We learned a lot after the first full Saturday of college football. Ohio State is still looking strong. Alabama misses Nick Saban. Florida State is unlikely to repeat last year’s 2-10 record. Plus, Brian Kelly holds a National Championship contender in Baton Rouge.

A new top team has emerged in the power rankings after Texas’s defeat to Ohio State, marking a Big Ten dominance.

Remember, these rankings are for betting purposes, and while teams like Texas and Alabama may slip, oddsmakers still favor Alabama in neutral matchups, despite Florida State’s upset.

Every week during the season, I will categorize the rankings into tiers so bettors can understand where I differentiate the teams. I’ll also analyze moves based on recent performances, observe betting market changes, and hypothesize point spreads from Tier 1 compared to the others. Feel free to drop by the SportsLine college football Discord channel or connect with me on X at @TheTomCasale to discuss the rankings.

College Football Week 2 Power Ratings

Tier 1

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Texas Longhorns

No surprise that the defending National Champions are ranked number one. Ohio State was not flawless but effectively shut down Texas’ offense while making just enough plays themselves. The Longhorns incurred some costly penalties that contributed to their loss.

I had previously taken Texas +3 in this matchup, believing if you were going to challenge the Buckeyes, you needed to do it early in the season. This Ohio State team is likely to improve as the season progresses. They will be favored in every remaining game, including the Nov. 1 clash against Penn State.

The Nittany Lions don’t face tough opponents until they meet Oregon on Sept. 27. Penn State and Georgia are tightly rated, with the Bulldogs winning their recent matchup but showing promising offensive potential with new talent.

Texas’ close loss at Ohio State resulted from a major penalty and a failed fourth down attempt. However, I would still rate the Longhorns as favorites in neutral matchup scenarios against most of the country.

Tier 2 (+3 from Tier 1)

• 5. LSU Tigers

LSU moves up to the fifth position after a strong performance against Clemson. I had anticipated this improvement and perceived significant value in their future odds. Despite a hard schedule ahead, they remain contenders.

Tier 3 (+5 from Tier 1)

• 6. Clemson Tigers
• 7. Oregon Ducks
• 8. Alabama Crimson Tide

Clemson loses a close match but maintains strong odds for the ACC title, and both Oregon and Alabama are in solid positions despite varying levels of recent success.

Tier 4 (+7 from Tier 1)

• 9. Miami Hurricanes
• 10. Texas A&M Aggies
• 11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notably, Miami has shown promise and remains a contender with tough matchups ahead. Notre Dame is finding its footing after a close encounter with Miami, raising their championship odds.

Tier 5 (+9 from Tier 1)

• 12. Ole Miss Rebels
• 13. Florida Gators
• 14. Michigan Wolverines
• 15. Auburn Tigers
• 16. South Carolina Gamecocks
• 17. Oklahoma Sooners

These teams are on the brink of big jumps if conditions favor them, with a key matchup looming between Oklahoma and Michigan.

Tier 6 (+13 from Tier 1)

• 18. Utah Utes
• 19. Florida State Seminoles
• 20. SMU Mustangs

A notable performance from Utah makes them favorites in their conference. Florida State is enjoying newfound strength after defeating Alabama, while SMU aims to prove its worth against major opponents ahead.