College football rankings and playoff projections highlight top contenders

College football rankings and playoff projections highlight several key contenders early in the season. While the Texas Longhorns currently hold the No. 1 spot in the AP poll following a victory over Ohio State, new playoff projections favor Georgia as the top overall seed due to their roster strength and performance in the SEC.

Other top-ranked programs include Ohio State as the projected Big Ten champion and Miami as the projected ACC champion, supported by a highly efficient offense. Notre Dame remains a top contender, though their strength of schedule is a point of discussion following a win against Wisconsin.

Upcoming matchups include No. 7 Alabama against No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 3 Notre Dame against North Carolina, and No. 2 Georgia hosting Vanderbilt. Additionally, No. 5 Ohio State is scheduled to play No. 14 Iowa.