Week 7 recap
The Georgia Bulldogs took over as the nation's No. 1 team heading into this week after claiming the spot from Texas, but their reign lasted just one week as the Auburn Tigers stunned them on the road, winning 27-24.
With 58 seconds remaining, Auburn began its final drive. Georgia looked close to stopping the Tigers again and forcing overtime, but an undisciplined roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. moved Auburn into field-goal range. Kicker Alex McPherson made a 34-yard field goal as time expired, sealing a stunning victory.
The Bulldogs appeared poised to complete a game-winning drive, but quarterback Gunner Stockton fumbled, giving Auburn possession and a chance to steal the victory. The last time the top-ranked teams lost to unranked opponents in back-to-back weeks was in 1990.
In a thriller out in Provo, BYU handed Notre Dame their first loss of the season. The win moved the Cougars up to No. 2 in the rankings, their highest ranking in program history since 1984, when they eventually claimed the No. 1 rank before going on to win the National Championship.
“We’re tired of being disrespected,” said BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier. “We know who we are. This was a great win for sure.”
“We knew our offense could score and we knew they could get us in position to take the lead,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “We’ve been in these tight games before. It felt normal for us.”
After Texas lost to unranked Oklahoma last week, the Longhorns faced another unranked team in the Florida Gators. But once again, the now former No. 7-ranked Texas crumbled, dropping another contest after the Gators' last-ranked defense in the SEC shut down the Longhorns’ dynamic offense led by quarterback Arch Manning.
The Gators rallied, scoring a touchdown right before the first half ended, then overwhelming Texas in the second half, tallying 17 more points and only letting the Longhorns get one more touchdown. 27-24 Florida, game over. Another loss sent Texas all the way to #19, while Florida returned to the rankings as #20.
The Tennessee Volunteers outplayed the Alabama Crimson Tide 26-10 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville in front of 102,000 people. After Alabama lost to Georgia last week, this marks the first time since 2007 that the Crimson Tide lost consecutive regular-season games.
The Vols improved to 6-1, and Alabama fell to 5-2. Tennessee’s defense was spectacular - it shut down quarterback Keelon Russell and contained him under control. He tallied just 147 yards and threw two interceptions.
“It's a tough environment,” Russell said. “I wouldn't say it was the environment that shook me. It was just a lack of a plan that I had. Just wasn't playing my game today.”
One year, nine months, and 27 days. That’s how long the Indiana Hoosiers didn’t taste a defeat. Indiana held a 22-game winning streak, including 19 straight wins at home. Not anymore. The Ohio State Buckeyes came to Bloomington determined to get redemption for last year, and edged Indiana 19-15 in the Big Ten title game rematch from 2025.
Ohio State celebrated a major win after Indiana failed on what would've been a wide-open touchdown pass, but the success had a dark side. Star quarterback Julian Sayin suffered a right arm injury and will most likely miss several weeks. At this point of the year, the rest of his season is threatened.
The upsets in Week 7 kept rolling. Former No. 22 LSU Tigers beat former No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0 in a dominant fashion. The Houston Cougars outlasted the Oklahoma State Cowboys 35-32 in the Big 12 showdown. But some favorites still held their ground - Kentucky defeated Oklahoma 21-13 and Northwestern beat Michigan State 24-21.
Oregon’s quarterback Dylan Raiola led the Ducks to a 17-14 victory over his former team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights beat the Maryland Terrapins on the road, and that sealed the fate of Maryland’s head coach Mike Locksley. The university fired him following the loss, as the Terps are 0-4 in the Big Ten.
After an eventful Week 7, college football returns with another dose of electric matchups. Losers had a chance to regroup and address mistakes, while winners kept working on their strengths, hunting for another victory to keep the streak going.
What games are worth watching in Week 8?
#7 Ole Miss Rebels vs. #19 Texas Longhorns
The stakes could hardly be higher for Texas. The Longhorns opened the season with championship aspirations and beat Ohio State in Week 2. But in the last two weeks, Texas suffered consecutive losses and now faces another major test against the Ole Miss Rebels. With their CFP hopes in danger, the Longhorns need a response—and quickly.
Ole Miss arrives in Austin with momentum and a dynamic offense led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels won two straight games since falling to Florida, and overwhelmed Missouri 31-3 last week. The game should be an epic battle between two elite quarterbacks.
Chambliss is a Heisman candidate - he has thrown for 1,676 yards and 14 touchdowns through six games, establishing himself as one of the conference's most dangerous offensive threats.
Texas’ Arch Manning leads one of the most dynamic offenses in the country but has been struggling, and Ole Miss can’t let him bounce back and get hot. The Rebels have a powerful running game.
Kewan Lacy rushed for 122 yards against Missouri, while Makhi Frazier added 101. The Rebels finished with 257 rushing yards in that victory, giving their offense another way to exploit opposing defenses.
The Longhorns haven’t been dominant on offense but stayed in games through their defensive effort. They proved their defense can suffocate opponents, and they are one of the best teams in the country when it comes to pass rushing and sacks. Texas must stay focused and disciplined on defense to overcome the problems on offense.
Focus point: Texas is battling adversity, and things just got even tougher for the home team. Longhorns star edge rusher Colin Simmons is listed as doubtful with a high ankle sprain, while running back Hollywood Smothers is questionable with a shoulder injury. Wide receiver Kaliq Lockett and offensive lineman Jaydon Chatman are also listed as questionable, and freshman edge defender Richard Wesley is out. Texas must find ways to fill those gaps if they want to stand on top on Saturday.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
#14 Houston Cougars vs. #10 Utah Utes
Houston jumped in the standings after beating Oklahoma State and improving to 6-1. The Utah Utes are going to be another tough test in the Big 12, as the two teams clash in a major conference showdown.
Both teams have emerged as legitimate conference contenders, but Saturday's matchup presents a particularly difficult challenge for Houston: ending Utah's unbeaten start in one of the toughest road environments in college football.
Utah is undefeated and rides a 12-game winning streak that dates back to last season. But Houston has emerged as one of the strongest conference teams and is fighting for the playoffs. The Cougars average 39.3 points and 485.1 total yards per game, giving them the firepower to challenge even the conference's strongest defenses.
The offense relies on quarterback Connor Weigman, who delivered a career-best performance against the Cowboys, throwing for 343 yards and five touchdowns, matching his career high in scoring passes. His ability to spread the ball around was especially impressive, as two different receivers surpassed 100 receiving yards.
Houston also boasts an effective rushing attack, averaging 220 yards per game. That balance will be vital against Utah, whose defense has been particularly effective at limiting opposing rushing games.
But Utah has been consistent and is the biggest Big 12 title candidate as of right now. The Utes average 40.2 points and 486.5 total yards per game, ranking among the nation's most productive offenses. Meanwhile, their defense has allowed just 14.8 points per game.
The Utes also have an effective running game led by Wayshawn Parker, who has rushed for 597 yards and seven touchdowns this season. His ability to gain yards on the ground gives Utah an alternative when its passing attack encounters difficulties.
This will be one of the best conference games fans will see this season. Utah is a slight favorite, but Houston cannot be overlooked even a bit. With both teams boasting effective defenses, this might be a low-scoring game decided by small margins.
Focus point: Utah boasts a great running game, but Houston has a strength of its own: stopping the run. The Cougars allow just 82.6 rushing yards per game, ranking among the nation's best. If they can contain Utah's ground attack, they will have a chance to turn this into a shootout decided by the quarterbacks.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:15 p.m. ET
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
#18 LSU Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers
The LSU Tigers travel to Auburn with a chip on their shoulder, striving to prove they can still claim the SEC crown. The Auburn Tigers just took down the former No. 1 team in the country, sending a clear message: don’t count us out.
Who will win the battle of the Tigers?
Auburn is riding a winning high and has confidence and momentum. After losing to the Kentucky Wildcats and suffering their second loss of the season, LSU shut down Mississippi State and must win to keep postseason ambitions alive.
The challenge for Auburn is to build on that statement win without suffering an emotional letdown. For LSU, this is an opportunity to secure a valuable SEC road victory and demonstrate that its defense can carry the team through a difficult conference schedule.
LSU has a dynamic offense led by Sam Leavitt, who has thrown for 1,785 yards so far. The Tigers also like to run the ball, as they average 196.1 rushing yards per game, which allows head coach Lane Kiffin to switch between strategies and plays depending on what’s going well for his team.
Auburn has a dual-threat quarterback in Byrum Brown, but the Tigers are less effective than LSU. However, Auburn has the home-field advantage, and if they don’t turn the ball over, they will stay in the game with a chance to win. LSU has struggled on the road and is yet to be consistent when not playing at home.
Turnovers will play a crucial role both ways: Auburn has recorded eight interceptions this season, and its ability to create turnovers was crucial against Georgia. If the Tigers can pressure Leavitt into mistakes, they could turn a difficult matchup into another opportunity for a statement victory.
Focus point: Auburn having a home-field advantage in this matchup is essential. Historically, the Tigers have performed well at home in this rivalry. LSU leads the series 30-24-1, but Auburn leads the series in games played at home with a 13–9 record. Recently, the matchups have been competitive in both venues. Six of the last eight meetings were decided by five points or fewer.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
#6 Indiana Hoosiers vs. Michigan Wolverines
Two Big Ten powerhouses meet in Ann Arbor on Saturday, as the Hoosiers travel to face Michigan. Indiana is looking to bounce back from its first regular-season loss in nearly two years, while the Michigan Wolverines hope a dramatic victory over Penn State can spark a turnaround. Indiana’s loss came from Michigan’s biggest rival, the Buckeyes.
Can the Wolverines prove they can beat the Hoosiers, too?
Michigan enters the game at 4-2, and everything is at stake for the Wolverines: another loss will most likely eliminate them from postseason contention, but a victory over a top 10 team would dramatically strengthen their resume.
On the other side, the Hoosiers must prove that they can compete in tough games and win consistently. Quarterback Josh Hoover remains central to Indiana's hopes of making another deep postseason run. He has thrown for 1,660 yards and 18 touchdowns without an interception, making him one of the most efficient passers in the country.
The Wolverines will most likely rely on a freshman playmaker in Tommy Carr - he is expected to make his first career start after subbing in for Bryce Underwood against Penn State. Underwood was benched after a poor offensive performance after throwing two interceptions and Michigan being scoreless at halftime. Carr completed five of seven passes for 47 yards and added 36 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries against Penn State.
Focus point: This is going to be a clash of one of the best defenses in the country. Indiana allows just 12.9 points per game, 278.6 total yards, and 75.4 rushing yards, while Michigan holds its opponents to 16.2 points per game, 256.5 total yards, and 89.7 rushing yards. This game might be low-scoring, but it will still be exciting with major conference play implications.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan