AUSTIN — Week 2 of the 2026 college football season wrapped up with massive upset victories and high-stakes drama across the country. While No. 4 Texas pulled off a thrilling 24-23 comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State in Austin behind star quarterback Arch Manning, Sunday’s updated ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) rankings delivered a surprising plot twist.
Despite blowing a 20-point fourth-quarter lead, the Ohio State Buckeyes managed to hold onto the No. 1 overall spot in the FPI, edging out the Longhorns in the analytics-based system.
Ohio State Retains Top FPI Spot as Texas Claims Head-to-Head Triumph
In one of the most remarkable games of the early season, Texas outscored Ohio State 21-0 in the fourth quarter to avenge last season’s loss. Arch Manning threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, while transfer running back Hollywood Smothers scored the game-tying touchdown before the Longhorns sealed the win.
However, ESPN’s FPI metric leaned heavily into the Buckeyes’ overall efficiency metrics. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 278 yards, and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith posted 164 receiving yards and a touchdown. The computer model favored Ohio State’s overall profile, placing them at No. 1 with a 30.4 rating, just ahead of Texas at No. 2 with 30.1.
Major Dominance Across the FPI Top 10
The rest of the top tier showcased explosive offensive outputs and defensive clinic performances from national contenders:
- No. 3 Notre Dame (2-0): The Fighting Irish blanked Rice 52-0, outgaining the Owls 478-128 behind sophomore QB C.J. Carr’s four touchdown passes.
- No. 4 Georgia (2-0): The Bulldogs unleashed a 70-20 beatdown on Western Kentucky, as QB Gunner Stockton tied a school record with five first-half touchdown passes.
- No. 5 Miami (2-0): The Hurricanes dismantled Florida A&M 77-7, racking up an astounding 856 total yards led by QB Darian Mensah’s near-perfect passing performance.
- No. 6 Indiana (2-0): The defending champions routed Howard 55-0, with QB Josh Hoover tossing four touchdown passes in just two quarters.
SEC Powerhouses Rise in Updated Rankings
The bottom half of the FPI Top 10 featured significant moves from powerhouse programs following key victories:
- No. 7 Alabama (+2): Erased a halftime deficit to score 32 unanswered points in a 45-17 road win over Kentucky.
- No. 8 Texas A&M (+2): Pulled away for a 48-20 victory over Arizona State behind two fourth-quarter defensive touchdowns.
- No. 9 LSU (-2): Handled Louisiana Tech 45-14 despite a multi-turnover game, powered by dual-threat QB Sam Leavitt.
- No. 10 USC (+3): Reached the Top 10 with a 49-30 win over Louisiana, featuring five touchdown passes from Jayden Maiava.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Tennessee made the biggest jump, climbing seven spots to No. 11, while Oregon fell five spots to No. 13 after an upset loss to Oklahoma State. The Nebraska Cornhuskers also moved up three spots to claim the No. 20 ranking following their 2-0 start.