Georgia’s road win at Alabama was the kind of result that can shake up a season, and it put the Bulldogs right back at the top of Maxman’s Auburn Week Top 12. Kirby Smart’s team left Tuscaloosa with a 20-17 victory, moved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in SEC play, and now heads home to Sanford Stadium with a chance to keep everything rolling.
Gunner Stockton finished with 249 passing yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score, while Dwight Phillips Jr. added 120 rushing yards. Next up is Auburn, and Georgia will try to keep its winning streak in the series at 10 games.
The biggest mover in the top two spot is Miami, which is on a bye after its eye-opening 41-13 blowout of Clemson on the road. The Hurricanes are 5-0 overall and 3-0 in ACC play, and the next hurdle is Florida State in a rivalry game that always carries weight. Miami has stayed perfect so far, and now the challenge is holding that spot near the top of the league while the season builds steam.
Notre Dame keeps looking every bit like a team built for a long run. The Fighting Irish rolled Stanford 58-7 to stay unbeaten at 6-0, and freshman running back Jonaz Walton was the headline, piling up 181 yards and two touchdowns.
One of those came on a 97-yard burst that blew the game open. Now the Irish go to Provo for a top-10 showdown with undefeated BYU, with a resume-boosting win sitting right there for the taking.
Ohio State’s offense also stayed sharp in a 45-16 win over Maryland, and Julian Sayin did the heavy lifting through the air. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play.
The next test is much stiffer: a trip to Bloomington to face undefeated Indiana. For Ohio State, it’s the sort of conference road game that can tell you plenty about where this team really stands.
Alabama’s first loss came at home, and it came against Georgia in a tight 20-17 finish. Keelon Russell threw for 185 yards and a touchdown and added 41 rushing yards, but the Crimson Tide couldn’t close it out in the fourth quarter. At 5-1 overall, Alabama now turns to Tennessee in the Third Saturday in October rivalry, with the Tide still trying to stay in the SEC and College Football Playoff race.
Texas also took its first hit, dropping a 27-24 Red River Rivalry game to Oklahoma. Arch Manning put up big numbers with 260 passing yards and three touchdowns, hitting Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Jermaine Bishop Jr., but two interceptions hurt the Longhorns at the wrong time.
Texas is back home next for Florida, which is coming off a 38-19 loss to South Carolina. The Longhorns need to clean things up quickly if they want to get back on track in the SEC.
Indiana’s comeback at Nebraska was one of the most impressive finishes on the board. The Hoosiers rallied to win 20-17 on the road and moved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play.
Nick Marsh had a monster day with six catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns, and Indiana’s defense came through with the late stops it needed. The reward is a massive home game against Ohio State, with a chance to make an even louder statement in the conference race.
BYU answered with a 24-10 win over Iowa State and stayed unbeaten at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play. Bear Bachmeier was outstanding, throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 109 yards. The Cougars now welcome Notre Dame for one of the weekend’s biggest games, and they have a real shot to turn a strong start into a national conversation.
Ole Miss handled business at Vanderbilt, winning 52-17 to improve to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play. Trinidad Chambliss went 20 of 30 for 213 yards and three touchdowns and also scored on the ground.
The Rebels also did real damage with turnovers, turning four takeaways into 24 points. Missouri is next after its 27-6 win over Texas A&M, so Ole Miss gets another important league test at home.
UCLA pulled off one of the most surprising results of the weekend, beating Oregon 17-15 on the road to stay unbeaten at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play. The Bruins’ defense was the story, forcing seven turnovers and limiting the Ducks to 272 total yards. Wayne Knight scored twice, and UCLA now comes home to face Wisconsin.
Texas Tech enters the week on a bye after its 29-7 road win over Colorado, a result that pushed the Red Raiders to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. They return to Lubbock to take on Arizona State in a matchup between recent Big 12 champions. Texas Tech will be trying to keep the undefeated start intact while leaning on the same defensive edge that has carried it this far.
Utah rounds out the list after its 41-24 win over Kansas, another clean step forward in an unbeaten start. The Utes are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, and Devon Dampier delivered four touchdowns with 238 passing yards, three through the air and one on the ground. Next is a trip to Boulder to face Colorado, with Utah looking to keep rolling and keep its place in the Big 12 race.
In Other News...
Alabama Finally Responded After Raylen Wilson Postgame Confrontation
Georgias win at Bryant-Denny Stadium was already a big postgame moment, but it quickly turned into something else when a confrontation with linebacker Raylen Wilson was caught on video and spread across social media. Alabama later identified the fan involved and took action, a response that brought some closure to an incident that never should have followed the game into the tunnel area.
Kirby Smart had already pointed to Wilsons composure in the moment, a steady response from a player who had every reason to be rattled by the exchange. Alabama also condemned the behavior as unacceptable, and the episode now stands as another reminder of how quickly emotions can spill over after a high-profile SEC matchup, especially when the cameras keep rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Gunner Stockton Faces A Bigger Test As Georgia's Backfield Thins
Gunner Stockton is one of the names getting early Heisman buzz, but the more immediate concern for Georgia is the shape of its backfield as the schedule keeps getting tougher. The Bulldogs have leaned on Stockton to steady the offense, and his upcoming matchup now comes with added importance because the people around him may not be as plentiful as before.
For Georgia, that changes the equation in a hurry. A thinner backfield can put more on the quarterbacks plate, especially when the defense knows the game plan may have to be trimmed and every possession matters. Stockton has already put himself in the national conversation, but this next stretch will say a lot about how well he can carry it when the margins get tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Secondary Suddenly Has A Bigger Auburn Concern Than Fans Expected
Georgias secondary got a little more complicated heading into Auburn week when the Bulldogs released an updated injury report that pushed safety KJ Bolden to doubtful. Georgia has dealt with absences elsewhere on the roster as well, but Boldens status stands out because it comes against an Auburn team the Bulldogs will want to handle cleanly on the back end. Even with the uncertainty, Georgia does have ways to shuffle pieces around in the defensive backfield if needed.
The bigger issue now is simply waiting for the next round of availability updates as the SEC continues to release injury reports before kickoff. Georgia will have to keep preparing for multiple scenarios, especially if Bolden cannot go, since the staff may need to adjust the secondary on short notice. For a defense that wants stability entering a rivalry game, the timing is not ideal. [Read more 🡒]