Week 7 has the feel of a week that can shake the top 25 hard.
Five top-12 teams are in upset-alert territory, and the slate is loaded with matchups that could send the AP poll into a spin by Sunday morning. With big games stacking up in the SEC and Big Ten, and Notre Dame stepping into the first of three ranked showdowns on its November path, several highly ranked teams are heading into tricky spots against opponents eager to make a national statement.
No. 2 Notre Dame travels to No.
8 BYU as a 10.5-point favorite, but that number comes with plenty of pressure attached. Kalani Sitake said the Fighting Irish reached out last December about scheduling the game after the Notre Dame-USC series was put on hold, and he made clear how much that meant to him.
The trip also gives Notre Dame a shot to strengthen its resume before games against Miami and SMU in November.
BYU has been stout at home under Sitake, going 47-16 at LaVell Edwards Stadium and winning 26 of its last 32 there. Saturday night will be the Cougars’ first home game against a top-10 opponent in program history, and the setting could get lively if Bear Bachmeier and the offense can get production with LJ Martin in the backfield. Notre Dame has rolled through a 16-game winning streak dating back to last season, but Week 7 is the first time that run is set to be seriously tested.
No. 6 Alabama heads to No.
14 Tennessee in a matchup that should have plenty of edge after last week’s controversial loss to Georgia left the Crimson Tide plenty motivated. Kalen DeBoer’s last trip to Neyland Stadium ended in a 24-17 loss in 2024, and Tennessee has beaten Alabama in Knoxville in the last two meetings there on The Third Saturday in October.
The quarterback situation in Knoxville adds another layer. Josh Heupel was vague Monday when asked about his plan this week after George MacIntyre started Tennessee’s Week 6 win at Arkansas because Faizon Brandon was injured. Alabama’s defensive staff, led by Kane Wommack, is waiting to see whether Brandon, the more dynamic option, is back and ready to go once updated injury reports arrive Wednesday through Friday.
One thing Alabama can count on is a heavy workload for DeSean Bishop. When he has topped 100 rushing yards in a game over the last three seasons, Tennessee is 6-1, with the lone loss coming last season against Alabama.
No. 7 Texas also lands in upset-alert territory with Florida coming to Austin. Jon Sumrall has already acknowledged he is getting more hands-on with his team’s issues, saying, "full disclosure", that the increased involvement across problem areas is meant to make sure players understand the standard he expects.
That sort of response could matter if Florida brings a sharper edge to the field this weekend, especially with Texas dealing with stretches of uneven offense like the one it showed late against Oklahoma. Arch Manning, Cam Coleman and the Longhorns have the kind of talent that can punish a shaky secondary, but Florida enters after back-to-back SEC blowout losses and knows it needs a response.
No. 9 Ole Miss faces No.
13 Missouri in another matchup with real upset potential. Eli Drinkwitz is weary of the questions about whether Ahmad Hardy might return this season, especially with another ball carrier stepping up in his absence and delivering consecutive 200-yard games.
Missouri’s ground game has become one of the best developments in the country, with annual production that stands out nationally.
Austin Simmons has been excellent too, throwing for 1,434 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception. Still, when Ole Miss is involved, the focus keeps circling back to how the opponent runs the ball, thanks to the Rebels’ issues with angles and tackling under Pete Golding. Missouri’s fourth-quarter collapse at Mississippi State two weeks ago is the only thing keeping the Tigers from being unbeaten and, perhaps, ranked ahead of Ole Miss.
No. 12 UCLA rounds out the group, back home against Wisconsin after knocking off Oregon in Week 6. The Bruins are one of only two unbeaten teams left in the Big Ten, but the win came with a major cost: Nico Iamaleava is likely done for the season, leaving Ty Dieffenbach, a senior transfer from Cal Poly, as the new offensive manager.
That makes the ground game even more important, and Wayne Knight will be central after piling up 548 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wisconsin arrives in Los Angeles on a four-game win streak since its opener against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, and the Badgers also had an extra week to prepare. That combination is part of why the line could shrink to below a field goal by kickoff.
In Other News...
Georgia's Alabama Win Just Got More Complicated For Kirby Smart
Georgias win over Alabama in Week 6 pushed Kirby Smarts team to 6-0 and kept the Bulldogs at No. 1, but it also added another layer of concern to what had already become a physical stretch. Smart pointed to the injury situation after the game, and one of the bigger hits in the backfield involves junior running back Chauncey Bowens, who is dealing with a lower-body injury.
Bowens is set to miss the Week 7 trip to Auburn, and there is no timetable yet for his return. With Bowens and Nate Frazier both dealing with injuries, Georgia has been forced into a committee approach at running back, a setup that works in the short term but leaves Smart managing one more variable as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have To Reshuffle Key Spots Before Tennessee
Alabamas first SEC availability report for Saturdays trip to Tennessee offered an early look at the kind of lineup juggling Kalen DeBoer may have to manage in a rivalry game that rarely leaves much margin for error. The list included several players in various categories, but the most immediate concerns came with Ryan Coleman-Williams and Terrance Green ruled out, both dealing with injuries that could force the Tide to adjust on the fly before they even get to Knoxville.
Coleman-Williams is working through knee and head injuries, while Green is sidelined with a lower-leg issue, leaving Alabama to sort out key spots if those absences hold through game day. DeBoer said this week that he had updates on player conditions and potential replacements for injured starters, which means the Tide are already weighing how to reshuffle important roles before facing a Tennessee team that will be eager to test any thin spots in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense May Finally Get The Help It Needs Vs Tennessee
Alabamas defense has been carrying a heavy load lately, and the weekly availability report offered at least one encouraging sign before the Tennessee game. Star receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and defensive tackle Terrance Green were listed as out, but sophomore linebacker Justin Hill was tagged as probable, setting up a potential boost for a unit that has needed more speed, flexibility and depth in the middle of the field.
Hills return would matter because Alabama has been looking for ways to lighten the burden on its linebackers while sharpening its pressure up front. A player who can give the defense more versatility can also help the Tide rotate more cleanly and keep fresh legs on the field, which is exactly the kind of support this matchup could demand. [Read more 🡒]