Week 8 of the 2025 college football season delivered its usual dose of chaos, with several upsets shaking up the landscape. Miami fell to Louisville, and Nebraska lost to Minnesota on Friday night. Saturday saw Arizona State take down Texas Tech, Vanderbilt edged LSU, and UAB shocked Memphis. Ranked matchups also provided plenty of excitement, with Georgia overcoming Ole Miss, Alabama dominating Tennessee, BYU sliding past Utah, and Notre Dame overpowering USC.
With the 2026 NFL Draft still months away, NFL draft analysts are already hard at work evaluating top prospects and formulating their rankings for what promises to be an intriguing class. Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, and Jordan Reid are closely monitoring the CFB season, providing draft-centric analysis each week. They’re addressing pressing questions about the best 2026 prospects, sharing insights from scouts, highlighting rising talents, and offering a behind-the-scenes look at their evaluation process.
October 19
Call it now, how many wide receivers will go in Round 1?
Reid projects five receivers with Round 1 grades, singling out Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Makai Lemon (USC) as his top two. Despite contrasting skill sets, both players offer unique qualities. Tyson is a polished route runner with strong hands and run-after-catch ability, evidenced by his 105-yard, one-touchdown performance against Texas Tech. Lemon, a versatile option with exceptional body control, routinely makes difficult catches look routine, as showcased by his four catches for 76 yards against Notre Dame. Reid considers Tyson his WR1, albeit in a tight race.
Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Chris Bell (Louisville), and Denzel Boston (Washington) are also deemed first-round caliber. Each had impressive weeks, with Tate recording 111 yards and two touchdowns against Wisconsin, Bell racking up 136 yards and two touchdowns against Miami, and Boston contributing 71 yards against Michigan. While this class may lack a clear-cut top-10 pick at receiver, Reid anticipates several WRs being selected in the middle to late stages of Round 1.
Is Jeremiyah Love a surefire top-10 pick?
Miller believes Love is the closest thing to a surefire top-10 pick in this class. The Notre Dame running back delivered a standout performance against USC, rushing for 228 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while also adding five catches for 37 yards. Love’s performance underscored his ability to carry the Irish offense to a significant victory. Scouts rave about the 6-foot, 214-pound back’s burst, long speed, and vision.
One AFC scouting director drew comparisons to Reggie Bush, noting Love’s superior finishing ability. “Love has a little more finish to his game; he’ll put his shoulder down and make you pay, but he’s so agile and quick through the hole and that first cut. He’s dangerous.” Teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Arizona Cardinals, all potentially holding top-11 draft picks, could benefit from adding an impactful back like Love.
What else are we seeing and hearing?
Kiper highlights Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers, who had a strong showing against Georgia Tech, recording seven tackles and two passes defended. Rivers’ route recognition skills are exceptional, and he displays excellent ball-tracking ability. His physicality against the run is also noteworthy, despite his size (5-foot-10, 185 pounds). Kiper currently ranks Rivers as the No. 8 CB in the class but sees potential for him to move into the top 4 or 5, solidifying his status as a Day 2 prospect.
Miller points to Miami quarterback Carson Beck’s four-interception outing against Louisville as a cause for concern. Beck’s struggles with ball placement and decision-making under pressure have raised doubts about his potential as a starting-caliber NFL prospect.
Reid notes Oregon QB Dante Moore’s rebound performance against Rutgers (15-of-20 for 290 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception) following a subpar showing against Indiana. While Moore remains in Round 1 discussions, Reid emphasizes the small sample size and the importance of upcoming matchups against quality opponents like Iowa.
Miller praises the Missouri pass rush, particularly Zion Young, who was “unblockable” against Auburn, recording five tackles, two sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss. Young, along with teammate Damon Wilson II, is considered a top-50 talent.
Kiper spotlights Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore, who has impressed over the past three games, including a two-sack performance against Washington. Moore’s ability to generate pressure and set the edge against the run makes him a potential third- or fourth-round pick.
Reid mentions USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane, who is starting to emerge after an early-season injury. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver offers a wide catch radius and could be a player to watch down the stretch, especially with Lemon drawing significant defensive attention.
Kiper discusses Alabama’s Germie Bernard, potentially a WR5 candidate in this class. Bernard’s versatility was on full display in Alabama’s win over Tennessee, where he caught five passes for 60 yards, rushed four times for 49 yards, and blocked effectively.
Miller highlights Oregon defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, whose quickness off the snap and ability to stop the run make him a legitimate Round 1 prospect.
October 12
The analysts address the lack of a clear QB1, the struggles of South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and other rising and falling prospects. Drew Allar’s season-ending injury, Damon Wilson II’s emergence, and LT Overton’s potential were also discussed. John Mateer’s hand injury raised concerns, while Kadyn Proctor’s performance against Missouri drew mixed reviews. CJ Allen’s impressive game and A’Mauri Washington’s solid play were also noted. Elijah Sarratt’s continued success and Quintrevion Wisner’s emergence as a running back option were highlighted. Daniel Sobkowicz was mentioned as a late-Day 3 guy to watch.
October 5
Nico Iamaleava’s improved performance, the number of potential Miami first-rounders, Carnell Tate’s rise, and Carson Beck’s continued improvement were among the topics discussed. The struggles of Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Cashius Howell’s breakout season, and Jake Golday’s impact on the Cincinnati defense were also noted.
September 28
Scouts’ opinions on Drew Allar’s season, the number of top-50 picks on Ohio State’s roster, and Dante Moore’s poise were among the key takeaways. Jeremiyah Love’s breakout game, Jordyn Tyson’s continued success, and Makai Lemon’s emergence were also discussed. Matayo Uiagalelei’s hustle, Dae’Quan Wright’s big-play ability, Fernando Mendoza’s strong performance, and Kadyn Proctor’s inconsistency were also highlighted. Caden Curry was mentioned as a sleeper prospect from Ohio State.
September 21
John Mateer’s hand injury, Makai Lemon’s impressive play, and Fernando Mendoza’s standout performance against Illinois were key discussion points. Peter Woods’ struggles, Eric Gentry’s potential, and Justice Haynes’ rise were also noted. David Bailey’s strong showing against Utah’s offensive tackles, Damon Wilson II and Zion Young’s continued success, and Taylen Green’s potential were also highlighted. Max Tomczak was mentioned as a potential late-round pick.
September 14
Carson Beck’s revived draft stock, the WR1 race, Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu from Utah, John Mateer’s continued strong play, and Fernando Mendoza’s potential were all discussed. Rueben Bain Jr.’s first-round potential, Arvell Reese’s rise, Cade Klubnik’s struggles, and the overall disappointing quarterback class were also noted. Caleb Banks’ injury and the potential of Kenyon Sadiq were also mentioned. Ethan Onianwa’s struggles and Will Heldt’s emergence were also discussed. Sawyer Robertson was mentioned as an emerging talent.
