Three weeks in, the top of the rankings looks like a gauntlet of powerhouse defenses paired with explosive offenses.
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Georgia
- Penn State
- Miami
- Florida State
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Illinois
- Iowa State
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Georgia Tech
- Auburn
- Alabama
- Indiana
- Utah
- Texas Tech
- Vanderbilt
- Missouri
- USC
- Mississippi State
- BYU
Just Missed:
Tulane, Michigan, South Carolina, South Florida, Notre Dame
Ohio State has been the most complete team in football, boasting a suffocating unit that’s giving up just 5.3 points per game while still averaging over 40 on offense. Oregon isn’t far behind, hanging 54 a night and piling up more than 500 yards per game in classic Ducks fashion. Georgia proved its resilience with a comeback win at Tennessee, where Gunner Stockton officially stamped himself as the guy. Penn State and Florida State round out the top tier with near-perfect balance; both are scoring north of 44 points per game while keeping opponents under 11. The Nittany Lions are still awaiting their first real test of the season, a Week 5 matchup at home against Oregon.
Behind them, things get messy fast. LSU’s defense is elite (just 9 points allowed per game), but Garrett Nussmeier has yet to get the Tigers’ offense moving. Texas, meanwhile, is searching for answers with Arch Manning under center, scoring just 24 a game while dropping its opener at Ohio State.
The middle of the pack is loaded with teams that could rise or fall depending on this week’s matchups: Indiana vs. Illinois pits two Big Ten offenses that are both averaging over 45 points, while Utah vs. Texas Tech features two defensive units giving up fewer than 12 points a game. And don’t overlook Oklahoma vs. Auburn, a meeting between the Sooners’ 4th-best defense in the country (181 yards allowed per game) and an Auburn squad that is looking for its first statement win of the season. With so many head-to-head tests coming, Week 4 could be the one that shakes the ladder from the middle on up.