Top NCAA College Football Games in Review: Week 7
The craziest week of the year so far.
6:45AM 10/18/2026
This weekend of college football might have been the craziest week of the year so far.
Coming into Saturday, several of the top teams in the country looked like legitimate playoff contenders, and a few were starting to separate themselves from the rest of the field. By the end of the day, almost everything had changed. Five of the top seven teams in the country took losses, including the #1 and #2 teams in the nation. Some of the biggest programs in college football suffered shocking defeats, while others took advantage of the chaos to make a statement. If there was ever a weekend that showed why you have to play the games instead of just looking at the rankings, this was it.
Auburn 27 vs Georgia 24
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA
This was probably the biggest upset of the weekend, and it came in the most dramatic way possible. Georgia entered this game as the #1 team in the country, playing at home and looking to continue its run toward another SEC Championship. Auburn had other plans, though, and the Tigers pulled off a massive 27-24 upset that nobody saw coming.
Auburn actually got off to a terrible start, falling behind by 14 points in the first quarter. Most teams would have folded against the defending national powerhouse, but Auburn kept fighting and slowly worked its way back into the game. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton had a solid day through the air, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but his three turnovers ultimately proved to be the difference.
The biggest moment came with less than a minute left in the game. Stockton fumbled the ball, giving Auburn possession and a chance to steal the victory. The Tigers took advantage, drove into field-goal range, and Alex McPherson nailed a 34-yard field goal as time expired. What a finish in Athens! Georgia suffers its first loss of the season and falls to 6-1, while Auburn picks up one of the biggest wins in its recent history. The Bulldogs will have some serious questions to answer moving forward, and the SEC just got a whole lot more interesting.
BYU 28 vs Notre Dame 24
LaVell Edwards Stadium – Provo, UT
The luck ran out, or really just the clock on the Irish Saturday night. If you thought Georgia's loss was shocking, Notre Dame's defeat was just as significant. The Fighting Irish came into Saturday ranked #2 in the country and undefeated at 6-0. BYU was also undefeated, though, and playing in Provo is never an easy task for a visiting team. The Cougars proved they belonged in the conversation with a huge 28-24 victory over the Irish.
This was a back-and-forth game that came down to the final minutes. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was the star of the show, contributing in just about every way possible. He threw for a touchdown, ran for two more, and even caught a touchdown pass. It was an unbelievable all-around performance that helped the Cougars keep pace with Notre Dame throughout the afternoon.
The biggest play came with less than two minutes remaining, when Bachmeier connected with Walker Lyons on a six-yard touchdown pass to give BYU the lead. Notre Dame had its opportunities, but the Irish couldn't find an answer late. Great win for BYU, which moves to 6-0 and puts itself firmly in the playoff conversation. Notre Dame falls to 6-1, and after losing to one of the other top undefeated teams in the country, the Irish will have to regroup quickly. With Georgia and Notre Dame both losing on the same day, the playoff picture is already looking completely different.
Miami 43 vs Florida State 35 (2OT)
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
This was the game that reminded everyone why rivalry weekend matchups are so special. Miami and Florida State went at it in a double-overtime thriller that had just about everything you could ask for. Big plays, explosive offenses, momentum swings, and a finish that came down to the final possessions. Miami entered the game ranked #3 in the country, and after a 43-35 win over its rival, the Hurricanes might be sitting at the top of the rankings come Sunday.
Miami's offense was rolling all afternoon, led by QB Darian Mensah, who threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Malachi Toney was absolutely electric, catching 11 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also came up with the biggest plays of the game in overtime, catching the go-ahead touchdown before throwing the successful two-point conversion pass to seal the victory.
Florida State deserves some credit, too. The Seminoles put up a serious fight and made Miami earn every bit of this win. QB Ashton Daniels threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, keeping Florida State in the game even when the Hurricanes looked ready to pull away.
This was a massive win for Miami, which improves to 6-0 and is now in position to take over the #1 spot in the country. The Hurricanes survived a major scare and proved they can win a game when things don't go perfectly. Florida State falls to 3-4, and while the Seminoles showed plenty of offensive potential, they will be disappointed to let this one slip away. Miami is officially one of the teams everyone needs to be watching.
Ohio State 19 vs Indiana 15
Memorial Stadium – Bloomington, IN
This was the matchup everyone had circled before the weekend, with #4 Ohio State traveling to take on #5 Indiana. The Hoosiers entered the game undefeated and riding a 22-game winning streak, making this one of the biggest tests of the season for both programs. In the end, Ohio State came out on top in a defensive battle, handing Indiana its first loss of the year.
Neither offense had an easy time getting going, and the game remained close throughout. Ohio State eventually found its big moment in the fourth quarter when QB Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith for a 38-yard touchdown. Smith came up huge when the Buckeyes needed him most, helping Ohio State extend its lead late in the game.
Indiana wasn't done, though. The Hoosiers responded with a touchdown of their own and a successful two-point conversion to cut the deficit to four. With just over a minute remaining, Indiana had one final opportunity to take the lead, but a fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete.
Credit to Ohio State for finding a way to win on the road against one of the hottest teams in the country. The Buckeyes move to 6-1 and should be firmly in the mix for a playoff spot. Indiana falls to 6-1, ending its incredible winning streak, but this loss doesn't mean the Hoosiers are out of the picture. They proved they can compete with the best teams in the country, and there is still plenty of football left to play.
Tennessee 26 vs Alabama 10
Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN
Alabama has had a rough couple of weeks, and Saturday's loss to Tennessee only adds to the concerns in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide entered the game ranked #6 in the country, while Tennessee came in at #14. This was a huge rivalry game with major SEC implications, and the Volunteers took full advantage of playing at home.
For much of the first half, this game was a defensive battle. Alabama struggled to get anything going offensively, and Tennessee slowly began to take control. The Volunteers really pulled away in the second half behind running back DeSean Bishop, who rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Bishop was nearly unstoppable after halftime, accounting for the plays that helped Tennessee turn a close game into a comfortable win.
Alabama's offense was the biggest concern. The Crimson Tide managed just 201 total yards and turned the ball over four times. QB Keelon Russell threw two interceptions, and Alabama never really found the rhythm it needed to get back into the game.
This is a huge win for Tennessee, which improves to 6-1 and picks up another important victory in the SEC race. The Volunteers have now won three straight home games against Alabama, something that would have been hard to imagine during the Tide's dominant run in this rivalry. Alabama falls to 5-2 and has now lost back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2007. The Tide still has time to turn things around, but the margin for error is getting smaller every week.
Florida 27 vs Texas 24
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, TX
Texas continues to be one of the biggest disappointments of the season. After starting the year with championship expectations and climbing as high as #1 in the rankings, the Longhorns have now lost back-to-back games. This time, it was an unranked Florida team that walked into Austin and pulled off the upset, winning 27-24.
The game started well enough for Texas, but Florida found its footing and completely changed the momentum. The Gators scored 24 unanswered points to take control of the game, putting the pressure squarely on the Longhorns to respond. Florida quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., making his first career start, looked surprisingly comfortable in a difficult road environment. He threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jadan Baugh added a key touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
Texas tried to make things interesting in the closing minutes. Arch Manning connected with Cam Coleman for a touchdown to cut the deficit to three, giving the Longhorns a chance to tie or win the game. Unfortunately for Texas, Manning was sacked and fumbled the ball with less than two minutes remaining, allowing Florida to recover and effectively end the comeback attempt.
This is a huge win for Florida, which improves to 5-2 and gets a much-needed boost to its season. For Texas, though, this is a very concerning loss. The Longhorns fall to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play, and their playoff hopes are suddenly in serious danger. After losing to Oklahoma last weekend, Texas needed a strong response. Instead, the Longhorns have more questions than answers heading into the next stretch of the season.
Ole Miss 31 vs Missouri 3
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium – Oxford, MS
While most of the country was focused on the upsets happening around the nation, Ole Miss quietly put together one of the most impressive performances of the weekend. The #9 Rebels hosted #13 Missouri in a matchup that had major implications for the SEC standings, and the result was never really in doubt after Ole Miss found its rhythm.
QB Trinidad Chambliss had a fantastic day, throwing three touchdown passes and adding another score on the ground. The Rebels' offense was balanced, productive, and efficient, while the defense completely shut down Missouri after allowing an early field goal. From that point forward, Ole Miss scored 31 unanswered points and never looked back.
Missouri came into the game with a strong record and plenty of confidence, but the Tigers struggled to establish their running game and couldn't find the end zone. The defense had no answer for Ole Miss, and the offense was unable to capitalize on its opportunities.
This was exactly the type of win Ole Miss needed. The Rebels improve to 5-1 and establish themselves as a serious contender in the SEC. In a weekend when so many top teams stumbled, Ole Miss did the opposite and took care of business against another ranked opponent. Missouri falls to 5-2, and after a performance like this, the Tigers will need to regroup quickly if they want to remain in the playoff conversation.
Final Thoughts
What a weekend of college football. Five of the top seven teams in the country lost, including both #1 Georgia and #2 Notre Dame. Miami survived a double-overtime thriller against Florida State, Ohio State ended Indiana's incredible winning streak, and Tennessee picked up a statement win over Alabama. Meanwhile, Florida shocked Texas, Auburn stunned Georgia, and BYU knocked off Notre Dame in one of the biggest games of the season.
The biggest takeaway from this weekend is that nobody is safe. Teams that looked like playoff locks just a week ago now have serious questions to answer, while programs like Miami, BYU, Ole Miss, and Ohio State have positioned themselves to make a major move in the rankings. The SEC is wide open, the Big Ten race is getting more interesting, and the Big 12 has several undefeated teams still fighting for national attention.
Miami is in a great position to take over the #1 ranking, but there is still a lot of football left to play. One thing is certain: if this weekend is any indication of what's coming, the road to the College Football Playoff is going to be wild.
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