Week 1 Top 25 Update

RJ Young reveals his first Top 25 after Week 1 with Ohio State at No 1 and Alabama slipping.

Ohio State and Oregon Lead Week 1 Rankings Alabama Falls

RJ Young unveils the first Top 25 of the 2025 season after Week 1. Ohio State remains No 1 following a 14-7 win over Texas, a game decided by timely stops and crucial defense rather than pile of yards. Oregon starts strong with a 59-13 win over Montana State, showing balance on offense and a confident debut from Dante Moore. The list also notes LSU beating Clemson on the road and Miami edging Notre Dame in a close contest, signaling early movement among the top teams.

Alabama drops after a 31-17 loss to Florida State, a result that shakes the SEC pecking order and signals a playoff race that will stay crowded. The ranking also spotlights the challenges for first year starters like Julian Sayin, who faced a No 1 opponent and won, suggesting the season could hinge on coaching, defense, and late plays rather than blowout margins.

Week 1 rankings show how quickly momentum shifts in college football. A win delivered by defense and late, decisive plays can outweigh a flashy box score, and that pattern is visible among the top teams. The early movement underscores the sport’s volatility when schedules are shallow and results are magnified.

Beyond the scoreboard, the piece highlights the pressure on young quarterbacks and the difficulty of maintaining a high level across a demanding schedule. The season is long, but the early results set a tone that good teams will have to sustain, not just surprise with a single standout performance.

Highlights

The road to the playoff starts on the field, not in the rumor mill.