College football rankings from 1 to 136 for Week 2: Will Oklahoma, Michigan break defensive trends?

Will we get an offensive showcase instead of a defensive struggle this week? 

Michigan at Oklahoma – ranked No. 13 and No. 19 in our Week 2 1-136 rankings –  is the only Week 2 matchup between ranked teams. The hype is sure to build around the quarterback duel between Bryce Underwood – a five-star freshman who could be Michigan's next great QB – and John Mateer – a Washington State transfer who evokes memories of Baker Mayfield for the Sooners. Maybe we'll get a high-powered shootout this time. 

MORE: Week 2 College Football Playoff picture

The three top-10 showdowns in Week 1 were all about defense. Ohio State, LSU and Miami combined to allow just 13.7 points per game and 297.3 yards per game. Defense was the story in Week 1 – and we have a feeling that will be the case in the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry in Week 2. We would be stunned if that turns into an offensive shootout. Missouri-Kansas and Baylor-SMU? We might get some offense this week, after all. 

Best Week 2 games

Those are the must-watch games in Week 2 – and there promises to be some movement in our 1-136 rankings. Ohio State took the top spot, followed by Penn State, Georgia, LSU and Miami. We like Texas' defense, too, despite the loss to the Buckeyes. Keep that in mind as the 12-team College Football Playoff grind continues. 

Here is a look at our 1-136 rankings ahead of Week 2.

MORE: Week 2 picks against the spread for Top 25 games

College football rankings 2025

Top 25 for Week 2

1. Ohio State (1-0) 

Ohio State linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles helped the Buckeyes shut down Texas 14-7 in the opener. Reese had nine tackles and a sack.  Styles – a SN Preseason second-team All-American – had five tackles. These two linebackers are perfect fits with new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes stay home against Grambling in Week 2. 

MORE: Buckeyes' defense built for another title run

2. Penn State (1-0) 

Drew Allar (22 of 26, 217 yards, TD) had an 84.6% completion percentage with a new group of receivers in a 46-11 victory against Nevada. USC transfer Kyron Ware-Hudson (6-89, TD) and Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena (7-74) were an effective tandem, and games against FIU and Villanova should help improve that timing even more. The Nittany Lions will not be in the spotlight until a Sept. 27 matchup against Oregon. 

3. Georgia (1-0) 

Gunner Stockton (14 of 24, 190 yards, TD) connected with USC transfer Zachariah Branch for a 47-yard TD in the first half of a 45-7 blowout victory against Marshall – which could be a sign of things to come. Branch finished with three catches for 91 yards, and tight end Oscar Delp added two catches for 33 yards. The Bulldogs face Austin Peay in Week 2. 

4. LSU (1-0) 

Garrett Nussmeier (18 of 28, 230 yards, TD) made the necessary plays to give LSU a 17-10 victory against Clemson. Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins are known commodities on defense, but cornerback PJ Woodland made an impact with five tackles and a sack. Is this the team that fourth-year coach Brian Kelly gets to break through? LSU faces Louisiana Tech in Week 2 until what should be another top-10 showdown against Florida. 

MORE: Inside LSU's gritty win against Clemson

5. Miami, Fla. (1-0) 

Give the Hurricanes their due. Carson Beck (20 of 30, 205 yards, 2 TDs) played the role of veteran quarterback to perfection in a 27-24 victory against Notre Dame. Miami also looks the part in the trenches on both sides under Mario Cristobal. Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor also combined for two sacks. Miami plays Bethune-Cookman in Week 2.

MORE: Are Miami, Florida State finally good at the same time?

6. Texas (0-1) 

This is where the Longhorns drop after a one-week stay in the No. 1 spot. Arch Manning will get better. According to PFF, Manning was 1 of 5 on passes between 10-19 yards against the Buckeyes. That is where he will need to improve. Texas' defense was solid, but they had just one tackle for loss and no sacks against the Buckeyes. Look for the Longhorns to get back on track in Week 2 against San Jose State. 

7. Oregon (1-0) 

We admit it – we overlooked edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei on our Preseason All-America team. Uiagalelei had two sacks and two hurries in the 59-13 victory against Montana State. He could emerge as the best pass rusher in the FBS for this season. Dante Moore (18 of 23, 213 yards, 3 TDs) settled in, too. The Ducks get a non-conference test against Oklahoma State in Week 2. 

8. Clemson (0-1) 

How damaging was the home loss to LSU? Clemson now has lost three home games in the last two seasons. Cade Klubnik (19 of 38, 230 yards, INT) struggled as a high-volume passer against LSU. Clemson remains the favorite in the ACC, but the path to an at-large bid is a little bit tougher after this non-conference loss. 

9. Notre Dame (0-1) 

The Irish have a bye week to sort out the loss to Miami. CJ Carr (19 of 30, 221 yards, 2 TDs, INT) will be fine. There is a mix of brilliance and inexperience that will mesh this season. Jeremiyah Love (10-33) will need to make  more of an impact against Texas A&M in Week 3. That will be the next pressure point for Marcus Freeman. 

10. Florida (1-0) 

The Gators allowed 86 yards – the second-lowest total in the FBS – in a 55-0 victory against Long Island. DJ Lagway (15 of 18, 120 yards, 3 TDs) stayed on target. Is South Florida a true scare for the Gators? Florida is 3-0 against the Bulls, with the last meeting a 31-28 victory on Sept. 17, 2017. 

11. Illinois (1-0) 

Defensive end Gabe Jacas had two sacks in the 52-3 victory against Western Illinois. He remains one of the nation's best defensive linemen, and the Illini are in our projected CFP field heading into Week 2. Will that last after a road trip to Duke? Tulane transfer Darian Mensah had 389 passing yards and three TDs in Week 1 for the Blue Devils. 

12. South Carolina (1-0) 

LaNorris Sellers (12 of 19, 209 yards, TD) made the necessary plays – including a strong connection with Nyck Harbor (3-99, TD) in a 24-11 victory against Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks are still trying to break through that playoff fringe, but Shane Beaamer does have his most talented team yet. 

13. Michigan (1-0)

Will the backfield tandem of freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood (21 of 31, 251 yards, 1 TD) and Justice Haynes (16-159, 3 TDs) shine at Oklahoma? Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan had five tackles, a sack and an interception in the 34-17 victory against New Mexico. He will be on the spot with Jaishawn Barham sidelined in the first half after a targeting ejection. 

14. Arizona State (1-0)

Sam Leavitt will continue to move up NFL Draft boards. He hit 25 of 39 passes for 257 yards, two TDs and an interception in the 38-19 victory against Northern Arizona, and he added 73 yards and two TDs on the ground. Kyson Brown also added 73 rushing yards. Can the Sun Devils take out Mississippi State in non-conference play for the second straight season? Arizona State is the first of four Big 12 teams in our top 25. 

15. Ole Miss (1-0) 

The Rebels put up a FBS-best 695 total yards in a 63-7 victory against Georgia State, and Austin Simmons (20 of 31, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) looked the part. Don't count on Lane Kiffin to celebrate. Kentucky beat Ole Miss 20-17 last season, and the last four meetings have been decided by three points or less. 

16. SMU (1-0) 

SMU opened with a 42-13 victory against East Texas A&M ahead of a Week 2 showdown with Baylor. Keep an eye on Miami transfer Chris Johnson Jr., who had 44 rushing yards and a TD in his Mustangs' debut. SMU has lost 13 straight meetings against Baylor – a streak that dates back to 1986. 

17. Texas A&M (1-0)

Marcel Reed passed for four TDs in a 42-24 victory against UTSA, and Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver made an impression with eight catches for 122 yards and two TDs. Craver averages 19.6 yards per catch the last two seasons. The Aggies face Utah State before a Week 3 showdown at Notre Dame. 

18. Iowa State (2-0) 

Iowa State beat South Dakota 55-7 – and the Cyclones have won eight straight games when Rocco Becht does not throw an interception. Becht is 1-1 against Iowa with 58.2% completion percentage, three TDs and two interceptions. The Hawkeyes have won six straight meetings at Jack Trice Stadium. This is a pivotal point in the season for Iowa State. 

19. Oklahoma (1-0)

John Mateer passed for 392 yards in a 35-3 victory against Illinois State. That broke Baker Mayfield's record of 388 yards in a Sooners' debut. Receiver Keontez Lewis (9-119, 2 TDs), and linebacker Samuel Omosigho had eight tackles and a sack. Oklahoma is 4-5 against top-25 teams under Brent Venables heading into the matchup against Michigan. 

20. Florida State (1-0) 

Is this too much of a knee-jerk reaction after the 31-17 victory against Alabama? Thomas Castellanos backed up his big talk with 152 passing yards and 78 rushing yards. The Seminoles cut the line here ahead of Georgia Tech and Louisville – teams that also have a case to be ranked. The Seminoles have a soft schedule the next three weeks against Texas A&M-Commerce (Sept. 6) and Kent State (Sept. 20). 

MORE: Week 1 report card for Arch Manning's rough outing

21. Tennessee (1-0) 

Joey Aguilar (16 of. 28, 247 yards, 3 TDs) had a successful debut in the 45-26 victory against Syracuse. Star Thomas (11-92) and DeSean Bishop (11-82, TD) ran the ball effectively. Tennessee averaged 6.4 yards per rush and allowed 2.3 yards per rush. Those numbers will hold up for Josh Heupel. The Vols play ETSU in Week 2. No peeking ahead to Georgia, right? 

22. Texas Tech (1-0) 

The Red Raiders rolled up 608 yards of total offense in a 67-7 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Behren Morton (16 of 18, 201 yards, 4 TDs) had a near-perfect effort. Seven Red Raiders caught at least two passes, and eight Texas Tech players had a tackle for loss. The Red Raiders face Kent State in Week 2. 

23. Indiana (1-0) 

The Hoosiers beat Old Dominion 27-14 and compiled 30 first downs, but they failed to score on four drives in plus territory against the Monarchs. Curt Cignetti will likely harp on that ahead of Week 2 against Kennesaw State. The defense forced four turnovers, led by SN Preseason All-American cornerback D'Angelo Ponds. He's one of the best defensive backs in the FBS.

24. Utah (1-0) 

Utah is our high riser after an impressive 43-10 victory against UCLA. Devon Dampier, a New Mexico transfer, finished 21 of 25 passing for 206 yards and two TDs and added 87 rushing yards and a TD. Wayshawn Parker (11-62, TD) and NaQuari Rogers (16-61, TD) added to a relentless attack. Utah plays Cal Poly in Week 2. 

25. Georgia Tech (1-0) 

The Yellow Jackets are the fifth ACC team in our rankings. Georgia Tech beat Colorado 27-20, and Haynes King (13 of 20, 143 yards, INT) had 156 rushing yards and three TDs. That included the game-winning 45-yard TD run with 1:07 remaining. Put him in the Heisman mix. Georgia Tech faces Gardner-Webb in Week 2. 

College football 1-136 rankings: (1-25) 

A look at the top 25 teams in the FBS heading into Week 2:

Rest of FBS (26-136) 

Here is a look at the rest of the FBS heading into Week 2: