A new No. 1 is coming in the AP Top 25, and it all starts with one kick.
Tate Sandell’s last-second field goal in the Cotton Bowl knocked off No. 1 Texas and forced another round of upheaval at the top of college football.
The Longhorns had climbed to No. 1, and now they’re set to hand that spot back after losing in brutal fashion to their underdog rivals on the final play of the game. Arch Manning gave Texas a strong first half, hitting two long touchdown passes to build a 10-point lead, but things unraveled after halftime.
He threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a pick-six and the other that set up Oklahoma’s game-winning kick.
The late collapse only deepens the concern around Manning. The hype around him has always been massive, but his uneven play in big moments just cost Texas in the worst possible way.
Texas’ offense never found much rhythm down the stretch, stringing together drives of 24, 8, 9, 2, and -3 yards before a 75-yard touchdown march. There’s been some growth, but not the kind of steady progress the Longhorns were expecting.
Georgia, meanwhile, is about to move into the top spot after a 20-17 win at Alabama. The reigning SEC champions pulled out a physical road victory and, in the process, finally got the crimson elephant off Kirby Smart’s back in his first regular season win against the Tide.
Georgia trailed 14-10 at halftime, then leaned into the kind of toughness that has defined its national championship teams. Alabama had cruised through its first five games and looked like one of the sport’s elite teams, but it couldn’t handle the most important test.
The Tide came close, but defensive issues against Georgia’s passing game and run game proved costly.
Even with the loss, Alabama may not take a massive hit. This looks like the kind of “good loss” pollsters tend to soften on, and a drop outside the top ten seems unlikely. In fact, the Tide could land around No. 10, the spot that may soon open up because of Lane Kiffin’s team.
That would come after LSU fell by one point at Kentucky, a result that leaves Kiffin 13-13 in road games as head coach at Ole Miss and LSU. The road struggles could become a real problem for the Tigers’ College Football Playoff chances. Kiffin wasn’t around for most of LSU’s eight straight road losses to SEC opponents, but this group still looked sloppy enough away from home that it’s hard to trust them in upcoming games against Mississippi State, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
Florida’s fall has been even more dramatic. Two weeks ago, the Gators were the hottest team in the country and the biggest riser in the AP poll after pounding Ole Miss.
Then came a blowout loss to Missouri, followed by an ugly defeat at South Carolina, which had been winless in SEC play before that game. Jon Sumrall had been getting Coach of the Year buzz, but now the Gators are back at the drawing board after back-to-back blowout losses to SEC opponents and 83 combined points allowed.
At this point, they could be out of the poll altogether.
UCLA, on the other hand, keeps climbing in a hurry. Winning at Oregon is rare enough on its own, but Bob Chesney’s Bruins are now 5-0 in his first season, something no one had done before him.
They left room for even more margin with some of their own mistakes, but the result still puts them squarely in the playoff conversation. They should be favored in every remaining game on their schedule.
Oregon’s second loss of the season creates a mess in the Big Ten title race and the College Football Playoff picture. Pollsters are likely to come down hard on a home favorite losing to a lower-ranked opponent, especially in a game where the Ducks turned it over seven times. Ball security and consistency remain major problems, and both are chipping away at Oregon’s postseason hopes.
In Other News...
UCLA Is Building A Familiar Portal Formula Oklahoma Fans Know Well
UCLAs roster rebuild is starting to take on a very familiar look for anyone who has followed the more aggressive portal blueprints around college football. Under Bob Chesney, the Bruins have begun leaning into the kind of quick, deliberate roster construction that also helped define Curt Cignettis rise at Indiana, with key additions such as quarterback Nico Iamaleava and running back Wayne Knight giving the program a more defined foundation as it tries to move faster than a traditional rebuild usually allows.
What makes the comparison interesting is how much of this model depends on both talent acquisition and keeping the right pieces in place long enough for the system to take hold. UCLAs current roster composition suggests the Bruins are not just chasing names, but trying to build continuity and trust at the same time, and the next step is seeing whether that formula can translate into the kind of on-field traction that made the Indiana approach so notable in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's Oregon Upset Chances Just Changed After New Ducks Report
The matchup in Eugene already had plenty of weight, with No. 21 UCLA heading into Autzen Stadium as an undefeated team under first-year coach Bob Chesney, and every win so far has come by double digits. Against No. 13 Oregon, the Bruins are walking into one of the seasons most difficult road environments with momentum, confidence and a chance to make a real statement in Week 6.
The Ducks, though, are going to look different at quarterback than expected, and that changes the tone of the game for UCLA. Oregons latest availability report also narrowed the picture on the defensive side, leaving a key piece listed as unavailable, so the Bruins suddenly have a little more reason to believe the road trip can tilt their way if they start fast and handle the crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Win Now Comes With A Big Ten Question For Bear Alexander
A viral clip from UCLAs loss to Oregon has shifted attention away from the Ducks win and toward what the Big Ten may do next. In the video, Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander appears to strike UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava during a tackle, a moment that has drawn scrutiny because Iamaleava later left the game with a lower body injury.
The conference now has a potential sportsmanship issue to examine, and the situation is especially awkward given Oregon coach Dan Lannings public stance after a similar recent incident involving conduct he criticized. For now, the Big Tens response remains pending, leaving the Ducks with a win on the field and a looming question off it. [Read more 🡒]