Who’s REALLY No. 1? College Football Week 2 Reactions + GDC Top 25

Week 2 gave college football fans just enough chaos to reshape the national picture completely.

Ohio State lost. Oregon was stunned. Michigan bounced back. Texas earned the biggest win of the young season. And after only two weeks, the race for the No. 1 spot already feels wide open.

On the latest Game Day Collective College Football Show, presented by Outlier, Josh Mahler breaks down what we know about the sport heading into Week 3, which teams are rising and falling, the latest GDC Top 25, and several massive games coming up next weekend.

Is Texas Really the No. 1 Team in College Football?

Texas owns the best win in the country after knocking off previously No. 1 Ohio State, 24-23. That victory was enough for the Longhorns to claim the top spot in the latest GameDay Collective rankings.

But does that make Texas the clear best team in college football?

Not necessarily.

Georgia may have the highest floor of anyone in the country. The Bulldogs demolished Western Kentucky 70-20 and have now outscored their first two opponents 133-23. The schedule hasn’t tested Georgia yet, but the Bulldogs have done exactly what championship-caliber teams are supposed to do against overmatched competition.

Miami also belongs in the conversation, while defending national champion Indiana still looks like a team that isn’t going anywhere.

Over the next two weeks, the gap between the best teams in the country may be smaller than their ranking numbers suggest.

Texas gets the No. 1 spot because of its résumé, but Georgia, Miami, Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame and several others remain firmly in the championship conversation.

Notre Dame and Indiana Aren’t Going Anywhere

Notre Dame followed its season-opening win over Wisconsin with a dominant 52-0 performance against Rice.

The Fighting Irish outgained Rice 478-128 and forced five fumbles, recovering four. CJ Carr and the Notre Dame offense continue to look increasingly comfortable, while the defense has helped establish the Irish as one of the country’s most trustworthy teams through two games.

Indiana has been just as dominant.

The defending national champions crushed Howard 55-0 while holding the Bison to only 57 total yards. Josh Hoover has stepped into the quarterback role and shown impressive efficiency, including four touchdown passes on only six completions against Howard.

Indiana may not sit at No. 1, but nothing through two weeks suggests the Hoosiers are out of the national championship race.

Utah and BYU Could Control the Big 12

One of the most interesting developments of Week 2 came out West.

Utah dominated Arkansas 43-10, building a 26-point halftime lead and turning what looked like a potentially competitive matchup into a blowout. Devin Dampier threw for 261 yards as the Utes made a strong early statement in the Big 12 race.

BYU made one of its own.

The Cougars trailed Arizona 17-14 at halftime before shutting the Wildcats out in the second half and winning 28-17. Bear Bachmeier accounted for four touchdowns without committing a turnover.

With concerns surrounding several of the Big 12’s preseason contenders, BYU and Utah are quickly establishing themselves as teams to watch in the conference race.

Stock Up: Mississippi State and Duke

Few teams have improved their perception more through two weeks than Mississippi State.

After scoring 62 points in Week 1, the Bulldogs went on the road and dismantled Minnesota 38-13. Mississippi State outgained Minnesota 479-292 and held the Golden Gophers to an almost unbelievable 13 rushing yards.

Quarterback Kamario Taylor threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns while adding 86 yards on the ground, giving the Bulldogs another reason for optimism entering SEC play.

Duke also earned a major stock boost.

The Blue Devils went on the road as underdogs against Illinois, overcame a 24-14 deficit and scored 17 of the game’s final 20 points to win 31-27.

Nate Sheppard carried the ball 24 times for 147 yards and scored three touchdowns, continuing an impressive start for a Duke team that may be considerably more dangerous than expected.

Oregon’s Season Isn’t Over — But There Are Major Problems

Oregon’s 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State was one of the weekend’s biggest surprises.

The Cowboys entered the matchup on a lengthy FBS losing streak, and Oregon seemed to have the perfect opportunity to get right after an uneven Week 1.

Instead, Oklahoma State controlled the game.

That doesn’t mean Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes are finished. The Ducks still have opportunities against teams such as USC, Ohio State, Michigan and Washington to rebuild their résumé completely.

But after two disappointing performances, Oregon now has to prove that its talented roster can actually reach the ceiling many expected before the season.

The Ducks remain ranked in the GDC Top 25, but the margin for error is shrinking.

Michigan Won — But Hasn’t Fixed Everything

Michigan earned a huge 17-10 win over Oklahoma, but Game Day Collective isn’t ready to declare all of the Wolverines’ problems solved.

The defense looks legitimate enough to keep Michigan competitive against almost anyone.

The offense remains the question.

Michigan’s traditional rushing attack struggled badly against Oklahoma. Justice Marshall managed only 32 yards on 11 carries, while Savion Hiter gained six yards on eight attempts.

Bryce Underwood’s mobility added another dimension, but Michigan still needs to develop a more complete offensive identity before it can be considered fully back among the nation’s elite.

The New GDC Top 25 Begins With Texas

The latest Game Day Collective Top 25 is the first ranking built collectively from the individual ballots of the GDC college football team.

Texas earned the No. 1 spot following its win over Ohio State, with Georgia and Miami right behind the Longhorns.

Ohio State fell to No. 5 following its loss in Austin, while BYU and Utah continued their climb after impressive starts.

Oregon dropped significantly following the Oklahoma State loss but remains inside the Top 25 because of the Ducks’ overall talent and potential to rebound against a difficult Big Ten schedule.

Michigan returned to the rankings following its win over Oklahoma, while Virginia also moved back into the Top 25.

The biggest takeaway?

There is very little separation at the top.

Texas may be No. 1 today, but Week 3 could change everything again.

Week 3 Brings the Matchups We’ve Been Waiting For

College football finally begins moving deeper into meaningful games in Week 3.

The headliner is LSU at Ole Miss, with Lane Kiffin returning to Oxford in a matchup loaded with emotion and College Football Playoff implications.

Elsewhere, Houston travels to Texas Tech for an important early Big 12 showdown, SMU faces Louisville in a game that could help define the ACC race, Alabama gets a revenge opportunity against Florida State, and Florida travels to Auburn in an SEC matchup featuring two programs showing signs of renewed life.

After two weeks of trying to figure out who these teams really are, Week 3 could finally begin providing some answers.

Or, knowing college football, it could create even more questions.

Watch the full episode of the Game Day Collective College Football Show for the complete Week 2 reaction, stock report, GDC Top 25 discussion, and early Week 3 preview.

And join the debate: Who should really be No. 1 in college football right now?