For the second consecutive weekend, college football delivered another Saturday filled with upsets, dramatic finishes, and major implications for the College Football Playoff race.
Seven ranked teams suffered defeats on October 24, including three teams ranked inside the top 10. Five of those losses came against unranked opponents, continuing an unpredictable stretch of the 2026 season that has dramatically reshaped the national championship picture.
No. 2 BYU, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 11 Tennessee, No. 14 Houston, No. 15 Iowa, and No. 16 USC all suffered losses, with several games decided in the closing moments.
Saturday’s results also produced another remarkable statistic: For the first time since 2007, a team ranked in the AP top two has lost to an unranked opponent in three consecutive weeks.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, the separation between playoff contenders and the rest of the country continues to narrow. (NCAA)
No. 2 BYU Falls to UCF in Double Overtime, 39-31
The biggest upset of the weekend came in Orlando, where unranked UCF defeated No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime, handing the Cougars their first loss of the season.
BYU entered Saturday with considerable momentum after defeating Notre Dame the previous weekend, a victory that had elevated the Cougars into the national championship conversation.
However, UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins and the Knights had other plans.
Jenkins threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns, including a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Grayson Brousseau in the second overtime that helped secure one of the biggest victories in UCF program history.
The Knights’ victory marked their first win over a top-five opponent, sending the home crowd onto the field in celebration.
For BYU, the loss immediately complicated its pursuit of a Big 12 championship and a favorable playoff position. After entering the weekend ranked second nationally, the Cougars fell to No. 8 in Sunday’s updated AP poll.
The defeat was especially significant considering BYU had entered the game undefeated and appeared positioned to remain among the leading playoff contenders.
Instead, the Cougars became the latest highly ranked team to discover how quickly the national championship picture can change. (Associated Press)
Cincinnati Hands No. 8 Texas Tech Its First Loss, 37-24
The Big 12 experienced another major upset when Cincinnati defeated previously unbeaten No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 at Nippert Stadium.
Cincinnati quarterback JC French IV delivered one of the best performances of his career, throwing for 172 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
Running back Cole Tabb provided additional offensive production, rushing for a career-best 173 yards and a touchdown as the Bearcats consistently found ways to move the football against the Red Raiders.
The victory represented Cincinnati’s first home win over a top-10 opponent since November 2006, when the Bearcats defeated No. 7 Rutgers.
For Texas Tech, the loss brought an abrupt end to its undefeated season and raised questions about its ability to maintain its position near the top of the Big 12 standings.
The Red Raiders entered Saturday as one of the conference’s strongest playoff candidates, but Cincinnati’s performance exposed vulnerabilities that had not been as apparent during their unbeaten start.
With BYU also losing, two of the Big 12’s highest-ranked teams suffered their first defeats on the same afternoon.
Texas Tech subsequently dropped to No. 13 in the latest AP rankings. (FOX Sports)
No. 7 Ole Miss Falls to No. 19 Texas, 34-27
In one of Saturday’s biggest SEC matchups, No. 19 Texas defeated No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27 in Austin, delivering another setback to a highly ranked conference opponent.
The Longhorns entered the weekend looking to strengthen their postseason résumé after an inconsistent stretch of performances.
Against Ole Miss, Texas managed to produce enough offense to secure a seven-point victory, although the Rebels made things uncomfortable during the second half.
For Ole Miss, the defeat represented a significant missed opportunity to maintain its position among the nation’s highest-ranked teams.
The Rebels entered the weekend ranked seventh, placing them firmly within the playoff conversation. Losing to another ranked SEC opponent, however, added pressure heading into the final portion of their conference schedule.
Texas, meanwhile, received a substantial boost in the national rankings, climbing eight places to No. 11.
Although both teams remain relevant in the playoff discussion, Saturday’s result demonstrated just how consequential head-to-head SEC matchups have become as the postseason approaches. (CBS Sports)
South Carolina Defeats No. 11 Tennessee on Walk-Off Field Goal, 27-24
South Carolina delivered one of the afternoon’s most dramatic finishes, defeating No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 on a last-second field goal in Columbia.
The Gamecocks battled throughout the afternoon before producing the decisive sequence in the closing moments.
Defensive end Dylan Stewart forced a fumble on a strip-sack, giving South Carolina a late opportunity to secure the victory.
Kicker Malik Orsan then connected on a 48-yard field goal as time expired, sending Williams-Brice Stadium into celebration.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers helped lead the Gamecocks’ comeback effort, while South Carolina’s defense made the critical play that ultimately decided the contest.
The victory also carried personal significance for head coach Shane Beamer, whose father, former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, celebrated his 80th birthday Saturday.
For Tennessee, the defeat was another damaging result in an increasingly competitive SEC race.
The Volunteers entered the weekend ranked 11th and hoping to strengthen their playoff credentials, but South Carolina’s late-game execution left Tennessee facing additional pressure over its remaining schedule. (FOX Sports)
Minnesota Defeats No. 15 Iowa, 13-10, in Rivalry Game
One of college football’s longstanding rivalries produced another memorable finish as Minnesota defeated No. 15 Iowa 13-10 to reclaim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy.
In a defensive battle where scoring opportunities were limited, the Golden Gophers found themselves with an opportunity to win in the final seconds.
Minnesota kicker Luke Drzewiwcki delivered, connecting on a 46-yard field goal as time expired to secure the three-point victory.
The win marked Minnesota’s first victory over Iowa since 2023 and just its second against the Hawkeyes in the past 12 years.
The result was particularly meaningful for head coach P.J. Fleck, whose team celebrated with its home crowd following the final kick.
For Iowa, the defeat represented a frustrating setback in a season where the Hawkeyes had established themselves as a nationally ranked contender.
Despite another competitive defensive performance, Iowa’s inability to generate sufficient offense ultimately proved costly.
The loss also carried implications for the Big Ten standings, where several teams remain in contention entering the final weeks of the regular season. (FOX Sports)
Wisconsin Dominates No. 16 USC, 24-7
Wisconsin delivered one of the weekend’s most convincing upsets, defeating No. 16 USC 24-7 in Madison.
Unlike several other ranked losses decided in the final moments, the Badgers controlled much of the contest with a physical defensive performance.
Wisconsin intercepted USC quarterback Jayden Maiava twice during the first half and held the Trojans to minus-17 rushing yards.
The Badgers also received an offensive contribution from running back Bryan Jackson, a former USC player who scored a touchdown against his previous team.
Quarterback Colton Joseph connected with Chris Brooks Jr. for a 16-yard touchdown on fourth-and-two, helping Wisconsin build its advantage.
The result marked Wisconsin’s second victory over a ranked opponent this season and provided a significant boost for head coach Luke Fickell’s program.
For USC, the defeat raised serious concerns about the Trojans’ offensive consistency.
Entering the game ranked 16th, USC had an opportunity to remain firmly involved in the Big Ten’s postseason picture. Instead, the Trojans struggled to establish their running game and failed to generate enough scoring opportunities.
Wisconsin’s victory added another surprising result to a weekend already filled with ranked teams falling on the road. (FOX Sports)
No. 14 Houston Falls to No. 10 Utah, 21-13
Not every ranked defeat Saturday came against an unranked opponent.
No. 10 Utah continued its impressive undefeated season with a 21-13 victory over No. 14 Houston in Salt Lake City.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with 204 passing yards and 150 rushing yards while accounting for two touchdowns.
His ability to create opportunities through both the passing and running games proved essential as the Utes worked to separate themselves from Houston.
The victory extended Utah’s winning streak to 13 games and kept the program undefeated through eight weeks.
Houston, meanwhile, entered the contest hoping to establish itself as one of the Big 12’s leading championship contenders.
Although the Cougars remained competitive, Utah’s offensive versatility ultimately proved too much to overcome.
With BYU and Texas Tech both losing earlier in the day, Utah emerged from Saturday in an increasingly favorable position within the conference.
The Utes climbed to No. 6 in Sunday’s AP poll, reinforcing their status as one of the nation’s leading playoff candidates. (NCAA)
Three Unbeaten Teams Remain as Playoff Race Tightens
Perhaps the most significant development from Saturday’s results was the continued disappearance of undefeated teams.
Entering the weekend, five FBS programs remained unbeaten. Following the losses by BYU and Texas Tech, only Miami, UCLA, and Utah maintained perfect records.
According to historical data cited by the Associated Press, it is the fewest undefeated teams remaining at this stage of a college football season since 1977.
Miami strengthened its position atop the rankings with a 52-23 victory over Pittsburgh, while UCLA defeated Michigan State 28-10 to remain unbeaten.
Utah’s victory over Houston completed the undefeated trio.
Meanwhile, Ohio State moved into the No. 2 position in the latest AP poll despite having a bye week, with Georgia, Indiana, and Notre Dame rounding out the top five.
The results have created an unusual national championship picture in which several programs with losses remain firmly in contention, while previously undefeated teams must now respond to their first significant setbacks.
The volatility has also extended beyond the top 10. With seven ranked teams losing Saturday, voters were forced to reconsider much of the national landscape.
In fact, Miami was the only program in the entire AP Top 25 to retain its ranking from the previous week. (Associated Press)
Another Saturday That Could Shape the College Football Playoff
College football has now produced consecutive weekends of remarkable instability.
After five of the top seven teams lost the previous Saturday, Week 8 delivered another seven ranked defeats, including five against unranked opponents.
The consequences extend well beyond the weekly rankings.
BYU and Texas Tech must recover from their first losses. Tennessee, Iowa, and USC face additional questions about their postseason trajectories. Ole Miss must navigate an increasingly demanding SEC race, while Houston looks to rebound from a difficult road defeat.
At the same time, programs such as UCF, Cincinnati, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Wisconsin demonstrated how quickly an unranked team can alter the national picture.
With only a handful of regular-season weekends remaining, the margin for error continues to shrink.
For the teams still pursuing conference championships and College Football Playoff berths, Saturday offered another reminder that rankings provide no guarantees once the games begin.
And if the past two weekends are any indication, the 2026 college football season may have plenty more surprises remaining.
