The Week 2 college football rankings, encompassing both the Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25, will finally be unveiled on Tuesday, September 8, after the usual Sunday release was postponed due to games on Labor Day weekend.
The delay stems from a handful of pivotal contests that took place on Sunday and the federal holiday, most notably Michigan’s razor‑thin 13‑12 victory over Western Michigan, which was decided by a controversial final‑second play, and LSU’s commanding 51‑10 win over Clemson in Death Valley, where Sam Leavitt contributed three touchdowns.
Indiana, the defending national champion, opened its season with a 52‑16 triumph over North Texas, a performance highlighted by freshman quarterback Josh Hoover’s four touchdown passes, while Ohio State’s victory over Ball State introduced fresh storylines as Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin began to emerge in Heisman discussions.
With only four games remaining on the Labor Day weekend, the outcomes of those matchups will heavily influence the upcoming polls, as voters weigh early momentum from teams like Michigan, LSU, and Ohio State against surprise performances from Indiana and others.
The Coaches Poll is scheduled to air between noon and 12:30 ET, followed shortly by the AP poll at approximately 2 p.m. ET, marking the first time in recent memory that the traditional Sunday schedule has been shifted.
Implications for the Heisman Race
Early surge performances by players such as Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin at Ohio State, combined with Hoover’s immediate impact at Indiana, set the stage for a tightly contested Heisman race, while Lane Kiffin’s LSU continues to benefit from a dominant offensive showing that could bolster the coach’s profile nationally.