ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit and ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, agree on the country’s No. 1 team through six weeks.
The sixth week of the 2025 college football season took place on Saturday. It was highlighted by Alabama’s win over Vanderbilt, Miami’s win over Florida State, Ohio State’s thumping of Minnesota, UCLA’s shocking upset win over Penn State and more. Following the sixth week of the season, ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, updated its Top 25 rankings.
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There’s a new team at No. 1 overall.
Kirk Herbstreit speaks on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ESPN’s computer Top 25 rankings
Kirk Herbstreit is on board with ESPN’s computer model, too. He has the Buckeyes as the country’s best team.
“I respond to the results. I’ve got Ohio State, who I didn’t even have near the top. I had them three or four last week, but I wanted to see them,” Herbstreit said of Ohio State earlier this week, on his Nonstop podcast.
Ohio State, which took down Minnesota on Saturday night, is off to a perfect 5-0 start this season.
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Ryan Day’s team, which returned All-Americans Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs from its national title-winning team in 2024, is looking like the frontrunner to win it all once again this season.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.