Week 2: Texas takes No. 1 after historic Ohio State comeback; Oregon tumbles and Manning leads the draft board
A Week 2 digest of the official AP Top 25 poll shakeup, Texas' historic 20-point fourth-quarter comeback over Ohio State, Oregon's tumble, and shifting 2027 NFL Draft boards.
Coverage: Sep. 7–Sep. 13, 2026.
Week 2 dismantled the preseason college football hierarchy in a single Saturday. Texas erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against No. 1 Ohio State to win 24-23, capturing the No. 1 spot in Sunday's Associated Press Top 25 poll with 56 first-place votes. Oklahoma State ended a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents by stunning No. 6 Oregon 39-31, sending the Ducks down 15 spots to No. 21. Michigan bounced back from its Week 1 scare to upset No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10 and rejoin the rankings at No. 19. On the 2027 NFL Draft front, Arch Manning seized the lead in the quarterback conversation, Drew Mestemaker authored the weekend's breakout performance, and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith produced another dominant outing that cemented his standing as the premier talent in college football. 123
Official AP Top 25: Full Poll Results and Movement
The Associated Press released its updated Top 25 poll on Sunday afternoon following Week 2 action. The Southeastern Conference asserted control over the top tier, claiming the No. 1 ranking, six of the top 10 positions, and nine ranked programs overall. The Big Ten follows with seven ranked teams, while the Big 12 and ACC each feature four. 12
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Record | Points | Previous | Movement and Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas (56) | 2-0 | 1,678 | 4 | Up 3; overcame 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23. 2 |
| 2 | Georgia | 2-0 | 1,551 | 2 | Unchanged; cruised past non-conference competition to remain steady at No. 2. 2 |
| 3 | Notre Dame (1) | 2-0 | 1,531 | 3 | Unchanged; rolled to a 56-0 shutout over Rice to protect third position. 2 |
| 4 | Indiana (6) | 2-0 | 1,466 | 5 | Up 1; posted a 55-0 shutout against Howard while yielding only 57 total yards. 24 |
| 5 | Miami (FL) (4) | 2-0 | 1,452 | 7 | Up 2; routed Florida A&M 77-7, securing the second-most first-place votes on the ballot. 2 |
| 6 | Ohio State | 1-1 | 1,407 | 1 | Down 5; surrendered 21 fourth-quarter points in a 24-23 loss at Texas. 1 |
| 7 | LSU (1) | 2-0 | 1,334 | 8 | Up 1; overcame a second-quarter deficit to defeat Louisiana Tech 45-14. 24 |
| 8 | Ole Miss | 2-0 | 1,216 | 9 | Up 1; advanced ahead of idle opponents and set up a top-10 clash with LSU. 1 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | 2-0 | 1,165 | 10 | Up 1; held off Arizona State to preserve an unblemished record. 23 |
| 10 | Alabama | 2-0 | 1,068 | 12 | Up 2; outscored Kentucky 32-0 in the second half to pull away for a 45-17 road win. 5 |
| 11 | BYU | 2-0 | 966 | T-14 | Up 3; erased a halftime deficit to defeat Big 12 rival Arizona 28-17 in Provo. 5 |
| 12 | USC | 3-0 | 944 | T-14 | Up 2; defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 49-30 to remain perfect through three outings. 4 |
| 13 | Texas Tech | 2-0 | 910 | 13 | Unchanged; held off a resilient Oregon State squad 35-24 in Corvallis. 5 |
| 14 | Penn State | 2-0 | 692 | 16 | Up 2; handled Temple comfortably to maintain steady non-conference form. 5 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 2-0 | 676 | 18 | Up 3; pulled away from Georgia Tech behind a pivotal pick-six. 4 |
| 16 | SMU | 2-0 | 636 | 17 | Up 1; advanced past Florida State in ACC action to build early momentum. 2 |
| 17 | Utah | 2-0 | 558 | 20 | Up 3; dominated SEC opponent Arkansas 43-10 in a lopsided home victory. 24 |
| 18 | Iowa | 2-0 | 391 | 21 | Up 3; reclaimed the Cy-Hawk Trophy with a 16-13 win over Iowa State on a late field goal. 4 |
| 19 | Michigan | 2-0 | 382 | NR | Re-entry; upset No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10 after falling out of the rankings post-Week 1. 1 |
| 20 | Missouri | 2-0 | 344 | 23 | Up 3; defeated border rival Kansas behind an efficient aerial attack. 35 |
| 21 | Oregon | 1-1 | 324 | 6 | Down 15; yielded 554 yards in a 39-31 road upset loss to unranked Oklahoma State. 1 |
| 22 | Houston | 2-0 | 292 | 22 | Unchanged; overpowered Southern 77-6 to set up an in-state matchup with Texas Tech. 2 |
| 23 | Louisville | 1-1 | 244 | 24 | Up 1; held firm in the bottom tier following non-conference competition. 2 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | 1-1 | 222 | 11 | Down 13; suffered a 17-10 road defeat at Michigan as a 4.5-point favorite. 1 |
| 25 | Virginia | 2-0 | 182 | 25 | Unchanged; rounded out the poll to give the ACC its fourth top-25 representative. 12 |
Also receiving votes: Washington 172, Florida 83, Boise State 57, Oklahoma State 36, Western Michigan 35, Tulsa 18, Mississippi State 17, South Carolina 15, Virginia Tech 11, UCLA 9, James Madison 6, Arizona 5, North Dakota State 3, Pittsburgh 1, Kansas State 1. 2
The ballot produced a rare occurrence: Washington dropped out from No. 19 to the receiving votes section despite beating Utah State 16-14 to move to 2-0. The Huskies became the first 2-0 FBS team to win a game and drop out of the AP rankings since 2014, reflecting voter frustration after two unconvincing showings. 1
Key Game Results and Highlights Behind the Shakeup
Saturday's schedule delivered two seismic upsets and a historic comeback that redrew the national title picture.
Texas 24, Ohio State 23: The 20-Point Comeback
The defining matchup of Week 2 pitted No. 1 Ohio State against No. 4 Texas in Austin. Through three quarters, Ohio State dictated terms. The Buckeyes built a 23-3 lead behind defensive stops and precise passing, leaving Texas with three points on its opening eight possessions. 5
The final quarter produced an unprecedented collapse. Prior to Saturday night, AP No. 1 teams were 197-0 when holding a 20-point fourth-quarter lead. Texas broke that streak by stringing together three consecutive touchdown drives totaling 40 plays and 236 yards: a 15-play, 91-yard march; a 13-play, 72-yard series; and a 12-play, 73-yard drive. 45
Ohio State kicker Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal wide left with 4:16 remaining, preserving a 23-17 deficit. Manning then drove the Longhorns 73 yards, completing four of five passes. Running back Hollywood Smothers punched in the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left to seal the 24-23 triumph. The victory marks Texas' earliest ascent to No. 1 in a regular-season poll since 1965. 24
Oklahoma State 39, Oregon 31: Stillwater Shocker
In Stillwater, Oklahoma State entered Saturday carrying a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents and an 0-1 record after an opening loss to Tulsa. No. 6 Oregon arrived as heavy road favorites under head coach Dan Lanning, who had been 35-0 against unranked opponents since taking over the program. 14
The Cowboys stunned the Ducks by generating 554 yards of total offense while holding Oregon to just 281. North Texas transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker accounted for 426 total yards, completing 26 of 43 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards and an airborne fourth-quarter hurdle touchdown. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore struggled with three early overthrows during a 1-of-6 start for 9 yards, and the Ducks never recovered, tumbling 15 spots to No. 21. 134
Michigan 17, Oklahoma 10: The Big House Rebound
Michigan answered its controversial Week 1 escape over Western Michigan by smothering No. 11 Oklahoma in Ann Arbor. Entering as 4.5-point home underdogs, the Wolverines limited Oklahoma to 10 points and created constant disruption behind Utah transfer defensive end John Henry Daley, who recorded one sack and three tackles for loss. The 17-10 victory vaulted Michigan back into the poll at No. 19 while dropping Oklahoma 13 spots to No. 24. 13
Other Standout Ranked Outcomes
- Iowa 16, Iowa State 13: The Hawkeyes reclaimed the Cy-Hawk Trophy when kicker Caden Buhr converted a 42-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining, moving Iowa up three spots to No. 18. 4
- BYU 28, Arizona 17: The Cougars wiped out a three-point halftime deficit in Provo behind physical second-half execution, climbing to No. 11 in the AP rankings. 5
- Alabama 45, Kentucky 17: Trailing 17-13 at halftime, the Crimson Tide outscored the Wildcats 32-0 over the final two quarters to notch head coach Kalen DeBoer's first halftime comeback win at Alabama. 45
- Boise State 38, Memphis 20: The Broncos erased an early 17-3 deficit to dominate the Tigers, securing a critical non-conference win with direct playoff implications for the Group of Six automatic bid. 45
2027 NFL Draft Prospect Stock Movement
Week 2 game tape provided scouts and draft evaluators with crucial separation among top 2027 draft prospects. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid officially elevated Arch Manning to QB1 on his board following the Ohio State comeback, while Mel Kiper Jr. cautioned that the overall quarterback class still requires greater full-game consistency. 3
| Prospect | Position / School | Week 2 Performance / On-Field Evidence | Stock Direction | Evaluation and Big Board Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Manning | QB, Texas | 16-of-23 for 136 yards, 1 TD in second half; orchestrated 21-0 fourth-quarter run against Ohio State. 3 | Rising | Moved to QB1 on Jordan Reid's board; showed veteran poise under duress in the biggest regular-season spot of his career. 3 |
| Jeremiah Smith | WR, Ohio State | 8 catches for 164 yards and 1 TD; surpassed 150 yards in third consecutive game. 3 | Rising | Cemented consensus No. 1 overall prospect grade; set school record with three straight 150-yard games and flashed dynamic run-after-catch power. 3 |
| Drew Mestemaker | QB, Oklahoma State | 317 passing yards, 2 TDs; 109 rushing yards and 1 airborne TD against No. 6 Oregon. 34 | Rising | Breakout riser of the week; outplayed Dante Moore in first Power 4 test, though two interceptions kept evaluators monitoring ball security. 3 |
| Dante Moore | QB, Oregon | Completed only 1-of-6 passes for 9 yards in first quarter; offense generated just 281 total yards. 13 | Falling | Dropped from Reid's top quarterback ranking; inconsistent downfield accuracy and inability to settle offense early raised scheme-dependence flags. 3 |
| John Henry Daley | EDGE, Michigan | 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss in 17-10 upset over No. 11 Oklahoma. 3 | Rising | Erased post-Achilles-injury concerns; displayed explosive first-step quickness and pass-rush moves, pushing into top-100 draft consideration. 3 |
| Princewill Umanmielen | EDGE, LSU | 3 sacks and 4 tackles for loss in 45-14 victory over Louisiana Tech. 3 | Rising | Kiper projected the 6-foot-4, 244-pound edge defender into the second round with first-round upside if his pass-rush productivity continues. 3 |
| Devan Thompkins | DL, Alabama | 2 sacks and athletic pass defense in 45-17 road win at Kentucky. 3 | Rising | 300-pound versatile lineman praised by Kiper for interior bull-rush power and scheme versatility, rising as a second-round candidate. 3 |
| Trevor Goosby | OT, Texas | Anchored offensive line against Ohio State pass rush despite an August knee bone bruise. 3 | Steady | 6-foot-7, 325-pound tackle reinforced his status as an early-to-mid Round 1 cornerstone with physical pass protection and space blocking. 3 |
| Kelley Jones | CB, Mississippi State | Tallied 1 pass breakup and locked down Minnesota receivers on the boundary. 3 | Rising | 6-foot-4, 205-pound corner scouted live by Reid; verified length and press coverage make him a viable top-40 and fringe first-round target. 3 |
| Reed Harris | WR, Arizona State | Caught 9 passes for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 58-yard score vs. Texas A&M. 3 | Rising | 6-foot-5, 220-pound target entered Day 2 conversation; boasts a 20.7-yard career average and profile as a massive boundary or big slot weapon. 3 |
| Sam Leavitt | QB, LSU | Threw three interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-six, against Louisiana Tech. 34 | Falling | Ball security concerns and erratic reads against an inferior opponent hurt his push into the upper quarterback tiers. 3 |
The Arch Manning vs. Jeremiah Smith Dynamic
Week 2 established a distinct contrast between the draft class's premier passer and its undisputed top player. While Nate Tice's pre-Week 1 big board placed Manning at No. 1, Saturday provided the game-day evidence to solidify his standing as the class's top quarterback prospect. Manning recovered from an interception and early drops to conduct a clinical second-half comeback against Ohio State's defense, showcasing timing, pocket movement, and clutch execution. 36
Despite the loss, Jeremiah Smith delivered the weekend's most undeniable NFL projection. Opposing defenses tailor their coverages specifically to bracket Smith, yet the sophomore receiver caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Reid noted that Smith is tracking toward the highest draft grade he has ever awarded to a wide receiver, with improved post-catch power complementing his deep-threat speed. 3
Looking Ahead to Week 3
The Week 3 schedule brings three top-25 matchups that will further test the newly established rankings.
- No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss: The marquee SEC showdown marks Lane Kiffin's first matchup against his former program in Oxford since his departure in December. The winner secures a foothold in the top five, while the loser risks falling out of the top 10. 1
- No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech: A Friday night Big 12 collision between an explosive Houston squad that hung 77 points on Southern and a Red Raiders team seeking defensive consistency after a tight battle in Corvallis. 12
- No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville: An important early test in the ACC hierarchy, where both programs look to establish themselves as primary challengers to No. 5 Miami. 12
References
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
This story was produced automatically by a channel. One sentence is all it takes for Neodrop to keep producing for you.