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Week 2 delivered the drama college football fans wanted: dramatic finishes, surprise upsets and a string of results that reshuffled which teams still have a path to the College Football Playoff. A handful of Group of 6 programs were knocked out of contention, and among the Power 4 conferences only the SEC and the Big 12 have all their members still alive in the race.
College Football Playoff field after Week 2
Playoff locks
Zero teams (0% of the bracket)
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Alive for a CFP bid
113 teams, 82% of FBS
- ACC (16)
- Big 12 (16)
- Big Ten (18)
- SEC (16)
- Independent (1)
- American (12)
- Conference USA (4)
- MAC (8)
- Mountain West (5)
- Pac-12 (6)
- Sun Belt (12)
Teams eliminated after Week 2
- Georgia Tech
- East Carolina
- Liberty
- New Mexico State
- UConn
- Buffalo
- Northern Illinois
- UNLV
- Nevada
- Washington State
- Louisiana-Monroe
Out of the playoff chase
25 teams, 18% of FBS
- ACC (1)
- Big 12 (0)
- Big Ten (1)
- SEC (0)
- Independent (1)
- American (2)
- Conference USA (6)
- MAC (5)
- Mountain West (5)
- Pac-12 (2)
- Sun Belt (2)
ACC
Alive: Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, NC State, North Carolina, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
The ACC largely enjoyed a productive Week 2. Several contenders dominated lesser opponents, and Wake Forest and Duke picked up notable road victories at Big Ten programs. Still, not every story was positive: Clemson hasn’t resembled its usual self, Pitt’s offense was hampered by weather, and one league team has already fallen out of CFP consideration.
Eliminated: Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech sits at 0–2 following two home losses to power-conference opponents. Defensive issues and an ineffective rushing attack have left the Yellow Jackets with a steep climb back toward bowl contention, much less a place in the CFP picture.
Out: Georgia Tech
Big 12
Alive: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, Utah, West Virginia
The Big 12 drew praise after Week 2, in part because of signature performances that reinforced the league’s depth. Oklahoma State’s upset of Oregon stands out as a résumé-builder and a statement that some teams can improve markedly from week to week. Other solid efforts — such as Arizona State’s competitive showing against Texas A&M — helped the conference’s case for multiple CFP candidates.
Eliminated: None
Out: None
Big Ten
Alive: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, USC, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin
Week 2 raised questions about the Big Ten’s invincibility. Ohio State’s collapse at Texas and Oregon’s loss to Oklahoma State were headliners, while other results — Illinois falling to Duke and surprising offensive struggles from Penn State and Iowa — dented the conference’s aura of dominance. Close calls for Washington and some uneven showings across the board suggest more scrutiny ahead.
Eliminated: None
Out: Rutgers
SEC
Alive: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
The SEC’s unbeaten run against nonconference foes finally ended, but overall the league had a strong weekend. Mississippi State’s road victory over a Big Ten opponent impressed, and Texas’s comeback win over then-No. 1 Ohio State will resonate nationally. A couple of programs — notably Vanderbilt and Arkansas — showed reasons for concern after close calls and a lopsided loss, respectively.
Eliminated: None
Out: None
Independents
Alive: Notre Dame
Notre Dame produced a shutout in Week 2, with CJ Carr and the offense carrying momentum from the late surge against Wisconsin into a more complete four-quarter performance.
Eliminated: UConn
UConn’s loss at Maryland — marked by several long scoring drives allowed and a decisive defeat — leaves the program with little margin for error. With scarce opportunities versus Power 4 teams, a perfect record would have been needed to keep CFP hopes alive.
Out: UConn
American
Alive: Army, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Tulane, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulsa, UAB, UTSA
The American flirted with a breakout weekend: Temple played well at Penn State, UTSA beat a Pac-12 opponent, and North Texas handled UNLV. Yet some setbacks, most notably Memphis’ loss at Boise State, could weaken the conference’s top-tier standing when the committee weighs interconference results later.
Eliminated: East Carolina
ECU’s turnover problems and difficulties converting on third down cost the Pirates against Appalachian State, knocking them out of realistic Group of 6 contention after an encouraging opener at Alabama.
Out: Charlotte
Conference USA
Alive: Delaware, Kennesaw State, Middle Tennessee State, Missouri State
Conference USA entered Week 3 without an unbeaten team. Reigning champion Kennesaw State absorbed a tough road loss, and several expected contenders have stumbled early. Delaware’s late push against Vanderbilt was a bright spot, but the league’s margin for error is small.
Eliminated: Liberty, New Mexico State
Liberty’s narrow win over Gardner-Webb after an opener loss to James Madison signaled deeper issues; New Mexico State’s early struggles leave it on the outside of the Group of 6 conversation.
Out: Florida International, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State, Western Kentucky
MAC
Alive: Akron, Ball State, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo, UMass, Western Michigan
The MAC provided drama in Week 2, with Ohio’s four-overtime victory in the rain against Jacksonville State topping the list of wild finishes. Western Michigan posted a convincing win and several conference teams looked sharp heading into mid-September play.
Eliminated: Buffalo
Buffalo’s early-season struggles — including a loss to an FCS opponent and a two-touchdown defeat to FIU — make a postseason run unlikely at this point.
Out: Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Sacramento State
Mountain West
Alive: Air Force, New Mexico, North Dakota State, San José State, UTEP
New Mexico and North Dakota State look to have pulled ahead in the Mountain West. NDSU claimed a hard-fought conference win at Air Force, and New Mexico continues to pile up impressive numbers as it prepares for a road date at Oklahoma.
Eliminated: Nevada, Northern Illinois, UNLV
Losing to FCS opposition or dropping home games early cost Nevada and Northern Illinois; UNLV’s promising start unraveled after a home loss to Memphis and a heavy defeat at North Texas.
Out: Hawai’i, Wyoming
Pac-12
Alive: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State
The Pac-12 strengthened its case for the Group of 6 bid in Week 2. Oregon State appears markedly better than a year ago, San Diego State and Utah State pushed Big Ten opponents, and Boise State’s decisive win over Memphis on the blue turf will factor into how the committee views the league.
Eliminated: Washington State
Washington State’s tough early slate has produced an 0–2 start and just 17 points scored through two games, ending any realistic Group of 6 hopes for the Cougars.
Out: Utah State
Sun Belt
Alive: Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy
The Sun Belt enjoyed several notable results: Georgia State upset in-state rival Kennesaw State, Appalachian State beat East Carolina, both Louisiana programs held their own on the road against ranked Power 4 teams, and James Madison posted a dominant win over an FCS opponent.
Eliminated: Louisiana-Monroe
ULM squandered a double-digit second-half lead before UAB rallied for a late victory, leaving the Warhawks 0–2 and out of the early Group of 6 conversation.
Out: Arkansas State
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