B/R's 2026 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 1

While Week 1 of the 2026 college football season didn't have a marquee upset, it wasn't without its fair share of excitement.

Oregon squeezed out a 34-27 victory over a Boise State squad that looked very much like the Group of Six headliner, Michigan was literally one second away from being upset by Western Michigan and Oregon State put a serious scare into Houston.

Beyond that, it was a lot of stat padding for the nation's elite against lesser competition, though LSU's lopsided win over Clemson carried a bit more cachet than most Week 1 victories.

Now it's time for Bleacher Report's first updated top 25 ranking of the new season, with the college football writing staff of David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard making up our voting panel.

Editor's Note: These rankings will be updated after Week 1 games are completed on Sunday and Monday.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (54-14) Next Week: at Kansas

Ousted by the breakout performance of Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons landed at Missouri in the transfer portal and showed out in his Tigers debut. He completed 17-of-19 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns while helping build a 40-0 first-half lead before giving way to backup Matt Zollers, and the running game brought it home with 357 yards and four scores.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Oregon State (33-20) Next Week: vs. Southern

The Cougars were 20.5-point favorites in their opener, but led just 26-20 with 9:02 remaining in the fourth quarter following an Oregon State touchdown. They answered that score with an eight-play, 62-yard drive capped off by a Conner Weigman rushing touchdown to seal the victory, but it was a closer game than expected. Weigman finished with 305 passing yards, 30 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.

23. Kansas State (1-0, Previous Rank: 25)

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Nicholls (71-3) Next Week: vs. Washington State

With 312 rushing yards, six touchdowns and 7.1 yards per carry, the Wildcats running game simply overwhelmed FCS opponent Nicholls. Dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson also got in on the fun, throwing for 199 yards and three touchdowns to go along with his 23 yards and one score on the ground. For those wondering, a 76-0 win over Ball State in 2000 still stands as the highest-scoring game in K-State history.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Northern Illinois (40-0) Next Week: vs. Iowa State

The Hawkeyes only managed to score 37 points against FCS opponent Albany in their season opener last year, so this was a banner start to the season offensively. A 289-7 edge in rushing yardage was the story of the game, with Kamari Moulton (11 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD) leading the Iowa charge. Seven penalties and a turnover give Iowa some things to clean up before their rivalry game against Iowa State.

Week 1 Result: at Ole Miss (Sunday) Next Week: vs. Villanova

Results and analysis will be added following the conclusion of Sunday's game.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Marshall (45-0) Next Week: at Temple

Despite throwing 64 touchdown passes over the last three seasons at Iowa State, Rocco Becht never had a four-touchdown game before Saturday, when he tallied 271 yards and four scores through the first drive of the second half before exiting with the outcome well in hand. The Nittany Lions defense surrendered 147 total yards, forced two turnovers and held the Thundering Herd to 1-of-11 on third down conversions.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Furman (56-9) Next Week: at Georgia Tech

The bad news: Tennessee's defense allowed 178 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per carry to a SoCon opponent. The good news: They countered with 329 rushing yards and 7.0 yards per carry on their end, and the defense ultimately limited the Paladins to nine points. True freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon also had a terrific debut, completing 13-of-17 pass attempts for 226 yards and three touchdowns while adding 68 yards and two more scores on the ground.

Week 1 Result: vs. Washington State (Sunday) Next Week: vs. Utah State

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Idaho (66-14) Next Week: vs. Arkansas

The Utes pounded out 364 rushing yards on 49 carries to grind an overmatched Idaho team into the ground, while quarterback Devon Dampier went 13-of-18 passing with 176 yards and three touchdowns before making his way to the sidelines following the opening drive of the second half. With a staggering 633-225 edge in total yardage, Utah was in complete control.

Week 1 Result: at Florida State (Monday) Next Week: vs. UC Davis

Results and analysis will be added following the conclusion of Monday's game.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Utah Tech (63-7) Next Week: vs. Arizona

The Cougars had seven different players record at least 20 rushing yards en route to a 308-yard, five-touchdown performance on the ground, and there was still enough meat left on the bone for Bear Bachmeier to tally 198 yards and three scores through the air. BYU built a 56-0 lead before Utah Tech put points on the board, and the Cougars defense forced four turnovers.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. East Carolina (48-10) Next Week: at Kentucky

A comical 227-2 advantage in rushing yardage was the story of the game for Alabama, as their defensive front proved to be an immovable object for the East Carolina running game. Keelon Russell tallied 249 passing yards, 86 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in his first career start, showing early chemistry with Ryan Coleman-Williams, who had five catches for 130 yards. There is not another non-power conference opponent on the Crimson Tide's schedule until Chattanooga on Nov. 21.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Abilene Christian (33-10) Next Week: at Oregon State

The Red Raiders led 33-3 before allowing a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and one of the nation's elite defenses last season looked the part once again, allowing 3.7 yards per pass and 2.6 yards per carry. The unit also tallied three sacks, six tackles for loss and seven pass deflections. Will Hammond completed 26-of-33 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception following an offseason of uncertainty amid the Brendan Sorsby saga.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Fresno State (39-0) Next Week: vs. Louisiana

The Trojans opened the year with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State that was not as close as the final score suggested, as USC's backup defenders allowed 23 fourth-quarter points. There was no late offensive surge on Friday night against Fresno State, as the Trojans pitched a shutout while allowing just 116 total yards and 1.3 yards per rush attempt. Jayden Maiava is 48-of-54 passing for 635 yards and five touchdowns during the 2-0 start.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Missouri State (50-0) Next Week: vs. Arizona State

A mere 67 yards and four first downs. That's all the Missouri State offense could muster against the Texas A&M defense in what might have been the most one-sided game in a Week 1 slate full of dominating performances. Meanwhile, the Aggies racked up 505 yards while owning the time of possession battle (43:03 to 16:57), with Marcel Reed throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. UTEP (51-0) Next Week: at Michigan

A Sooners defense expected to be among the best in the nation looked the part in Week 1, limiting UTEP to 198 total yards and a 2-of-13 showing on third-down conversions. Isaiah Sategna III had an 88-yard punt return touchdown and also caught one of three touchdown passes from John Mateer, who threw for 225 yards on only 11 completions.

Week 1 Result: vs. Louisville (Sunday) Next Week: vs. Charlotte

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Clemson (51-10) Next Week: vs. Louisiana Tech

Sam Leavitt lived up to the transfer portal hype in his LSU debut with 230 passing yards, 113 rushing yards and three total touchdowns, and LSU scored 51 unanswered points after allowing a first-quarter field goal. The bigger story was a lockdown performance by the Tigers defense, as Clemson went 0-for-12 on third-down conversions while recording just 74 total yards and punting 10 times before a garbage-time drive in the final minutes.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Boise State (34-27) Next Week: at Oklahoma State

There's a reason many are predicting Boise State to be the team that represents the Group of Six in the College Football Playoff field, and what was a close outcome could ultimately end up being a quality win for Oregon.

The Ducks trailed 17-14 at halftime and were locked in a 24-24 tie entering the fourth quarter. After the two teams traded field goals, Dakorien Moore made multiple defenders miss on a 62-yard touchdown reception from Dante Moore with 7:51 remaining that proved to be the game-winner.

Moore finished with 378 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and a 497-274 total yardage advantage showed that Oregon controlled the action offensively, even if it didn't lead to a comfortable victory.

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. North Texas (52-16) Next Week: vs. Howard

The defending champs probably allowed 16 more points than head coach Curt Cignetti would have liked, but it was nonetheless a dominant start to their title defense. Quarterback Josh Hoover hit fellow prized transfer Nick Marsh for a touchdown strike with his first pass attempt, on his way to a 231-yard, four-touchdown performance. North Texas actually outgained them 367-365 in total yardage, so the defense has some things to button up in the coming weeks.

5. Texas Longhorns (1-0, Previous Rank: 6)

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Texas State (59-7) Next Week: vs. Ohio State

Arch Manning threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns, though he was also picked off in the end zone for his first interception of the season, and he won't have the same margin of error in next week's matchup against Ohio State.

Defensively, the Longhorns did a great job slowing down North Texas quarterback Brad Jackson, limiting him to 177 total yards and zero touchdowns after he racked up 3,224 passing yards, 744 rushing yards and 38 total scores in 2025.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0, Previous Rank: 5)

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Tennessee State (63-3) Next Week: vs. Western Kentucky

The Bulldogs found the end zone on each of their first five drives to build an early 35-0 lead, then parked quarterback Gunner Stockton and many other regulars on the sidelines amid a lopsided rout.

Stockton still finished with 202 passing yards and three touchdowns while completing 15 of 16 attempts, while running back Nate Frazier needed just four carries to tally 72 yards and three scores. All told, the Georgia offense piled up 660 total yards while only reaching third down six times.

Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed just 109 total yards, including 10 rushing yards on 32 carries.

3. Miami Hurricanes (1-0, Previous Rank: 4)

Week 1 Result: WIN at Stanford (45-6) Next Week: vs. Florida A&M

The Darian Mensah era in Miami started with a flourish, as the Duke transfer was nearly perfect under center, completing 27-of-30 pass attempts for 401 yards and five touchdowns to kick-start what many expect to be a legitimate Heisman Trophy push.

Last year's freshman standout Malachi Toney also picked up right where he left off, tallying 12 catches for a school-record 234 yards and three touchdowns. Don't be surprised if he is a mainstay in the Heisman conversation himself.

The Hurricanes scored touchdowns on six of their first seven drives, running circles around a Stanford squad that already had a game under its belt with a Week 0 victory against Hawaii. Expect more fireworks next Thursday when Miami squares off against SWAC opponent Florida A&M.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0, Previous Rank: 3)

Week 1 Result: vs. Wisconsin (Sunday) Next Week: vs. Rice

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0, Previous Rank: 2)

Week 1 Result: WIN vs. Ball State (56-3) Next Week: at Texas

The Buckeyes went three-and-out on their first possession of the season, then scored touchdowns on six of their next seven drives to cruise to a lopsided opening victory.

Returning offensive stars Julian Sayin (21-of-25, 320 yards, 3 TD), Bo Jackson (9 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD) and Jeremiah Smith (8 catches, 151 yards, 2 TD) all put up numbers before heading to the sidelines, and 14 different players ended up catching a pass as they finished with 434 yards through the air.

A marquee matchup against the Texas Longhorns in Austin awaits next week, and the outcome will be talked about for the remainder of the 2026 season.