Texas is your new No. 1 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll after a wild weekend of college football that saw the Longhorns erase a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun Ohio State 24-23. That’s right, a twenty-point hole, filled, and just like that, the entire Top 25 got a shake-up nobody saw coming quite like this.
The Longhorns’ Ascent and Buckeye Blues
Arch Manning isn’t just a name, he’s a game-changer, plain and simple. He finished 20-of-37 for 196 yards, but it was his leadership on three fourth-quarter touchdown drives that flipped the script on Ohio State. After the win, Manning said, “I’m so proud of our guys in all three phases… It wasn’t very pretty, but we found a way to win. That’s what good teams do.” And good teams, apparently, become No. 1. Texas now holds 42 first-place votes, a clear message from the coaches that they’re the real deal.
On the flip side, Ohio State is reeling. They went from garnering 50 first-place votes last week to zero this week, sliding all the way to No. 6. Coach Ryan Day summed it up perfectly: “We really played well for three quarters and didn’t play well enough in the fourth quarter, that’s the bottom line… We stalled on some offensive drives, thought we had them on the ropes and didn’t finish. We got to go back and figure out why that was.” “Didn’t finish” is an understatement; this loss marks their third straight against Power Four competition dating back to last season. Their only win in their last four outings? Against Ball State. That’s not a resume for the top spot.
Oregon’s Shocking Fall and Other Shakes
The Buckeyes weren’t the only ones taking a tumble. Oregon, previously ranked No. 6, got rocked by a “major upset” from Oklahoma State and plummeted 12 spots to No. 18. This is a huge hit for Dan Lanning’s program; it’s the first time they’ve been outside the Coaches Poll top 10 under him since September 2023. What a fall from grace for the Ducks!
Michigan, though, is building some serious momentum. Their impressive win over Oklahoma was their first over a ranked opponent since 2024, and it’s helping quell some of the talk about their quarterback situation. Bryce Underwood is still trying to find his footing, but a win like that certainly buys some time and confidence.
The top five behind Texas looks solid with Georgia (15 first-place votes), Notre Dame (4 votes), Indiana (10 votes), and Miami (2 votes) all sitting at 2-0. Even Florida, despite a 49-point blowout win over Campbell to move to 2-0, dropped out of the rankings entirely. This poll is wild, folks.
The Week 3 Coaches Poll has given us a clear picture: there’s a new boss at the top, and the old guard is struggling. Ohio State needs to figure out how to close games, and Oregon has to regroup fast if they want to get back into contention. The coaches have spoken, and the message is clear: earn your spot, or lose it. We’re early in the season, but these shifts already signal a wide-open race for the rest of college football. Get ready, because it’s only going to get crazier from here.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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