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Matt Barrie Didn't Hesitate Naming the Best College Football Team and It's Not Ohio State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Nov 3, 2025 3:20 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes dominated once again in Week 10 of the 2025 college football season, defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-5) at home by a score of 38-14.

The Buckeyes have been dominant for much of the season. They began the year ranked No. 3 in the AP poll but rose to the No. 1 spot after defeating the then-No. 1 Texas Longhorns 14-7 at home. Ohio State has maintained that top position since then, winning every game by at least 18 points.

Despite the Buckeyes having a strong season and being the defending national champions, Matt Barrie, host of "SportsCenter," expressed on his podcast, "The Matt Barrie Show," that another team should be at the top of the rankings. The College Football Playoff committee is set to release its first rankings at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN.

Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko during the first half against the LSU Tigers.© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

"I would put Texas A&M No. 1 in the country if I were the committee in the first playoff rankings," Barrie said. "I think strength of record, strength of schedule, they deserve to be No. 1 in the country."

The Texas A&M Aggies have had a remarkable season under second-year head coach Mike Elko. The Aggies are 8-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country, their highest ranking since 1995. As Barrie mentioned, Texas A&M ranks No. 1 in the nation in strength of record (SOR). The Buckeyes come in at No. 3. SOR measures a team's accomplishments based on its performance (wins and losses) relative to the difficulty of its schedule, essentially assessing how impressive a team's record is given the challenges faced. Additionally, the Aggies are ranked No. 15 in strength of schedule, while Ohio State ranks No. 33.

As of now, Texas A&M has secured notable victories, including a close 41-40 win over the then-No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the road. They also recorded a decisive 49-25 win against the then-No. 20 LSU Tigers, also away from home. Meanwhile, Ohio State has achieved impressive wins over then-No. 1 Texas and the then-No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini, winning 34-16.

With both teams undefeated, the playoff committee’s first rankings could reveal whether dominance or résumé strength carries more weight in the race for No. 1.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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