College Football: Week 2 playoff bracket
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- Ohio State has the top seed: The defending national champs are the new No. 1 after taking down Texas in Week 1.
- LSU is in second: The Tigers jump to No. 2 after beating Clemson this past weekend.
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Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
It’s never too early to start thinking about the College Football Playoff. Before the games kick off in Week 2, here’s what PFF’s updated bracket would look like based on our top-25 for the week.
Byes
1. Ohio State
The defending national champions proved they’re still the team to beat in college football, securing a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas. The Buckeyes’ defense was stellar in the victory, holding the Longhorns to just 4.9 yards per play. It held up in the game’s biggest moments, as Texas was just one-for-five on fourth-down attempts.
Ohio State doesn’t play another currently ranked team until Illinois in Week 7, so the program could remain at the top for a while.
2. LSU
Ohio State wasn’t the only school whose defense came up big in a top-10 showdown. LSU’s group was excellent in a 17-10 road win over No. 4 Clemson. The Tigers held Clemson to -0.316 EPA per play, their best defensive performance since the 2014 season. Clemson averaged only 4.5 yards per play, and LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker had quarterback Cade Klubnik’s head spinning by blitzing him on 67% of his dropbacks.
If that defensive effort holds and Heisman Trophy favorite Garrett Nussmeier continues to excel, LSU is suddenly a legitimate national title contender.
3. Penn State
Penn State was the lone unscathed top-four team from PFF’s preseason rankings in Week 1 after a 46-11 victory over Nevada. Edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton (DDS) was the star of the game, posting a 96.0 PFF overall grade after forcing two forced fumbles and picking up a sack and four pressures on just 25 defensive snaps. If he continues his dominance, DDS can become the Nittany Lions’ third straight first-round pick at edge rusher — after Chop Robinson in 2024 and Abdul Carter this past season.
4. Miami (FL)
Miami secured a massive 27-24 victory on Sunday night over No. 6 Notre Dame. Edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. looked every bit like a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, posting a 93.6 PFF overall grade with a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. With Clemson going down to LSU, the Hurricanes now look like the favorite in the ACC.
First round
5. Oregon vs. 12. USF
Oregon took care of business in Week 1 with a 59-13 win over Montana State. The Ducks’ offense was elite in the victory, averaging 0.551 EPA per play. That would’ve been the third-best performance by the program all of last season. Oregon will look to keep things rolling this week against a Power Four opponent in Oklahoma State.
The Group of Five playoff race is wide open right now, but USF has the early lead thanks to a commanding 34-7 victory over No. 25 Boise State in Week 1. Quarterback Byrum Brown was outstanding in the victory, posting a 91.3 PFF grade. The Bulls have a chance to stake their claim as the clear favorite for the Group of Five playoff spot this week against Florida, another school in the current playoff bracket.
6. Texas vs. 11. Utah
Texas drops a few spots following its loss to Ohio State on Saturday. While Arch Manning’s first three quarters weren’t pretty (41.3 PFF passing grade), don’t sell all of your stock just yet. He rebounded nicely in the fourth quarter with four big-time throws in the final eight minutes. It should be noted that the Longhorns are breaking in four new offensive linemen, and that their top three pass catchers from last year are no longer with the team. With an easier opponent this week in San Jose State, expect Manning and the offense to work out the kinks.
Utah didn’t need time to look dominant, as it annihilated UCLA by a final score of 43-10. The Utes ran for 286 yards in the victory, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Right tackle Spencer Fano showed why he’s a potential top-five pick with an elite 85.2 PFF grade in the victory.
7. Georgia vs. 10. South Carolina
Georgia began its 2025 season with a 45-7 win over Marshall. One of the biggest storylines for the Bulldogs is their receiving corps, which needs someone to step up after the team placed 88th in PFF receiving grade a year ago (67.2). After one week, the answer may be USC transfer Zachariah Branch. The former five-star recruit notched an elite 90.2 PFF receiving grade against the Thundering Herd, finishing with three catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Incredibly, all but one of those receiving yards came after the catch.
Even after five of its players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, South Carolina’s defense looked fantastic in a 24-11 win over Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks allowed only -0.315 EPA per pass, which would’ve been their second-best mark all of last season.
8. Clemson vs. 9. Florida
Clemson entered the year as our top-ranked team in college football but it tumbles down to eighth following a season-opening loss to LSU. The Tigers averaged only -0.316 EPA per play on offense, easily their worst performance since the 2014 season. Clemson will aim to get back on track this week against Troy.
Florida opened its season with a 55-0 shutout victory over Long Island. The Gators posted an elite 90.4 PFF defensive grade in the victory, their best since the 2018 season. Florida will need that side of the ball to show up on Saturday against a USF team that just handled No. 25 Boise State 34-7.
