Connelly – How Week 10’s biggest games were won

Week 10 of the school soccer season was extra momentous than thrilling. We had six ranked-versus-ranked games, however solely two were determined by fewer than 14 factors, and the week ended up being extra about statements than all-time classics.

Of course we nonetheless received down-to-the-wire thrillers in South Bend and Utah, among the large statements were fascinating, and we ended Saturday with each Ohio State and Michigan in existential crises.

It was nonetheless a hell of a weekend, in different phrases. What made the distinction within the week’s biggest games? Who made essentially the most sustainable statements? And how superior was 100 Miles of Hate?? Let’s recap.

No. 11 Notre Dame 31, No. 1 Miami 24

First issues first: I did not suppose it was a catch. Miami coach Mario Cristobal made it clear he disagrees — that in his thoughts, on fourth down with lower than 4 minutes to go and Miami down by seven, tight finish Elija Lofton held on to a possible recreation-tying landing move lengthy sufficient for it to rely. But every part this recreation has taught me about what’s a catch, what “surviving the ground” entails, what constitutes a “football move” or no matter — man, we have struggled with this for a very long time, have not we? — advised me that, whereas Lofton’s ft got here down in bounds and he had preliminary management of the ball, Luke Talich was capable of knock it from his palms earlier than it counted.

The close to catch would not have won Miami the sport, in fact: It would have tied it, and Notre Dame and CJ Carr would have had a lot of time to doubtlessly go and win the sport. Instead, they were capable of run out a lot of the clock, pin Miami deep and win the sport.

That Miami was capable of practically tie a recreation that appeared nearly as good as misplaced with 25 minutes left certain says loads, although. The Hurricanes were gradual to search out the offensive changes required within the absence of star receiver Malachi Toney, they usually had pulled simply three factors from six drives when Darian Mensah started to hit a powerful rhythm to find Lofton in house and hitting Cooper Barkate on fast slants.

The Canes scored three TDs in 4 drives (interrupted solely by an interception by Talich) earlier than their late fourth-down failure. If that they had tailored a bit extra shortly to Notre Dame’s aggressive man protection, possibly they may have pulled out the win. Or possibly Carr would have simply executed much more to guarantee a Fighting Irish win.

What made the distinction: CJ Carr. This was Carr’s shining second up to now. He sometimes performs like an honors pupil, making each good move and virtually at all times doing the best factor, with minimal danger. In 5 earlier begins in opposition to ranked opponents, he averaged simply 10.9 yards per completion; he had averaged simply 9.5, with three TDs to a few INTs, within the final three.

On Saturday, he got here out firing and by no means actually stopped. Carr accomplished 4 passes of 20-plus yards, plus one other 5 of at the least 13. Ten guys caught at the least one move, and Micah Gilbert and Jordan Faison mixed for 15. Granted, Carr nonetheless solely ended up at 11.0 yards per completion due to the way in which the Irish used the quick passing recreation in its place effectivity generator for a run recreation that solely kind of labored. But he made large throws, his receivers made large catches, and it looks like Notre Dame’s confirmed upside is just a little larger than we had confirmed earlier than Saturday.

Honestly, I kind of really feel the identical about Miami. The Hurricanes’ playoff standing remains to be fairly protected, and now Mensah is aware of that he can lean closely on Barkate and Lofton if he must. He’ll accomplish that for a number of weeks, and in concept Miami’s offense can be much more threatening than earlier than if or when Toney returns.

I’ve excessive expectations of each of those groups come playoff time. But the crew for which I’ve the highest expectations lives in Georgia.

No. 2 Georgia 42, No. 10 Ole Miss 7

I had excessive hopes for this one, if solely due to how good final 12 months’s two conferences between these faculties were. Georgia wanted a late surge to beat Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens within the common season, then the Rebels received revenge with a 39-34 CFP quarterfinal win. Trinidad Chambliss can nonetheless be magical when the playmaker swap will get flipped, and the gang was assured to be hyped at night time.

The buzz from the gang was gone in a heartbeat.

What made the distinction: The incontrovertible fact that Georgia is the most effective crew within the nation. Since about Week 2, I’ve had the identical reply anytime somebody asks me who I feel the most effective crew is: Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. They were so good Saturday night time that they are not solely No. 1 in SP+ — they now maintain a 6.9-level benefit over the second-greatest crew (Notre Dame).

This was pure destruction. The Dawgs scored TDs on three of their first 4 drives, then punched in one other one late within the first half. Meanwhile, they erased the Ole Miss offense, sacking Chambliss 4 instances, sacking his backup as soon as and permitting simply 175 yards in three quarters. When they misplaced their shutout within the fourth quarter, Smart evidently let offensive coordinator Mike Bobo dial up a deep shot in response: Gunner Stockton‘s solely fourth-quarter move went for 65 yards and a rating to Talyn Taylor. Taylor completed with 140 yards in 4 catches, whereas Nate Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr. rushed 27 instances for 173 yards and 5 different gamers had at the least one double-digit rush. Nasty stuff.

To emphasize the magnitude of this one, let’s revisit an idea I leaned on final week: Playoff tiers. They’re primarily based on the mixed CFP odds derived by each SP+ and the Allstate Playoff Predictor. (I like how every one sort of smooths out the tough edges within the different.) Last week, Miami was the lone crew in Tier 1, with common CFP odds of round 98%. The Hurricanes’ odds did not fall a lot after Saturday, however they’re now joined by three different groups at 94% or above.

Playoff Tier 1
Georgia (8-1, 97.0% common CFP odds)
Miami (8-1, 96.8%)
Notre Dame (8-1, 95.5%)
Utah (9-0, 94.2%)

Meanwhile, Ole Miss was solidly in Tier 3 final week (you may see all the opposite tiers beneath). Now the Rebels have tumbled to Tier 5, with lower than a one-in-5 probability of profitable out and grabbing a spot. This was, let’s assume, a really clarifying outcome. It confirmed every part we suspected about Georgia’s upside, and it made all of Ole Miss’ cracks — an offense that does not make practically as many large performs as final 12 months’s (and asks for much more than earlier than from Chambliss), a dismal run protection, far too many large performs for opponents — into chasms.

No. 3 Utah 28, No. 9 BYU 20

Sometimes the Holy War jogs my memory as a lot of a slap fighting competition as a soccer recreation. These groups hit one another, and it may well really feel just like the physicality is typically as thrilling to the Utes and Cougars because the win itself.

There was loads of physicality in Salt Lake City early Saturday, however early large performs and late changes allowed Utah to stay unbeaten and ship an enormous rival a tricky playoff blow.

What made the distinction: Defensive changes. There were some wild swings on this one. Among Utah’s first seven snaps were beneficial properties of 47, 22 (landing), 18 and 46 (landing) yards, and the Utes led 14-0 early. But then BYU scored on 4 straight possessions — together with a landing on a 75-yard bomb from Bear Bachmeier to Legend Glasker — to take a 20-14 lead into halftime. BYU was poised to win its fourth straight within the collection; as an alternative, the Cougars did not rating once more. Their final six possessions: interception, interception, punt, punt, interception, interception.

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Trey Reynolds picks off BYU Cougars

That was the second-to-final one, simply because it seemed like Bachmeier was going to drag off one other late comeback and win. He threw one other choose on a desperation heave (that seemed for a second prefer it may really succeed) with two seconds left. Meanwhile, Devon Dampier threw for 177 yards, rushed for 99 extra (not together with sacks) and even made a leaping, 29-yard catch on a fourth-and-1 trick play. And most significantly, he threw zero picks. And Utah stays unbeaten — and all however assured of a CFP berth — due to it.

No. 5 Alabama 31, No. 14 LSU 13

The Crimson Tide spent 4 days listening to everybody say the CFP choice committee had overrated them dramatically. (And in equity, that they had.) But on Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, the underdog Tide proved themselves. Part of me anticipated Georgia to thump Ole Miss; I did not see this rating coming in any respect.

What made the distinction: Negative performs (or an absence thereof). In Friday’s preview, I stated that till we noticed if Alabama may keep away from destructive performs — a rising concern of late, particularly in opposition to an extremely disruptive LSU protection — then nothing else within the recreation actually mattered.

DJ Pickett sacked Alabama’s Keelon Russell on the Tide’s second drive, prompting a 3-and-out, however the Tigers recorded solely two extra tackles for loss the remainder of the way in which. Alabama did not precisely gentle the world on fireplace offensively — 285 whole yards at 5.4 yards per play, with a 41.5% success fee (the nationwide common is 43.2%) — however they did not transfer backward, they usually won the sector place battle regardless of LSU sustaining fairly a number of drives.

And when the ball was in opposition territory, the Tide dominated: Their success fee rose to 51.9% in LSU territory, and the Tigers’ plummeted to 38.0%. LSU missed a subject objective, threw a choose and turned the ball over on downs in Bama territory, all within the second quarter, and over the ultimate 17 minutes Bama outscored the house crew 21-0.

The loss was devastating for LSU, which fell from Playoff Tier 4 to Tier 5 and might want to beat Texas and Tennessee to have any hope of a CFP berth. The Tigers are succesful, however they certain seemed demoralized late in opposition to a Bama crew that had each proper reply on the proper time. And now, when mixed with a very excessive CFP rating, Bama is sort of, however not fairly, residence free.

Playoff Tier 2
Alabama (7-2, 88.5% common CFP odds)
Indiana (8-1, 87.9%)
UCLA (9-0, 79.2%)

These three groups can all possible afford a loss and nonetheless be ok with their CFP odds, however add the chances collectively, and also you see that solely about 2.6 of the three will make it on common. There’s nonetheless just a little work to be executed.

No. 7 Texas 34, No. 18 Missouri 20

If Texas finally ends up making the CFP and performing some harm there, I feel I’ll look again at an Arch Manning interception because the turning level. When he threw a silly choose early within the fourth quarter in opposition to Ole Miss two weeks in the past, it seemed just like the Longhorns’ world was about to formally crumble to the bottom. They had already blown leads in losses to Oklahoma and Florida, that they had watched a 24-3 lead over the Rebels flip right into a 24-24 tie, and Manning had simply suffered the identical stage of gaffe that he suffered in opposition to the Sooners and Gators. But the Texas protection made an enormous cease, and Steve Sarkisian appeared to out of the blue keep in mind, hey wait, Raleek Brown is working the ball very well. We ought to give it to him extra usually! Brown rushed seven instances for 87 yards within the fourth quarter, and Texas scored on again-to-again drives to tempo a 34-27 win.

In Columbia early Saturday, we principally noticed a rerun.

What made the distinction: An ideal fourth quarter. Texas was fortunate to be tied with Missouri 20-20 heading into the fourth quarter — Mizzou had suffered a pair of missed subject targets, and one way or the other a seemingly clear Manning incompletion on third-and-10 was dominated a fumble and an enormous achieve for Texas late within the third quarter. The Horns tied the sport three performs later.

However they received to the fourth quarter tied, they took full benefit. Over the primary 34 snaps of the quarter, Texas gained 112 yards in 22 performs, and Mizzou gained 12 in 12. The Horns as soon as once more fed Brown repeatedly, and his 12 touches gained a rugged 57 yards, a pair of key first downs and the go-forward landing.

The win will maintain Texas properly above the in-or-out CFP line, and whereas the Longhorns nonetheless face a visit to a determined LSU subsequent week, SP+ offers the Horns an 88% probability of ending 9-3 or higher. And I’m betting their common CFP odds are subsequently a bit low. Regardless, for now they belong in a Tier 3 that additionally features a rising Wake Forest and an erratic Texas Tech.

Playoff Tier 3
Wake Forest (8-1, 65.6% common CFP odds)
Texas (7-2, 59.7%)
Texas Tech (8-1, 49.6%)

On common, we should always count on about 1.8 of those groups to achieve the CFP. I’m guessing Texas is fairly prone to be one in every of them.

No. 13 Tennessee 34, No. 6 Kentucky 6

“If you don’t appease the stat gods, they’ll eventually smite you.” That’s what I wrote in last week’s CFP fatal flaws piece, and I assume the smiting simply arrived. Kentucky’s stats did not match its 7-1 report heading into Week 10 — the Wildcats ranked forty second in factors per drive and 88th in factors allowed — and the second their offense stopped taking full benefit of its alternatives, every part fell aside. Tennessee pulled away to a simple 4-landing win.

What made the distinction: Early missed alternatives (and the snowball impact). Kentucky was the higher crew for a lot of the primary half in Knoxville, racking up 231 yards to Tennessee’s 162 and producing an enormous effectivity benefit. The Wildcats completed 4 of six first-half drives in UT territory however turned two crimson zone journeys into solely two subject targets and trailed due to principally one large play (a 66-yard Daune Morris landing run for the Vols). Once Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles adjusted, the sport was over. UK averaged simply 4.2 yards per play within the second half, and a shaky protection ultimately gave out as Tennessee scored TDs on its final three drives. The Vols completed the sport averaging 7.5 yards per play regardless of a minuscule passing recreation.

After the blowout, the Vols and Wildcats discover themselves in the identical Playoff Tier.

Playoff Tier 4
BYU (7-2, 37.1% common CFP odds)
Tennessee (7-2, 33.6%)
Iowa (7-2, 30.3%)
Houston (7-2, 27.3%)
Ohio State (6-3, 27.2%)
Kentucky (7-2, 22.2%)

Tennessee will fairly probably land within the prime 10 in Tuesday night time’s CFP rankings, however the Volunteers’ playoff odds are nonetheless solely first rate, not nice, as a result of they solely have a couple of 1-in-3 probability of profitable out, with remaining games at Texas A&M and at residence in opposition to LSU. (No, A&M is not nice, however Tennessee was additionally poor in two SEC highway journeys.) They’re nonetheless restricted at QB and solely have one actual solution to win games (dashing and protection). But hey, it is gotten them this far.

Based on the chances above, this tier is prone to produce solely about 1.8 bids for the six groups above. But wins over Bama and Kentucky will assist Tennessee’s probabilities fairly a bit.

No. 23 Oregon 41, No. 12 Ohio State 28

I’ve to say, I’m impressed with the Big Ten solidarity coming from Columbus. When CFP expansion to 24 teams started to look realistic in May, I wrote about what involved me essentially the most about it, and one of many biggest downsides I noticed was how groups resembling Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama may by no means play in an everyday-season recreation with main title stakes once more. The Buckeyes, for example, have completed ranked in 23 of the final 24 seasons. They can be prone to play about one make-or-break common-season recreation per decade at most.

We haven’t got a 24-teamer but (thank goodness), but when we did, we might be in that when-per-decade mode proper now. With Saturday’s dire loss to Oregon, the Buckeyes are prone to fall fairly far within the CFP rankings, and it is perhaps awfully troublesome for them to climb again up into place for the 12-teamer. They’re now 0-2 since shedding quarterback Julian Sayin to damage.

What made the distinction: Oregon’s defensive changes. Ohio State scored touchdowns on two of its first three drives and appeared headed towards a simple win, however Oregon outscored the Buckeyes 31-0 within the second and third quarters, a interval during which they outgained Ohio State 295-39 and Luke Fahey, Sayin’s substitute, went 11-for-17 for simply 37 yards, a choose and a sack. The run recreation did not assist him within the slightest — after the primary quarter, Bo Jackson rushed six instances for 20 yards — and Oregon blanketed Jeremiah Smith in such a approach that, within the second and third quarters, he caught one in every of two passes for zero yards.

The loss knocked Ohio State from Playoff Tier 3 (common CFP odds final week: 68.6%) to Tier 4. Oregon stays in Tier 5, however the Ducks’ common odds of constructing the playoff jumped from 4.3% to 19.2%.

Playoff Tier 5
Ole Miss (6-3, 19.5% common CFP odds)
Oregon (6-3, 19.2%)
Arizona (7-2, 15.8%)
LSU (6-3, 14.2%)
USC (7-2, 11.7%)
SMU (7-2, 8.6%)
Oklahoma State (6-3, 4.1%)
Louisville (6-3, 3.6%)
South Carolina (6-3, 2.9%)
Duke (7-2, 1.9%)

Among final week’s 10 Tier 5 groups, solely Oregon, Arizona, USC and SMU stay there this week. Tier 5 is a approach station of kinds — groups are both passing by way of on their approach up the board, or their journey is nearly over. Only about one of many groups on this tier is prone to make the reduce.

No. 25 Boise State 64, Colorado State 38 (and different key Group of 6 issues)

Heading into Week 10, we had a transparent chief within the race for the Group of 6’s playoff spot (Boise State), with three hopefuls (New Mexico, Liberty and UTSA) making an attempt to maintain tempo and hope the Broncos fell sufferer to an upset.

After Week 10, the story is nearly precisely the identical due to BSU’s 26-level throttling of CSU.

What made the distinction: backup QB and an terrible protection. Boise State throttled Colorado State, gaining 669 yards (10.6 per play) regardless of quarterback Maddux Madsen being out with damage. Madsen is at the moment third within the nation in Total QBR, however one way or the other junior backup Max Cutforth has executed even higher in a small pattern, and in opposition to a CSU protection that defends solely barely higher than air does, Cutforth went 16-for-19 passing for 317 yards and 4 TDs, whereas Dylan Riley wanted solely 19 carries to realize 192 yards and rating twice. The BSU protection gave up some factors in rubbish time, however a great way to win is to attain touchdowns on 9 of 10 major possessions. I do not know why extra groups do not attempt that.

Thanks to UTSA’s absurd monitor-meet loss to Florida Atlantic on Thursday night time (60-29 Owls), the Roadrunners have dropped from the race, changed by a protracted-shot North Texas crew that’s smoking scorching however enjoying from behind.

Playoff Tier (Group of) 6
Boise State (8-1, 58.8% common CFP odds)
New Mexico (8-1, 27.7%)
Liberty (8-1, 10.6%)
North Texas (7-2, 1.3%)

New Mexico and Liberty each dealt with convention highway checks, however this seems to be BSU’s race to lose. And the Broncos could have a number of further buddies on the town this coming Saturday.

GET READY BOISE, WE’RE COMING TO YOUR CITY‼️

We’re heading west for a Pac-12 showdown that would have CFP implications between Oregon State and Boise State 🍿 https://t.co/o9XzuwoKyv

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 8, 2026

Michigan State 15, Michigan 6

This recreation actually did not have playoff stakes, nevertheless it may find yourself being some of the momentous of the weekend. After steadying the ship a bit with tight wins over Penn State and Rutgers and a close to upset of Indiana, Michigan fell into whole existential disaster Saturday night time, shedding to its in-state rival for the primary time since 2021 due to a very dire offensive efficiency, even by the Wolverines’ 2026 requirements.

What made the distinction: Tommy Carr very a lot seemed just like the freshman he’s. It was the important thing to a Michigan State upset in my Friday preview, and I’d say “14-for-26 passing with two INTs and five sacks” qualifies in that regard. Against a Sparty protection that allowed 443 yards to UCLA and 409 to Illinois, the Wolverines gained simply 192 yards and fumbled twice, shedding each. They did not permit a landing and nonetheless misplaced — it was the primary time that has occurred because the basic 12-10 loss to No. 1 Iowa in 1985.

At least that one was to the highest-ranked crew within the nation. Michigan State got here in terribly banged up and had misplaced six games in a row, 4 by double digits. They ranked 112th in factors allowed per possession. And they utterly shut down Michigan. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck is the proverbial lifeless man strolling, and the one query is whether or not first-12 months head coach Kyle Whittingham follows him out the door. Every job is its personal distinctive problem, and whereas Whittingham and Beck each shined at Utah — Whittingham did so for 21 years! — they’ve flunked their checks in Ann Arbor this 12 months.

This week in SP+

The SP+ rankings have been up to date for the week. Let’s check out the groups that noticed the biggest change of their total scores. (Note: We’re taking a look at scores, not rankings.)

Moving up

Here are the ten groups that noticed their scores rise essentially the most this week:

Wake Forest: up 4.5 adjusted factors per recreation (rating rose from sixteenth to twelfth)

Georgia Southern: up 4.1 factors (from 86th to 72nd)

Jacksonville State: up 4.1 factors (from 68th to 54th)

Tulsa: up 4.0 factors (from 83rd to seventieth)

North Texas: up 3.9 factors (from 66th to 52nd)

Texas State: up 3.9 factors (from 61st to forty eighth)

Duke: up 3.8 factors (from fortieth to thirty second)

New Mexico: up 3.8 factors (from thirty second to twenty third)

UCLA: up 3.5 factors (from fifteenth to eleventh)

Oklahoma State: up 3.4 factors (from twenty seventh to twentieth)

This is a fairly self-explanatory record, as most of those groups seemed someplace between wonderful and spectacular this week. Wake Forest benefited each from a simple pounding of Merrimack and the additional phasing out of their preseason projections, however I ought to shortly additionally shout out New Mexico and UCLA.

New Mexico wakened a bit offensively in a 31-3 win over Nevada — it was the Lobos’ first time scoring greater than 21 factors since Week 5 — and UCLA simply saved proving itself. The Bruins are the one crew to have overachieved in opposition to SP+ projections in each recreation, which suggests they in all probability ought to have risen past even eleventh by now. But they’ve an almost 50-50 shot at reaching 12-0, per the SP+ measure that’s underestimating them. Maybe they may very well be rewarded for this awesomeness by drawing at the least one residence crowd of 40,000? They’ve averaged an appalling 31,461 up to now; that is 19% worse than Fresno State and 24% decrease than a Cal crew having an atrocious season.

Moving down

Here are the ten groups whose scores fell essentially the most:

Tulane: down 3.7 adjusted factors per recreation (from one centesimal to 114th)

Georgia Tech: down 3.6 factors (from 92nd to 99th)

Ole Miss: down 3.6 factors (from thirteenth to thirtieth)

NC State: down 3.0 factors (from 67th to 81st)

Kansas State: down 2.9 factors (from forty fifth to 53rd)

Marshall: down 2.8 factors (from one hundred and fifth to 117th)

Rutgers: down 2.6 factors (from 96th to one hundred and fifth)

Eastern Michigan: down 2.6 factors (from 122nd to 128th)

Florida: down 2.3 factors (from forty fourth to forty seventh)

Ohio State: down 2.2 factors (from second to fourth)

I actually did not like Tulane’s rent of Will Hall final winter to exchange Jon Sumrall. It simply felt extraordinarily unambitious, as among the best G6 packages of the 2020s, to rent a man who had seen success as a Tulane assistant however had gone simply 14-30 at Southern Miss. He’s now 4-5 in 2026 after his Green Wave underachieved in opposition to projections by 47.5 factors in opposition to Tulsa, shedding 60-10. A as soon as-strong protection stopped defending three weeks in the past, they usually’ve solely topped 30 offensive factors in opposition to Charlotte. There are loads of different disappointing groups this season, however Tulane should not slip underneath the radar.

My 20 favourite games of the weekend

1. No. 15 Texas Tech 53, West Virginia 48. A recreation that had 1,220 yards regardless of WVU gaining minus-6 within the fourth quarter. College soccer, all people!

2. No. 11 Notre Dame 31, No. 1 Miami 24. Early within the second half, it seemed like a Notre Dame assertion win and a possibility to roll up model factors. The Irish needed to accept merely holding on to beat the No. 1 crew within the nation.

3. No. 3 Utah 28, No. 9 BYU 20. Haymakers galore. So good.

4. FCS: No. 3 Montana State 28, No. 18 Idaho State 26 (3OT). It was a wild weekend on the FCS stage. No. 2 Stephen F. Austin received KO’d 45-28 by No. 12 Lamar, No. 8 Illinois State received pounded by No. 15 North Dakota and No. 3 Montana State needed to maintain on for pricey life in Pocatello. The defending nationwide champs trailed 10-0 early and 20-13 late within the fourth quarter earlier than tying the sport, surviving a protracted Idaho State subject objective try on the finish of regulation, buying and selling two subject targets every with the Bengals in OT and profitable with 2-level trickeration.

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Montana State Bobcats vs. Idaho State Bengals: Full Highlights

5. UCF 33, Kansas 32. I do not know what Lance Leipold did to offend the soccer gods, however his Jayhawks have now misplaced 12 of their final 15 one-rating finishes and have, within the final two weeks, allowed the sport-profitable factors with 71 seconds left (in opposition to TCU) and one second left (in opposition to UCF). Brutal.

6. Middle Tennessee 51, Western Kentucky 42. Man oh man, did 100 Miles of Hate stay as much as expectations. We noticed runs of 14-0 MTSU, 13-0 WKU, 21-7 MTSU and 22-7 WKU, and it seemed like we were going to time beyond regulation till Dominic Bourgeois knocked in a 48-yard subject objective with one second left. MTSU then tacked on a bonus TD on WKU’s final-second lateral fest. The scene on the sector afterward was as if MTSU had simply won a convention title or one thing. Rivalry games are the most effective.

7. No. 22 Arizona 29, TCU 28. If you have ever discovered your self questioning why extra groups do not try pooch kicks into the extensive open areas that return groups typically depart, Arizona made you’re feeling awfully good Friday night time.

A THRILLER IN TUCSON 🌵🔥

Arizona comes again within the fourth to defeat TCU 😤 https://t.co/ctuMFyJC9x

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2026

It saved the day for the Wildcats too.

8. FCS: Samford 37, No. 21 East Tennessee State 35. Trailing by 12 late within the third quarter, Samford scored twice in 86 seconds to take the lead, and when ETSU took it again within the ultimate minute, the Bulldogs drove 75 yards in 57 seconds and won the sport on a Gabarri Johnson-to-Domonique Thomas stroll-off rating.

9. Wyoming 41, UNLV 35. Five weeks in the past, Wyoming was 2-3 and 124th in SP+. But following a 28-0 shellacking by North Dakota State, the Cowboys rejiggered their offense, scored a few wins over the Mountain West’s lesser groups (San Jose State and Northern Illinois), then thumped Air Force. And Saturday night time in Vegas, they put themselves in place for a spot within the MWC title recreation by bolting to an early 17-level lead and withstanding a pair of UNLV comebacks. Tyson Shamsid-Deen‘s late interception and Markell Holman‘s Beast Mode impersonation iced the sport.

DUDE WENT BEAST MODE!!!

Markell Holman OMG

@wyo_football @SickosCommittee https://t.co/boCpRSq3gU

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 8, 2026

10. Division III: No. 14 Baldwin Wallace 27, Mount Union 21. Against undefeated Baldwin Wallace — which hadn’t won on this collection since 1994 — Mount Union wanted to attain an upset to keep away from lacking the Division III playoffs for the primary time since 1991. Didn’t occur. Three Charlie Bubonics landing passes gave BWU a 24-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter, and whereas the Purple Raiders rallied to chop the result in 6, a final-minute drive stalled close to midfield. Just as Ohio State’s playoff destiny appears all however sealed, the state of Ohio’s Div. III royalty has additionally fallen quick.

11-12. UMass 31, Ball State 30 and Buffalo 34, Miami (Ohio) 31 (OT). The first week of midweek MACtion gave us a few delights. At 5-4, UMass is just one win away from clinching its first .500 season in 15 years on the FBS stage. The Minutemen may want an additional win to bowl – they’ve two wins over FCS groups – however 6-6 alone can be a hell of an accomplishment in Amherst.

13. Division III: No. 4 Wisconsin-Whitewater 24, No. 2 Wisconsin-Platteville 21. The Division III recreation of the week was a slight upset thanks to 2 Tommy Novotny scores and an excellent efficiency from the UWW protection.

14-15. Navy 42, Temple 35 and East Carolina 20, USF 17. Navy blew a 28-level lead and nonetheless won, and ECU landed an enormous win with a 55-yard Andrew Conrad subject objective on the buzzer. Throw in Florida Atlantic’s monitor-meet upset of UTSA, and it was fairly per week within the American.

16. Division III: Simpson 57, Nebraska Wesleyan 49 (2OT). Simpson led by 18 late on this Division III monitor meet, however 1-8 NWU scored 4 instances within the ultimate 8:19 to pressure time beyond regulation. As with Temple, nonetheless, the comeback was for naught, and an 11-yard Noah Cracraft rating made the distinction.

17. NAIA: St. Mary of the Woods 28, Judson (Ill.) 27. It was 0-8 St. Mary-Woods — enjoying its first season of soccer — in opposition to 0-9 Judson. St. Mary scored the primary 20 factors, and Judson scored the following 27, however the recreation turned when Adonimi Parker returned a blocked PAT 97 yards for 2 factors with 1:52 left. Instead of trailing by eight, the Pomeroys trailed by solely six and won the sport with a Carter Hall TD plunge.

18. Division III: Heidelberg 38, Capital 32 (OT). Here’s a reputation you may be studying in my Tuesday Heisman of the Week piece: Heidelberg’s Drew Miller gained 451 yards from scrimmage and scored 5 instances – and the Student Princes wanted each a kind of scores.

19. FCS: SC State 35, Howard 28. SC State was closely favored and led by 14 at halftime, however Howard charged again to tie the sport late earlier than Ricorian Brown scored the profitable TD with 17 seconds left.

20. Division II: Upper Iowa 41, Quincy 39 (3OT). Quincy led 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter, however UIU drove 93, 69 and 55 yards to tie the sport; the groups traded 4 TDs in OT, however Elijah Genenbacher’s 2-level rush made the distinction. Small-school soccer is unbeaten.