Sports
Projecting the CFP top 12 after Week 1
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Following his team’s 14-7 loss at Ohio State on Saturday, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian summed up one of the biggest changes in competing for a national title in the era of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
“The days of a national champion being undefeated are over,” he said, “especially when you play in games like this and you play in the conference we play in.”
Week 1’s blockbuster matchups guaranteed at least one playoff contender was going down, but the Longhorns weren’t alone. Alabama lost. Clemson lost. Boise State lost. Notre Dame lost. And though there’s plenty of time to recover, the early results already shook up the playoff pecking order. Here’s a prediction of what the selection committee’s top 12 would look like if it were released today.
Projecting the top 12
Why they could be here: Throw out the preseason rankings and everything you thought you knew about the best teams in college football. Nobody made a bigger Week 1 statement, on the road against a team capable of winning the ACC and competing for a spot in the playoff. The committee starts from scratch, and LSU showed all of the components it looks for — from a Heisman hopeful in quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to a defense that proved it can play at an elite level.
Why they could be lower: While the committee insists it starts from scratch, some might give the reigning national champion Ohio State the benefit of the doubt — whether it’s intentional or not. The Buckeyes played a complete game under first-year starting quarterback Julian Sayin. It was also a clean game, with only two penalties and no turnovers, plus a defensive effort that was the difference in the game.
Need to know: If LSU and Clemson don’t lock up playoff spots as conference champions, Saturday’s LSU win could be critical for seeding in the at-large spots. The higher seed gets home-field advantage, and the top four seeds earn first-round byes. Even if LSU doesn’t win the SEC — and Clemson wins the ACC — there could be a scenario in which LSU is still ranked ahead because of Week 1.
Toughest remaining game: Sept. 27 at Ole Miss. Alabama’s performance in its loss to Florida State makes the trip to Tuscaloosa seem less daunting. Though that game is a coin toss, ESPN’s FPI gives Ole Miss a 70.1% chance to beat LSU.
Why they could be here: The Buckeyes beat one of the SEC’s top teams, and they did it with a first-year starting quarterback, but it was at home against a Texas team that didn’t live up to its preseason ranking.
Why they could be higher: Ohio State and LSU had similar performances in that they won with defense and faced offenses that struggled, so it would probably boil down to which opponent the committee thought was more talented.
Need to know: The Buckeyes are projected to win each of their remaining games, and they have the best chance in the FBS to win out (11.2%).
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 1 vs. Penn State. The Nittany Lions are loaded and hired former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. PSU coach James Franklin said his program wants to “change the narrative” about its inability to win the biggest games.
Why they could be here: The Canes beat a CFP contender that didn’t quit, earning one of the top nonconference wins of Week 1 and probably the whole season. Transfer quarterback Carson Beck had a strong performance, but equally as important was Miami’s defensive improvement. That was a sticking point in the committee meeting room last year and played a role in keeping the Canes out of the playoff.
Why they could be lower: Nobody ranked behind Miami has a better nonconference win, so it would be about the committee believing other teams looked better in their first game.
Need to know: The state of Florida will have a huge impact on the CFP race, and Miami doesn’t leave it until November. It will have home-field advantage against South Florida and Florida, and the Hurricanes travel to Tallahassee to play rival FSU on Oct. 4.
Toughest remaining game: Oct. 4 at Florida State. Given how the Noles played in their win against Alabama, this rivalry game suddenly looks more daunting.
Why they could be here: The Nittany Lions might be the best team in the country, but they don’t earn the top spot by hammering Nevada. The selection committee rewards the teams that beat the best competition.
Why they could be lower: Florida State beat Alabama while Penn State manhandled an overmatched, unranked Mountain West Conference team. Other teams beat better competition.
Need to know: Penn State’s nonconference lineup also includes Florida International and Villanova, which will be a factor if the Nittany Lions lose to Oregon and Ohio State. A 10-2 Penn State team isn’t a lock if it loses its two best chances to impress the committee — and there are other contenders with two or fewer losses and better wins. Strength of schedule still matters.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 1 at Ohio State. ESPN’s FPI gives the Buckeyes a 61.2% chance to win — the only game on Penn State’s schedule it’s not expected to win.
Why they could be here: Florida State outmuscled one of the SEC’s top programs, giving FSU one of the best Week 1 wins. Still, some committee members will question how good Alabama is this year.
Why they could be higher: This wasn’t a fluke. The Seminoles controlled the line of scrimmage and were the more physical team. FSU racked up more than 200 yards on the ground, with over 100 yards inside and outside the tackles. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos gave the Noles a true dual threat, and FSU’s defense smothered rookie Bama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Need to know: FSU still faces rivals Miami and Florida this season, and also travels to Clemson, but plays five of its first six games at home.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 8 at Clemson. This has been a game that has helped determine who plays for the ACC title — and it’s certainly possible they could meet again in the conference championship game.
Why they could be here: The Bulldogs looked dominant in their 45-7 victory over Marshall, but it was a home game against an overmatched opponent, and Georgia did what a playoff team should do. Georgia got a strong performance from first-year starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, who accounted for four touchdowns.
Why they could be higher: Georgia played a clean game, with just two penalties and no turnovers through the first three quarters, the defense was dominant and the Bulldogs got the ground game going.
Need to know: Georgia has the second-best chance to win the SEC behind Texas (26.4%).
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 15 vs. Texas. The Longhorns are confident their mistakes are fixable, and this game should again help determine who will play in the SEC title game — or be a sneak preview of it.
Why they could be here: A 59-13 drubbing of Montana State won’t move the needle in the room. Still, the defending Big Ten champs continued their offensive success with first-year starting quarterback Dante Moore, who had three passing touchdowns, tied for the most in a game in his career.
Why they could be lower: This is the only team on the list that beat an FCS team, and the committee tracks wins against FCS opponents.
Need to know: Oregon avoids Ohio State and Michigan this year in the Big Ten schedule.
Toughest remaining game: Sept. 27 at Penn State. Both teams should be undefeated heading into this game — it will be critical to the CFP and Big Ten rankings — and it will be an unforgiving environment on the other side of the country. It’s the only game ESPN’s FPI projects Oregon to lose.
Why they could be here: New quarterback Joey Aguilar looked comfortable executing coach Josh Heupel’s offense against a respectable Syracuse team, notching a nonconference win that would earn respect in the committee meeting room. This was a complete performance, evidenced by an offensive AND defensive touchdown in the first quarter. The Vols made an early statement that they’ll be just fine without quarterback Nico Iamaleava — at least against an average opponent.
Why they could be higher: The committee could reward the Vols for a win against an ACC team over Georgia and Oregon playing lesser opponents.
Need to know: The Vols have the fourth-best chance in the SEC to reach the playoff (49.9%) behind Georgia, Texas and Ole Miss.
Toughest remaining game: Sept. 13 vs. Georgia. ESPN’s FPI gives the Bulldogs a 60% chance to win.
Why they could be here: This was a tough loss on the road to a talented team, but Notre Dame’s slow start to the second half on both sides was glaring. First-year starting quarterback CJ Carr struggled, but so did the running game, which has one of the best backs in the country in Jeremiyah Love. Miami looked like the better team, had more explosive plays and started the second half by pushing Notre Dame’s defense down the field while controlling the clock.
Why they could be lower: The committee could give South Carolina more credit for its win and stronger quarterback play.
Need to know: Because the top four seeds are no longer reserved for conference champions, Notre Dame can earn a first-round bye if it finishes in the selection committee’s top four. The Irish should be cheering for the Canes the rest of the season because a road loss to the ACC champs could be one of the better losses among contenders.
Toughest remaining game: Oct. 18 vs. USC. The Irish will get home-field advantage against their rivals, and ESPN’s FPI gives them a 58.6% chance to win.
Why they could be here: The Longhorns aren’t out of the playoff just because they lost a close road game to one of the best teams in the country. They had opportunities to win the game. They need an answer, though, to the red zone woes, and to extract more from the passing game. The selection committee won’t punish Texas for losing to Ohio State, but it will ding the Longhorns for playing poorly.
Why they could be lower: There are Hall of Fame coaches and players in the committee meeting room, and there’s no sugarcoating quarterback Arch Manning‘s poor debut. This game wasn’t an instant classic. It was kind of a dud, and Texas didn’t convince anyone it’s a lock for the SEC title.
Need to know: Texas doesn’t face another Power 4 opponent until its SEC opener at Florida, so the Longhorns should be 4-1 heading into the swamp.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 15 at Georgia. ESPN’s FPI gives the Bulldogs a 54% chance to win.
Why they could be here: The Gamecocks earned a respectable nonconference win against Virginia Tech, but the Hokies are a bottom-tier ACC team that was picked to finish 11th in the preseason media poll. It was also a close game early, as South Carolina entered the half with a 10-8 lead. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers had one of the most impressive Week 1 performances by a quarterback, though, and the committee often singles out the nation’s top players. Still, it wasn’t a flawless outing, as he was sacked five times, which will be a problem against SEC defenses.
Why they could be higher: A neutral-site win against an ACC team could get more votes from committee members than a home win against a non-Power team.
Need to know: This could be a dangerous spot on Selection Day — just ask Alabama. Because the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, the committee’s No. 11-ranked team could get bumped out. In this scenario, the Big 12 and Group of 5 champion would enter the bracket ahead of No. 11.
Toughest remaining game: Oct. 11 at LSU. ESPN’s FPI gives the Tigers a 59.6% chance to win.
Why they could be here: The Tigers aren’t being punished for losing to a top-tier team, but they’re in the final spot because of a one-dimensional offense that was exposed by LSU’s defense. Clemson’s combination of running backs accounted for 31 yards and a measly 1.6 yards per carry. Quarterback Cade Klubnik will have to play better to beat rival South Carolina, which is ranked above in part because of a better quarterback performance.
Why they could be higher: The LSU defense deserves credit for harassing Klubnik all game. He didn’t always have the time he needed to throw, and this was hardly a blowout like last year’s season-opening loss to Georgia.
Need to know: In this scenario, Clemson would miss the playoff because it would get bumped out for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion. This week, that’s projected to be South Florida.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at South Carolina. This would still be a critical head-to-head result late in the season that could help either team’s playoff position, but ESPN’s FPI gives South Carolina a 66.5% chance to win. Clemson is 0-4 against SEC teams since the start of last season.
Bracket
Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:
First-round byes
No. 1 LSU (SEC champ)
No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 3 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 4 Penn State
First-round games
On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 USF (American champ) at No. 5 Florida State
No. 11 Arizona State (Big 12 champ) at No. 6 Georgia
No. 10 Texas at No. 7 Oregon
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Tennessee
Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
No. 12 USF/No. 5 Florida State winner vs. No. 4 Penn State
No. 11 Arizona State/No. 6 Georgia winner vs. No. 3 Miami
No. 10 Texas/No. 7 Oregon winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Tennessee winners vs. No. 1 LSU
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WNBA star Angel Reese opened up on her fear of the media and claimed she would rather just pay a fine than speak with reporters.
The Chicago Sky player and arch-rival to Caitlin Clark spoke about her thoughts on interacting with media in the latest episode of her podcast “Unapologetically Angel,” this week.
“Even before the game, I’m terrified of what the media is about to ask. Because it could be the nicest question, but it’s going to get flipped or put into a different light or a different perspective. It’s like, ‘Are you here intentionally to start mess, or are you intentionally here to ask a question?’ And it’s really tough for me in the media, like I don’t want to do an interview with anybody,” Reese said.
“Seriously, I’d rather take the fine sometimes than talking to the media because it always gets flipped. And I think that’s where media has gotten these days. You could literally post ‘the sky is blue’ and Angel said ‘it’s too dark.’ Stuff like that you know. So I think, it’s just, for me, the media is really scary.”
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Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese heads to the locker room after being ejected from a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty during the second half Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Reese has been the subject of intense media attention dating back to the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, when her LSU Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes, and Reese taunted Clark by pointing to her ring finger at the end of the game.
Reese has become, arguably, the most controversial figure in women’s basketball since then. Many of Reese’s own quotes and statements have often been at the center of controversies in the sport.
Toward the 2025 WNBA season in September, Reese prompted backlash for comments made to a Chicago Tribune reporter, where the star called out her team for a last-place finish and 10-34 record.
“I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese told The Chicago Tribune. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”
“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want. I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”
Reese later apologized for the comments, but claims the quotes were taken out of context.
INSIDE CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE’S IMPACT ON MEN’S BASKETBALL
“I probably am frustrated [with] myself right now,” Reese said at a postgame news conference on Sept. 4. “I think the language is taken out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates, because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year. They’ve busted their ass, just like I’ve busted my ass. They’ve showed up for me through thick and thin, and in the locker room when nobody could see anything.
“So, I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said. And I just have to be better with my language. Because I know it’s not the message, it’s the messenger. And understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way. So, I just have to really be better and grow from this.”
Reese was then suspended for the first half of a game later that week for “statements detrimental to the team.”
Back in May, Reese was at the center of a WNBA investigation into “hateful” comments made against her during the Sky’s season opener against Clark’s Connecticut Fever.
Reese was asked if she was able to provide the WNBA with details about the incident. She did not offer specifics on whether she had done so, saying “that’s not a me question.” She also did not reveal what type of comments were made or any other specifics about what prompted the investigation.
However, moments earlier, in that same availability with reporters, Reese said she was receiving widespread support from across the league because of the alleged incident.
“Obviously, there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese said at that time. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me. … Going through this whole process, if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”
Then after the investigation ended the following week, the league did not find sufficient evidence to validate the allegations.
Reese has previously accused Clark’s fans of racism and even alleged they created AI-generated explicit images of the Sky star and sent them to her family members.
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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) dribbles against the Minnesota Lynx in the first quarter at Target Center. (Brad Rempel-Imagn Images)
“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are really just, they ride for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” Reese said in the first episode of her podcast in early September.
“Multiple occasions, people have made AI-images of me naked. They have sent it to my family members. My family members are like uncles, sending it to me like, ‘Are you naked on Instagram?’
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The trolls came out in Week 8 of the college football season, led by an SEC team that secured a huge victory.
No. 17 Vanderbilt defeated No. 10 LSU 31-24 on Saturday, marking its first season with multiple wins over AP top-15 opponents — the Commodores defeated No. 11 South Carolina in September.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia accounted for 246 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were on the ground. Pavia is the second Vanderbilt quarterback in the past 20 seasons with multiple rushing touchdowns against an AP top-10 opponent, according to ESPN Research.
The Commodores’ big win came with a simple troll aimed at the Tigers. They used the Cajun spelling of “go” in their postgame caption.
Geaux Dores ⚓️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kTjhoT8AFW
— #17 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 18, 2025
Here are the top trolls from Week 8.
California 21, North Carolina 18
The Golden Bears notched a victory over the Tar Heels thanks to a late defensive play. At the California 13-yard line, North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez connected with Nathan Leacock for a catch and run that looked like it would result in a touchdown.
However, Cal defensive back Brent Austin punched the ball out and the Bears jumped on it to gain possession. Cal would hold on for its fifth victory of the season.
The Tar Heels’ mascot, Rameses, became the target of the Golden Bears’ troll, which concluded that this is “bear territory.”
Defended The Bay 🤝#SmartAndTough #GoBears pic.twitter.com/dai7wuoyPd
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) October 18, 2025
Georgia Tech 27, Duke 18
Georgia Tech‘s undefeated season continued after a victory over Duke to secure its first 7-0 start since 1966. Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King had 325 total yards plus a score on the ground. Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia Tech poked fun at Duke’s moniker, emphasizing the “hell” in “helluva win” that appeared in its caption with a devil emoji at the end.
HELLuva Win 😈#StingEm 🐝 pic.twitter.com/mowBLNs7t7
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) October 18, 2025
UConn 38, Boston College 23
UConn is on a roll, having defeated Boston College to notch its fourth straight victory.
The Huskies’ offense put up 455 total yards, including an FBS career-high 362 from quarterback Joe Fagnano. UConn has won five of its first seven games in a season for the fourth time as an FBS program. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 0-6 vs. FBS teams this season — becoming the third ACC school in the past 15 seasons to lose each of its first six games against FBS opponents.
A husky was the main image of a graphic that implied it had eaten an eagle.
8
Business Handled. #HuskiesOverEveryone pic.twitter.com/87JGkUU6RE
— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) October 18, 2025
WNBA star Angel Reese says she’d rather pay a fine than speak to reporters
Vanderbilt poking fun at LSU headlines Week 8 college football trolls
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