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ESPN's Matt Barrie Names Best College Football Team Without Hesitation and It's Not Ohio State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 2:27 PM ET

Key Points

Ohio State remains No. 1 after defeating No. 1 Texas in Week 1.
ESPN’s Matt Barrie says Texas A&M deserves the top spot instead.
The Aggies have road wins over No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 20 LSU.

Since the end of Week 1 of the 2025 college football season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have remained the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

The Buckeyes are the defending national champions and were ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll. In Week 1, they defeated the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 14-7 and have held the top ranking ever since. Although they are currently the top-ranked team and have won every game since their victory over Texas by at least 18 points, ESPN's Matt Barrie does not regard them as the best team in the sport.

On his podcast, "The Matt Barrie Show," the SportsCenter anchor stated that he believes the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies are the best team for one key reason.

Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) runs the ball during the first half.© Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

"I think A&M, based on resume alone and how they've handled it, I think they are the No. 1 team in the country as we sit here on Oct. 26," Barrie said.

The Aggies have achieved two significant victories this season. Texas A&M defeated the No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a score of 41-40 while playing on the road. They have followed that up with a convincing 49-25 win over the No. 20 LSU Tigers, also on the road. However, their schedule remains challenging as the season progresses.

This upcoming weekend, Texas A&M will face the No. 15 Missouri Tigers on the road, and they will conclude the year against the No. 22 Texas Longhorns, also away from home. If they navigate both matchups unscathed, Barrie’s bold declaration could become fact, and the Aggies might finally claim their first-ever College Football Playoff No. 1 ranking.

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

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