Kirk Herbstreit reveals his Top 3 College Football teams after Week 1

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Kirk Herbstreit has revealed his top three college football teams after an action-packed opening week. The ESPN analyst highlighted Miami, Indiana and LSU after seeing their new-look rosters make early statements.

Speaking on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Stephen A. Smith asked Herbstreit to name the nation’s best teams. Herbstreit immediately pointed toward Miami before naming the defending national champion and LSU.

“I got to start with Darian Mensah transferring over from Duke down to Miami,” Herbstreit said. He praised Miami after the Hurricanes “just blew Stanford out of the water,” putting them firmly in his early playoff discussion.

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Miami’s quarterback change has immediately become a major storyline. Mensah arrived from Duke with questions about his transition, but Herbstreit liked what he saw alongside Malachi Toney and the Hurricanes’ supporting cast.

Indiana also earned a place in Herbstreit’s top three after replacing Fernando Mendoza with Josh Hoover. The former TCU starter threw four touchdown passes in Indiana’s 52-16 season-opening win over North Texas.

Herbstreit pointed to Indiana’s coaching continuity as another major advantage. “I feel like they got the best offensive and defensive coordinator on one team in college football,” he said. “Got incredible continuity. So I got to put Indiana up there.”

LSU rounds out Kirk Herbstreit’s early top three college football teams

LSU completed Herbstreit’s list after a dominant opening performance against Clemson. The Tigers won 51-10 while new quarterback Sam Leavitt accounted for three touchdowns.

“I think I got to put LSU up there just based on what I saw in that opening game with Leavitt coming over,” Herbstreit said.

Herbstreit also credited offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. for LSU’s early success. “Charlie Weiss Jr. doesn’t get enough credit,” he said. “Charlie Weiss Jr. is running that show as an offensive coordinator and play caller.”

That distinction matters because LSU’s offense now enters a new phase under Lane Kiffin. Leavitt’s arrival gives the Tigers another dynamic element while Weis continues handling the offensive operation.

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Herbstreit also mentioned Notre Dame as a team to watch. “Another team we just don’t know yet is Notre Dame,” he said.

So, for now, Miami, Indiana and LSU have his attention. Their early performances provide a useful starting point, but tougher conference games will ultimately determine whether they belong among the nation’s elite.

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