While we have only experienced two complete weeks in the college football season, fans and analysts are already attempting to draw major conclusions about how the remainder of the year will play out. It’s simply in our nature.

Some of our preliminary assessments may turn out to be spot-on, while others could be a bit premature. As always, we aim to provide some broader insight into these quick judgments.

Below are five of the most notable overreactions from Week 2, where we dive into one of college football’s never-ending discussions, assess which one-loss teams still have a shot at the title, and identify some potential worries for well-regarded teams.

Texas deserves the No. 1 spot

The Longhorns present a strong case. Winning decisively on the road against Michigan could be considered the standout victory of the season so far. It’s also worth noting that preseason rankings are subjective, so it’s reasonable to suggest that voters should reevaluate their placements.

However, there isn’t much justification for the voters who ranked Georgia and Ohio State ahead of Texas to change their minds just yet. Ultimately, where a team stands in early September doesn’t heavily influence the season’s endgame—especially with more teams now qualifying for the playoff. In short, polls can spark engaging debates among enthusiastic fans, but they shouldn’t cause undue stress or disputes.

Notre Dame is out of the playoff race

Any loss for the Fighting Irish was going to be detrimental, especially since they are not vying for a conference title. Their defeat against Northern Illinois, a team from outside the power conferences, is a disheartening trend that doesn’t necessarily eliminate their chances. If Notre Dame manages to finish with an 11-1 record, they may still find themselves in a favorable spot with the committee for a playoff spot.

However, going undefeated from here is a significant challenge for a team showing so much inconsistency. Additionally, well-known teams like the Fighting Irish can expect every opponent to be fully prepared to face them, beginning next week against in-state rival Purdue.

So, are there any chances left? (Cue ‘Dumb and Dumber’ meme.) While their odds are above zero, the margin for error has evaporated.

Michigan can still make a playoff run

Despite an early loss to a top-five opponent, there’s potential for the Wolverines to recover, especially given the quality wins possible in an expanded Big Ten. Yet, prior to that, there were signs of trouble as they barely defeated Fresno State, and currently, there isn’t enough evidence that this Michigan team can secure a high enough conference standing to be playoff contenders, even with the bigger field available.

Yes, teams have come back from early struggles (more on that later), and yes, the season is still in its infancy. But fans of Michigan need to be realistic; their chances for back-to-back playoff appearances appear quite slim.

Clemson is doing just fine

Perhaps “fine” is a generous term, but they are definitely much better than before.

The Tigers made a strong statement against Appalachian State, with Cade Klubnik throwing five touchdown passes, reminding fans of Clemson’s past championship offenses. However, let’s be realistic – the Mountaineers are not the same caliber as Georgia.

While Clemson deserves credit for coming back strong against a known giant-killer, we still need to see if they can replicate this performance against stronger defenses. Can Clemson claim the ACC title? Definitely. They are likely to be favored against all their conference rivals. Yet, while this performance was promising, we cannot declare that they have regained their elite status just yet.

Your favorite top-10 team’s close call is a clear warning sign

Multiple teams expected to be playoff contenders faced serious challenges against lesser Group of Five opponents. Oregon barely defeated Boise State with a last-second field goal, while Penn State struggled at home against Bowling Green, only securing a win by a touchdown. Even Alabama found themselves in a tight game against South Florida in the fourth quarter before pulling away for a seemingly comfortable 42-16 victory.

None of these close games should lead to panic for the teams involved, and they probably won’t. Boise State is a solid squad with an All-American caliber running back who might contend for a playoff spot by season’s end. Bowling Green is a seasoned team with a veteran quarterback that almost pulled off an upset.

This weekend, the MAC program is set to make a significant impact. Last season, South Florida pushed the Crimson Tide to their limits, showing that they were not fazed by the spotlight in Tuscaloosa.

Following the anxious chatter among fans on message boards can be almost as entertaining as the games themselves. The truth is, triumphing in college football is always challenging, even for teams that seem to make it look effortless week after week. Those teams that managed to come through their most recent challenges will likely find that it benefits them in the long run.