The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State is the New No. 1 | Updated College Football Playoff Projections

Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis
Date: September 2, 2025
Podcast: Ohio State Football Talk (Blue Wire)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Ohio State's ascension to the No. 1 spot in both major college football polls following a momentous opening-week victory over Texas. Doug and Bill analyze poll results, debate updated College Football Playoff projections, review top national contenders, and share thoughts on notable shifts in team perception after Week 1. Throughout, they balance analytic breakdowns with fan-centered energy, a bit of rivalry banter, and their signature anti-Southern-CFB bias humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ohio State Ascends to No. 1 (01:25–04:54)

• Immediate Reactions to New Rankings
  • Ohio State claims No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches' Polls with 114 first-place votes.
  • Main competition: Penn State (13 first-place votes), LSU (4), Georgia and Oregon (1 each).
  • Polls delayed due to Monday night games and media suspense.
• Historical Perspective
  • Alabama: Most all-time weeks at No. 1 (141), Ohio State second (107).
  • OSU: 80 consecutive weeks in AP top 25 (only Alabama and Georgia longer currently).
  • OSU’s track record as AP No. 1: 75–12–1.

    "Ohio State has played 88 games as the number one team in the AP poll and is 75–12–1 in those games."
    – Bill Landis, 02:22

• Alabama’s Slip & Potential for an Upset
  • Hosts suggest Alabama shouldn't even be ranked after a Week 1 loss.

    "Bama dropped to 21. They shouldn't be ranked."
    – Doug, 04:19

  • Recall of Saban’s historic loss to UL Monroe; jokingly suggest calling former UL Monroe players.

Early Reactions & Playoff Rankings Discussion (05:46–08:15)

• Intent to Make This a Weekly Segment
  • Hosts plan weekly "Tuesday playoff projections" until the official committee rankings start.
• Reasoning for Ohio State at No. 1
  • OSU’s dominant win over Texas (“the former No. 1”) seen as the best resume win.
  • Some minor support for LSU at No. 1 from media, but generally not a consensus.

    "I said that I thought Ohio State should be a unanimous number one. You beat number one... That's a win."
    – Doug, 06:31

• Questioning Penn State's No. 2 Ranking
  • Both hosts find Penn State's No. 2 status unwarranted based on results so far.

    "It's silly that Penn State's number two."
    – Bill, 07:31

Biggest Perception Shifts After Week 1 (08:15–10:18)

• Miami’s Emergence
  • Bill and Doug both moved Miami up in their projections after an impressive win and physical, dominant performance over Notre Dame.

    "Miami look good. Sides of the line like, like dominated in a lot of ways."
    – Doug, 08:47

  • Special mention of Miami’s defensive line and new breakout receiver Malachi Tony.
  • Still cautious over Mario Cristobal’s game management.
• Debate Over Meaning of Big Upsets
  • Doug feels Miami’s win says more about the Hurricanes’ strength than Notre Dame’s weaknesses.
  • Skepticism about Alabama and Florida State based on current play and past performance trends.

SEC Shake-Up & Alabama’s Future (10:18–12:27)

• Alabama’s Spiral
  • Hosts predict more Bama losses, speculate about coach Kalen DeBoer's quick firing amid internal criticism.

    "I think it's over in Alabama. I think it's over."
    – Doug, 11:36

  • Rumors of buyout negotiations for DeBoer, with references to discontent among Bama alumni and “softness” criticism from AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson.

Live Playoff Projections: Post-Week 1 (12:44–16:32)

Bill Landis’s Playoff Bracket:

1. Ohio State (Big Ten Champ)
2. LSU (SEC Champ)
3. Miami (ACC Champ)
4. Penn State (Big Ten runner-up)
5. Texas (SEC)
6. Oregon (Big Ten)
7. Georgia (SEC)
8. Utah (Big 12 Champ)
9. Florida State (ACC)
10. Notre Dame
11. Iowa State (Big 12)
12. South Florida (G5 Representative)

Doug Lesmerises’s Playoff Bracket:

1. Ohio State
2. Texas
3. Miami
4. Penn State
5. LSU
6. Notre Dame
7. Utah
8. Oregon
9. Georgia
10. Clemson
11. Illinois
12. South Florida

• Agreement on Most Teams
  • “You and I have 10 of the 12 same teams.” (Doug, 14:14)
• South Florida as G5 Cinderella
  • Deep dive on Alex Golesh (South Florida head coach, Ohio/OSU roots), schedule, and their significance to the Group of 5’s CFP hopes.

Debates Over Clemson, LSU, and Texas (19:02–20:47)

• Clemson Out of Bill’s Bracket
  • Unimpressed by line play and receiver injuries.

    "I don't like what I saw there...line of scrimmage wasn't great."
    – Bill, 19:07

• LSU vs. Texas as SEC Favorites
  • Bill leans LSU (offensive upside), Doug still has faith in Texas despite loss.
  • Lighthearted tangent about former Patriot coaches and NFL connections.

Notre Dame, Utah, and Ohio State’s Path Forward (21:58–28:59)

• Notre Dame: Not Panicking
  • Both hosts keep Notre Dame in their playoff field, chalk up loss to Miami’s strength rather than major ND flaws.
  • O-line youth and inexperience noted as a possible hurdle, but skill talent praised.

    "I have not changed my mind much about Notre Dame other than their offensive line needs to get its feet under it."
    – Doug, 24:14

• Utah as Big 12 Frontrunner
  • Impressed by Utah’s dominant victory; believe their physical style will overwhelm league opposition.
• Is Ohio State the Team to Beat?
  • Discussion of OSU’s national title candidacy; both Bill and Doug lean toward the Buckeyes as favorites if close to full potential.

    "If they're 100 percent Ohio State, Bill, I don't think anyone's beating them."
    – Doug, 28:27

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Pollsters inertia." (Doug, 04:26) — Doug’s jab at the ranking system keeping Alabama in the Top 25.
• "I think it's 100 certainty. Kalen DeBoer is getting fired..." (Doug, 10:18) — on Bama’s turmoil.
• "We both have [Ohio State] as the one seed. If you were asked for a bet-your-house national championship pick today, would you pick Ohio State?"
  "Yeah." (Bill, 27:31–27:42)
• "Ohio State vs. Miami in Miami for the national title. I'd watch that." (Bill, 29:17)
• "Banger, banger." (Doug, 12:34) — on a loaded college football weekend.

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | OSU returns to No. 1, poll discussion | 01:25–04:54 | | Weekly playoff projections plan | 05:46–06:27 | | Why Ohio State must be No. 1 | 06:27–07:31 | | Penn State at No. 2 is "silly" | 07:31–08:15 | | Biggest team perception change | 08:15–10:18 | | Coaching hot seat rumors at Alabama | 10:18–12:27 | | Bill and Doug playoff brackets | 12:44–16:32 | | South Florida G5 bracket talk | 15:32–16:32 | | Clemson, LSU, Texas debates | 19:02–20:47 | | Notre Dame’s future outlook & schedule talk | 21:58–25:14 | | Utah’s Big 12 dominance | 25:20–26:11 | | Is Ohio State the best team in CFB? | 26:11–29:17 |

Summary

Bill and Doug break down why Ohio State is the clear No. 1 team, share skepticism about Alabama and Penn State’s current rankings, and offer detailed, updated playoff projections. Miami’s Week 1 rise and Alabama’s unraveling are hot topics. Both hosts remain bullish on Ohio State and believe the Buckeyes have the clearest path to another title, while also tracking storylines like Group of 5 upsets, coaching rumors, and the changing fortunes of national contenders.

Tone: Analytical, conversational, irreverent, anti-Southern CFB bias as always.
For Fans: Regular Tuesday playoff projections are a new staple, substack/podcast feed links provided.