CBS Sports shakes up Top 25 college football rankings ahead of Week 2

The opening week of the 2025 college football season has come and gone. Some of the top teams were risers, while others were fallers.

Some of these risers include Florida State, Auburn and LSU. Then, teams such as Alabama, Kansas State and North Carolina did not quite look as good as they were projected to be to open the season.

CBS Sports released its Top 35 teams in the country following an exciting opening weekend. That included some surprising inclusions and snubs.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (+2)

In no time, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has completely wiped off the stigma that he cannot deliver in big-time matchups. In the Buckeyes’ last five games (dating back to last season), Day has led Ohio State to wins over No. 7 Tennessee, No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 Texas, No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 1 Texas.

Ohio State‘s defense put Texas quarterback Arch Manning in a blender in its season opener, as the preseason Heisman candidate looked less than stellar in his first big game as Texas‘ signal caller. Quarterback Julian Sayin looked like he could be the next great Buckeye as well, passing for 126 yards and one touchdown in the win.

2. LSU Tigers (+7)

For the first time since 2019, LSU opened its season with a massive 17-10 road victory over Clemson in a jam-packed Memorial Stadium. Although it was just a seven-point win, the (LSU) Tigers dominated the game. They outgained Clemson 354-261 and recorded 12 more first downs. 

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier solidified himself as the early season Heisman favorite, as he passed for 232 yards and one touchdown in the win. Brian Kelly‘s defense, however, looked like it could be the best in the country, resulting in the Tigers’ first College Football Playoff push since they won in 2019.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (-1)

Penn State was a victim of its own schedule in week one, as it shredded Nevada 46-11 and fell one spot in CBS Sports‘ Top 25 Rankings. The Nittany Lions, considered a top team this year, looked mighty impressive in their season opener, as they outgained the Wolfpack 438-203 and forced three turnovers.

Their weak schedule continues over the next two weeks as well, as Penn State will host FIU and Villanova before it collides with Oregon in Happy Valley on Sept. 27. It will be hard to tell how good this team is until it clashes with the Ducks.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (+1)

Georgia, a top program nationally, looked strong in its season opener last Saturday as it gashed Marshall 45-7 in Athens. The Bulldogs moved up one spot following the win and will enjoy one more buy-game against Austin Peay before opening SEC play against Tennessee on Sept. 13.

In the first career regular season start for quarterback Gunner Stockton, he passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Bulldogs in rushing with 73 yards and two more scores, making a strong first impression as the next quarterback of the future for Kirby Smart.

5. Miami Hurricanes (+5)

Miami continued to rule the Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry as it held off Notre Dame 27-24 in its season opener to put its mark on the early landscape of the 2025 college football season. Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck made a strong impression in his first game as a Hurricane, passing for 205 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

“Oh man, sh*t,” Beck said as tears began to well up in his eyes following the win. “The past eight months has been so hard. I’m just so blessed to be out here to have an opportunity to play again. I love these guys. I’m so proud of the way we played. We played so hard. In the face of adversity, we got it done when we needed to. I’m just so blessed and so thankful to have this opportunity to play the game I love.”

6. Oregon Ducks (+1)

Oregon‘s season opener was a breeze for the Ducks, as they rolled Montana State 59-13 to open the fourth season of the Dan Lanning era. They outgained the Bobcats 506-244 and recorded 12 more first downs. The game also marked the first start at Oregon for top quarterback Dante Moore, who passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns.

“There were a lot of moments where the first read wasn’t there and you see him going through the progression and getting to his second read,” Lanning said about Moore on Monday. “He took care of the ball and there were very few ball-in-jeopardy type plays. I thought he made good decisions and looked very poised back there.”

7. Texas Longhorns (-6)

Texas‘ season opener marked the highly anticipated first start of quarterback Arch Manning. Manning, who opened the year as one of the Heisman favorites, struggled in the 14-7 loss to Ohio State. He completed 17-of-30 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Although it lost, top-ranked Texas outgained Ohio State 336-203 and recorded five more first downs than the Buckeyes. It, however, opened the season 0-1 and will look to make a statement out of San José State in its home football opener on Saturday.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-2)

Notre Dame came just short of a season-opening win as it fell 27-24 to Miami in Hard Rock Stadium last Sunday night. Quarterback CJ Carr tied the game with a seven-yard touchdown run with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Irish were unable to stop Miami‘s offense, which led to a game-winning field goal for the Hurricanes.

Fresh off their run to the College Football Playoff National Championship last season, Marcus Freeman‘s Fighting Irish will look to get right next weekend when it hosts Texas A&M. Coming off this weekend’s bye, Notre Dame should be fresh and prepared for that clash with the Aggies.

9. Clemson Tigers (-5)

Clemson looked a bit out of sorts in its season-opening loss to LSU, as it totaled just 261 yards of offense and allowed the (purple) Tigers to accrue 356 yards. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was less than stellar, as he passed for just 230 yards and one interception.

Dabo Swinney‘s football team, however, has a chance to bounce back this weekend when it hosts Troy at home. Getting Klubnik, who entered the season as a Heisman Trophy favorite, to heat up should be a priority for the Tigers this weekend.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini (+3)

Illinois had one of the quieter opening weeks among the top teams in the country as it rolled Western Illinois 52-3 to open the season 1-0. Bret Bielema‘s football team outgained the Leathernecks 440-163 and they allowed just 11 first downs.

This performance marked a strong open to the season, which ramps up fast for the Illini. This weekend, they travel to Duke in what could be one of the early trap games of the entire college football season.

Teams 11-35

11. Florida Gators (+1)
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (-1)
13. Florida State Seminoles (+28)
14. Iowa State Cyclones (+5)
15. Tennessee Volunteers (+5)
16. Utah Utes (+9)
17. South Carolina Gamecocks (-1)
18. Texas Tech Red Raiders (+3)
19. Michigan Wolverines (-4)
20. Texas A&M Aggies (-2)
21. SMU Mustangs (-4)
22. Ole Miss Rebels (–)
23. Indiana Hoosiers (–)
24. Auburn Tigers (+8)
25. TCU Horned Frogs (+6)
26. Alabama Crimson Tide (-18)
27. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+6)
28. Oklahoma Sooners (-4)
29. Louisville Cardinals (-2)
30. Missouri Tigers (-2)
31. USC Trojans (-2)
32. Tulane Green Wave (+13)
33. South Florida Bulls (+48)
34. Nebraska Cornhuskers (+1)
35. BYU Cougars (+1)