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NFL·ANALYSIS·October 9, 2026 10:03 PM ET

Ohio State overtakes Texas for No. 1 in ESPN Power Index

Longhorns remain atop the AP poll with 61 first-place votes.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 52m1 min read
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What happened: ESPN's College Football Power Index model elevated Ohio State to No. 1 nationally heading into Week 6, dropping Texas to fifth. The computer prediction model prioritizes efficiency metrics and remaining schedule difficulty over past results, leading to the Buckeyes leapfrogging the undefeated Longhorns. Texas previously defeated Ohio State by a single point in Austin after trailing by 20.

Why it matters: The discrepancy between human voters and computer models highlights the fluid nature of the College Football Playoff race. While Texas controls its own destiny in traditional polls, questions regarding quarterback Arch Manning's decision-making and overall offensive consistency have impacted its algorithmic standing.

By the numbers: Texas collected 61 first-place votes to maintain its No. 1 ranking in the latest AP Top 25.

What to watch: Texas faces Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry this weekend, while AP voters will closely monitor the top-10 clash between No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

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