Week 6 turned the AP Top 25 into a mess, and that’s exactly what makes the next poll so interesting. Three of the 10 highest-ranked teams lost, including two from the top six, and that kind of shake-up always sends voters back to the tape and the resume sheets with a fresh headache. The biggest domino falls at the very top: Texas is almost certain to vacate No. 1 after its three-point loss to rival Oklahoma, opening the door for Georgia after the Bulldogs’ own statement win.
Georgia looks set to seize the top spot, while Notre Dame’s 51-point demolition of Stanford still won’t be enough to jump all the way to No. 1. Miami, meanwhile, was idle and should still benefit from the chaos around it before returning to action against Florida State.
Texas’ fall, though, is only part of the story. The Longhorns’ loss to unranked Oklahoma was fueled by two costly giveaways from Arch Mannings, but the win over Ohio State remains a major piece of their profile. Ohio State itself handled Maryland 45-16, yet the Buckeyes also took a hit from the way Texas and Oregon fell around them, and now they head into a difficult three-game stretch.
Alabama should hold firm despite a three-point loss to Georgia. The Tide won’t be punished too harshly by voters, and the same logic applies to the playoff picture if they keep stacking wins.
Indiana also stays in the mix after a road comeback against Nebraska, though the Hoosiers are not rolling through teams the way they did last season. And Ole Miss delivered a 52-17 beatdown of Vanderbilt, even if its win over LSU doesn’t carry quite the same shine after the Tigers’ latest setback.
LSU is headed for a major drop after falling out of the rankings in one shot. That’s unusual for a team with just two losses, both on the road and by slim margins, but the Tigers’ victories over Texas A&M and Clemson no longer look like heavyweight wins.
Kentucky, by contrast, is climbing. The Wildcats probably should have stayed ranked last week, and after upsetting LSU, they’re due to move up. Houston should rise too after scoring 21 unanswered points in a 35-16 win at Kansas State to improve to 2-1 in Big 12 play.
The Cougars’ next test comes against Oklahoma State, which also picked up a win Saturday. Drew Mestemaker threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys beat UCF with 18 points in the fourth quarter, though their earlier win over Oregon looks less impressive now.
USC earned a significant road win at Penn State, with its defense stepping up in the second half to close it out. Iowa also made noise, as Jeremy Hecklinski passed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant win at Washington that boosts the Hawkeyes’ playoff hopes.
UCLA is one of the weekend’s biggest movers after going to 5-0 with a road win over ranked Oregon, the kind of result voters usually reward with a leap. Wake Forest has a case too: three road Power Four wins, a closer game against Miami than anyone else has managed this season, Pittsburgh’s loss, and the fact the Deacons were just 20 points away from the poll last week should be enough to get them in.
SMU was off in Week 6 and returns against Virginia next. Oregon, on the other hand, may be in danger of falling out after a second loss, this one at home to undefeated UCLA, though there may not be another team outside the rankings with enough support to replace the Ducks.
Mississippi State was idle and comes back next weekend at LSU. Tennessee survived a shaky afternoon at Arkansas, where a struggling offense and three turnovers made things far tighter than it should have been, but DeSean Bishop’s 138 rushing yards helped the Vols escape with a seven-point win. Tennessee heads to Alabama next.
Missouri also keeps moving, with Jamal Roberts turning in a personal-best rushing performance in a win over Texas A&M that lifted the Tigers to 5-1. Utah pulled away from Kansas behind two fourth-quarter touchdowns, even if Devon Dampier was off-target in the first half.
Texas Tech was off this week and returns home next Saturday against Arizona State. BYU stayed unbeaten in Big 12 play, but it needed Bear Bachmeier to shoulder more of the offense with LJ Martin out in a win over Iowa State. The next assignment is much bigger: Notre Dame.
And finally, the projected bottom of the poll has a new look. Oregon could drop out after that home loss to UCLA, while Wake Forest appears ready to break in, with SMU sitting just ahead of the cutoff after its idle week.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Has A Bigger Stanford Concern Than Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying a little more uncertainty on defense than it probably wanted this late in the season. Defensive back Leonard Moore is listed as questionable after suffering a concussion in the previous game, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has already been ruled out because of a left thumb injury. It is the kind of injury report that puts the spotlight on depth, especially with the Irish trying to keep their defensive rotation steady.
The good news for Notre Dame is that the staff has shown a clear willingness to be cautious rather than force players back before they are ready. That approach matters now, because Stanford is less of a concern than the bigger question of how healthy the Irish can be when they need all hands available. Moore's status will be watched closely, and Viliamu-Asa's absence only adds to the need for the next group up to handle its part without much drop-off. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Now Faces A Bigger BYU Test Than Expected
BYUs first full game without LJ Martin did not look like a team searching for answers. The Cougars handled Iowa State 24-10 and got a breakout all-around performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 109 yards on the ground. For Notre Dame, that matters because this is no longer shaping up as just another late-season test, but one with real College Football Playoff weight behind it.
The Irish were already preparing for a difficult matchup, and BYUs showing only raised the level of concern. Losing a key back usually forces an offense to adjust and simplify, but BYU looked sharper, more balanced and more explosive than expected without Martin. Now Notre Dame has to account for a quarterback who can hurt defenses in multiple ways, and a game that already carried stakes has become a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Has A Chance To Prove Something Against Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying more than just another chance to win the Legends Trophy. The Irish are also looking at a familiar opponent as a useful measuring stick for an offense that has shown signs of improvement and now has a chance to turn that progress into something more consistent. A strong opening would help set the tone, but so would a performance that lets quarterback CJ Carr keep the passing game moving and, in turn, opens cleaner paths for the running attack.
The bigger test may come in the less glamorous parts of the game. Notre Dame needs to handle the line of scrimmage, sustain drives, and be sharper in the moments that decide whether promising possessions become points. Third downs and red zone trips have a way of revealing how complete an offense really is, and with a 16th straight win over Stanford in play, the Irish have a clear chance to show they can do those things against a conference foe that has long been on the schedule but is still worth taking seriously. [Read more 🡒]