College football spent the weekend turning the rankings upside down, and the biggest shift came at the very top. Texas took the hit that reshaped the picture after Arch Manning threw two late interceptions in a rivalry loss to Oklahoma, a result that knocked the Longhorns off the perch and opened the door for a new No. 1.
That new No. 1, on this ballot, is Georgia. The Bulldogs went into Tuscaloosa and handled Alabama, which was enough to make them the clear choice at the top. That win also gave Georgia a commanding lead in the SEC and pushed Texas out of the spot after the Longhorns’ rough afternoon.
Miami stays right behind Georgia at No. 2 despite being on a bye, while Notre Dame checks in at No. 3 after a 58-7 win over Stanford. The Irish have not been seriously tested yet, but the ballot treats them like a real contender, with a top-10 matchup against BYU on deck Saturday that should tell a lot more.
Ohio State lands at No. 4. The Buckeyes are in the mix to climb higher, but the Texas loss still lingers, even if the bigger point is that the momentum is moving in the right direction.
Indiana comes in at No. 5 after another win, though the note here is that the Hoosiers look more vulnerable than they did last season. Nebraska is described as a much-improved opponent, but Indiana is still being viewed as a very good team with Big Ten title hopes.
Alabama falls to No. 6 after that three-point loss to Georgia. The Crimson Tide stay relatively high because the showing was still strong in an SEC game, even with quarterback Keelon Russell having more to prove.
BYU is No. 7 after Bear Bachmeier bounced back from a mediocre outing a week earlier and helped the Cougars beat Iowa State on Friday night. The schedule stiffens now, and Saturday brings a high-stakes test.
UCLA makes the biggest leap on the ballot, all the way up to No. 8, after upsetting Oregon on the road with a backup quarterback. The Bruins got some help from Oregon’s five turnovers, but the unbeaten start has them looking like one of the nation’s best teams, even if there’s room for skepticism.
Utah sits at No. 9 and keeps rolling. The Utes have won 11 straight dating back to last season and have scored at least 30 points in every game this year. The win over Kansas on Saturday was not always tidy, but Utah kept finding ways through adversity and, according to the ballot, has covered every spread as well.
Ole Miss rounds out the top 10 after a 52-17 win over Vanderbilt. The Rebels are still being taken seriously because of their earlier top-25 win over LSU, but that momentum has faded some, especially with the blowout loss to Florida still hanging around.
In Other News...
Utah Just Got An Important O-Line Boost Before Colorado
Utahs offensive line has spent much of the season as one of the quieter strengths behind the programs improved offensive rhythm, even after the Utes had to replace all five starters from a year ago. The group got a notable nod after the win over Kansas, when it was recognized as the Big 12s Beef of the Week, a fitting reminder that the front has been doing more than just holding up its end.
Isaiah Garcias return to practice this week only adds to that sense of stability heading into Colorado. Garcia, a key rotational piece up front, had missed the last two games with an injury, so getting him back in the mix gives Utah another option as it tries to keep the lines recent momentum going against a defense that will be eager to test it. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Has A New Defensive Star And A Bigger Utah Concern
Colorados pass rush has found a real difference-maker in Lamont Lester Jr., and the early returns have been impossible to ignore. In four games, the Colorado defensive lineman has piled up four sacks and 15 quarterback pressures, enough to put him atop the Big 12 in sacks even after missing a game with an ankle injury. The performance also earned him a 91.2 Pro Football Focus defensive grade and Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors after his debut.
For Utah, the larger concern is not just what Lester has already done, but whether he will be available when the Utes see Colorado next. His impact has come quickly and at a disruptive level, and if hes cleared to play, Utah will have to deal with one of the leagues most effective edge threats. If he is not, the Buffaloes lose a player who has changed the feel of their front in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Familiar Isaac Wilson Problem Against Utah
The buildup to Utahs meeting with Colorado has taken on an extra layer because Isaac Wilson will be on the other sideline. Morgan Scalley, who coached Wilson at Utah, spoke this week about the quarterbacks arm talent and the kind of talent that made him worth tracking in the first place, even after Wilsons move to Colorado. The game also brings another familiar face back into the picture in cornerback Jason Stokes Jr., giving the Utes a chance to see a pair of former players in a setting that will feel a little different than the usual conference matchup.
Scalley downplayed the idea that one player alone can decide the outcome, stressing that football is still a team game and that Utahs focus has to stay broader than the quarterback matchup. Still, there is obvious familiarity on both sides here, and that usually adds some edge to a week like this. Colorado is trying to sort through its own quarterback situation, while Utah gets the benefit of knowing more than most teams about what Wilson can do, and what he tends to lean on when the pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]