College football Power Rankings – How Week 6 chaos impacted top 25

Was one thing within the air this weekend? We noticed 4 unranked groups upset their ranked opponents, plus then-No. 21 UCLA upset No. 13 Oregon in Eugene in a matchup that included 10 turnovers. You heard that proper, 10. And No. 2 Georgia earned an enormous street victory over No. 6 Alabama.

Following probably the most chaotic week of faculty football to date, there are many questions that want solutions as we get near the midpoint of the common season.

In one of many largest video games of the week, Oklahoma took down No. 1 Texas within the Red River Rivalry sport for the primary time since 2023 because the Sooners walked it off on a 47-yard area purpose by Tate Sandell. Following this large loss for the Longhorns, the place does coach Steve Sarkisian assume his workforce wants probably the most enchancment going ahead?

In his first year as UCLA’s head coach, Bob Chesney has led the Bruins to a 5-0 document for the primary time since 2022. It wasn’t the prettiest sport, with Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola being benched in the second half, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava having to depart the sport with a decrease leg harm and a slew of expensive turnovers, seven of which have been compelled by UCLA’s protection. But with this consequence, ought to the Bruins be within the playoff dialog?

Here’s the newest top 25 from our school football specialists, who check out what we discovered from every workforce following a wild Week 6.

Previous rating: 2

Despite well-liked perception, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is gifted sufficient to hold the offense when wanted. Two of the Bulldogs’ top tailbacks (Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens) and a purple zone goal (Isiah Canion) missed Saturday’s 20-17 win at Alabama due to accidents, and Stockton stepped up when wanted most. He accomplished 18 of twenty-two passes for 249 yards, scored each of his workforce’s touchdowns (one passing, one speeding) and had one interception. Stockton turned in what coach Kirby Smart known as the play of the sport when he fired a 17-yard cross to tight finish Elyiss Williams on third-and-7 from the Georgia 10 with about 2:20 left. That first down helped the Bulldogs run out the clock for his or her first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007. Stockton is finishing 76.6% of his makes an attempt for 1,298 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He’s 18-3 as Georgia’s starter. — Mark Schlabach

Previous rating: 3

The Hurricanes had an open date to get wholesome earlier than heading into their rivalry sport towards (*25*). Though coach Mario Cristobal stated he was not going to alter something about the way in which Miami approached this previous week, he did say the week gave his injured gamers additional time to heal previous to an vital stretch. Multiple offensive linemen and beginning defensive finish Marquise Lightfoot have been all injured final day out towards Clemson. There is an opportunity beginning defensive again Xavier Lucas returns for the Florida State sport after he labored his method again into apply throughout Clemson week. Other gamers, together with Malachi Toney, have been enjoying by way of accidents. So we’ll see how the break day helped the Hurricanes. — Andrea Adelson

Previous rating: 5

The Irish spent the primary month of the season searching for some stability within the floor sport. They seem to have discovered it in freshman Jonaz Walton. After a breakout sport towards North Carolina in Week 5, Walton placed on a present towards Stanford on Saturday, carrying 13 occasions for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 58-7 win. Nolan James Jr. added 73 yards and two scores as nicely, whereas CJ Carr was close to flawless as soon as once more. Walton may not fill the lead again function at this level, however he has clearly turn out to be a official weapon with greater than 300 yards on the bottom prior to now two video games. — David Hale

Previous rating: 6

As lots of the top quarterbacks across the nation have suffered an harm or battle, Jeremiah Smith is placing extra daylight between himself and the remainder of the Heisman Trophy area. Smith had simply three receptions within the first half of a forty five-16 victory over Maryland, however they have been all dazzling. After two catch-and-run touchdowns, Smith reached again throughout his physique for an acrobatic one-handed seize to transform a 3rd down and provides the Buckeyes possession within the purple zone. Smith has one other alternative for a showcase efficiency subsequent weekend at Indiana towards the defending nationwide champs in a rematch of final 12 months’s Big Ten title sport. — Jake Trotter

Previous rating: 4

The center of the Alabama protection was constantly gashed by Georgia on Saturday, in each the run sport and throwing the football. That has to get cleaned up towards Tennessee on Saturday. The Vols may not have probably the most explosive offense, however they’ll run the football between the tackles. How Alabama bounces again from a tricky loss towards Georgia will likely be a take a look at of a younger workforce’s emotional maturity, particularly quarterback Keelon Russell, who settled in after a tough begin however finally did not get the job performed. Watch the harm report this week, although, with starters Ryan Coleman-Williams, Racin Delgatty and Terrance Green all banged up. — Alex Scarborough

Previous rating: 7

Coach Curt Cignetti’s squad trailed for the primary time all season Saturday and needed to overcome a two-rating deficit on the street. The method his Hoosiers responded within the fourth quarter made fairly a press release about their toughness and composure. Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh linked on 75- and 44-yard touchdowns to take again the lead late, and Indiana’s protection had sufficient left within the tank to get crucial fourth-down stops regardless of enjoying 39 extra snaps than its offense. Cignetti will discover so much on tape from this one which he will not love, and there is a harder take a look at up subsequent in Ohio State, however the way in which his gamers dug deep and escaped with a tricky one-rating win over an undefeated opponent was extremely encouraging for this workforce’s continued development. — Max Olson

Previous rating: 8

After an underwhelming offensive efficiency final week, the Cougars responded with a greater exhibiting in a 24-10 win towards Iowa State. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier accomplished 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards with a pair of touchdowns and likewise ran for 109 yards on 9 carries. Without working again LJ Martin, the Cougars wanted to discover a strategy to evolve, and it seems that leaning again into Bachmeier’s strengths — like they did for a lot of the 2025 season — is likely one of the options. But Martin’s harm looms as an enormous loss forward of Notre Dame’s journey to Provo this week. — Kyle Bonagura

Previous rating: 16

The Bruins are usually not fading in any method. The 4-0 begin was alleged to lastly meet its match as they traveled to Eugene, the place few groups have escaped with a win. Instead, Bob Chesney’s workforce buckled in and grinded its strategy to a 17-15 win that didn’t inform the complete story. UCLA’s protection was relentless and compelled a whopping seven turnovers on the day, whereas the offense did not must do a lot however survive with backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach beneath middle. It was a signature win — an vital one — but in addition one other assertion that continues to again up what’s changing into a school football adage: Wherever Chesney goes, wins appear to comply with. The Bruins’ turnaround isn’t just exceptional; it additionally has rapidly reworked a program from an underdog right into a workforce that has an actual shot to make it to the College Football Playoff. — Paolo Uggetti

Previous rating: 10

After surrendering 302 speeding yards in a 52-28 loss to Florida two weeks in the past, the Ole Miss protection carried out a lot better Saturday in a 52-17 rout of Vanderbilt on the street. The Rebels allowed solely 2.8 yards per carry, compelled 4 turnovers that led to 24 factors and had three sacks. There weren’t as many breakdowns within the secondary and missed tackles total. Rebels coach Pete Golding wished his protection to be extra violent on the level of assault and win one-on-ones. His protection delivered towards the Commodores. Ole Miss performs Missouri, Texas and Georgia over the following month, so it must proceed to enhance. — Schlabach

Previous rating: 1

The Longhorns misplaced in painful style of their largest rivalry sport, permitting simply 238 yards however giving up touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception return, with Arch Manning throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions. Steve Sarkisian stated he was annoyed with the inconsistency on offense (the Longhorns averaged 3.8 yards per rush), and penalties damage Texas in key conditions. But he vowed that the Longhorns would “get up off the mat,” they usually’ll must quick, with a schedule that features Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri and LSU over the following 5 weeks. — Dave Wilson

Previous rating: 11

Four video games into the season, Utah hadn’t confronted any actual adversity. So when Kansas reduce Utah’s result in 27-24 late within the third quarter, it was an opportunity to indicate one thing new — whether or not it might reply. And the outcomes have been encouraging: The Utes scored on a pair of lengthy landing drives within the fourth quarter and held Kansas scoreless the remainder of the way in which in a 41-24 win. — Bonagura

Previous rating: 13

The excellent news is the Red Raiders reached their bye week at 5-0, and the protection has been sturdy, permitting simply 16.2 factors per sport, together with grabbing seven interceptions prior to now two video games. But the Red Raiders’ offense continues to be a piece in progress. Will Hammond, a primary-12 months full-time starter, has thrown simply 5 landing passes together with 5 interceptions. Backup Thomas Castellanos, a switch from Florida State who had a job in some packages and had two passing TDs and two speeding scores, was dominated ineligible lately, and the Red Raiders are awaiting a listening to to find out if he’s reinstated. Tech hosts Arizona State subsequent weekend hoping to seek out some solutions on offense for the stretch run of the season. — Wilson

Previous rating: 15

The Tigers have one other elite working again in Jamal Roberts. The elusive senior from St. Louis carried 34 occasions for 222 yards — each profession highs — and a pair of touchdowns on Saturday in a snug 27-6 victory over Texas A&M, capped by Roberts’ 54-yard speeding rating within the closing minutes. In the method, Roberts, who was following up a 211-yard outburst towards Florida in Week 5, joined Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Leonard Fournette (LSU) as solely the third SEC working again to document again-to-again 200-yard speeding efforts over the previous 20 years. The absence of 2025 SEC speeding yards chief Ahmad Hardy was alleged to be a drag on Missouri’s offense. Instead, Roberts has made a star flip of his personal throughout the primary half of the season, main the SEC with 147 makes an attempt and 828 speeding yards, together with an FBS-finest 405 yards after contact, per ESPN Research. If/when Hardy returns, the Tigers’ backfield will as soon as once more boast one of many nation’s finest one-two punches. Until then, Roberts has Missouri lined. — Eli Lederman

Previous rating: NR

Among many different qualities, Will Stein’s new-look Wildcats are gutsy and resilient. For a second straight week, Kentucky recovered after squandering a fourth-quarter result in beat an SEC opponent with a daring 2-level conversion in additional time, this time sealing a 35-34 dwelling win over Lane Kiffin and No. 10 LSU with quarterback Kenny Minchey‘s 2-yard run. In doing so, the Wildcats grew to become the primary FBS workforce to win consecutive video games by one level in additional time since additional time guidelines have been launched in 1996, per ESPN Research. From Minchey’s sprint to working again CJ Baxter‘s sport-tying rating to the essential chunk performs from freshman cross catcher Kenny Darby — a former LSU commit — the roster Stein has assembled in his debut season confirmed its toughness as soon as once more. That bodes nicely for the current and way forward for a Kentucky workforce that travels to Oklahoma at 5-1 for the primary time since 2023. — Lederman

Previous rating: 17

Jeff Lebby stated it after final week’s loss to Alabama and stated it once more a number of days later in the course of the bye week — any replace on the well being of star quarterback Kamario Taylor will not come till the SEC availability report on Wednesday. Taylor definitely did not look himself towards Alabama as he was clearly coping with a decrease leg harm. While he could make performs from the pocket, his mobility is a distinction-maker and could possibly be wanted because the Bulldogs put together to go on the street to No. 22 LSU. How or if standout working again Fluff Bothwell comes again from his harm is one other unanswered query heading into the journey to Baton Rouge. — Scarborough

Previous rating: 18

Drew Mestemaker and Oklahoma State’s protection stepped up within the second half of a 21-21 sport and made the massive performs in crucial moments as soon as once more for a 42-28 dwelling victory over UCF. Mestemaker put up 304 passing yards with a bunch of huge-time throws and scored three whole TDs. The protection delivered a 28-yard scoop-and-rating from Evan Jackson early within the fourth quarter adopted by a fast fourth-down cease that allowed the Cowboys to place the sport away. Eric Morris’ squad is scoring 45.3 factors per sport since its weird Week 1 loss to Tulsa and is constructing momentum every week. Now it is time for a significant take a look at: a primetime sport at No. 20 Houston with main implications for the Big 12 title race. — Olson

Previous rating: 19

Say what you need concerning the state of the Penn State squad that USC confronted Saturday in State College — a win is a win, particularly one on the street in the course of the annual White Out sport. It’s no surprise Lincoln Riley and the workforce relished the victory as a lot as they did postgame. The loss to Oregon at dwelling a number of weeks in the past was a blemish they can not return and erase, however it’s one they’ll diminish ought to they preserve profitable. Despite not precisely working away from inferior groups akin to Washington and Penn State with their expertise, the Trojans seem removed from performed. It helped too that they have been capable of have vast receiver Trent Mosley again. The freshman phenom (9 catches for 111 yards and a landing) is a star already and clearly has the flexibility to show USC’s already potent offense into an much more dynamic unit. — Uggetti

Previous rating: 23

The Hawkeyes are proving to be a official playoff risk. Yes, the blowout loss at dwelling to Ohio State final weekend was disheartening. But Iowa bounced again with a dominant efficiency within the 41-24 Friday night time win at Washington. Kamari Moulton, who ran for a profession-excessive 208 yards, set the tone, whereas tight finish DJ Vonnahme got here by way of for backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski with two large landing grabs. Defensively, the Hawkeyes held the Huskies to 95 whole yards within the first half earlier than knocking quarterback Demond Williams Jr. out of the sport. Iowa nonetheless has street journeys to Minnesota (Oct. 24) and Northwestern (Nov. 7) and residential tilts towards Wisconsin (Oct. 31) and Nebraska (Nov. 27) forward. But as Friday confirmed, the Hawkeyes are adequate on either side of the ball to make an actual run to the playoff. — Trotter

Previous rating: 20

Keep an eye fixed on the Vols’ quarterback scenario. Coach Josh Heupel determined to begin George MacIntyre vs. Arkansas after he got here off the bench and led Tennessee to a win over Auburn. A Faizon Brandon harm was a part of the calculus. But MacIntyre didn’t play nicely towards a struggling Razorbacks workforce, throwing for one landing and two interceptions in a sloppy 24-17 win. What’s extra, he ran twice for minus-6 yards. With No. 6 Alabama coming to Neyland Stadium on Saturday, will probably be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Heupel flips again to the true freshman Brandon in an try to breathe life into the offense. — Scarborough

Previous rating: 24

The Cougars’ 35-16 win towards Kansas State might need been their finest efficiency of the season — an encouraging signal concerning the path of the workforce. Conner Weigman has 15 landing passes to only one interception and has added six touchdowns on the bottom. He is enjoying at a stage that can preserve Houston in each Big 12 sport. The Cougars have a pair of huge ones arising the following two weeks towards Oklahoma State and Utah. — Bonagura

Previous rating: NR

If there have been any doubts concerning the No. 2 workforce within the ACC, Wake Forest erased these with a definitive 38-14 win over NC State. The Demon Deacons trailed 14-10 at halftime and rolled with 28 unanswered factors within the second half to win. Gio Lopez is enjoying like a quarterback fully reworked — throwing for 303 yards and scoring 4 whole touchdowns. His 13 passing touchdowns are three greater than he had in 11 video games with North Carolina final season. Meanwhile, Carlos Hernandez and Jack Foley grew to become the primary pair of Wake Forest teammates to achieve 100 or extra receiving yards since 2021. It all added as much as the Deacons’ largest win at NC State since Oct. 16, 1943. — Adelson

Previous rating: 22

With 512 yards of whole offense, together with 150 on the bottom from FBS speeding yards chief Dylan Riley, the playoff-chasing Broncos handed one of many largest remaining exams on their schedule. Boise State dominated possession (38:56 to 21:04) and held off a late rally to topple Fresno State 38-31 on the street Saturday night time, snapping a 3-sport skid towards the Bulldogs. Waiting for the Broncos on the opposite facet of a Week 7 bye are three straight video games towards sub-.500 Pac-12 opponents earlier than a seismic Nov. 14 go to from Oregon State, which might have important implications for the convention and the CFP race. The final time Boise State began 5-0, it made the playoff in 2024. By getting over the hump towards Fresno State, the Broncos have as soon as once more positioned themselves in sturdy place for the 12-workforce area. — Lederman

Previous rating: 9

The Tigers’ CFP hopes are on life help after a second loss on the street, this time a 35-34 additional time thriller at Kentucky on Saturday night time. LSU additionally fell 32-24 in coach Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss, and with two losses, there’s completely no margin for error the remainder of the way in which. That is not good with video games remaining towards Mississippi State on Saturday after which three straight towards Alabama, Texas and Tennessee in November. LSU’s protection had been fairly good this season, however the Tigers surrendered 401 yards towards Kentucky, together with 155 speeding. That made Kiffin’s determination to punt on fourth-and-1 from LSU’s 43 with 1:46 to go much more perplexing. — Schlabach

Previous rating: NR

The Mustangs had the week off, however that does not imply it wasn’t a profitable week for SMU. Duke, Virginia Tech and Pitt all misplaced, additional cementing SMU because the clear-reduce No. 2 workforce within the convention. There’s definitely plenty of football left to be performed, however with so lots of the different contenders within the convention faltering, the Mustangs’ Nov. 14 date with Wake Forest now looms awfully massive within the quest to resolve who’s more than likely to problem Miami for ACC supremacy — and a attainable playoff berth. — Hale

Previous rating: NR

The Wildcats have some depth. Despite being with out their top three receivers for the journey to West Virginia, the offense did not miss a beat. Noah Fifita threw three landing passes, together with two to Isaiah Mizell, who had six catches for 183 yards. Arizona hosts Iowa State this week earlier than a visit to Texas Tech in two weeks. — Bonagura