Miami keeps rolling, and the Hurricanes are starting to look like the team everybody else in the ACC is chasing.
Behind Darian Mensah’s 387 passing yards and four touchdowns, Miami hammered Pittsburgh 52-23 to move to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in ACC play. Freshman Malachi Toney stole the spotlight, setting a Miami single-game record with 16 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Next up is a trip to North Carolina on Saturday, with the Hurricanes trying to keep the streak alive and tighten their grip on the league.
Ohio State, meanwhile, enters its next stretch with a little uncertainty at quarterback after its bye. The Buckeyes are fresh off a 19-15 road win over Indiana that improved them to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play, but Julian Sayin’s right arm injury looms over what comes next.
Sayin threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns before going down, and his status could keep him out for several weeks. Ohio State heads to USC on Saturday, and if freshman Luke Fahey makes his first start, the Buckeyes will need their defense and running game to carry the load.
At Georgia, the week off follows a loss that stings. The Bulldogs dropped a 27-24 decision to Auburn at Sanford Stadium, falling to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play.
Now they turn to Florida in Atlanta on Saturday, with a chance to reset in one of the season’s biggest rivalry games. Georgia is looking for cleaner football and a quick return to form in the SEC race.
Indiana answered its Ohio State loss the right way. The Hoosiers edged Michigan 13-6 in overtime to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play.
Josh Hoover delivered the winning touchdown on a four-yard run, and Indiana’s defense kept Michigan out of the end zone. Minnesota comes to town next, and the Hoosiers are trying to keep themselves in the Big Ten Championship picture.
UCLA is still unbeaten and still building. The Bruins beat Michigan State 28-10 to improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play, with the defense helping set the tone throughout the game. Bob Chesney’s team keeps stacking wins and now gets Nevada at home, aiming for No. 8 and a continued place near the top of the national conversation.
Kentucky kept its streak alive with a comeback win over Vanderbilt, rallying from 10 points down to take a 34-17 victory. That pushed the Wildcats to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in SEC play, and it also extended their winning streak to six games.
Kenny Minchey threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, while Willie Rodriguez found the end zone both as a receiver and on the ground. Kentucky has a bye before heading to Tennessee on November 7.
BYU took its first loss in painful fashion, falling 39-31 in double overtime to UCF. The Cougars are now 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play.
Bear Bachmeier did his part with 257 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a rushing score, but BYU couldn’t finish the comeback. Arizona State visits next, and the Cougars need a response if they want to stay in the Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff mix.
Notre Dame also had a bye after a loss that still lingers. The Fighting Irish fell 28-24 to BYU and dropped to 6-1 on the year.
CJ Carr threw for 261 yards, and Jaden Greathouse caught eight passes for 125 yards, but it wasn’t enough. Navy comes to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, with Notre Dame trying to steady itself and keep its playoff hopes moving in the right direction.
Alabama answered its own challenge with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M, moving to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play. Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring passes in the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide now get a bye before traveling to LSU on November 7.
LSU is heading into that matchup with momentum of its own after a 38-17 road win at Auburn. The Tigers improved to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in SEC play, and Sam Leavitt was everywhere, throwing for 387 yards and three touchdowns while also running for another score. LSU has a bye before hosting Alabama, a chance to build on this performance and climb further in the standings.
Texas picked up one of its most important wins of the season, taking down Ole Miss 34-27 to improve to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. Arch Manning accounted for three touchdowns, including two on the ground, while Raleek Brown piled up 157 rushing yards.
The Longhorns survived the Rebels’ push and clinched it with a late interception in the end zone. Mississippi State visits Saturday.
Florida rounds out the group after a bye and a road win that changed the mood around the program. The Gators beat Texas 27-24, rallying from a 17-3 deficit and scoring 24 straight points to pull off the upset and improve to 5-2. Florida now turns right around to face Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, looking for another big finish under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall.
In Other News...
Florida Week Just Got More Interesting With This Gunner Stockton Take
Brad White knows Georgia well enough to appreciate what Gunner Stockton brings to the table, and the Kentucky defensive coordinator did not sound surprised by what he saw from the Bulldogs quarterback in a recent game. A former Georgia walk-on himself, White pointed to Stocktons ability to threaten defenses with both his arm and his legs, while also crediting the supporting cast around him. He noted the talent on Georgias offense and the quality up front, two things that have made life difficult for opposing defenses all season.
Whites comments only add another layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of weight, especially with Florida coming up next. From his perspective, the challenge is as much about surviving Georgias versatility as it is about slowing down one player, and he said he wants his Florida defense to be better prepared when that game arrives. For Georgia, it is another reminder that Stocktons presence is becoming harder for opponents to dismiss, even before the rivalry stage gets any bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Brooks Defends Georgia-Florida Decision Fans Have Been Debating
The debate over where Georgia-Florida should be played has been simmering ever since Jacksonvilles stadium renovations forced the rivalry onto a different stage, and Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks is now laying out why the program went along with the change. Brooks said the decision to keep the game at neutral sites came down to a mix of revenue, competitive balance and tradition, with the broader value of the matchup extending beyond one season or one venue.
Kirby Smart has made clear he would prefer more home games at Sanford Stadium, but the Bulldogs are also weighing the long-term benefits that come with neutral-site arrangements, including financial support from host cities and the chance to preserve one of college footballs most familiar settings. For now, the series shifts to Mercedes-Benz Stadium under a two-year relocation agreement before moving back to Jacksonville, leaving Georgia still navigating the same question fans keep asking: whether the tradeoff is worth it. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Knows This Florida Matchup Could Get Uncomfortable Fast
Buster Faulkner arrives with a familiarity that makes this week a little more interesting than the usual SEC East crossover. Floridas offensive coordinator spent time at both Georgia Tech and Georgia, so he has seen enough of Georgia up close to understand the rhythm of the program, the coaching style and the kind of problems that can still be created even when the talent gap is obvious.
Georgia did beat Georgia Tech every time Faulkner was on staff there, but those games were not always comfortable, which is part of why his presence matters here. Florida gets a coordinator who has already spent years around winning football in this state, and Georgia gets an opponent that may be able to lean on that inside knowledge as it shapes the plan for Saturday. [Read more 🡒]