Here is the inner beauty of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.
We had South Florida ranked No. 76 in our initial Sporting News 1-136 rankings just two weeks ago. In Week 1, the Bulls knocked Boise State out of the College Football Playoff picture in a 34-7 blowout. In Week 2, South Florida knocked Florida out of the CFP picture with an 18-16 upset.
South Florida should be ranked in the AP Top 25 on Sunday. The Bulls moved into our Week 3 College Football Playoff bracketology. Oklahoma State and Florida fans will be clamoring for Alex Golesh, the 41-year-old coach who was born in Moscow, Russia. The Bulls will be the talk of Tampa heading into a Week 3 matchup against Miami. Talk about a September to remember, and we still have three Saturdays left.
It's beautiful, and we're nowhere close to November.
Dropped out: Arizona State, Florida, Tulane
Moved in: Iowa State, South Carolina, South Florida
Here is a look at the top four teams, the projected first-round matchups and the teams on the college football playoff bubble heading into Week 3:
Projected College Football Playoff first-round byes
No. 1 Ohio State (2-0, Big Ten champion)
The Buckeyes beat Grambling 70-0. Quarterback Julian Sayin (18 of 19, 306 yards, four TDs, INT) started 10 of 10 with three TDs in the first quarter, and receiver Jeremiah Smith (5-119, 2 TDs) had a 87-yard TD catch and backup running back Bo Jackson (9-108, TD) flashed in the second half. The defense has allowed seven points in two games.
No. 2 Georgia (2-0, SEC champion)
Georgia scored an under-whelming 28-6 victory against Austin Peay ahead of a Week 3 showdown at Tennessee. Gunner Stockton (26 of 34, 227 yards) had the support of three running backs with at least 50 yards rushing, led by Nate Frazier (14-69, 2 TDs). Georgia's defense has allowed just one TD through two games. It's close with LSU.
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No. 3 Penn State (2-0, Big Ten at-large)
The Nittany Lions beat FIU 34-0 in a sluggish affair that was a 10-point game at halftime. Kaytron Allen broke the game open with a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Penn State struggled on third down (3 of 12), and Drew Allar (19 of 33, 200 yards, 2 TDs) will look to be more efficient against Villanova in Week 3. Still, the defense has allowed one TD in two games.
No. 4 LSU (2-0, SEC at-large)
LSU had a let-down game after the Clemson victory, but they still managed to beat Louisiana Tech 23-7. Garrett Nussmeier (26 of 41, 237 yards, TD, INT) was a high-volume passer, and Whit Weeks led the defense with 10 tackles. The Tigers face a desperate Florida team in Week 3. The Gators beat LSU 27-16 last season.
Projected College Football Playoff first-round matchups
A look at Sporting News projected first-round College Football Playoff matchups heading into Week 3 of the college football season:
No. 12 South Florida (2-0, American champion) at No. 5 Oregon (2-0, Big Ten champion)
The Bulls will be ranked after those victories against Boise State and Florida, and that makes them the most attractive candidate out of the American Conference. Tulane and Navy also will be in that mix. Oregon demolished Oklahoma State 69-3, and quarterback Dante Moore passed for 266 yards and three TDs. Dan Lanning has the Ducks running at a high-level gear again, but it is presumptuous to put three Big Ten teams in the top five. This is why we're doing straight seeding now.
No. 11 Iowa State (3-0, Big 12 champion) vs. No. 6 Miami, Fla. (2-0, ACC champion)
Who knew last year's Pop-Tarts Bowl would have this much carry-over effect? Iowa State takes over as the Big 12 leader after Arizona State's 24-20 loss at Mississippi State – but Utah is close in the rear-view mirror. The Cyclones allow 160.7 passing yards per game through three weeks. Carson Beck (22 of 24, 267 yards, 2 TDs) led the Hurricanes to an easy 45-3 victory against Bethune-Cookman. The Hurricanes get South Florida in Week 3. Would Rocco Becht be able to lead Iowa State past Miami again after last year's 42-41 thriller?
No. 10 Clemson (1-1, ACC at-large) vs. No. 7 Texas (1-1, SEC at-large)
A first-round rematch from last season. Texas beat San Jose State 38-7, and Arch Manning (19 of 30, 295 yards, 4 TDs, INT) bounced back with a flurry of scores in the first half, and the Longhorns play UTEP and Sam Houst before the next real test against Florida. Clemson fell behind 16-0 to Troy before rallying for a 28-16 victory. Cade Klubnik (18 of 24, 196 yards, 2 TDs, INTs) shook off a first-half pick six. The Tigers might drop a few spots, but we'll chalk the slow start up to a LSU hangover.
MORE: Arch Manning explodes for four TD passes in five minutes
No. 9 South Carolina (1-0, SEC at-large) vs. No. 8 Notre Dame (0-1, Independent at-large)
Notre Dame had a bye week to prepare for the home opener against Texas A&M, which could be an elimination game for the Irish if they lose. The Gamecocks beat South Carolina State 38-10 after a long weather delay, and they moved into that fourth spot for the SEC heading into an intriguing matchup with Vanderbilt in Week 3. Should South Carolina be in this spot? Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Texas A&M are not far behind.
Projected College Football Playoff bubble teams
Illinois (2-0)
The Illini hammered Duke 45-19 in a key non-conference test. Luke Altmyer (22 of 31, 296 yards, 3 TDs) helped break open a close game with 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Illinois also took advantage of five Duke turnovers. Illinois faces Western Michigan in Week 3.
Ole Miss (2-0)
Lane Kiffin avoided disaster against Kentucky this time. The Rebels shook off an early 10-0 deficit, and Austin Simmons (13 of 24, 235 yards, 2 INTs) bounced back to lead the Rebels to an early-season SEC road victory. Kewan Lacey (28-138, TD) has back-to-back 100-yard games, and Ole Miss remains on the fringe heading into a Week 3 game against Arkansas.
Oklahoma (2-0)
Oklahoma beat Michigan 24-13, and John Mateer might be the new Heisman Trophy front-runner. He hit 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, a TD and an interception. He added 19 carries for 74 yards and two more TDs. The Sooners scored a huge non-conference victory under Brent Venables, and they will be a factor in the SEC and CFP race. The Sooners make an odd road trip to Temple in Week 3.
MORE: Oklahoma downs Michigan behind John Mateer's big night
Florida State (2-0)
What a difference a year makes for Mike Norvell. Florida State routed East Texas A&M 77-3. The Seminoles totaled 729 yards, and Thomas Castellanos (8 of 11, 237 yards, 3 TDs) had a quick-and-easy day. The Seminoles face Kent State in Week 3 and have moved squarely into ACC contention.
Utah (2-0)
The Utes beat Cal Poly 63-9 and have quickly moved up the rankings as a Big 12 championship contender. Devon Dampier (17 of 23, 192 yards, 3 TDs) built on an impressive debut against UCLA in Week 1 for an offense that amassed 518 total yards. Utah closes out non-conference play against Wyoming in Week 3.