College football fans were treated to a rollercoaster ride this weekend as several marquee matchups sent shockwaves through the AP Top 25 poll. The most notable beneficiaries of the chaos? The Miami Hurricanes and SMU Mustangs, who each leaped into the top 10 for the first time this season. On the flip side, perennial SEC contenders Alabama and Ole Miss saw their College Football Playoff hopes take a significant hit with upset losses.
Oregon Holds Steady at No. 1; Newcomers Shake Up Top 10
As the dust settled on a wild Saturday, the Oregon Ducks remained the nation’s consensus No. 1 team for the sixth consecutive week. Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State held their ground in the top four, but the rest of the top 10 underwent a major facelift.
Notre Dame climbed back into the top five for the first time since Week 2 following a convincing win over Army. The Fighting Irish have now rattled off nine straight victories since a season-opening loss to Ohio State. Meanwhile, Georgia and Tennessee each moved up two spots to No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, after taking care of business against conference foes.
Miami, SMU Make Their Move
But the big stories of the weekend were the meteoric rises of Miami and SMU. The Hurricanes, fresh off a thrilling last-minute victory over Virginia Tech, jumped three spots to No. 8. It’s the first time the U has cracked the top 10 since 2017. And with a matchup against struggling Syracuse on deck, Miami appears poised to make a serious run at the ACC title.
Not to be outdone, SMU made an even more impressive leap, catapulting four places to No. 9—the Mustangs’ first top-10 appearance since the Pony Express days of 1985. With wins over TCU and North Carolina already on their résumé, Sonny Dykes’ squad has emerged as a legitimate contender for a New Year’s Six bowl.
Crimson Tide, Rebels Tumble After Upset Losses
On the other end of the spectrum, Alabama and Ole Miss were left licking their wounds after suffering devastating defeats. The Crimson Tide, who entered the weekend as double-digit favorites against Oklahoma, mustered a mere three points in a 24-3 beatdown at the hands of the unranked Sooners. Nick Saban’s squad plummeted six spots to No. 13, putting their streak of six straight CFP appearances in serious jeopardy.
Ole Miss fared no better, squandering a fourth-quarter lead in a 24-17 loss to Florida. The defeat was especially crushing for the Rebels, who would have clinched a berth in the SEC title game with a win. Instead, they fell six rungs to No. 15 and will need a victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Big 12 Picture Remains Murky; Boise State Leads Group of 5
Elsewhere, the Big 12 race remained as confounding as ever after BYU and Colorado each suffered their second straight loss. Those results, combined with Iowa State’s upset win at Utah, created a four-way tie atop the conference standings. If chalk holds in the regular-season finales, it’ll be the Cyclones and Arizona State—picked to finish last in the preseason poll—squaring off for the Big 12 crown.
In the Group of 5, Boise State continues to lead the pack at No. 11. The Broncos scraped by Wyoming to remain unbeaten in Mountain West play and are now just one win away from clinching a spot in the conference title game. No. 18 Tulane, No. 21 UNLV and No. 25 Army round out the G5 contenders.
This season has been a wild ride from start to finish, and I wouldn’t be shocked if we see a few more surprises in the final weeks. It’s anyone’s guess who ultimately makes the playoff field.
— Anonymous CFB analyst
As the regular season enters its final stretch, one thing is certain: the race for the College Football Playoff has never been more wide open. Can Oregon seal the deal and earn the top seed? Will the Big Ten get two teams in again? Could Miami or SMU crash the party? With rivalry week on tap, expect more fireworks to come.
