The college football chaos continued into Week 8 as we saw seven more ranked opponents fall. At the top of the list is No. 2 BYU, who fended off Notre Dame the previous week to receive their highest ranking since 1984.
That ranking lasted just one week before the Cougars fell on the road in double overtime to unranked UCF. It marked the Knights’ first victory against a top-five opponent and BYU’s first loss of the season.
No. 8 Texas Tech was another program that fell to an unranked opponent when the Cincinnati Bearcats stunned the Red Raiders 37-24. Bearcat quarterback JC French IV threw a career-high four touchdowns in Cincinnati’s first top 10 home victory since 2006.
Texas Tech was one of the few undefeated programs left in the country but the loss sent them south five spots landing at No. 13. They face a sneaky Arizona team currently ranked No. 22.
No. 7 Ole Miss was the third — and final — top-10 program that fell this weekend, losing to No. 19 Texas on the road. Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss struggled to figure out the Texas defense until the second half. The team scored 24 of their total 27 in the remaining two quarters, but Chambliss threw three interceptions, leaving the Rebels little chance of coming back.
The third interception was the dagger after a successful onside kick kept Ole Miss alive before Chambliss threw his final pick in the end zone. Texas escaped their two-game skid and rose eight spots to No. 11; meanwhile, Ole Miss fell to No. 12.
No. 14 Houston fell to undefeated No. 10 Utah, 21-13. The Utes are one of three undefeated programs left helping boost the team to No. 6 after their first ranked win of the season. They face Cincinnati next weekend before ranked BYU and Arizona.
No. 11 Tennessee became South Carolina’s second straight victim after the Gamecocks drilled a walk-off field goal. This marked the second straight ranked win for South Carolina, who defeated No. 16 Florida the week before.
No. 15 Iowa also dropped its second game of the season after a last-second field goal by Minnesota gave the Golden Gophers the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the second time in the last 12 years. This also marked Minnesota’s first top-15 win since 2019.
Minnesota faces an even tougher challenge next weekend, traveling to take on No. 4 Indiana. The Golden Gophers also face ranked opponents such as UCLA, Northwestern and Wisconsin later in the season.
Iowa fell just outside the rankings but can re-enter facing Wisconsin next week. The loss takes away their chances at a Big Ten championship appearance with a 2-2 conference record.
The final upset of the week came in Wisconsin’s win over No. 16 University of Southern California. The Trojans were held scoreless in the second half, fueling a 17-point win for the Badgers. Wisconsin replaces USC in the rankings and, as of right now, will not face a ranked opponent for the rest of the season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, the Halloween slate features several potential upsets.
Auburn travels to No. 12 Ole Miss who is coming off their second loss of the season. The Tigers knocked off No. 1 Georgia two weeks ago and could upset a struggling Rebels side. With Chambliss coming off his season high interception game, Auburn could catch them off guard. It is a must win game for Ole Miss who host Georgia the following week.
As for the Georgia Bulldogs, the third-ranked team in the nation hosts No. 17 Florida in their highly anticipated rivalry game. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine meetings between the two with the game being played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Gators can’t afford another loss, with a third possibly knocking them out of the playoffs.
The other ranked matchup pits No. 22 Arizona with No. 13 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are coming off their first loss of the season but an opportunity to now jump back a few spots. The Wildcats’ only loss this season came back in Week 2 against BYU with this weekend’s matchup being their first against a ranked opponent since. An undefeated Utah side also stands in their way further down the road, but a chance to make the Big 12 championship is still open.
The matchups this week again tell us who is still improving and who is fading. As teams reach the final stretch, it is “now or never” to claim a spot in the 24-team college football playoffs. The extended format gives teams more room for a loss or two but some have already slipped too much and can’t afford another.
The College Football Playoff race is heating up and every game carries greater significance; one win could keep a team’s hopes alive while another loss can change everything.