RANKINGS: Ohio State Holds No. 1; LSU Rises, Michigan Crashes in JPWest Media Week 2 Top 25

Georgia and Notre Dame jump Oregon; Houston enters, Clemson exits after Baton Rouge

The first Saturday of the 2026 season did what first Saturdays do. It confirmed the teams that were supposed to look the part, exposed the ones that didn’t, and handed Lane Kiffin a highlight reel that moved LSU three spots in a hurry.

JPWest Media’s Week 2 Top 25 is compiled from our reporters’ ballots after Week 1. Ohio State remains No. 1, again — but the board under the Buckeyes got a real shuffle. Georgia and Notre Dame both jumped two spots. Oregon fell three after surviving Boise State. Michigan dropped seven after a 13–12 escape against Western Michigan that nobody in this poll is pretending was clean. Houston is in. Clemson is out.

The game that actually matters this week sits right at the top of the sport: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas on Saturday night.

Full Rankings

1. Ohio State (1-0)
Last week: 1 — next: at No. 4 Texas

Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith did what a preseason No. 1 is supposed to do to Ball State: 56–3, and the starters were done early. Smith had 151 yards and two scores. The Buckeyes didn’t learn much about themselves. Saturday in Austin will.

2. Georgia (1-0) ↑2
Last week: 4 — next: vs. Western Kentucky

Sixty-three to 3 over Tennessee State is not a résumé builder. It is a reminder that Kirby Smart’s roster still looks like a playoff roster. Voters moved the Bulldogs past Texas and Oregon because the other two either had a scare or have Ohio State coming to town.

3. Notre Dame (1-0) ↑2
Last week: 5 — next: vs. Rice

The Irish put 41 on Wisconsin at Lambeau and looked like the version of Marcus Freeman’s team that belongs in the top three. Rice will not tell us anything. The next month will.

4. Texas (1-0) ↓1
Last week: 3 — next: vs. No. 1 Ohio State

Arch Manning threw for 305 and four scores in a 59–7 win over Texas State. The Longhorns answered the offseason questions about the run game and Will Muschamp’s defense — against Texas State. The real exam is Saturday.

5. Oregon (1-0) ↓3
Last week: 2 — next: at Oklahoma State

A 34–27 home win over Boise State is still a win. It is not a No. 2 win. The Ducks had to grind, and this poll treated that the way it should: a drop, not a panic button. Talent is still there. The clean 60-minute performance is not, yet.

6. Indiana (1-0) —
Last week: 6 — next: vs. Howard

Defending champs opened with a 52–16 win over North Texas. Josh Hoover looked comfortable. The Hoosiers stay put because nobody behind them earned the right to jump a national title team after one buy-game.

7. Miami (1-0) —
Last week: 7 — next: vs. Florida A&M

The Hurricanes dropped 45 on Stanford and looked like a team that learned from last winter. Miami didn’t move because the teams around them didn’t either.

8. LSU (1-0) ↑3
Last week: 11 — next: vs. Louisiana Tech

This is the ballot mover of the week. Lane Kiffin’s Tigers went into a delayed primetime kickoff and beat Clemson 51–10. It wasn’t close after the first series. When a new coach does that to a brand-name program, voters notice. Biggest riser in the top 10.

9. Texas A&M (1-0) —
Last week: 9 — next: vs. Arizona State

Fifty-nothing over Missouri State. The Aggies look physical up front. Arizona State this week is the first test that counts.

10. Ole Miss (1-0) ↓2
Last week: 8 — next: vs. Charlotte

The Rebels won the game of the weekend, 41–38 over Louisville in Nashville, and still dropped two spots. That’s what happens when you survive instead of dominate and LSU just vaporized Clemson. Trinidad Chambliss was excellent. The defense has work to do.

11. Oklahoma (1-0) ↑1
Last week: 10 — next: at No. 23 Michigan

A 51–0 wipeout of UTEP. The Sooners get a real road environment Saturday in Ann Arbor against a Michigan team that just spent 60 minutes making everyone uncomfortable.

12. Texas Tech (1-0) ↑1
Last week: 13 — next: at Oregon State

The Red Raiders did their job against Abilene Christian (33–10) and slide up a spot as Alabama slips. Joey Maguire’s group is still waiting for a résumé game.

13. USC (2-0) ↑1
Last week: 14 — next: vs. Louisiana

Two games, two wins, one shutout. Jayden Maiava carved San José State, then the Trojans blanked Fresno State 39–0. Lincoln Riley’s team is 2–0 before most of the country has played twice. Louisiana at the Coliseum should be another statement, not a stress test.

14. Alabama (1-0) ↓2
Last week: 12 — next: at Kentucky

Kalen DeBoer’s Tide looked fine in a 48–10 win over East Carolina. Fine isn’t enough to hold serve when LSU and the Texas group are eating up oxygen. Lexington is a better measuring stick than ECU.

15. BYU (1-0) —
Last week: 15 — next: vs. Arizona

Sixty-three to 7 over Utah Tech. The Cougars stay put and draw Arizona in a Big 12 game that will tell us if this ranking is lazy or earned.

16. Penn State (1-0) ↑2
Last week: 17 — next: at Temple

A 45–0 handling of Marshall. James Franklin’s team is quietly climbing while the teams that were supposed to sit above them tripped.

17. Washington (1-0) ↑2
Last week: 19 — next: vs. Utah State

A 24–10 win over Washington State was more grinder than showcase. Voters still moved the Huskies up.

18. SMU (1-0) —
Last week: 18 — next: vs. UC Davis

The Mustangs survived Florida State on Monday night. Ugly wins in Tallahassee still count. They hold at 18 because nobody behind them played better.

19. Tennessee (1-0) ↑1
Last week: 20 — next: at Georgia Tech

A 56–9 win over Furman. The Vols bump up a spot and go on the road to Atlanta, where Georgia Tech just lost to Colorado.

20. Utah (1-0) ↑1
Last week: 21 — next: vs. Arkansas

Sixty-six points on Idaho. Arkansas on Saturday is the first SEC-adjacent stress test on this board.

21. Iowa (1-0) ↑3
Last week: 24 — next: vs. Iowa State

A 40–0 shutout of Northern Illinois is peak Iowa: no flash, no drama, defense and the run game. Biggest jump outside the LSU surge.

22. Missouri (1-0) —
Last week: 22 — next: vs. Kansas

44 to 14 over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Tigers stay put. Kansas is the first opponent that can punch back.

23. Michigan (1-0) ↓7
Last week: 16 — next: vs. No. 11 Oklahoma

Biggest faller, and it isn’t close. A last-second Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan 13–12 — after a second appeared on the clock — is not how a preseason top-16 team is supposed to look. The Wolverines are 1–0. They are also the most unconvincing 1–0 team in this poll. Oklahoma coming to Ann Arbor is a problem.

24. Houston (1-0) NR
Last week: NR — next: vs. Southern

The Cougars beat Oregon State 33–20 and take the spot Clemson vacated. First newcomer of the season. Southern should be a home win. The next month decides if Houston belongs here.

25. Florida (1-0) ↓2
Last week: 23 — next: vs. South Florida

A 66–21 win over FAU wasn’t enough to hold 23rd with Houston knocking and Michigan sliding into the 20s instead of falling all the way out. The Gators are hanging onto the last spot.

Also receiving votes: Louisville, UCLA, Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Nebraska

Biggest movers
↑ LSU +3, Iowa +3, Georgia +2, Notre Dame +2, Penn State +2, Washington +2
↓ Michigan −7, Oregon −3, Ole Miss −2, Alabama −2, Florida −2
In: Houston