"Not everyone executed that crispness on Saturday against weaker competition -- and it changed the playoff pecking order. (Here's lookin' at you, Clemson.) This list is fluid -- and it should be early in the season. Like the selection committee, it is a ranking based on what each team has done to-date -- not last year or what it might do in the coming weeks."
"Why they could be here: The win against Texas gives the Buckeyes a case for the top spot, along with the eye test, as quarterback Julian Sayin continues to flourish with his accuracy, consistency and minimal mistakes in his first year as a starter. The defense under first-year coordinator Matt Patricia continues to look stifling. Ohio State also benefited this week from Clemson's struggles against Troy, because it takes some of the shine off of LSU's season-opening road win against Clemson."
Ohio State routed Grambling 70-0, a result coach Ryan Day called "not a matchup game." Day highlighted crisp execution in penalties, assignments, spacing and timing regardless of opponent. Week 2 featured multiple contenders facing FCS or lower-level teams, producing uneven execution and early shifts in the playoff pecking order. Clemson struggled against Troy, reducing the sheen of LSU's season-opening road win, while Texas reasserted itself. Ohio State's win over Texas plus the dominant Grambling performance strengthen its case for a top ranking, though LSU's road victory could still sway voters.
Read at ESPN.com
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