The first playoff rankings may mean little as Notre Dame-Miami, Alabama-LSU, Georgia-Ole Miss and UCLA-USC reshape a wildly unpredictable season this fall.

College Football Playoff Rankings Face a Chaotic Week

As the 2026 college football season approaches, USA TODAY Sports assembled a 10-voter panel to power rank the top 25 head coaches in the country. Following a chaotic expanded playoff season and a wild coaching carousel, the master list features major shifts across every power conference. From established heavyweights holding down the top tier to rising program builders like Rhett Lashlee, Jon Sumrall, Clark Lea, Josh Heupel, and Sonny Dykes cracking the rankings, we break down every coach's career record, key achievements, and 2026 outlook. Check out our full 25-coach power rankings to see where your team's leader sits.

USA TODAY's Top 25 College Football Coaches: Records Going Into Week 10

As kickoff for the 2026 college football season draws near, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) supercomputer simulated thousands of regular-season scenarios to project the final 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. Stripping away subjective voter bias and preseason hype, the algorithm evaluated per-play efficiency, roster talent, and schedule difficulty to calculate every program's exact postseason odds. We expanded our master index to power rank the top 30 teams most likely to crash the playoff party. From top-tier titans like Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Oregon leading the field, to dark horses and Group-of-Five contenders like Boise State, Utah, South Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia lurking on the bubble, we break down every program's FPI profile, projected record, and postseason odds. Check out our complete 30-team playoff projection to see where your team stands.

ESPN Ranks College Football's 48 Teams With a Chance to Make CFP Going Into Week 10

ESPN Predicts the Final Record For All 16 SEC Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 9

Ranking The Top 30 College Quarterbacks Right Now: Going into Week 9

ESPN Ranks College Football's 30 2-Loss Teams By Strength of Record Ahead of Week 9

ESPN Ranks College Football's 30 2-Loss Teams by Strength of Schedule Right Now

ESPN Ranks the 25 Hardest Remaining College Football Schedules Going Into Week 9

LATEST Craig Walton Jr. NEWS

The playoff committee ranks Miami first, Utah third and Indiana fourth, fueling a debate over Texas, UCLA, BYU and Notre Dame&#039;s postseason credentials.

College Football Playoff Rankings Spark Major Debate

Miami survives UNC and turns to a pivotal Notre Dame clash as UCLA and USC rise, rankings shift, and NIL reshapes college football&#039;s path to the NFL today.

Miami Faces Notre Dame as College Football Rankings Shift

Miami and Notre Dame meet in South Bend with Heisman hopes at stake, as CJ Carr, Malachi Toney and others battle to shape the trophy race this weekend.

Miami vs. Notre Dame Could Decide the Heisman Trophy

Miami&#039;s elite offense faces Notre Dame&#039;s stout defense in a defining 2026 matchup featuring star quarterbacks, explosive playmakers and major playoff stakes.

Miami vs. Notre Dame: Elite Offense Meets Top Defense

LATEST VIDEOS

View the profile of LSU Tigers CB Craig Walton Jr. on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

description

keywords

twitter:card

Craig Walton Jr. | LSU Tigers | CB | SportsGrid.com

twitter:title

twitter:description

https://app.sportsgrid.com/assets/images/og-logo_640x334.png

twitter:image

google

og:locale

og:site_name

og:type

og:title

og:description

og:image

og:image:type

og:image:width

og:image:height

og:image:secure_url

article:published_time

article:modified_time

LATEST Craig Walton Jr.

HT/WT

Birthplace

Class

#37 · LSU · CB

Craig Walton Jr.

Craig Walton Jr. BIO

Jack-Henry Jakobik

Donald Palmer

Tim Amet

Rico Crowder

Kyle Mixon

Adam Kidder

Thomas Tinsley

Hadi Jawad

Bryson Rodgers

Caleb Downs

Craig Walton Jr. is a CB for the LSU Tigers in the NCAAF.

LSU Tigers

NCAAF

ESPN Ranks the 9 B1G Teams With a Chance to Win the Big Ten Right Now

ESPN Ranks College Football's 11 1-Loss Teams by Strength of Record Right Now: Ahead of Week 10

ESPN Ranks College Football's 11 1-Loss Teams by Strength of Schedule Going Into Week 10

FOX Sports' 2027 NFL First Round Mock Draft 2.0: Rob Rang's 1-32 Picks

Predicting the 12-Team College Football Playoff Field Going Into Week 10

Ranking the Top 12 Players in the NBA Right Now

Ranking the Top 25 Players in College Basketball Right Now

HEADLINES

Ravens QB Crisis Shifts Jaguars Betting Odds and Props

Chicago Bears Crush Seahawks, Emerge as NFC Contenders

USA TODAY's Top 10 College Football Coaches On the Hot Seat Ahead of Week 10

Ranking the 15 College Football Coaches On the Hot Seat Going Into Week 10

Bleacher Report 2027 NFL Mock Draft 6.0: 1-32 1st-Round Picks

Phil Steele's 2026 College Football 14 Most Improved Teams: Records Going Into Week 10

Mel Kiper's ESPN Top 25 College Football Players Ranked: 2027 NFL Draft Big Board

ESPN's 2027 NFL First Round Mock Draft 2.0: Reid's Picks 1-32

Ranking All 14 Active No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Picks 1-14 Going Into Week 9

ESPN’s NFL Team Future Rankings for 2027-2029 1-32: Going Into Week 9

Mack&#39;s career-high 31 points propel UNLV to season opening win

SDSU offense explodes in season opener with six in double-figures to top Titans

TST Images: San Diego State defeats Cal State Fullerton, 102-78, in San Diego

TST Images: UNLV defeats NAU, 89-77, at Thomas & Mack Center

NCAAB

Another Gauthier hat trick, Ducks hot power play payback Canucks

Hertl delivers late to lift Knights past Penguins 3-2

NHL commissioner Bettman familiar with both Bills, Foley and Laurie

TST Best Bets: November 3, 2026

Luka Doncic passes Victor Wembanyama as NBA MVP favorite after historic start to season

With Election Day looming, this Laker states his claim as MVP in win over Miami

Max Strus is back, but the Clippers&#39; fourth-quarter problem isn&#39;t going anywhere

Luka Dončić drops 42 Points in win over Miami

Why Baker, Maddon, Bochy and Piniella Belong in Cooperstown

Pat Murphy Built the Brewers' World Series Culture

Michael King Could Cash In on a Weak Free-Agent Class

Why the Tampa Bay Rays Remain World Series Contenders

Election Night Prediction Markets Track Key Senate Races

Prediction Markets Point to Major Democratic Senate Gains

How to Read Election Prediction Market Price Swings

Election Night Prediction Markets & Governor Races

Texas Senate Race Drives Election Prediction Markets

Jake Paul to face former kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé in Dubai on Christmas Eve

Lionel Messi's GOAT Legacy & Argentina's Future Without Him

Champions League Preview: Leipzig vs. Manchester City

Golf's Timeless Joy: Sam Reeves' Reflection on Lessons

Ben Crenshaw Reveals Several of His Putting Techniques

MORE

Expert picks & analysis

Game Picks

Head-to-head breakdowns

Matchups

Powered by SportsGrid's projections

Player Props

Prediction Market HQ

Jonathan Taylor Trade Buzz: Bengals Best Fit?

Cowboys Collapse in Overtime as Jerry Jones Watches

Florida State Fires Mike Norvell After Clemson Loss

Have Howie Roseman's Eagles Left Titles Behind?

Josh Jacobs’ Fantasy Value Faces More Questions

SPORTSGRID SHORTS

Ranking the Top 10 Potential Upsets for College Football Week 10

Ranking the 10 Most Overrated Teams in College Football Right Now (Week 10)

Learning from Madison: USC rewrites its bye-week plan

ESPN Ranks Top 25 College Football Teams With Best Chance to Win the Natty Going Into Week 10

UCLA, USC climb in AP Top 25 as playoff hopes and title odds improve

Oregon State Team Total Bet and Heisman Receiver Debate

Jayden Maiava’s USC Heisman Odds Face Tough Upcoming Tests

2026-27 Heisman Race: Jeremiah Smith Leads Top Contenders

Georgia-Florida Over 56.5: Why the Rivalry Goes High

Ohio State vs. USC: Over 50.5 Bet and Riley's Future

Josh Hoover Passing Prop and Indiana-Michigan Best Bets

Ole Miss vs. Texas Picks: Back the Rebels in Austin

Week 9 Fantasy Waiver Wire: Malik Willis, Jonah Coleman, Tyler Allgeier, Mike Washington Jr., Antonio Williams, Chig Okonkwo and MORE

Rams finding their identity through physicality and a dominant running game

Bleacher Report 2027 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: 32 First Round Picks

CBS Sports 2027 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: First Round Picks 1-32

Are the Jacksonville Jaguars Legitimate AFC Contenders?

Predicting the 8 NFL Division Winners Right Now: Going Into Week 8

ESPN Predicts the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Right Now: Going Into Week 8

Cleveland Browns Playoff Odds: Bet the AFC North Run?

Seahawks-Bears Props: Smith-Njigba Receiving Yards & RB Props

Tony Pollard and Ollie Gordon Touchdown Props for Sunday

Top NFL Player Props: Gibbs, Henry and Jaguars Overs

Chuba Hubbard Leads Top NFL Touchdown Scorer Picks

Why the Ravens Should Move On From Lamar Jackson Now

Cowboys' Collapse: NFL's Biggest Questions This Week

TST Images: USC defeats Milwaukee, 95-63, in Los Angeles

TST Images: UCLA defeats Arizona, 84-75, at T-Mobile Arena

Hoosiers Tame Panthers 91-57

Candy Stripe Scoop: And So It Begins for Indiana (Week One)

Most Outstanding Player Odds: Mara, Reed Lead the Pack

National Championship Odds: Michigan Leads, Arizona Trails Behind

National Championship Odds Analysis: Michigan Leads the Pack

National Championship Odds: Arizona and Michigan Lead the Pack

2026-27 College Basketball Futures: Experience & Value Picks

Jaden Matingou&#39;s last-second jumper lifts Hawai‘i past Seattle 74-73 in season opener

UCLA upsets No. 5 Arizona to begin season

No. 21 USC cruises past Milwaukee in season-opening blowout

Florida Basketball’s Continuity Stands Out in NIL Era

Tyran Stokes Makes His Highly Anticipated Kansas Debut

2026-27 College Basketball Title Odds: Florida, UConn and More

Exploring NCAA's Reaction to College Basketball Trends

Knights battle back to gain a point in 3-2 shootout loss to Bruins

TST Images: Firebirds defeat Silver Knights, 5-1, at Acrisure Arena

Ducks honor Mighty Disney movie roots for Hometown Remix sweaters

Cutter Gauthier hat trick powers Ducks 6-goal rally, reset win over Senators

2027 Stanley Cup Odds: Colorado, Vegas, and Edmonton Lead Pack

Conn Smythe Market Prices: Mitch Marner Heads to the Top

Stanley Cup Showdown: Vegas vs. Carolina for the Title

Carolina and Vegas Favorites for Stanley Cup Showdown

TST Best Bets: October 29, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 26, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 22, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 20, 2026

Cooper Black to Become Tallest Goalie in NHL History

Tkachuk Brothers Make NHL History on Wild Hockey Night

Edmonton Oilers Struggle Defensively, Lose to Canucks

2026-27 NHL Season Begins: Key Teams and Betting Tips

TST Images: Lakers defeat Heat, 138-117, at Crypto.com Arena

TST Images: Raptors defeat Clippers, 125-118, at Intuit Dome

Lakers vs. Heat: What to watch on the second night of back-to-back

CBS Sports Preseason 2027 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: First Round Picks 1-30

NBA Futures: Predictions for Top Teams and Players This Season

Spurs Lead in Western Conference Odds Over OKC & Denver

Celtics vs. Heat: Best Betting Value to Win NBA East

NBA Futures Analysis: OKC, Spurs, & Knicks Betting Odds Breakdown

TST Best Bets: November 2, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 28, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 27, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 21, 2026

NBA Showdown: New York vs. Philadelphia - Key Players & Odds!

JJ Redick Faces a Defining Year as Lakers Head Coach

Western Conference Odds: Minnesota Value and Lakers’ Hot Start

76ers, LeBron, & Knicks Face a Loaded Eastern Conference

Dodgers open as favorites to win 2027 World Series despite Brewers&#39; dominant championship season

Angels decline Kurt Suzuki’s managerial option

TST Best Bets: October 16, 2026

Dodgers&#39; historic three-peat dream is over, ending a golden era in Los Angeles

Potential Brewers vs. Rays World Series Odds & Predictions

Craig Walton Jr.

#37 · LSU · CB

HT/WT

5’9”, 174 lbs

Birthplace

Camden, NJ, USA

Class

Junior

LATEST Craig Walton Jr. NEWS

EDITOR'S PICKS