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Ohio State (2-0) – Dominated Grambling 70-0. Built a national statement with efficiency and explosiveness. 34-0 behind a stingy defense and balanced offense.
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LSU (2-0) – Strong win over Louisiana Tech; clean, dominant performance.
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Georgia (2-0) – Steady victory over Austin Peay. Quarterback Gunner Stockton efficient.
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Miami (2-0) – Blew out Bethune-Cookman behind Carson Beck’s sharp passing.
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Oregon (2-0) – Two blowout wins; 69-3 over Oklahoma State.
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Texas (1-1) – Picked up a big rebound vs. San Jose State (38-7), Arch Manning showing flashes.
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Clemson (1-1) – Recovered from an upset by LSU with a comeback win over Troy.
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Notre Dame (0-1) – Sitting idle in Week 2. Lost opener vs. Miami.
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South Carolina (2-0) – Modest win over SC State; special teams shine.
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Illinois (2-0) – Solid 45-19 win at Duke; strong second-half explosion.
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Arizona State (1-0) – Still ranked despite loss to Mississippi State.
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Florida (1-1) – Surprisingly upset by South Florida in The Swamp.
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Florida State (2-0) – Big, dominant wins including over Alabama and ETAM.
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Michigan (1-1) – Lost to Oklahoma in a ranked matchup. QB Bryce Underwood had a mixed showing.
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Iowa State (2-0) – Hard-fought win over Iowa; California’s top G5 team shaping up nicely.
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SMU (1-0) – Fell to Baylor in 2OT.
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Oklahoma (2-0) – Knocked off Michigan; QB John Mateer shined with dual-threat play.
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Texas A&M (2-0) – Reed leading offense in solid win over Utah State.
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Ole Miss (2-0) – Slowed Kentucky but held on for the win; Lacy running strong.
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Alabama (1-1) – Lost to Florida State; bounced back with 73-0 win over ULM. Tennessee (2-0) – Big scoring margin; moved up in coaches’ poll.
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Indiana (2-0) – Huge win over Kennesaw State; offense clicking.
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Texas Tech (2-0) – Scored 62 vs. Kent State; emerging high-powered offense.
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Utah (1-0) – In at 25—newcomer spotlight after early season performance.
BCS/CFP Contenders — Where They Stand
| Rank | Team | Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | Power-packed offense, elite defense | National title favorite after emphatic Week 2 win. |
| 2 | Penn State | Defense dominant and well-rounded offense | Quietly consistent, building resume. |
| 3 | LSU | Physical, disciplined play; strong early test | Under-the-radar contender. |
| 4 | Georgia | Balanced, efficient; QB emerging well | Underground CFP dark horse. |
| 5 | Oregon | Offensive explosiveness; high-scoring margin | CFP-worthy if schedule holds. |
| 6–8 | Miami, Texas, Clemson | Offense-driven; resume building or rebound underway | Climbing but need marquee wins. |
| 9–15 | Notre Dame, FSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Michigan (1-1), Florida State | Potential wildcards with early resumes or QB stars | Need consistency + ceremony. |
Teams on the Outside Looking In
These squads have textured resumes or early momentum but haven’t cracked the Top 10 yet:
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Indiana (2-0) – Offensive fireworks; a win over Power team could push them higher.
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Iowa State (2-0) – Racking wins and gradually rising.
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Alabama (1-1) – Elite pedigree; early loss hurts but not eliminated.
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Tennessee (2-0) – Big scores; voters cautious but that could shift.
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Illinois, South Carolina, Texas Tech – Fast starts, but need marquee matchups to raise profile.
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South Florida (2-0, unranked) – Two straight ranked upsets; playoff shots are a stretch but storylines are compelling.
Summary Takeaways
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Top tier: Ohio State, Penn State, LSU, Georgia, Oregon — built early CFP resumes.
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Up-and-coming contenders: Miami, Texas, Clemson, Notre Dame, FSU, Oklahoma — each with defining traits and marquee potential.
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On the bubble: Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa State, Alabama (redemption path), others — just outside but riding momentum.
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Cinderella watch: South Florida — G5 dark horse with early wins makes them must-watch for storyline fans.
