As college football fans celebrated a thrilling opening weekend of plays, it was expected that the results would shake up the rankings significantly. Top-ranked teams faced off, leading to notable defeats and shuffling of positions.

With Texas ranked first, alongside Clemson, Notre Dame, and Alabama, all losing on the first weekend, history was made as this marked the first time since the AP poll began in 1936 that four top-10 teams lost in the same weekend. Although not all of these teams will drop drastically due to the quality of their opponents, voter discretion will ensure changes in their rankings.

The central debate is at the top, where Texas will be dethroned from the number one rank, leaving the choice between Penn State and Ohio State for the top spot. In the preseason poll, Penn State secured 23 first-place votes, while Ohio State garnered 11. Given Ohio State’s impressive victory over Arch Manning and Texas, it’s likely they could gain votes that went to Texas previously in the season.

Some AP voters have already voiced their intent to elevate Ohio State to the number one position – a shift that gains momentum as the reigning national champions.

Conversely, Penn State successfully triumphed against Nevada in Week 1, suggesting a tight contest lies ahead between the two teams for the top rank.

Projected AP Top 25

1. Ohio State (Previous — No. 3): Assured of their talent pool and after a big win against Texas, expectations remain high.
2. Penn State (2): Dominant in their first outing, they are positioned securely but must contend with Ohio State’s momentum.
3. LSU (9): Impressive at home against Clemson, they are now positioned to compete for an SEC title.
4. Texas (1): Despite frustrations, they remain a top-tier team post-loss.
5. Georgia (5): A solid win keeps them steady.

Expect this volatility to continue as the upcoming weeks unfold.