Only five FBS teams currently have an offense, defense, and offensive line ranked within the top 25 of PFSN’s Impact scores. Using data dating back to 2019, this analysis examines how these metrics have historically correlated with playoff and championship outcomes, highlighting the factors that drive each team’s performance.
Alabama Crimson Tide
- PFSN College OFFi Rank:Â 5th (89.1, B+)
- PFSN College Defi Rank:Â 16th (84.8, B)
- PFSN College OLi Rank:Â 4th (88.6, B+)
The Alabama Crimson Tide rebounded from its loss to Florida State with another win over the Georgia Bulldogs. With an Offi score of 89.1, Alabama currently ranks higher on offense than defense. Entering the season, projections placed their defense among the nation’s top units, but through this point, the offense has been the stronger side.
Ty Simpson looks like one of the top 2026 quarterback prospects, and it definitely helps when you have an elite trio of weapons like Ryan Williams, Geramie Bernard, and Jam Miller. If the offensive line can continue to play at the level we have seen from them against Georgia, this Alabama team could certainly mirror the success of past teams.
There have been 46 teams to rank within our top 25 in all three categories since 2019. Of those teams, 25 of them missed the playoffs but made a bowl game. Nine of them lost in the playoffs, three of them lost in the national championship, and all six national champions were in this group. If Alabama can keep it up this season, they are in good company.
Miami Hurricanes
- PFSN College OFFi Rank: 19th (85.5, B)
- PFSN College Defi Rank: 5th (90.4, A-)
- PFSN College OLi Rank: 17th (85.7, B)
It really surprises me that the Miami Hurricanes rank 19th and 17th offensively and along their offensive line. Both of these units really stood out to start the season. Nonetheless, this hasn’t stopped their offense from playing incredibly. According to TruMedia, Miami ranks 25th in EPA (expected points added) per play and 23rd in points per drive.
Even more impressive is their fifth-ranked passing success rate and 21st-ranked passing EPA led by Carson Beck. I’ll admit, I wasn’t the biggest Carson Beck fan when he was a Bulldog. But he has done everything in his power to prove that he is more than capable of leading a top team. For comparison, PFSN’s QB Impact scores dashboard is used to evaluate him alongside Miami’s quarterback from last season and Georgia’s current quarterback.
Even though he is being compared to the number one overall pick in 2024, Cam Ward, Beck holds his own for the most part. He has a higher completion percentage and a similar net yards per attempt. Thus far, his grade is only slightly behind his. He absolutely blows Gunner Stockton out of the water in pretty much everything outside of rushing at this point.
Ohio State Buckeyes
- PFSN College OFFi Rank: 6th (86.7, B+)
- PFSN College Defi Rank: 2nd (95.1, A)
- PFSN College OLi Rank: 1st (91.9, A-)
The Ohio State Buckeyes enter this season with a strong opportunity to defend their national championship. Historical data since 2019 shows that LSU, Alabama, and Michigan did not rank within the top 25 across all categories in the year following their titles.
This year’s Ohio State team joins only the 2022 and 2023 Georgia teams as a team to win the national championship and reappear on this list the following season. 2022 Georgia repeated as national champs, and 2023 Georgia fell just short of a three-peat after barely missing the playoffs.
The main similarity between the Georgia team that repeated and this season’s Ohio State Buckeyes is defensive dominance. Georgia ranked number one that year with a 91.8 Defi grade, while the Buckeyes are second this year with an absurd 95.1 score. If the Buckeyes continue on their current path, it won’t be easy to prevent a repeat.
Oregon Ducks
- PFSN College OFFi Rank: 9th (87.5, B+)
- PFSN College Defi Rank: 24th (83.8, B)
- PFSN College OLi Rank: 15th (86.1, B)
The Oregon Ducks are among the teams best positioned to challenge Ohio State. Their defense currently ranks 24th, a figure influenced in part by the strength of schedule, and in last week’s matchup against Penn State, Oregon’s defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the season.
Drew Allar was pressured on 50% of his drop-backs and was sacked twice in the Oregon win over Penn State. Not only this, but they were able to force him outside of the pocket a total of 22 times. This matched the exact number of times Dante Moore was outside of the pocket. Credit where credit is due, Allar ranks 17th (Moore, 12th) this year in EPA outside the pocket, but Oregon’s defense was still very successful.
RELATED: Strength of Schedule for All 136 FBS College Football Teams
Offensively, Dante Moore is one of the game’s best passers and is the 1b to Fernando Mendoza’s 1a in my 2026 quarterback draft rankings. It’s crazy to think what this offense could do if Evan Stewart makes a playoff return after season-ending surgery in June. For the time being, the next true freshman phenom, Dakorien Moore, is absolutely holding down the fort.
Utah Utes
- PFSN College OFFi Rank: 15th (86.4, B)
- PFSN College Defi Rank: 21st (84.2, B)
- PFSN College OLi Rank: 23rd (83.4, B)
The final team that is currently on this list is the Utah Utes. While not quite as dominant as the others, Utah was competitive through three quarters of football in the one game that has actually been important for them this season. While Texas Tech was undoubtedly the better team, there is no denying the talent of this team.
Devon Dampier continues to impress, ranking 16th in our QBi impact scores and 32nd in passing EPA. It’s a bit surprising to see the offensive line only rank 23rd when they have two likely first-round picks in Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano.
This is likely because the offensive line as a whole met its match when going up against Romello Height and David Bailey. Texas Tech ranks 29th in pressure rate this season despite blitzing less than all but 14 teams, so it’s not a slight to say that Utah was overmatched in this one.
Overall, Utah has Arizona State and BYU in back-to-back matchups that will make or break this season. If we revisit this article and they remain ranked within the top 25 in all three categories after those two games, it might be time to respect the Utes.
