spot or two, narrowing the race for the No. 2 slot with Georgia and Texas.
Georgia’s 60-point triumph over Tennessee State is expected to keep the Bulldogs near the top of the poll, while Texas, led by Arch Manning’s four-touchdown, 305-yard effort, should remain in the top five after a 52-point victory. Miami’s dominant performance at Stanford, highlighted by sophomore Malachi Toney, may earn the Hurricanes a modest rise.
Indiana extended its record winning streak with a four-touchdown win over North Texas and is likely to hold its preseason spot. Oregon, despite a narrow win over Boise State that required a career-high 378 passing yards from Dante Moore, could slip a few positions as it was the only top-seven team to face a close fourth quarter.
LSU’s 51-10 debut under Lane Kiffin against Clemson is expected to boost the Tigers into the top ten, though most analysts predict a conservative rise rather than a top-five jump. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Alabama are projected to experience minor adjustments based on their respective performances.
The remainder of the Top 25, including USC, Texas Tech, BYU, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee, Washington, Michigan, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia and Florida, are forecast to shift only slightly, reflecting the overall dominance of the higher-ranked teams in Week 1.