A historic weekend of college football upsets saw five of the top eight teams lose, according to a report published October 18. Miami is projected to become the new No. 1 team for the first time since late in the 2002 season, while Ohio State, BYU, and the Big 12 conference emerged as major winners from the weekend's chaos.
Brigham Young secured one of the most significant wins in program history by defeating Notre Dame 28-24. The Cougars took the lead with under two minutes remaining on a touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier to CJ Carr, who later led a drive to the 8-yard line before an incomplete pass on a rollout ended the game. This victory could propel BYU into the top three, marking its highest ranking since 1991.
In the Big Ten, Ohio State secured a 19-15 victory over No. 4 Indiana to take over the lead in the conference and earn a first-round bye. Jeremiah Smith contributed an important fourth-down touchdown in the final quarter. However, coach Ryan Day noted that Sayin suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter that could sideline him for several weeks, potentially requiring the team to turn to backup Luke Faley.
The Big 12 conference saw potential growth as the BYU win provides an opportunity for the conference to place two teams in the 12-team playoff. Texas Tech is also positioned as a potential winner following a victory over Arizona State.
Meanwhile, Tennessee moved to a 6-1 record after a 26-10 victory over No. 7 Alabama. The win marked Tennessee's largest margin of victory in the series since 1998. Despite needing more offensive production from George MacIntyre, the Volunteers' defense forced four turnovers and limited opponents to 2.1 yards per carry.
The weekend was marked by significant losses for top-ranked programs. No. 1 Georgia lost 27-24 to unranked Auburn after a Gunner Stockton fumble allowed the Tigers to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired. No. 6 Texas suffered another loss, falling to Florida 27-24. This follows a previous loss to Oklahoma, leaving the Longhorns' playoff hopes in jeopardy. Additionally, No. 5 Ohio State's win over Indiana prevents the Hoosiers from a playoff collision course, though the game was decided by a touchdown pass that drifted onto the sideline on the final possession.
Other notable results included Florida's 27-24 win against Texas and North Carolina's 24-20 victory over Duke. Penn State continued a four-game losing streak with a 21-18 loss at home to Michigan.
