Ohio State Remains No. 1 as Updated Polls Set Up Top-Four Showdown at Texas
Ohio State took care of business in its season opener, and voters responded by strengthening the Buckeyes’ hold on the No. 1 ranking.
Following a dominant 56–3 victory over Ball State, Ohio State remained atop both the Associated Press Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Poll released Tuesday. The Buckeyes received 46 of 69 first-place votes in the AP poll, six more than they received in the preseason rankings, while collecting 50 first-place votes from the coaches after opening with 38.
The result is one of the biggest early-season matchups on the college football calendar: No. 1 Ohio State will travel to Austin to face No. 4 Texas on Saturday.
While the Buckeyes remained firmly in place, the rest of the rankings experienced considerably more movement. Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Indiana all climbed in the AP poll after Oregon struggled to put away Boise State. LSU also made one of the weekend’s biggest jumps, while Michigan fell completely out of the AP Top 25 despite winning its opener.
Ohio State Strengthens Its Hold on No. 1
Ohio State entered the season carrying enormous expectations, but Ryan Day’s team looked comfortable under that weight against Ball State.
The Buckeyes scored 56 points, allowed only a field goal and received an explosive first-half performance from Jeremiah Smith. The junior receiver caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns before sitting out the second half with the outcome already decided.
Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 18 of 21 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns, while Ohio State’s revamped defense limited Ball State to 151 total yards. It was the type of complete performance expected from the preseason No. 1 team, even if the level of competition requires some perspective.
Voters nevertheless came away more convinced.
Ohio State increased its AP first-place total from 40 to 46 and its Coaches Poll total from 38 to 50. The Buckeyes are now the only team to receive at least half of the available first-place votes in either poll.
That status will immediately be tested against Texas.
The Longhorns moved from No. 5 to No. 4 in the AP poll and climbed from No. 4 to No. 3 in the Coaches Poll after defeating Texas State in their opener. Saturday’s game will be the second consecutive regular-season meeting between the programs featuring two top-five teams.
Texas entered Ohio Stadium ranked No. 1 last season but left with a 14–7 loss. This time, Ohio State will bring the nation’s top ranking to Austin.
2026 AP Top 25 Week 2
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State (46) | 1–0 | 1 | — |
| 2 | Georgia | 1–0 | 3 | ↑ 1 |
| 3 | Notre Dame (4) | 1–0 | 4 | ↑ 1 |
| 4 | Texas (2) | 1–0 | 5 | ↑ 1 |
| 5 | Indiana (8) | 1–0 | 6 | ↑ 1 |
| 6 | Oregon (3) | 1–0 | 2 | ↓ 4 |
| 7 | Miami (1) | 1–0 | 7 | — |
| 8 | LSU (5) | 1–0 | 11 | ↑ 3 |
| 9 | Ole Miss | 1–0 | 9 | — |
| 10 | Texas A&M | 1–0 | 8 | ↓ 2 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 1–0 | 10 | ↓ 1 |
| 12 | Alabama | 1–0 | 13 | ↑ 1 |
| 13 | Texas Tech | 1–0 | 12 | ↓ 1 |
| 14 | USC | 2–0 | T-14 | — |
| 15 | BYU | 1–0 | T-14 | ↓ 1 |
| 16 | Penn State | 1–0 | 18 | ↑ 2 |
| 17 | SMU | 1–0 | 19 | ↑ 2 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 1–0 | 20 | ↑ 2 |
| 19 | Washington | 1–0 | 17 | ↓ 2 |
| 20 | Utah | 1–0 | 21 | ↑ 1 |
| 21 | Iowa | 1–0 | 22 | ↑ 1 |
| 22 | Houston | 1–0 | 23 | ↑ 1 |
| 23 | Missouri | 1–0 | 25 | ↑ 2 |
| 24 | Louisville | 0–1 | 24 | — |
| 25 | Virginia | 2–0 | NR | New |
Ohio State received 46 first-place votes, followed by Indiana with eight, LSU with five, Notre Dame with four, Oregon with three, Texas with two and Miami with one.
2026 Coaches Poll Week 2
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State (50) | 1–0 | 1 | — |
| 2 | Georgia (7) | 1–0 | 3 | ↑ 1 |
| 3 | Texas (1) | 1–0 | 4 | ↑ 1 |
| 4 | Notre Dame (4) | 1–0 | 5 | ↑ 1 |
| 5 | Indiana (11) | 1–0 | 6 | ↑ 1 |
| 6 | Oregon (1) | 1–0 | 2 | ↓ 4 |
| 7 | Miami | 1–0 | 7 | — |
| 8 | LSU | 1–0 | 13 | ↑ 5 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | 1–0 | 8 | ↓ 1 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 1–0 | 9 | ↓ 1 |
| 11 | Ole Miss | 1–0 | 10 | ↓ 1 |
| 12 | Alabama | 1–0 | 11 | ↓ 1 |
| 13 | Texas Tech | 1–0 | 12 | ↓ 1 |
| 14 | USC | 2–0 | 14 | — |
| 15 | BYU | 1–0 | 15 | — |
| 16 | Penn State | 1–0 | 17 | ↑ 1 |
| 17 | SMU | 1–0 | 20 | ↑ 3 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 1–0 | 18 | — |
| 19 | Washington | 1–0 | 19 | — |
| 20 | Utah | 1–0 | 21 | ↑ 1 |
| 21 | Iowa | 1–0 | 22 | ↑ 1 |
| 22 | Houston | 1–0 | 24 | ↑ 2 |
| 23 | Missouri | 1–0 | 25 | ↑ 2 |
| 24 | Michigan | 1–0 | 16 | ↓ 8 |
| T-25 | Florida | 1–0 | NR | New |
| T-25 | Virginia | 2–0 | NR | New |
The tie at No. 25 means 26 teams appear in this week’s Coaches Poll.
Others Receiving Coaches Poll Votes
Louisville, Illinois, Boise State, Arizona, South Carolina, Memphis, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Arizona State, Minnesota, Western Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota State, Kansas State, Navy, UCLA, Duke, UNLV, Clemson, San Diego State, North Carolina and Colorado.
Oregon Slides After Boise State Scare
Oregon experienced the most significant change near the top of both polls.
The Ducks began the season ranked No. 2 but dropped four positions to No. 6 after surviving Boise State, 34–27, at Autzen Stadium. Oregon entered the game as a heavy favorite but never created the separation voters expected from the country’s second-ranked team.
The slide allowed Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Indiana to move ahead of the Ducks in the AP rankings. Georgia rose to No. 2, while defending national champion Indiana entered the top five and received eight first-place votes.
Oregon remains a national championship contender and still received three AP first-place votes, but its uneven opener ended the Big Ten’s brief hold on the first two positions.
LSU Makes an Early Statement
No team improved its standing more dramatically than LSU.
The Tigers overwhelmed Clemson, 51–10, in Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut and climbed from No. 11 to No. 8 in the AP poll. They made an even larger jump with the coaches, moving five places from No. 13 to No. 8.
LSU also collected five AP first-place votes, the third-highest total in the poll.
Clemson moved in the opposite direction. The Tigers opened at No. 23 in the Coaches Poll but dropped out entirely following the loss. Clemson had not appeared in the preseason AP rankings.
Michigan Falls Out of the AP Top 25
Michigan survived Western Michigan, 13–12, but its controversial finish and offensive struggles resulted in the steepest punishment of the week.
The Wolverines dropped from No. 16 to unranked in the AP poll after needing a touchdown on a second Hail Mary attempt to avoid the upset. One second was restored to the clock following an unsuccessful initial attempt, allowing Bryce Underwood another opportunity to throw the game-winning touchdown.
Michigan received enough votes to sit just outside the AP Top 25 but remained ranked by the coaches, falling eight places to No. 24.
Its upcoming matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma now presents an immediate chance to reenter the rankings—or fall even further from the preseason expectations surrounding the Wolverines.
Big Ten Places Seven Teams in AP Poll
The Big Ten has seven teams in the updated AP Top 25:
- No. 1 Ohio State
- No. 5 Indiana
- No. 6 Oregon
- No. 14 USC
- No. 16 Penn State
- No. 19 Washington
- No. 21 Iowa
The SEC leads the country with nine ranked programs, including four of the top 10. The ACC and Big 12 each have four ranked teams, while Notre Dame remains the lone independent.
Virginia is the only new addition to the AP rankings, entering at No. 25. Michigan and Kansas State dropped out.
From Ball State to the National Spotlight
Ohio State could hardly have asked for a better opening performance, but Saturday will provide a completely different examination.
Ball State gave the Buckeyes an opportunity to establish their rotations, introduce the rebuilt defense and get their returning offensive stars back into rhythm. Texas will test Ohio State’s blocking, defensive communication, composure and ability to execute in a hostile environment.
The matchup also creates an early Heisman stage for Sayin, Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning. A defining performance from any of the three could dramatically influence the national conversation before conference play begins.
For now, Ohio State remains the consensus No. 1 team in college football—and its lead over the rest of the country has only grown.
The Buckeyes will have the opportunity to justify that confidence Saturday night in Austin.
Photo Credit: Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch