College football bowl, CFP projections after Week 1: Miami, LSU look the part as national title threats — SkimNews
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- Miami is the projected No. 1 seed (ACC champion) after a Week 1 drubbing of Stanford, with quarterback Darian Mensah throwing for 401 yards and Malachi Toney piling up 234 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore debut.
- LSU posted the loudest Week 1 statement by handing Dabo Swinney his worst career loss in Lane Kiffin's debut, a performance the projection labels the most complete roster in college football heading into an Ole Miss test in Week 3.
- Georgia opened with a 60-point rout of Tennessee State — Gunner Stockton was sharp, Nate Frazier scored three touchdowns, and the SEC went a perfect 16-0 across the opening weekend.
- Boise State slid into the Group of Six's top playoff slot despite a narrow loss at Oregon, with its Week 2 game against unbeaten Memphis now positioned as the de facto G6 auto-bid eliminator.
- Ohio State tuned up for a seismic Week 2 trip to Texas by handling Ball State — Julian Sayin went 21-of-25 for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards before exiting early.
- SMU strengthened its ACC contender case by winning at Florida State in Week 1, setting up a late-September Louisville-SMU matchup whose winner is projected to meet Miami in the ACC Championship Game.
- Texas Tech won 33-10 over Abilene Christian but went six straight possessions without a touchdown after early scores, a tepid showing that tempers expectations despite the Red Raiders' status as Big 12 favorites.
Why it matters: The bracket reshuffles after one weekend reshape the national title race: Miami's quarterback-receiver tandem looked untouchable against a Power Four opponent, while LSU erased any doubts about a roster that entered the year branded college football's 'public enemy No. 1.' Boise State's path to the playoff now runs through Memphis, and Ohio State-Texas this weekend will settle whether the Big Ten's top seed is the Buckeyes or a vulnerable contender.
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