The toast of college football one week is the sport's disappointment the next.
BYU became the 10th team in the top 15 over the last two weeks to lose. Sure, some of those were against other top-15 programs. But that wasn't the case for many of them, including the Cougars' 39-31, double-overtime defeat at the hands of UCF on Saturday.
The loss tumbles BYU down our Top 10, from second to seventh. Tennessee, meanwhile, fell out entirely after losing against South Carolina, and Texas Tech's loss at Cincinnati sent the Red Raiders to a quick exit from the poll. The Red Raiders' loss, combined with BYU losing, means the Big 12's two most hopeful preseason playoff teams fell on the same day.
In the SEC, Texas and Arch Manning, reeling after two straight losses, hung on to beat Ole Miss and send the Rebels out of the rankings, too.
After an upset-filled Week 7 — five of the top seven ranked teams lost — college football delivered again this Saturday.
Some people even lost their jobs. NC State, after a Friday night loss to Stanford, fired coach Dave Doeren, ending his 14-year tenure with the program. Meanwhile, Indiana remained in our rankings after surviving a trip to the Big House, and UCLA moved to 7-0 by beating Michigan State.
The safest Top 10 teams on Saturday were Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame, which all had an off week!
Let's get to the rankings!
1. Ohio State
This week: Off
Next week: at USC
The Buckeyes had a well earned off week after beating Indiana and losing quarterback Julian Sayin in the process. Sayin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury that may linger through even the postseason. This doesn't bode well for things down the stretch as Ohio State is left with two unproven backups, freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair. They'll compete in an unusual midseason QB battle.
2. Miami
This week: beat Pitt 52-23
Next week: at North Carolina
If you thought the Hurricanes would get distracted from their first AP No. 1 ranking since 2002, think again! Receiver Malachi Toney broke the school's single-game record for receptions with 16. He had 194 yards and three touchdowns too as QB Darrian Mensah and crew carved through a Panthers team badly missing its starting quarterback.
3. Indiana
This week: beat Michigan 13-6
Next week: vs. Minnesota
QB Josh Hoover isn't fully healthy, something coach Curt Cignetti mentioned in his post-game, on-camera interview. But the Hoosiers found a way to win in the Big House in overtime. However was 8-for-18 and threw his first interceptions of the season. IU needed to lean on a salty defensive effort to survive, including keeping Michigan out of the end zone on three snaps inside the 10 to force a field goal and overtime.
4. UCLA
This week: beat Michigan State 28-10
Next week: vs. Nevada
The Bruins are looking down the barrel of being 8-0 in Bob Chesney's first season as coach, with Nevada on deck. Backup QB Ty Dieffenbach continues to fill in for injured starter Nico Iamaleava (out for the season). He doesn't have to be a world-beater with this team. The Bruins play great defense and can run the ball. RB Anthony Woods had more than 100 yards and three Bruins had rushing scores.
5. Georgia
This week: Off
Next week: vs. Florida (Atlanta)
Kirby Smart would have probably liked nothing more than to rebound from the shocking home loss to Auburn by whipping an opponent the very next Saturday. But the Bulldogs got a break and return to action in what's turned into a really important game against the Gators in the Mercedes-Benz Dome. Florida is fresh off an upset at Texas. This annual rivalry series, normally played in Jacksonville, moved to Atlanta while renovations are made to EverBank Stadium.
6. BYU
This week: lost to UCF 39-31 in 2OT
Next week: vs. Arizona State
How to follow a rousing victory over a top-five team? Lay an egg while on a cross-country trip. That's what the Cougars did. UCF's Keyone Jenkins, not Bear Bachmeier, stole this show, throwing for 293 yards and three touchdowns against a BYU defense that entered the game ranked 12th in the country. BYU's offense couldn't find its normal running ability either.
7. Kentucky
This week: beat Vanderbilt 34-17
Next week: Off
If I told you before the season that Kentucky would be not only in the Top 10 but be leading the SEC, you'd be pretty shocked, no? But the Wildcats, under first-year coach Will Stein, are 7-1 and atop the league. On Saturday, they stormed back from a 10-0 hole and if you wondered how, here's a stunning stat: Vanderbilt had 15 yards rushing. The Cats are for real and they get a bye before a whopper of a game at Tennessee.
8. Notre Dame
This week: Off
Next week: vs. Navy (Foxborough, Mass.)
Sure, the Irish faltered at BYU last week but they're still plenty good to be in the Top 10 (we think). Before hosting Miami in one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 season on Nov. 7, Marcus Freeman's team needs to take care of business against Navy at the Patriots' stadium. Miami and SMU loom down the stretch as key games if the Irish want to make the playoff.
9. Utah
This week: beat Houston 21-13
Next week: at Cincinnati
The Utes are just one of three unbeaten teams in college football after surviving at home against a pesky Houston team. QB Devon Dampier ran for more than 100 yards and threw for more than 200. He helped erase his two interceptions by leading Utah on a 10-play, 80-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive to take the lead. The Utes defense helped ice it in the end.
10. Wake Forest
This week: Off
Next week: vs. Virginia
Are the Demon Deacons the second-best team in the ACC under first-year coach Jake Dickert? They challenged Miami (few have done that this year) and won at Purdue (that performance looks better and better). QB Gio Lopez has run for at least 50 yards and thrown for at least 250 yards in two of the last three games. He's got 14 touchdowns (four rushing) in the last four games and hasn't thrown a pick over that stretch.