Bob Chesney put any rumors of him being poached by a different program to bed.

Bob Chesney is building something in UCLA... and he isn&#39;t going anywhere

Miami remains No. 1 as strength of schedule shapes the rankings, UCLA stays unbeaten, and NIL-driven parity shakes up college football&#039;s top teams this season.

College Football Rankings: Miami Leads, UCLA Rises

Miami stakes its claim to No. 1 after a dominant win over Pitt, while BYU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Tennessee and Houston tumble in a truly chaotic weekend.

Miami Rises to No. 1 as College Football Playoff Rankings Heat Up

Following dramatic Week 8 shakeups across the 2026 college football season, we audit scoring efficiency, total defense, poll movements, and marquee results to project the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Highlighted by Ohio State claiming the #1 overall seed, Georgia, Miami, and Notre Dame capturing 1st-round byes, Morgan Scalley's undefeated Utah Utes locking down the top hosting spot at No. 5, and an explosive bracket featuring Indiana, Alabama, UCLA, and Boise State, we break down every projected matchup. Check out our full Week 9 projections.

Predicting the 12-Team College Football Playoff Field Going Into Week 9

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 Top 50 College Football Teams With a Chance to Make CFP Going Into Week 9

The 2026 college football season is almost here, and ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) supercomputer simulated thousands of season scenarios to project the definitive national championship odds. Stripping away narrative hype and voter bias, the model calculated every team's path through the 12-team playoff bracket. We expanded our master tracker to power rank the top 15 teams most likely to win the 2026 national title. From Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Oregon leading the top tier to Texas A&M, Oklahoma, USC, Ole Miss, and Michigan rounding out the list, we break down every program's title probability and postseason path. Check out our full 15-team championship breakdown to see where your team stands.

ESPN Ranks Top 27 College Football Teams With Best Chance to Win the Natty Going Into Week 9

ESPN Ranks College Football's 3 Unbeaten Teams by Most Likely to Make the CFP Going Into Week 9

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 9

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Miami merits the No. 1 ranking with elite talent on offense and defense, but questions remain over whether the Hurricanes truly stand far above every rival.

Is No. 1 Miami Really College Football's Best Team?

Miami stays unbeaten after crushing Pitt, while Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame round out a top five shaping the national title race ahead.

College Football Top Five: Miami Claims the No. 1 Spot

Dave shares Week 8 college football picks: Tennessee, Michigan-Indiana under, Utah-Houston over, and New Mexico to cover at home against North Dakota State.

Week 8 College Football Best Bets and Betting Picks

Utah and Houston meet in a top-15 Big 12 clash. With both offenses poised to score and Houston&#039;s defense vulnerable, the over 56.5 is the best bet tonight.

Utah vs. Houston Preview: Bet the Over in Big 12 Shootout

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View the profile of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks OG Markell Smith on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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UFC's Paramount Deal and Its Waning Combat Sports Edge

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UFC Fighters Enter Real American Freestyle Wrestling

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Markell Smith

#78 · ULM · OG

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Biloxi, MS, USA

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