The 2025 college football season kicked off with a bang last Saturday as No. 3 Ohio State held off No. 1 Texas 14-7 in Columbus to earn a season-defining victory just one week into the season. Thanks to their massive win, the Buckeyes jumped to No. 1 in this week’s AP Poll rankings.

Ohio State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game thanks to a CJ Donaldson one-yard rushing touchdown and a 40-yard passing touchdown from Julian Sayin to Carnell Tate. Texas however responded with a 32-yard passing touchdown from Arch Manning to Parker Livingstone, but was unable to tie the game up after failing to convert on a 4th & 3 on the 50-yard line with 1:27 remaining.

Thanks to their massive victory, ESPN‘s Greg McElroy revealed that he has tabbed Ohio State as his No. 1 team in the country following college football’s opening weekend.

“Close call at number one for me,” McElroy said on ‘Always College Football‘. “I think the gap between one and two based off week one performance is razor thin. I’m going with the Buckeyes because what I saw from Ohio State feels extremely sustainable. A defense that can completely shut you down. A defense that absolutely buttoned up in coverage throughout the game. A pass rush that did have an effect on the opposing quarterback, and what I liked most about Ohio State is I don’t think I saw anywhere near an A+ performance from them offensively.”

McElroy claims Ohio State gave in a C+ or B- performance in win

“That, for Ohio State‘s standard, is probably a C+ or B- performance as far as what they’re capable of. Their ceiling. Their potential. Jeremiah Smith for crying out loud had two drops in the game. I’m really optimistic about what I saw from Ohio State because they got a win over a quality team and making it more impressive, it was nowhere what we’ll get from them down the road offensively. They’re number one.”

McElroy’s entire top-five is below:

1. Ohio State (14-7 win vs. Texas)
2. LSU (17-10 win at Clemson)
3. Penn State (46-11 win vs. Nevada)
4. Georgia (45-7 win vs. Marshall)
5. Oregon (59-13 win vs. Montana State)

Ohio State will be back in action on Saturday at home against Grambling State. Following that tune-up matchup, the Buckeyes host Ohio on Sept. 13 and then travel to Washington on Sept. 27 for its first true road game of the 2025 campaign.