THE SOVEREIGN VAULT
WEEK 7 POWER RANKINGS • OCTOBER 18, 2026
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
(Last Week: 1)
(6-1)
Beat Indiana 19-15
There's a reason Ohio State sits atop these rankings, and Saturday in Bloomington provided another reminder. Facing an Indiana team riding a 22-game winning streak, the Buckeyes walked into one of college football's most hostile environments and emerged with a hard-fought 19-15 victory. Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith for a spectacular 38-yard touchdown on fourth down, a play that ultimately provided the winning margin. But Indiana wasn't finished. The Hoosiers drove for a potential winning touchdown, only to have Nick Marsh's apparent score ruled incomplete when his foot landed out of bounds. Ohio State's defense forced turnovers, delivered timely stops, and ended the nation's longest winning streak. The Buckeyes aren't undefeated, but they've now beaten two highly ranked opponents on the road. That's a résumé worthy of number one.
2. Miami Hurricanes
(Last Week: 4)
(6-0)
Beat Florida State 43-35 (2OT)
Miami and Florida State apparently decided that sixty minutes of football simply wasn't enough punishment for their respective fan bases. The Hurricanes survived an absolutely insane double-overtime showdown, escaping with a 43-35 victory that featured huge plays, blown opportunities, and enough drama to fill an entire season. Darian Mensah threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, while Malachi Toney hauled in eleven passes for 154 yards and delivered the game's defining moment. After catching a touchdown in the second overtime, Toney turned quarterback and threw the two-point conversion to Cooper Barkate. Florida State's final desperation attempt ended with a Bryce Fitzgerald interception, preserving Miami's perfect record. The Hurricanes climb two spots, and with Georgia and Notre Dame both falling, the road toward number one suddenly looks considerably shorter.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
(Last Week: 6)
(6-1)
Beat Oklahoma 21-13
Somebody might want to check whether Kentucky's defensive backs have been secretly practicing with the basketball team, because these bastards apparently believe every football thrown in their direction belongs to them. The Wildcats intercepted Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer four times, turning a 13-7 fourth-quarter deficit into a 21-13 victory in Norman. Kenny Minchey connected with Willie Rodriguez for the go-ahead touchdown after a Ty Bryant interception, and Jordan Castell delivered the knockout punch with a 41-yard pick-six in the final two minutes. Bryant added another interception to finish the job. Kentucky has now won five consecutive games, sits at 6-1, and shares the SEC lead. The Wildcats climb three spots, and what once looked like a promising season is becoming something considerably more dangerous.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
(Last Week: 2)
(6-1)
Lost to Auburn 27-24
For about fifteen minutes, Georgia looked every bit like the nation's best football team. The Bulldogs jumped ahead of Auburn 14-0, the Sanford Stadium crowd was rocking, and another routine victory appeared inevitable. Then somebody apparently unplugged the damn machine. Auburn scored 24 unanswered points, and Georgia spent the rest of the afternoon desperately trying to recover. Gunner Stockton eventually engineered a 94-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 24 with less than three minutes remaining, seemingly rescuing the Bulldogs from disaster. But a late Stockton fumble handed Auburn one final opportunity, and Alex McPherson drilled the winning field goal as time expired. Georgia falls two spots after its first defeat, and the SEC championship race just became a whole lot more interesting. The Bulldogs are still championship material, but Saturday proved they're not bulletproof.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
(Last Week: 12)
(6-1)
Beat Alabama 26-10
ROCKY TOP, YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS! Tennessee didn't just beat Alabama on the Third Saturday in October. The Volunteers took the Crimson Tide behind the woodshed and spent the afternoon dismantling an offense that looked completely helpless. Alabama managed just 201 total yards, rushed for only 54, and failed to score a single point in the second half. DeSean Bishop punished the Tide on the ground, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while Tennessee's defense forced four turnovers and made life miserable for Keelon Russell. The Volunteers controlled the clock, dominated the trenches, and sent Neyland Stadium into absolute delirium. Tennessee climbs seven spots into our top five, and at 6-1, the Vols have officially entered the national championship conversation. Somewhere in Knoxville, there's probably still a cigar burning.
6. BYU Cougars
(Last Week: 14)
(6-0)
Beat ND 28-24
Welcome to the big leagues, BYU! The Cougars delivered one of the biggest victories in program history, knocking off second-ranked Notre Dame in a Provo thriller that came down to the final play. Bear Bachmeier was an absolute madman, throwing a touchdown, rushing for two more, and even catching one on a trick play. Notre Dame rallied from an eleven-point halftime deficit to take a 24-21 lead, but Bachmeier found Walker Lyons for the winning touchdown with 1:47 remaining. The Irish drove to the BYU seven before their final pass fell incomplete. BYU climbs eight spots, remains undefeated, and suddenly looks like a legitimate national championship contender. Somewhere in Provo, they're probably still celebrating.
7. Ole Miss Rebels
(Last Week: 10)
(5-1)
Beat Missouri 31-3
Missouri showed up in Oxford with a 5-1 record and left looking like it had accidentally wandered into somebody else's homecoming celebration. Ole Miss absolutely mauled the Tigers, outrushing them 257-39 and scoring 31 unanswered points after an early Missouri field goal. Trinidad Chambliss accounted for four touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, while Kewan Lacy and Makhi Frazier both cracked the century mark on the ground. The Rebels have now won fifteen consecutive home games, and this was their first victory over Missouri since 1974. Ole Miss climbs three spots and looks increasingly dangerous. When your offense can beat somebody through the air AND run straight down their throat, that's a hell of a combination.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
(Last Week: 5)
(5-2)
Lost to Tennessee 26-10
The Third Saturday in October turned into a damn nightmare for Alabama. Tennessee held the Crimson Tide to just 201 yards, forced four turnovers, and shut them out completely in the second half. Keelon Russell managed only 147 passing yards, Alabama rushed for a miserable 54, and the offense converted just two of thirteen third downs. Meanwhile, DeSean Bishop battered the Tide for 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Alabama actually trailed only 12-10 at halftime before everything fell apart. Now the Crimson Tide have lost two consecutive games, and the familiar aura of invincibility is looking increasingly like a historical artifact. Alabama drops three spots, and the SEC championship picture just got considerably uglier in Tuscaloosa.
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9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
(Last Week: 8)
(6-0)
Beat Arizona State 53-25
Texas Tech apparently heard somebody questioning whether the Red Raiders belonged among the nation's elite and responded by dropping 43 points on Arizona State before halftime. Will Hammond, returning from an ACL injury, threw for 232 yards and added a rushing touchdown, while J'Koby Williams shredded the Sun Devils for 165 yards and two scores on just eleven carries. Tech piled up 502 yards, recorded six sacks, and even threw in a defensive touchdown for good measure. The Red Raiders remain undefeated at 6-0 and sit atop the Big 12 race. They actually slip one spot because BYU's victory over Notre Dame was impossible to ignore. But make no mistake: Texas Tech is playing some frighteningly good football.
10. LSU Tigers
(Last Week: 9)
(5-2)
Beat Mississippi State 31-0
Apparently Lane Kiffin decided LSU needed to remind everybody what a complete football team looks like. The Tigers absolutely dismantled Mississippi State in Baton Rouge, with Sam Leavitt completing 31 of 38 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Jackson Harris caught two of those scores, while LSU's defense repeatedly slammed the door on the Bulldogs, including four consecutive fourth-down stops. It was LSU's first home shutout of an SEC opponent since 2006. Coming off an overtime loss to Kentucky, this was exactly the response the Tigers needed. They slip one spot despite the demolition, but nobody should mistake LSU for a team that's finished making noise in the SEC.
11. Indiana Hoosiers
(Last Week: 7)
(6-1)
Lost to Ohio State 19-15
Twenty-two consecutive victories. That's how long Indiana had gone without losing a football game before Ohio State showed up in Bloomington and spoiled the party. The Hoosiers gave the Buckeyes everything they could handle, holding Jeremiah Smith in check for most of the afternoon and keeping the outcome in doubt until the final minutes. Indiana even had a chance to steal it late, but Nick Marsh stepped out of bounds while making what would have been a go-ahead touchdown catch on fourth down. The result was a heartbreaking 19-15 defeat and the end of the nation's longest winning streak. Indiana drops four spots, but there's no shame in taking Ohio State to the wire. The Hoosiers are still dangerous as hell.
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(Last Week: 3)
(6-1)
Lost to BYU 28-24
Notre Dame was four yards away from escaping Provo with its undefeated season intact. Four miserable yards. The Irish had fought their way back against BYU and reached the Cougars' end zone on the final play, only for the potential winning touchdown to fall incomplete amid controversy over an apparent missed pass-interference call. BYU celebrated a monumental 28-24 victory while Notre Dame was left wondering what might have been. The Irish entered the weekend with an opportunity to climb to number one after Georgia's loss, but instead suffered their first defeat and a nine-place plunge in our rankings. That's college football for you. One minute you're dreaming about the top spot. The next you're arguing with the television about a referee.
13. Missouri Tigers
(Last Week: 11)
(5-2)
Lost to Ole Miss 31-3
Missouri traveled to Oxford hoping to make a statement. Unfortunately, the statement turned out to be something along the lines of please make it stop. The Tigers opened the game with a field goal and then proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon accomplishing absolutely nothing on the scoreboard. Ole Miss scored 31 unanswered points, held Missouri to just 39 rushing yards, and completely neutralized Jamal Roberts, who had rushed for more than 200 yards in each of his previous two games. Austin Simmons threw for 339 yards against his former team, but those yards produced exactly zero touchdowns. Missouri falls two spots, and suddenly that promising 5-0 start feels a lot further away than two weeks ago.
14. Houston Cougars
(Last Week: 17)
(6-1)
Beat OSU 35-32
Houston is apparently determined to turn every Saturday into a stress test for the entire city. The Cougars survived a furious Oklahoma State comeback behind Conner Weigman, who threw for 343 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Every time the Cowboys threatened to take control, Weigman answered, including a 48-yard touchdown strike to Koby Young that restored a ten-point advantage in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma State scored 29 second-half points, but Houston kept finding ways to stay ahead. The Cougars improve to 6-1 and 3-1 in Big 12 play, climbing three spots in our rankings. They might not be winning pretty, but they're winning games that good teams absolutely have to win.
15. UCLA Bruins
(Last Week: 23)
(6-0)
Beat Wisconsin 17-7
Six games. Six wins. And somehow UCLA is still flying under the radar while everybody argues about the traditional college football powers. Making his first FBS start, Ty Dieffenbach completed 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards, while the Bruins controlled the clock and suffocated Wisconsin's offense. The Badgers managed just 214 yards, including a miserable 29 in the fourth quarter. UCLA is now 4-0 in Big Ten play, already exceeding its conference win total from either of its first two seasons in the league. The Bruins climb eight spots and remain the Big Ten's last undefeated team. At some point, people might have to admit these guys are pretty damn good.
16. Auburn Tigers
(Last Week: 35)
(4-2)
Beat Georgia 27-24
The Tigers walked into Athens, spotted the nation's top-ranked team a 14-0 lead, and proceeded to deliver one of the biggest upsets of the season. Byrum Brown threw for 150 yards, rushed for another 115, and helped Auburn score 24 unanswered points. Georgia eventually tied the game with less than three minutes remaining, but the Tigers weren't finished. A late Gunner Stockton fumble gave Auburn one final opportunity, and Alex McPherson drilled a 34-yard field goal as time expired. It was Auburn's first victory over Georgia since 2017 and its first in Athens since 2001. The Tigers rocket nineteen spots in our rankings. That's what happens when you knock off number one in its own damn stadium.
17. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
(Last Week: 19)
(6-1)
Beat Cal 41-7
Wake Forest traveled across the country to Berkeley and apparently decided to make the trip worthwhile by beating the absolute hell out of California. The Demon Deacons rolled to a 41-7 victory, improving to 6-1 and continuing to establish themselves as one of the ACC's more interesting surprises. This wasn't a last-second escape or some bizarre turnover-assisted miracle. It was a 34-point demolition on the road, the kind of performance that sends a message to the rest of the conference. Wake Forest actually slips two spots because of the chaos happening above it, but don't mistake that for a lack of respect. The Deacons are quietly putting together one hell of a season.
18. Utah Utes
(Last Week: 15)
(6-0)
Beat Colorado 27-24
Utah remains undefeated, although Colorado damn near ruined the party in Boulder. The Utes dominated the first half, outgaining the Buffaloes 248-70 and building a 13-0 lead. Then Colorado exploded for 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, briefly putting the nation's longest active winning streak in serious jeopardy. Devon Dampier threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Braden Pegan, as Utah regained control and survived a late Buffaloes rally. The Utes have now won twelve consecutive games dating back to last season and sit 3-0 in Big 12 play. They're not always pretty, but undefeated doesn't come with an artistic requirements clause.
19. USC Trojans
(Last Week: 16)
(6-1)
Bye
USC had the weekend off, giving Lincoln Riley a chance to enjoy something increasingly rare in college football: a Saturday without somebody trying to ruin his season. The Trojans are 6-1, firmly in the Big Ten race, and already bowl eligible with plenty of football remaining. Unfortunately, the teams around them weren't particularly cooperative. Tennessee knocked off Alabama, BYU stunned Notre Dame, and Auburn upset Georgia, shaking up the upper reaches of our rankings. USC slides three spots through no fault of its own. The Trojans have done enough to establish themselves as contenders, but the next step is proving they belong among the nation's elite rather than merely hanging around the neighborhood.
20. Iowa Hawkeyes
(Last Week: 21)
(5-1)
Bye
Iowa moves into the top twenty without even putting on a helmet this weekend. That's efficiency, folks. The Hawkeyes spent their bye week sitting at 5-1, with their only defeat coming against Ohio State, a team that just knocked off previously unbeaten Indiana. Suddenly, that loss doesn't look quite so terrible. Iowa's formula remains familiar: play physical football, make opponents miserable, and turn every possession into a test of patience. Nobody's confusing the Hawkeyes with an offensive fireworks factory, but five wins in six games speak for themselves. The question now is whether Iowa can keep grinding out victories when the Big Ten schedule starts demanding a little more.
21. Oregon Ducks
(Last Week: 25)
(4-2)
Beat Nebraska 17-14
Dylan Raiola transferring from Nebraska to Oregon was already an interesting storyline. Coming off the bench in the fourth quarter to break the Cornhuskers' hearts? That's the kind of shit Hollywood writers would reject for being too obvious. Oregon trailed 14-6 entering the final period after managing just 91 yards through three quarters. Raiola replaced Brock Thomas, engineered a field-goal drive, then marched the Ducks 82 yards in 20 plays, converting four third- and fourth-down opportunities along the way. His four-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson, followed by a two-point conversion, gave Oregon the lead with 28 seconds remaining. The Ducks escape with a victory that was equal parts ugly, improbable, and absolutely unforgettable.
22. Florida Gators
(Last Week: 40)
(5-2)
Beat Texas 27-24
Where the hell did THAT Florida team come from? After getting embarrassed by Missouri and South Carolina, the Gators marched into Austin, spotted seventh-ranked Texas a 17-3 lead, and proceeded to ruin the Longhorns' afternoon. Freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., making his first career start, threw two touchdown passes to Lacota Dippre without committing a turnover. Meanwhile, Florida's defense sacked Arch Manning five times and held Texas to just 272 yards. Myles Graham forced a late fumble to seal the upset, sending 103,989 fans home wondering what just happened. Florida jumps eighteen spots in our rankings. Apparently the Gators aren't dead yet. They were just waiting for somebody to piss them off.
23. Texas Longhorns
(Last Week: 13)
(4-3)
Lost to Florida 27-24
Texas was leading Florida 17-3 in the second quarter, Ryan Niblett had just returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown, and everything seemed perfectly fine in Austin. Then the Longhorns apparently decided to stop playing football. Florida scored 24 of the next 31 points, dominated possession, and made Arch Manning's afternoon miserable. Texas managed just 13 first downs and converted only two of ten third downs. Even after clawing back within three points, Manning lost a fumble with less than two minutes remaining to kill the comeback. The Longhorns have now dropped three games, including consecutive heartbreakers against Oklahoma and Florida. Texas falls ten spots, and the preseason championship dreams are looking increasingly like an expensive hallucination.
24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
(Last Week: 20)
(4-2)
Lost to LSU 31-0
Mississippi State traveled to Baton Rouge and discovered that Death Valley is a particularly unpleasant place to lose your starting quarterback and top running back. With Kamario Taylor and Fluff Bothwell unavailable, the Bulldogs turned to Parker Puckett, who spent the afternoon trying to solve an LSU defense that wasn't interested in cooperating. Mississippi State crossed into LSU territory repeatedly but came away empty-handed, failing on five fourth-down attempts. Meanwhile, Sam Leavitt threw four touchdown passes as the Tigers cruised to a 31-0 victory. The Bulldogs have now lost two straight games by more than thirty points. That's not a slump anymore. That's the kind of thing that has coaches staring at film until three in the morning.
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25. Wisconsin Badgers
(Last Week: 18)
(4-2)
Lost to UCLA 17-7
Wisconsin went to the Rose Bowl and apparently left its passing offense somewhere back in Madison. The Badgers managed just 214 total yards, with quarterback Colton Joseph completing six passes for a whopping 66 yards. Joseph did provide Wisconsin's only touchdown on a three-yard run after Marvin Burks Jr. intercepted a UCLA pass, briefly cutting the Bruins' lead to 10-7. But UCLA answered, and the Badgers managed just 29 yards in the entire fourth quarter. Wisconsin's defense kept the game respectable against an undefeated opponent, but respectable doesn't win football games. The Badgers tumble seven spots and now have to figure out how to move the ball when the other team knows they're going to run it.
26. Minnesota Golden Gophers
(Last Week: 24)
(4-2)
Bye
Minnesota spent the weekend resting, recovering, and watching the Big Ten continue its weekly tradition of making absolutely no sense. Oregon needed a last-minute touchdown to escape Nebraska, Michigan barely survived Penn State, and Northwestern needed a field goal at the buzzer to beat Michigan State. Meanwhile, the Gophers were sitting comfortably at 4-2, preparing for the second half of their season. Minnesota drops two spots despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, which is one of the cruel little realities of power rankings. The Gophers have put themselves in decent position, but decent isn't going to be enough if they want to climb back toward the top twenty.
27. Nebraska Cornhuskers
(Last Week: 22)
(5-2)
Lost to Oregon 17-14
Nebraska had Oregon right where it wanted them. The Cornhuskers led 7-0 at halftime, held the Ducks to just 50 first-half yards, and carried a 14-6 advantage into the fourth quarter. Then came the familiar sound of Nebraska fans collectively screaming into the void. Oregon marched 82 yards on a ridiculous 20-play drive and scored the winning touchdown with 28 seconds remaining. Anthony Colandrea accounted for both Nebraska touchdowns, and the defense held Oregon to just 242 yards. It still wasn't enough. Nebraska falls five spots after a game it controlled for most of the night. Somewhere in Lincoln, somebody is probably still staring silently at the television.
28. Oklahoma State Cowboys
(Last Week: 26)
(4-2)
Lost to Houston 35-32
Oklahoma State apparently forgot that football games have first halves. The Cowboys trailed Houston 14-3 at intermission after repeatedly wasting scoring opportunities, including a trip to the two-yard line that produced absolutely nothing. Then Drew Mestemaker woke up and started throwing the football all over Texas. He finished with 365 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Oklahoma State scored 29 second-half points. Unfortunately, Houston kept scoring too. The Cowboys found the end zone on four of their final five possessions and still lost by three. That's what happens when you spend thirty minutes digging a hole and the other thirty desperately trying to climb out of the damn thing.
29. Northwestern Wildcats
(Last Week: 27)
(5-1)
Beat Michigan State 24-21
Northwestern is 5-1, ranked nationally, and apparently determined to give its fans a heart condition before Halloween. The Wildcats trailed Michigan State 21-13 in the fourth quarter before Aidan Chiles scored a touchdown and converted the two-point attempt to tie things up. Then came the madness. Michigan State lined up for a potential winning field goal with about a minute remaining, only for Brendan Flakes to block the kick. Northwestern promptly marched downfield, and Jackson Kleather drilled a 34-yarder with two seconds left to steal the victory. The Wildcats escape East Lansing with their fifth win, although they drop two spots in our rankings. Sometimes surviving is an accomplishment all by itself.
30. South Carolina Gamecocks
(Last Week: 28)
(3-3)
Bye
South Carolina spent Saturday watching the SEC turn itself inside out, which might have been considerably more entertaining than actually participating. Georgia lost to Auburn, Alabama got thumped by Tennessee, and Kentucky knocked off Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks were home trying to figure out how to turn a 3-3 season into something respectable. The talent is there, but consistency has been about as reliable as a politician's campaign promises. South Carolina drops two spots despite the week off, and the second half of the season isn't going to get any easier. Time to find out whether these Gamecocks can actually fight.
31. SMU Mustangs
(Last Week: 29)
(5-1)
Beat Virginia 23-13
SMU didn't exactly light up the scoreboard against Virginia, but the Mustangs didn't need to. Kevin Jennings threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, Kendrick Raphael rushed for 124, and Brendan Baird kicked three field goals to keep the Cavaliers at arm's length. Virginia managed just 258 yards of offense, and SMU improved to a remarkable 10-0 at home against ACC opponents since joining the conference. That's the kind of home-field advantage most programs would kill for. The Mustangs are now 5-1, with their only loss coming against Louisville. They slip two spots in our rankings, but the bigger picture in Dallas still looks pretty damn good.
32. Oklahoma Sooners
(Last Week: 30)
(3-3)
Lost to Kentucky 21-13
Oklahoma led Kentucky 13-7 entering the fourth quarter, and then John Mateer apparently decided the Wildcats deserved a few souvenirs. Kentucky intercepted four passes, including a 41-yard pick-six by Jordan Castell with 1:17 remaining that turned a one-point game into a 21-13 defeat. Mateer threw for 270 yards, but the Sooners couldn't finish drives, couldn't protect the football, and couldn't put away a Kentucky team they had held to just 230 total yards. Oklahoma is now 1-2 in SEC play and 3-3 overall. At this rate, the Sooners might want to consider replacing the covered wagon with a tow truck.
Steampunk helmet: Arizona Wildcats
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33. Arizona Wildcats
(Last Week: 31)
(5-1)
Bye
Arizona heads into the second half of the season sitting at 5-1, which is a pretty comfortable place to be in a Big 12 conference where chaos seems to be a weekly requirement. The Wildcats enjoyed a weekend off while Texas Tech demolished Arizona State and Houston survived Oklahoma State. Unfortunately, the inactivity costs Arizona two spots in our rankings. There's still plenty to like about this team, but the Wildcats haven't quite forced their way into the conversation with the conference's heavy hitters. Five wins give Arizona a solid foundation. The next few weeks will determine whether they're building something special or just a respectable bowl résumé.
34. Michigan Wolverines
(Last Week: 37)
(4-2)
Beat Penn State 21-18
Michigan spent the first half against Penn State looking like somebody had unplugged the offense. Down 3-0 at halftime, the Wolverines benched Bryce Underwood and handed the keys to backup Tommy Carr. Suddenly, things started happening. Michigan forced three second-half turnovers, turned every one of them into a touchdown, and rushed for 174 yards after intermission. The Wolverines finally collected their first Big Ten victory of the season, although needing a quarterback change and three gift-wrapped possessions to beat a struggling Penn State team isn't exactly a championship statement. Still, 110,731 fans went home happy, and that's a hell of a lot better than the alternative.
35. Louisville Cardinals
(Last Week: 36)
(4-3)
Beat Syracuse 34-26
Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz apparently decided that throwing touchdowns wasn't nearly entertaining enough. So he ripped off an 82-yard touchdown run, added another rushing score, and threw for 310 yards as the Cardinals survived Syracuse. The two teams combined for nearly 700 yards in the first half, then spent the second half acting like they'd forgotten how offense worked. Louisville managed just 58 yards after halftime, but its defense delivered five sacks and two interceptions to preserve the victory. The Cardinals improve to 3-2 in ACC play, proving that sometimes winning ugly is still winning. Even when the second half looks like a completely different football game.
36. Illinois Fighting Illini
(Last Week: 38)
(3-3)
Bye
Illinois didn't lose this weekend, which is more than can be said for quite a few teams ranked above the Illini last week. At 3-3, though, there's still plenty of work ahead. The Fighting Illini have reached the halfway point of the season without establishing much consistency, and a .500 record isn't exactly what the folks in Champaign were hoping to celebrate. The bye offered a chance to regroup, get healthy, and figure out how to turn a frustrating first half into something worth remembering. For now, Illinois moves up two spots without playing a down. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do on Saturday is stay home.
37. Clemson Tigers
(Last Week: 39)
(4-2)
Beat Charleston Southern 37-0
Charleston Southern came to Death Valley and left with 76 yards of total offense, zero points, and probably a strong desire never to return. Clemson recorded 13 tackles for loss, held the Buccaneers to 0-for-11 on third down, and produced its first shutout since 2021. Chris Johnson Jr. rushed for two touchdowns, while kicker Nolan Hauser drilled a 59-yard field goal, the second-longest in school history. The Tigers led 34-0 at halftime and spent the rest of the afternoon keeping things merciful. It's a nice confidence booster after Miami hammered them two weeks ago, but beating an FCS opponent doesn't erase that embarrassment. Virginia Tech next week will be a considerably better measuring stick.
38. Virginia Tech Hokies
(Last Week: 41)
(5-2)
Beat Georgia Tech 34-24
Virginia Tech wasted absolutely no time making Georgia Tech miserable. On the third play of the game, Ethan Grunkemeyer connected with Que'Sean Brown for a 60-yard touchdown, and the Hokies were off to the races. Brown finished with 182 receiving yards, while Grunkemeyer threw three touchdowns as Virginia Tech built a 24-3 halftime lead. The Yellow Jackets made things uncomfortable with a second-half rally, but the Hokies steadied themselves and finished the job. After losing two consecutive heartbreakers on the final play, Virginia Tech finally got to experience the unfamiliar pleasure of watching somebody else's comeback fall short.
39. Washington Huskies
(Last Week: 45)
(4-3)
Beat Purdue 38-26
Washington committed five turnovers against Purdue and still won by twelve points. FIVE. Apparently the Huskies decided to see how many times they could give away the football before it actually became a problem. Making his first start in place of the injured Demond Williams Jr., Elijah Brown threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns, along with three interceptions. Trey Cooley added 113 rushing yards, including a 53-yard touchdown that helped put the game away. Washington finished with 488 yards of offense and snapped a three-game losing streak. The Huskies finally have their first Big Ten victory of the season. Now imagine what might happen if they stopped handing out free possessions.
40. North Carolina Tar Heels
(Last Week: 46)
(4-2)
Beat Duke 24-20
Bill Belichick's Tar Heels have apparently developed a taste for making their fans suffer before delivering the good news. North Carolina raced to a 17-0 lead against Duke, then went more than 41 minutes without scoring while the Blue Devils fought back to take a 20-17 lead. With the game slipping away, Belichick gambled on fourth-and-four from his own 28, and Billy Edwards Jr. delivered the conversion. Jaylen McGill eventually broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining, and Kenton Dopson III sealed the victory with a late interception. Carolina takes back the Victory Bell, wins its second straight, and sends Duke home wondering how the hell it let that one escape.
41. Texas A&M Aggies
(Last Week: 47)
(4-3)
Beat The Citadel 41-0
Texas A&M invited The Citadel to Kyle Field and spent the afternoon treating the Bulldogs like tackling dummies. The Aggies rolled up 501 yards of offense, including 264 on the ground, while limiting their visitors to 183 total yards. Jamarion Morrow scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half, and KJ Edwards added 116 yards on the ground. It was A&M's second shutout of the season, something the program hadn't accomplished since 1993. Of course, beating an FCS opponent by 41 doesn't answer every question about the Aggies. But at least they avoided becoming somebody else's embarrassing headline.
42. Arkansas Razorbacks
(Last Week: 48)
(3-4)
Beat Vandy 31-21
HALLELUJAH! Arkansas has finally won an SEC football game. The Razorbacks snapped a miserable 14-game conference losing streak with a road victory over Vanderbilt, collecting their first league win since 2024. Miguel Mitchell and Joker Johnson each grabbed an interception, while Arkansas turned Vanderbilt's mistakes into opportunities and protected its lead down the stretch. Mitchell's late pickoff was especially important, setting up a field goal that helped put the Commodores away. At 3-4, nobody's planning a championship parade in Fayetteville just yet. But after nearly two years of conference misery, the Razorbacks have earned the right to celebrate something.
43. Oregon State Beavers
(Last Week: 89)
(5-2)
Beat Washington State 48-30
Somebody might want to check what they're putting in the water in Corvallis. Oregon State has won five straight games, scored 255 points during that stretch, and apparently decided that ordinary touchdown passes are for boring people. Braden Atkinson threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard bomb to Jesse Legree and an 88-yarder to AJ Newberry. Newberry became the first Beaver in 23 years to record 100 yards rushing AND receiving in the same game. Oregon State piled up 555 yards, improved to 3-0 in Pac-12 play, and jumps an incredible 46 spots in our rankings. The Beavers aren't just winning. They're putting on a fireworks show.
44. Florida State Seminoles
(Last Week: 54)
(3-4)
Lost to Miami 43-35 (2OT)
Sometimes a loss tells you more about a football team than a victory. Florida State entered Miami's stadium with a losing record and nearly handed the undefeated Hurricanes their first defeat. Ashton Daniels threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, while Duce Robinson hauled in a spectacular 75-yard score to tie the game late in regulation. The Seminoles led 35-28 in overtime, only to watch Miami answer and eventually take an eight-point lead in the second extra period. FSU appeared to score on fourth-and-21, but a holding penalty erased the touchdown. One desperation interception later, it was over. Florida State falls to 3-4, but climbs ten spots. Losing sucks. Losing like THAT deserves a little respect.
45. Boston College Eagles
(Last Week: 87)
(3-3)
Beat Pitt 27-21
Boston College climbed a whopping 42 spots this week, and the Eagles certainly made things interesting getting there. Pitt scored a 75-yard touchdown on the game's first play, blocked a punt for a safety, and built a 12-0 lead. At that point, BC fans probably started looking for something stronger than coffee. Instead, Mason McKenzie threw for a career-high 295 yards and two touchdowns, including a 69-yard bomb to Landon Wright. The Eagles fought back, took control, and sealed the victory with a late interception. Their first ACC win of the season couldn't have come at a better time.
46. Pitt Panthers
(Last Week: 32)
(5-2)
Lost to Boston College 27-21
Pitt couldn't have scripted a better opening against Boston College. Freshman quarterback Corey Dailey, making his first collegiate start, threw a 75-yard touchdown on his very first snap. A blocked punt produced a safety, and the Panthers quickly led 12-0. Then somebody apparently misplaced the script. Pitt settled for four field goals, watched Boston College storm back, and threw an interception with less than two minutes remaining to finish the collapse. The Panthers had intercepted BC quarterback Mason McKenzie twice themselves, but couldn't capitalize when it mattered. A fourteen-spot tumble follows, and a trip to undefeated Miami awaits. Wonderful timing, gentlemen.
Steampunk helmet: West Virginia Mountaineers
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47. West Virginia Mountaineers
(Last Week: 52)
(4-3)
Beat Cincinnati 45-42
West Virginia and Cincinnati apparently decided defense was an outdated concept best left to people who hate entertainment. The teams combined for 1,220 yards, with Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. throwing for a career-high 464 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for two more. West Virginia never led until Jack Cassidy drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired. The winning drive even began at the Mountaineers' own one-yard line. Cincinnati scored 42 points, gained 622 yards, and still went home miserable. West Virginia snaps a three-game losing streak with the kind of victory that probably shortened every defensive coordinator's life expectancy.
48. Kansas State Wildcats
(Last Week: 51)
(4-2)
Beat Kansas 35-24
Eighteen. That's how many consecutive times Kansas State has beaten Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown. The Jayhawks actually led 17-7 early and 24-18 in the third quarter, but the Wildcats eventually remembered who they were playing. Joe Jackson rushed for 159 yards, Avery Johnson added 132, and Kansas State piled up 359 yards on the ground. A fourth-quarter interception in the end zone helped slam the door before the Wildcats finished with 17 unanswered points. Kansas has now gone eighteen years without winning this rivalry. At this point, the Sunflower Showdown is less a rivalry and more an annual family tradition of humiliation.
49. Boise State Broncos
(Last Week: 49)
(5-1)
Bye
Boise State took the weekend off riding a five-game winning streak, with its only loss coming by seven points against Oregon in the season opener. Since then, the Broncos have been steadily collecting victories and reminding everybody that the blue turf isn't the only thing worth paying attention to in Boise. At 5-1 and unbeaten in conference play, they're positioned nicely for the second half of the season. Washington State is next, followed by Texas State and Colorado State. For once, a bye week doesn't cost somebody three spots in these rankings. The Broncos remain exactly where they were.
50. Penn State Nittany Lions
(Last Week: 33)
(3-4)
Lost to Michigan 21-18
Penn State has officially reached the point where a trip to the Big House feels more like a visit to the dentist. The Nittany Lions led Michigan 3-0 at halftime, intercepted two passes, and appeared to have everything under control. Then the second half arrived, and Penn State handed the Wolverines three turnovers that helped produce 21 points. Rocco Becht threw for 267 yards, Chase Sowell caught 11 passes for 151, and the Lions mounted a late comeback that fell three points short. They're now 0-4 in the Big Ten, 3-4 overall, and staring at a season that has gone completely off the rails.
51. Virginia Cavaliers
(Last Week: 34)
(4-3)
Lost to SMU 23-13
Virginia actually did a respectable job slowing down SMU's offense, holding the Mustangs to their lowest point total in a victory since 2013. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers apparently forgot that they were supposed to score some points themselves. They trailed just 16-13 late in the third quarter, but SMU added another touchdown and Virginia couldn't answer. Beau Pribula and company had one final opportunity to keep things interesting, only for a dropped fourth-down pass to end the comeback attempt. The Cavaliers fall to 4-3, still searching for their first road victory of the season. Seventeen spots down the rankings. Ouch.
52. Memphis Tigers
(Last Week: 42)
(5-2)
Lost to Tulane 31-17
Memphis outgained Tulane 488-325, picked up 27 first downs to the Green Wave's 13, and somehow lost by fourteen points. How? SIX GODDAMN TURNOVERS. Tulane also recorded seven sacks, while TJ Smith returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. The Tigers actually pulled within six points late in the fourth quarter, only to watch Johnnie Daniels break loose for a 48-yard touchdown on fourth-and-one. Memphis had enough offense to win this game twice, but kept handing Tulane the football like it was a promotional giveaway. Five wins are nice. Six turnovers are fucking ridiculous.
53. Vanderbilt Commodores
(Last Week: 43)
(3-4)
Lost to Arkansas 31-21
Vanderbilt managed to become the team that finally ended Arkansas's 14-game SEC losing streak. Congratulations, Commodores. That's one hell of a dubious honor. The Razorbacks hadn't won a conference game in nearly two years, but they arrived in Nashville and promptly ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis showed flashes of promise, but two interceptions helped Arkansas turn Vanderbilt's mistakes into ten points. The Commodores have now dropped below .500, and the season that once looked promising is beginning to resemble a slow-motion trip down a flight of stairs.
54. Duke Blue Devils
(Last Week: 44)
(4-2)
Lost to North Carolina 24-20
Duke spotted North Carolina a 17-0 lead, spent most of the afternoon clawing its way back, and somehow managed to take a 20-17 lead with less than five minutes remaining. The Blue Devils had pulled off the hard part. All they needed to do was finish the damn thing. Instead, the Tar Heels answered with the winning touchdown, and Duke's final attempt ended with Walker Eget throwing an interception at the Carolina 15-yard line with 14 seconds left. Losing a rivalry game hurts. Fighting all the way back from 17 down just to lose it again? That's a special kind of torture. <
55. Cincinnati Bearcats
(Last Week: 50)
(4-2)
Lost to West Virginia 45-42
Cincinnati scored 42 points, rolled up plenty of offense, and somehow found a way to make a struggling West Virginia team look like an offensive juggernaut. Quarterback JC French IV threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, but the Bearcats couldn't keep the Mountaineers from piling up 24 points in the fourth quarter. West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for a ridiculous 464 yards, and the game ended on a walk-off field goal. Cincinnati's offense did more than enough to win. Unfortunately, its defense apparently thought this was a basketball game and 45 points was a perfectly acceptable number to surrender.
56. TCU Horned Frogs
(Last Week: 70)
(3-3)
Beat Baylor 17-6
TCU traveled to Waco and reminded Baylor that touchdowns are not guaranteed simply because you own a football. The Horned Frogs held the Bears out of the end zone all night, limiting them to two field goals and shutting them out completely in the second half. Jaden Craig threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordan Dwyer hauled in six passes for 150 yards. TCU managed only 33 rushing yards itself, but apparently running the football is optional when the other team's offense has gone missing. The Frogs snap Baylor's four-game winning streak and jump fourteen spots. Not a bad evening's work.
57. NC State Wolfpack
(Last Week: 53)
(3-3)
Bye
NC State spent the weekend licking its wounds after Wake Forest handed the Wolfpack a 38-14 beating last week. At 3-3, the season has become a frustrating exercise in trying to figure out which version of this team is going to show up. The one that knocked off Louisville? Or the one that got thoroughly embarrassed by the Demon Deacons? The Wolfpack have a Friday night trip to Stanford coming up, followed by California, Duke, Syracuse, Florida State, and North Carolina. Plenty of opportunities to turn things around. Also plenty of opportunities to make an already aggravating season considerably worse.
58. Baylor Bears
(Last Week: 55)
(4-2)
Lost to TCU 17-6
Baylor held TCU to 33 rushing yards, recorded four sacks, and allowed just 17 points. Sounds like a winning defensive performance, doesn't it? Unfortunately, somebody forgot to tell the Bears they were also supposed to score touchdowns. Baylor managed two field goals, turned the ball over twice, and watched its final possessions disappear into a depressing collection of punts and failed fourth-down attempts. DJ Lagway threw for 256 yards, but the Bears never reached the end zone. Their four-game winning streak is over, and losing at home to your biggest rival without scoring a touchdown is a special kind of misery.
59. Arizona State Sun Devils
(Last Week: 56)
(3-3)
Lost to Texas Tech 53-25
Arizona State went to Lubbock for a showdown with unbeaten Texas Tech and discovered that the Red Raiders apparently had a personal grudge against the entire state of Arizona. Tech led 21-0 in the first quarter and 43-10 at halftime, which is generally when the visiting team starts checking airline schedules. Cutter Boley threw two interceptions before Mikey Keene took over and provided a little second-half respectability. The Sun Devils have now surrendered 108 points in their last two losses to Baylor and Texas Tech. That's not a defensive slump. That's a public invitation to run up the scoreboard.
60. New Mexico Lobos
(Last Week: 57)
(5-1)
Beat Hawaii 21-10
New Mexico spent the first half in Honolulu looking like it had mistaken a football game for a tropical vacation. The Lobos trailed Hawaii 10-0 at halftime, committed three turnovers, and seemed determined to hand the Rainbow Warriors their second victory. Then Hawaii fumbled at the New Mexico goal line, and the entire game flipped. Toa Fa'avae delivered a 21-yard go-ahead touchdown run, Scottre Humphrey added a 49-yard scoring burst, and the Lobos escaped with 21 unanswered second-half points. They're 5-1, but somebody might want to remind them that football games start before halftime.
61. UCF Knights
(Last Week: 58)
(3-3)
Bye
UCF enjoyed a weekend without anybody trying to tackle its quarterbacks, embarrass its defense, or ruin the mood in Orlando. Unfortunately, the Knights still managed to lose three places in the rankings. At 3-3, this season is balanced precariously between a respectable finish and a complete pain in the ass. The Knights have shown enough flashes to suggest there's something worth salvaging, but flashes don't mean much if somebody keeps turning off the lights. The bye week offered a chance to fix a few things before the second half of the schedule decides exactly what kind of team this is.
62. UTSA Roadrunners
(Last Week: 59)
(6-1)
Beat Navy 38-34
Six wins, bowl eligibility secured, and UTSA is still giving its fans the cardiovascular workout of a lifetime. The Roadrunners trailed Navy 14-0, fought back, and eventually found themselves in a fourth-quarter circus featuring four lead changes. Owen McCown threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, including the decisive 41-yard strike to A'Marion Peterson with 2:24 remaining. Navy had just reclaimed the lead, but UTSA answered with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Roadrunners are 3-0 in conference play, and apparently nobody in San Antonio is allowed to enjoy a relaxing Saturday night anymore.
63. California Golden Bears
(Last Week: 60)
(3-4)
Lost to WF 41-7
California welcomed ranked Wake Forest to Berkeley and promptly spent the first half demonstrating what happens when one football team forgets to show up. The Demon Deacons led 34-0 at halftime, having scored touchdowns on five of their first six possessions. Wake quarterback Gio Lopez threw four touchdown passes, three to Dominick Barry, while Cal managed just 142 first-half yards. The Bears finally scored midway through the fourth quarter, presumably after Wake Forest had started thinking about the flight home. Cal has now lost three of its last four home games against FBS opponents. Memorial Stadium is becoming an awfully hospitable place for visitors.
64. USF Bulls
(Last Week: 61)
(5-2)
Beat Kent State 29-2
South Florida beat Kent State 29-2, which is one of those scores that makes you wonder whether somebody accidentally wandered onto a baseball diamond. The Golden Flashes managed a safety and absolutely nothing else, while the Bulls' defense scored eight points of its own. C.J. Hicks returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown, and USF held Kent State to just 228 total yards. Amazingly, the Bulls led only 10-2 at halftime before finally pulling away. Five wins, an unbeaten nonconference record, and a defense that apparently decided it could handle the scoring itself. Somebody should tell the offense it can participate too.
65. Michigan State Spartans
(Last Week: 62)
(2-5)
Lost to Northwestern 24-21
Michigan State had Northwestern right where it wanted them. Leading 21-13 in the fourth quarter, the Spartans watched the Wildcats tie the game, then drove into position for a 33-yard field goal with a minute remaining. Naturally, it got blocked. Northwestern promptly marched 64 yards and kicked the winner with two seconds left. Alessio Milivojevic threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, but the Spartans are now 0-4 in Big Ten play. Losing is one thing. Finding increasingly creative ways to lose is practically becoming a Michigan State tradition this season.
66. Iowa State Cyclones
(Last Week: 63)
(3-3)
Bye
Iowa State spent Saturday watching the rest of the Big 12 beat the hell out of each other, which might have been the most relaxing afternoon the Cyclones have enjoyed all season. At 3-3, they're sitting squarely in college football's vast middle class: good enough to make somebody nervous, inconsistent enough to make their own fans miserable. The bye offered a chance to regroup before the second half of the schedule.
67. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
(Last Week: 64)
(2-4)
Beat Maryland 37-30
Rutgers finally found somebody willing to make more mistakes than Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights trailed Maryland 23-13 at halftime before scoring 24 unanswered points and stealing the Terrapins' homecoming celebration. Dylan Lonergan threw for a season-high 291 yards and three touchdowns, including two to KJ Duff. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and gave Rutgers its first Big Ten win of the season. They've now beaten Maryland three consecutive times, which probably isn't helping anybody's mood in College Park. Rutgers is still 2-4, but at least somebody else gets to be miserable this week.
68. North Texas Mean Green
(Last Week: 65)
(4-2)
Bye
North Texas took the weekend off after reaching the halfway point at 4-2, which isn't a bad place to be for a program trying to make some noise in the American Conference. The Mean Green have already had their share of excitement, but the schedule isn't about to get any friendlier. Navy awaits in Annapolis, followed by Florida Atlantic, Rice, UTSA, Tulane, and UAB. That's six straight conference games to determine whether this season becomes something worth remembering or just another exercise in almost getting somewhere. For now, three spots disappear during the bye. The rankings are cruel bastards.
69. FAU Owls
(Last Week: 66)
(4-2)
Lost to Army 56-24
Florida Atlantic arrived at West Point riding a four-game winning streak and left looking like it had been run over by an entire armored division. The Owls were tied 14-14 after the first quarter, which was apparently when Army decided to stop screwing around. The Black Knights scored 28 unanswered points, rushed for 479 yards, and finished with eight rushing touchdowns. FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 318 yards and three scores, but none of that mattered when Army was treating the defense like a collection of traffic cones. Four straight wins followed by a 32-point ass-kicking. Welcome back to Earth, Owls.
70. UNLV Rebels
(Last Week: 67)
(4-3)
Lost to Air Force 41-31
UNLV actually led Air Force 17-13 at halftime and 24-20 late in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Rebels forgot that stopping the run is generally considered an important part of playing defense against a service academy. Air Force piled up 430 rushing yards, and quarterback Evan Medders ran for three touchdowns while the Falcons scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. Jackson Arnold threw for 246 yards, and Kayden McGee caught two touchdowns, but the offense couldn't compensate for the defensive disaster. When the other team barely needs to throw a football to score 41 points, you've got some serious problems.
71. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
(Last Week: 68)
(2-4)
Lost to Virginia Tech 34-24
Georgia Tech apparently forgot to set its alarm clock for the trip to Blacksburg. Virginia Tech scored on its third offensive play, built a 24-3 halftime lead, and had the Yellow Jackets looking like they'd rather be anywhere else. To their credit, Georgia Tech finally woke up and outscored the Hokies 21-10 in the second half, cutting the deficit to seven at one point. Unfortunately, spotting somebody three touchdowns before deciding to play football is generally a terrible strategy. The Jackets fall to 2-4, and the comeback was just convincing enough to make the awful first half even more frustrating.
72. Maryland Terrapins
(Last Week: 69)
(2-5)
Lost to Rutgers 37-30
Maryland led Rutgers 23-13 at halftime on Homecoming Weekend, which should have been a lovely afternoon for everybody wearing red. Then the Terrapins apparently went inside for cake and forgot there was another half to play. Rutgers scored 24 unanswered points, turning a ten-point deficit into a 37-23 lead. Malik Washington threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns, and Maryland managed a late rally, but the comeback died on the final possession. The Terps are now 0-4 in Big Ten play, and losing to a Rutgers team that entered the afternoon with one victory isn't exactly the kind of homecoming memory anybody wants framed.
73. James Madison Dukes
(Last Week: 73)
(7-0)
Beat Georgia State 49-22
Seven games, seven wins, and James Madison is still sitting down here at No. 73. At some point, the Dukes are going to start taking this personally. JMU rolled up 515 yards against Georgia State, scored touchdowns on all six trips into the red zone, and had the game essentially wrapped up by halftime. The Dukes have now won 12 consecutive regular-season Sun Belt games and 11 straight at home. They're undefeated, they're dominating conference opponents, and they're making a pretty convincing argument that this ranking is becoming downright insulting.
74. North Dakota State Bison
(Last Week: 71)
(6-1)
Beat Nevada 31-17
North Dakota State is finding life in the FBS rather comfortable, thank you very much. The Bison improved to 6-1 by beating Nevada, although the most memorable moment came courtesy of Jackson Williams, who returned a missed 57-yard field goal a full 100 yards for a touchdown as the first half expired. Nevada had led 11-0 before the Bison ripped off 19 unanswered points. They even returned a failed two-point conversion for two points of their own. That's the sort of bizarre shit that makes a coach age ten years in one afternoon. Six wins already, and the Bison aren't acting like newcomers.
75. Purdue Boilermakers
(Last Week: 72)
(3-4)
Lost to Washington 38-26
Purdue forced FIVE turnovers against Washington and still somehow managed to lose by twelve points. Five! That's like stealing somebody's wallet, car keys, and television, then discovering they're the ones who robbed you. Ryan Browne threw for 273 yards, Asaad Waseem caught nine passes for 116, and the Boilermakers actually had plenty of opportunities to win this thing. Unfortunately, Washington piled up 488 yards and ripped off 15 plays of at least 15 yards. The Huskies finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, leaving Purdue with a 3-4 record and a spectacular example of how to waste five free possessions.
76. Army Black Knights
(Last Week: 79)
(4-2)
Beat FAU 56-24
Army attempted two passes against Florida Atlantic. TWO. They completed one for two yards, which apparently was all the passing offense anybody at West Point felt was necessary. The Black Knights instead rushed for 479 yards and eight touchdowns, scoring on their first seven possessions. Quarterback Cale Hellums personally ran for 195 yards and five scores, while backup Bryson Luter added a 69-yard touchdown for good measure. Florida Atlantic knew exactly what was coming and couldn't do a damn thing about it. Army's offensive playbook might as well be a single sheet of paper reading, "Run it right down their throats."
77. Air Force Falcons
(Last Week: 80)
(5-1)
Beat UNLV 41-31
Air Force apparently considers the forward pass an unnecessary complication invented by people who don't appreciate a good old-fashioned ass-kicking. The Falcons rushed for 430 yards against UNLV, with quarterback Evan Medders accounting for 152 yards and three touchdowns himself. After trailing 17-13 at halftime, Air Force ran roughshod over the Rebels, scoring 28 second-half points and stretching its winning streak to four games. The Falcons are now 5-1, and their offense is starting to resemble a steamroller with a military budget. Everybody knows they're going to run the ball. Apparently, knowing doesn't help.
78. Kansas Jayhawks
(Last Week: 74)
(2-4)
Lost to Kansas State 35-24
Eighteen. That's how many consecutive times Kansas State has beaten Kansas, a streak that's beginning to look less like a rivalry and more like a legally binding ownership agreement. The Jayhawks actually led 17-7 in the first half and reclaimed a 24-18 advantage in the third quarter. Then the Wildcats scored 17 unanswered points and sent Kansas home wondering why it even bothers showing up for this game. Kansas State rushed for 373 yards, including 159 from Joe Jackson and 132 from Avery Johnson. The Jayhawks haven't won the Sunflower Showdown since 2008. Barack Obama hadn't even been inaugurated yet.
79. Colorado Buffaloes
(Last Week: 75)
(2-4)
Lost to Utah 27-24
Colorado gave unbeaten Utah a legitimate scare Saturday night, briefly taking a 14-13 lead in the third quarter and becoming the first team to lead the Utes since early September. Unfortunately, being competitive and actually winning are two very different things, as the Buffaloes discovered while watching Utah escape Boulder with a three-point victory. The Utes have now won 12 consecutive games dating back to last season, while Colorado falls to 2-4. The Buffs deserve some credit for making a powerhouse sweat, but moral victories still look suspiciously like losses in the standings.
80. Stanford Cardinal
(Last Week: 76)
(3-4)
Beat Elon 34-7
Micah Ford decided Stanford's homecoming festivities needed a little extra entertainment, so he rushed for 179 yards and scored four touchdowns against Elon, tying the school's single-game touchdown record. His final score was an 81-yard sprint that effectively put the Phoenix out of their misery. Stanford led just 14-0 at halftime before finally remembering it was playing an FCS opponent and pulling away. The Cardinal improve to 3-4, although beating Elon probably isn't going to convince anybody that Stanford football has returned to its glory days. Still, a win's a win, even if the opponent came from a school most people associate with a billionaire buying Twitter.
81. Syracuse Orange
(Last Week: 77)
(2-4)
Lost to Louisville 34-26
Syracuse and Louisville combined for nearly 700 yards of offense in the first half, then apparently agreed that everybody had seen enough excitement for one evening. Umari Hatcher caught 13 passes for a ridiculous 224 yards and a touchdown, while Malachi Nelson threw for 315 yards and two scores. Unfortunately, Nelson also tossed two interceptions, and Louisville's Lincoln Kienholz did enough damage to send the Orange home with another loss. Syracuse is now 0-4 in ACC play, which is a remarkable achievement for a team capable of moving the football like that. All that offense, and still nothing but a headache.
82. Tulane Green Wave
(Last Week: 81)
(3-3)
Beat Memphis 31-17
Tulane apparently decided moving the football was overrated when you could just steal it from the other team. The Green Wave forced SIX turnovers against Memphis, including a 76-yard pick-six by TJ Smith, while sacking the Tigers' quarterback seven times. Memphis actually outgained Tulane 488-325, which makes this result even funnier. With the Tigers threatening late, Johnnie Daniels broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown on fourth-and-one to put the game away. Nothing says defensive dominance quite like making the opposing offense wish it had stayed in the locker room.
83. UAB Blazers
(Last Week: 120)
(4-3)
Beat East Carolina 30-17 (OT)
Thirty-seven spots up the rankings, and UAB earned every damn one of them. Trailing East Carolina 17-9 with 1:37 remaining, the Blazers drove 93 yards in just 62 seconds, scored a touchdown, and converted the two-pointer to force overtime. Ryder Burton then threw the go-ahead touchdown before Delvon Gulley returned an interception 80 yards to finish the job. UAB had trailed 14-0 earlier and looked absolutely dead for most of the evening. Instead, the Blazers pulled off one of the wildest comebacks of the week. Somebody check on the East Carolina fans. They're probably still staring at the television.
84. East Carolina Pirates
(Last Week: 82)
(3-3)
Lost to UAB 30-17 (OT)
There are bad losses, and then there's whatever the hell East Carolina managed to accomplish Thursday night. The Pirates led 14-0, controlled the game for more than 58 minutes, and held an eight-point advantage with 97 seconds remaining. Then they surrendered a 93-yard touchdown drive, allowed the tying two-point conversion, gave up another touchdown in overtime, and finished the evening by throwing an 80-yard pick-six. That's how you turn a nearly certain victory into a 13-point loss in a matter of minutes. Somewhere, a Pirates fan is still trying to figure out how the hell that happened.
85. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
(Last Week: 83)
(4-3)
Beat Akron 34-14
Akron actually led this game 7-0, which apparently offended Miami enough to spend the rest of the afternoon stealing everything that wasn't nailed down. The RedHawks intercepted four passes, turned those turnovers into 21 points, and rushed for 324 yards. Rodney Nelson contributed 142 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yard sprint that put the game away. Blayne Myrick added a pick-six, and head coach Chuck Martin collected his 150th career victory. Miami drops two spots despite winning by 20, which is what happens when the team you beat is Akron.
86. Texas State Bobcats
(Last Week: 84)
(3-3)
Beat Colorado State 66-27
Texas State didn't just beat Colorado State. The Bobcats turned the Rams' defensive playbook into confetti and scattered it across San Marcos. They rushed for a school FBS-record 503 yards, amassed 716 yards of total offense, and scored eight rushing touchdowns. Torrance Burgess Jr. ran for 224 yards and four scores, while quarterback Brad Jackson added 181 rushing yards and three touchdowns of his own. Texas State scored on ten consecutive possessions. TEN. At some point, Colorado State probably should've considered putting eleven folding chairs on the field. They might've slowed somebody down.
87. Western Michigan Broncos
(Last Week: 85)
(5-2)
Beat Central Michigan 21-14
Western Michigan spent three quarters treating its in-state rival like a speed bump, building a 21-0 lead behind Jalen Buckley's 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Then the Broncos apparently decided a comfortable victory was boring. Central Michigan scored twice in the fourth quarter, recovered an onside kick, and threatened to pull off an absolute miracle. Fortunately, Daeh McCullough intercepted a pass on the game's final play to save the Victory Cannon from an embarrassing change of ownership. The Broncos are 3-0 in MAC play, but somebody might want to remind them that football games last four quarters.
88. Navy Midshipmen
(Last Week: 86)
(2-3)
Lost to UTSA 38-34
Navy and UTSA spent Saturday swapping fourth-quarter leads like two drunks arguing over whose turn it was to buy the next round. The Midshipmen fought their way back into the lead twice in the final period, only to watch the Roadrunners deliver the last punch. Four fourth-quarter lead changes made for terrific entertainment, assuming you weren't a Navy fan contemplating the nearest bottle of bourbon. The Midshipmen have now dropped four games, and this one stings because they were right there until the end. Sometimes losing a shootout hurts worse than getting your ass kicked.
89. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
(Last Week: 88)
(4-3)
Beat Rice 38-17
Tulsa spotted Rice a 17-7 lead, apparently decided that was quite enough hospitality, and proceeded to score 31 unanswered points. Baylor Hayes threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, Trequan Jones ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run, and the Golden Hurricane finally snapped a three-game losing streak. Rice didn't score a single point in the second half, which is particularly impressive considering the Owls had been running all over the place earlier. Tulsa gets its first conference victory, and for once the Hurricane was the one doing the wrecking instead of cleaning up the wreckage.
90. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
(Last Week: 93)
(5-2)
Beat FIU 27-24
Jacksonville State is developing a nasty habit of giving its fans cardiac problems. With FIU threatening to steal a victory, Caden Creel converted a third-and-13 with a 34-yard completion to Ronnel Johnson, setting up Garrison Rippa's 26-yard game-winning field goal with 44 seconds remaining. FIU still had a chance, but its 50-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right. That's four consecutive victories for the Gamecocks, who remain unbeaten in Conference USA at 3-0. They're not always pretty, but apparently nobody told them wins have to come with style points.
91. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
(Last Week: 106)
(5-2)
Beat Troy 33-6
Louisiana climbs 15 spots after turning Troy into a tackling demonstration gone horribly wrong. The Cajuns rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns, built a 19-0 halftime lead, and held the Trojans to one lousy scoring drive all afternoon. Two Troy turnovers helped keep the scoreboard moving, and when the Trojans finally scored, Louisiana answered with a 91-yard touchdown march, just to make sure nobody got any funny ideas about a comeback. At 5-2, the Cajuns are starting to look dangerous. Troy, meanwhile, might want to check whether its offense was accidentally left on the bus.
92. Ohio Bobcats
(Last Week: 94)
(5-2)
Beat Sac St 48-7
Ohio traveled all the way to California for Sacramento State's homecoming and proceeded to behave like the world's rudest houseguest. The Bobcats built a 27-0 halftime lead, opened the second half with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Nick Poulos to Preston Bowman, and didn't allow the Hornets onto the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. Ohio outgained Sacramento State 468-267 and improved to 3-0 in MAC play. That's five wins overall, and the Bobcats are quietly putting together a respectable season while Sacramento State probably wishes it had scheduled a nice homecoming parade instead.
93. UConn Huskies
(Last Week: 95)
(2-3)
Bye
UConn gets a couple of spots back without having to put on a helmet, which might be the most efficient football the Huskies have played all season. Their last outing was a 34-20 victory over Temple, a welcome change after dropping a 42-41 overtime heartbreaker the week before. At 2-3, the Huskies still have plenty of work to do, but at least the bye week didn't produce another entry in the loss column. Sometimes the smartest play in football is staying home and letting everybody else beat each other.
94. Wyoming Cowboys
(Last Week: 96)
(4-3)
Beat Northern Illinois 41-23
Tyler Hughes apparently mistook Northern Illinois for a collection of traffic cones. Wyoming's quarterback rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns while completing 16 of 19 passes for another 196 yards. The Cowboys piled up 510 yards of offense, rushed for 314, committed zero turnovers, and scored on all five red-zone trips. Hughes was so effective that even backup Landon Sims got in on the fun with an 11-yard touchdown run. Wyoming improves to 3-1 in Mountain West play, and somewhere in the NIU film room, a defensive coordinator is considering a career in accounting.
95. Georgia Southern Eagles
(Last Week: 97)
(3-4)
Beat Old Dominion 23-15
Georgia Southern lost starting quarterback Max Johnson to injury, then discovered that backup Turner Helton was perfectly capable of running the show. Helton completed 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles rattled off 23 unanswered points. Meanwhile, the defense held Old Dominion to 266 yards, recorded four sacks, and recovered two fumbles. Terrance Gibbs scored twice, and kicker Tripp Bryant nailed all three field-goal attempts. The Eagles controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes, which is a pretty effective strategy when you're trying to keep the other bastards from scoring.
96. Old Dominion Monarchs
(Last Week: 92)
(2-4)
Lost to Georgia Southern 23-15
Old Dominion scored first, then spent most of Thursday night watching Georgia Southern play keep-away. The Monarchs surrendered 23 consecutive points, managed just seven rushing yards in the fourth quarter, and couldn't get their offense moving until Ryan Huff connected with TJ Johnson for a 71-yard touchdown. That made it 23-15, but any comeback dreams disappeared when Huff was sacked and fumbled with 1:20 remaining. Georgia Southern recovered, and that was that. Nothing quite like finally finding the end zone just in time to hand the other team the damn football.
97. San Diego State Aztecs
(Last Week: 98)
(2-5)
Beat Fresno St 26-23
San Diego State finally gave its fans something to celebrate, and it came courtesy of Cooper DeLiva's right leg. With starting quarterback Jayden Denegal injured, backup Stone Saunders marched the Aztecs into position for a career-long 53-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining. The Aztecs rushed for 204 yards, held Fresno State to just 276 total yards, and reclaimed the Old Oil Can. After a miserable start to the season, beating a rival on a last-minute bomb of a field goal is a pretty damn good way to remind everyone you're still alive.
98. Fresno State Bulldogs
(Last Week: 78)
(4-2)
Lost to SD State 26-23
Fresno State erased a 13-point deficit, grabbed the lead in the third quarter, and looked ready to steal a road victory from San Diego State. Then came the missed extra point. After Julius Gillick scored his second touchdown of the evening, the Bulldogs botched the kick that would've put them ahead 24-23. Instead, the game remained tied, allowing the Aztecs to win it with a 53-yard field goal. Twenty spots down the rankings, all because a football couldn't find its way between two giant yellow poles. That's a particularly shitty way to lose a rivalry game.
99. Colorado State Rams
(Last Week: 99)
(1-5)
Lost to Texas State 66-27
Somebody should probably check whether Colorado State's defense actually made the trip to San Marcos. Texas State rushed for an absolutely obscene 503 yards, piled up 716 yards of total offense, and scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions. The Bobcats led 28-0 before the Rams could blink and had 45 points by halftime. Torrance Burgess Jr. ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Brad Jackson added another 181 rushing yards and three scores. That's seven rushing touchdowns from two guys. Colorado State didn't play defense Thursday night. It hosted a track meet.
100. Washington State Cougars
(Last Week: 100)
(1-6)
Lost to Oregon State 48-30
Washington State's offense finally showed some signs of life, which would've been wonderful if Oregon State hadn't spent the evening setting the entire scoreboard on fire. Owen Eshelman threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 136 yards and a score, and Branden Ganashamoorthy hauled in 11 passes for 147 yards. Unfortunately, the Cougars spotted the Beavers a 17-0 lead and surrendered 555 yards of offense, including an 88-yard touchdown pass to AJ Newberry. Washington State scored 30 points and still lost by 18. At 1-6, even progress comes with a kick in the backside.
101. Marshall Thundering Herd
(Last Week: 102)
(3-3)
Bye
Marshall got a few extra days to contemplate its miserable start to Sun Belt play. The Herd have dropped two straight conference games, getting hammered 45-17 by James Madison before falling 27-21 to Coastal Carolina. At least running back Judah Price provided something worth watching against the Chanticleers, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start while adding another score through the air. Next up is a rare Tuesday night date with South Alabama, whose offense has been scoring points like somebody left the difficulty setting on rookie. Good luck with that.
102. Appalachian State Mountaineers
(Last Week: 103)
(4-2)
Beat Coastal Carolina 35-32
Jaquari Lewis apparently decided four touchdowns sounded like a nice round number, so he went out and scored all four on the ground against Coastal Carolina. The Mountaineers erased a 24-14 halftime deficit, piled up 516 yards of offense, and got a hell of a performance from Henry Hasselbeck, who rushed for 125 yards while throwing for another 112 and a touchdown. App State hadn't beaten Coastal since 2021, and hadn't won in Conway since 2018. The Mountaineers finally broke both streaks, proving that sometimes the best way to win a football game is to hand the ball to the same guy until the other team begs you to stop.
103. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
(Last Week: 101)
(2-4)
Lost to Appalachian State 35-32
Coastal Carolina led 24-14 at halftime, thanks in part to a school-record 58-yard field goal as the clock expired. Then somebody apparently forgot to tell the Chanticleers there was another half to play. Appalachian State scored 21 unanswered points, with Jaquari Lewis rushing for four touchdowns, before Coastal finally woke up and made it interesting again. Deuce Bailey threw for 298 yards and three scores, but App State ran out the final 3:11 to finish the job. Blowing a ten-point halftime lead at home is a pretty effective way to ruin a Friday night.
104. Toledo Rockets
(Last Week: 104)
(5-2)
Beat Eastern Michigan 34-14
Toledo didn't just spoil Eastern Michigan's homecoming. The Rockets showed up, ate all the food, drank all the beer, and kicked the family dog on their way out. They scored on all five first-half possessions, building a 31-7 lead, while quarterback John Alan Richter threw for 288 yards. The defense was even nastier, recording six sacks and 14 quarterback hurries while allowing just 34 rushing yards. Andrew Zock personally contributed two sacks and nine hurries. Five wins, a 2-1 MAC record, and a defense that apparently takes homecoming invitations as personal insults.
105. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
(Last Week: 105)
(4-2)
Beat ULM 24-0
Louisiana Tech renewed its in-state rivalry with ULM for the first time since 2000 and promptly reminded the Warhawks why they might've preferred keeping it dormant. The Bulldogs pitched their first shutout in Monroe since 1988, intercepted two passes, and scored three second-half touchdowns after a scoreless opening half. They've now beaten ULM nine consecutive times, won three straight overall, and opened Sun Belt play 2-0. Some rivalries are competitive. Others are just an excuse to remind the neighbors who owns the damn yard.
106. Troy Trojans
(Last Week: 91)
(3-3)
Lost to Louisiana 33-6
Troy traveled to Lafayette and proceeded to put on a clinic in how to lose a football game without much help from the other team. A muffed punt handed Louisiana an early touchdown, two turnovers inside Troy's own 28 produced ten points, and the Trojans dropped two potential interceptions. They also missed a field goal, missed an extra point, and converted just four of sixteen third- and fourth-down attempts. Louisiana ran for 243 yards while Troy managed six lousy points. Fifteen spots down the rankings seems almost charitable after that shitshow.
107. Nevada Wolf Pack
(Last Week: 107)
(2-4)
Lost to North Dakota State 31-17
Nevada traveled to Fargo hoping to spoil North Dakota State's first FBS season. Instead, the Wolf Pack became the team that made the Bison bowl-eligible. The real kick in the teeth came on the final play of the first half, when a missed Nevada field goal was returned 100 yards for a touchdown. That's a hell of a way to turn three potential points into seven for the other guys. Nevada hung around into the second half, but the Bison finished the job, leaving the Wolf Pack with another loss and a long flight home.
108. Arkansas State Red Wolves
(Last Week: 109)
(3-4)
Beat Southern Miss 23-13
After surrendering 56 points to South Alabama last week, Arkansas State apparently decided to try this newfangled thing called defense. The Red Wolves picked off two passes, stopped Southern Miss three times on fourth down, and held the Golden Eagles to just 33 yards in the opening quarter. Clune Van Andel kicked three field goals, and Arkansas State finished the night by bleeding the final 7:21 off the clock. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but after last week's defensive disaster, keeping somebody out of the end zone for most of the evening must've felt pretty damn good.
109. Georgia State Panthers
(Last Week: 110)
(4-2)
Lost to James Madison 49-22
Georgia State arrived in Harrisonburg with four wins and left with a pretty good understanding of why James Madison is undefeated. The Panthers actually tied the game 7-7 early, which turned out to be the highlight of their afternoon. JMU proceeded to hang 28 more points on them before halftime, piling up 515 total yards by the final whistle. Cameran Brown accounted for 205 yards of offense, but the defense couldn't stop a damn thing. Four wins look nice on paper. Giving up 49 points tends to make people look a little closer at the paper.
110. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
(Last Week: 130)
(3-2)
Beat Delaware 33-30
Middle Tennessee jumps 20 spots after surviving a seven-lead-change circus against Delaware. Roman Gagliano threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, added another score on the ground, and connected with Neo Clifton for the game-winner with 3:06 remaining. The defense then intercepted Delaware's freshman quarterback to finish the job. The Blue Raiders have already matched last season's win total, remain unbeaten at home, and finally have a Conference USA victory. Nobody's booking championship parade floats in Murfreesboro just yet, but at least there's a pulse.
111. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
(Last Week: 111)
(2-4)
Lost to Middle Tennessee 33-30
Freshman Tyler Bell made his first career start and promptly threw for a Delaware freshman-record 306 yards, tossed two touchdown passes, and even caught a touchdown on a trick play. Apparently, he forgot to play defense. The Blue Hens surrendered the lead for the seventh and final time with 3:06 remaining, then threw an interception trying to answer. Three straight losses, an 0-2 conference record, and one hell of a debut wasted. Welcome to college football, kid.
112. FIU Panthers
(Last Week: 112)
(3-3)
Lost to Jacksonville State 27-24
FIU outgained Jacksonville State 404-387, controlled the ball for nearly 34 minutes, and still managed to leave Alabama empty-handed. The Panthers watched the Gamecocks convert a third-and-13 on their winning drive before surrendering the go-ahead field goal with 44 seconds remaining. FIU then raced back into field-goal range, only to watch a 49-yard attempt sail wide as time expired. A whole evening's work, flushed down the toilet in the final minute.
113. South Alabama Jaguars
(Last Week: 113)
(4-2)
Bye
South Alabama probably needed the week off just to recover from its last game, a completely unhinged 56-49 shootout with Arkansas State. Keenan Phillips accounted for 284 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, as the Jaguars put up their highest point total ever in Sun Belt play. They're 2-0 in the conference, have scored 50-plus points in consecutive games, and apparently believe defense is something other schools worry about. Next up is Marshall, assuming somebody remembers to bring the tackling dummies.
114. Liberty Flames
(Last Week: 114)
(5-1)
Bye
Liberty spent its bye week riding a five-game winning streak after absolutely dismantling Sam Houston 35-3. The Flames rushed for 297 yards, scored four touchdowns on the ground, and held the Bearkats without a trip to the end zone. That's five consecutive victories after an opening loss, and they've already surpassed last season's win total. At some point, we're going to have to stop treating Liberty like a bottom-tier team. Apparently, that point hasn't arrived just yet.
115. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
(Last Week: 115)
(3-4)
Beat Sam Houston 16-3
Western Kentucky didn't exactly put on an offensive clinic Wednesday night, but fortunately Sam Houston showed up with an offense that didn't believe in scoring. The Hilltoppers managed just 276 yards themselves, but held the Bearkats to 177, surrendered no touchdowns, and got three field goals from Karl Campbell to seal the deal. It wasn't pretty, but Tyson Helton picked up his 60th career victory, and WKU improved to 2-1 in Conference USA play. Sometimes winning ugly beats losing beautifully.
116. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
(Last Week: 116)
(1-6)
Lost to NM 21-10
Hawaii had New Mexico exactly where it wanted them. A 10-0 halftime lead, three forced turnovers, and the Lobos looking completely lost on the island. Then quarterback Micah Alejado fumbled inches from the goal line, turning what should've been a two-score lead into a touchback. New Mexico responded with a 12-play touchdown drive, then added a 49-yard scoring run to finish off 21 unanswered points. The Rainbow Warriors have now dropped six straight, and Saturday's collapse might've been the most painful one yet.
117. Buffalo Bulls
(Last Week: 117)
(4-3)
Beat UMass 24-18 (OT)
Buffalo wasn't about to let the Flagship Cup leave town without a fight. Trailing UMass 18-15 with less than two minutes remaining, the Bulls marched 65 yards and got a 29-yard field goal from Oliver Hautanen as regulation expired. Jason Wright then found Clint Walker for a 15-yard touchdown in overtime, and the defense slammed the door on the Minutemen. Two straight victories have Buffalo back above .500, and retaining a rivalry trophy is a hell of a lot more satisfying than explaining how you blew another close one.
118. UMass Minutemen
(Last Week: 90)
(4-3)
Lost to Buffalo 24-18 (OT)
UMass had this one in its pocket. Backup quarterback Logan Inagawa, starting with two quarterbacks sidelined by injuries, ran for a touchdown and helped the Minutemen build an 18-15 lead with just two minutes remaining. Then Buffalo drove downfield, tied it as time expired, and won in overtime. Inagawa finished with 168 passing yards and another 66 on the ground, but moral victories don't count in the standings.
119. Eastern Michigan Eagles
(Last Week: 118)
(4-4)
Lost to Toledo 34-14
Homecoming at Eastern Michigan brought out a season-high crowd of 10,373, who were treated to the sight of Toledo beating the living hell out of their football team. The Rockets led 31-7 at halftime, snapping Eastern's three-game MAC winning streak in rather convincing fashion. Noah Kim threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns, but the Eagles spent most of the afternoon trying to recover from a first half they'd probably prefer to forget.
120. Central Michigan Chippewas
(Last Week: 121)
(3-4)
Lost to Western Michigan 21-14
The Victory Cannon is staying in Kalamazoo, and Central Michigan has nobody to blame but itself. The Chippewas spent three quarters getting pushed around by their biggest rival, falling behind 21-0 before suddenly remembering how to play football. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a recovered onside kick gave them one last shot at a miracle, but a desperation pass was intercepted in the end zone as time expired. Hell of a comeback. Might've been even better if they'd shown up for the first 45 minutes.
121. San Jose State Spartans
(Last Week: 122)
(4-3)
Beat UTEP 24-11
San Jose State's defense apparently mistook UTEP's quarterback for a piñata, sacking him 11 times and piling up 14 tackles for loss. Viliami Teu added 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 67-yard beauty, while freshman Daniel Rolovich threw for 193 yards and a score in his first career start. The Spartans have quietly won four of their last five against UTEP, and Saturday's performance suggests their defense could make life miserable for a few more Mountain West opponents.
122. Utah State Aggies
(Last Week: 123)
(2-4)
Bye
Utah State gets a week to enjoy the rare sensation of having won a football game, courtesy of last week's 17-16 squeaker over Washington State. After opening the season with three straight losses, the Aggies have managed to win two of their last three. Next up is a trip to Texas State, where they'll try to prove this little burst of competence isn't just a temporary malfunction.
123. Ball State Cardinals
(Last Week: 135)
(2-5)
Beat Bowling Green 32-31 (OT)
Fourteen straight road losses. Nearly two years without winning away from home. And with the clock expiring Saturday, Ball State somehow found a way to force overtime on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Eli Hohlt. After Bowling Green scored first in the extra period, the Cardinals answered with a touchdown of their own, then said screw it and went for two. Keldric Luster found Alex Scherle for the conversion, and Ball State escaped with a 32-31 victory. Sometimes you've just gotta grow a pair and go win the damn thing.
124. Bowling Green Falcons
(Last Week: 124)
(2-5)
Lost to Ball State 32-31 (OT)
Bowling Green was seconds away from putting another conference victory in the books. Instead, the Falcons allowed Ball State to march 78 yards in the final minute, surrender the tying touchdown as time expired, and then steal the game with a two-point conversion in overtime. The Falcons managed just 98 rushing yards while giving up 240 on the ground. Nothing quite like watching a game you've practically won turn into a kick in the teeth.
125. UTEP Miners
(Last Week: 125)
(1-6)
Lost to SJ State 24-11
Eleven sacks. ELEVEN. San Jose State spent so much time in UTEP's backfield they ought to have been charged rent. The Miners trailed 21-0 before finally putting points on the board, while Viliami Teu gashed their defense for 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns. UTEP has now dropped six straight, and at this point, protecting the quarterback might be a more realistic goal than winning another football game.
126. Rice Owls
(Last Week: 126)
(1-6)
Lost to Tulsa 38-17
For about twenty minutes, Rice looked like it might actually pull this thing off. Jacurri Brown ripped off touchdown runs of 50 and 78 yards, giving the Owls a 17-7 lead. Then Tulsa scored 31 unanswered points while Rice apparently decided halftime was the end of the game. Brown finished with 154 rushing yards, but the Owls haven't won since opening day, and their offense has developed a nasty habit of disappearing when somebody needs it most.
127. New Mexico State Aggies
(Last Week: 127)
(2-4)
Bye
The Aggies enjoyed a Saturday without losing, which qualifies as progress in Las Cruces. Their last outing was an ugly 22-3 defeat at FIU, a particularly impressive disappearing act considering they'd beaten Western Kentucky 34-13 just six days earlier. Next up is a Wednesday night trip to Sam Houston, where two struggling Conference USA programs will attempt to convince America that midweek football is a good idea.
128. Akron Zips
(Last Week: 128)
(1-6)
Lost to Miami (Ohio) 34-14
Akron opened the afternoon with a beautiful 97-yard touchdown drive, then apparently decided that was enough football for one Saturday. Four interceptions, including a pick-six, helped Miami turn a promising start into another ugly loss. The RedHawks also ran for 324 yards, which is generally what happens when your defense mistakes tackling for a polite suggestion. The Zips have now dropped six straight, and the Wagon Wheel showdown with Kent State is looking more like a battle to see who's slightly less awful.
129. Kent State Golden Flashes
(Last Week: 129)
(2-5)
Lost to USF 29-2
Kent State actually led this game 2-0, courtesy of a first-quarter safety. Unfortunately, that was the beginning, middle, and end of their scoring. The Golden Flashes twice marched inside the USF five-yard line and came away empty, including a goal-line fumble that the Bulls returned 96 yards for a touchdown. South Florida even added a safety of its own in the closing seconds, because apparently somebody decided a 27-2 score wasn't quite ridiculous enough.
130. Northern Illinois Huskies
(Last Week: 131)
(0-6)
Lost to Wyoming 41-23
Remember when Northern Illinois knocked off Notre Dame and became everybody's favorite underdog? That feels like about three centuries ago. The Huskies remain winless after allowing Wyoming quarterback Tyler Hughes to run for 183 yards and four touchdowns, apparently under the impression that quarterbacks aren't allowed to carry the football. NIU showed a little life in the second half, but every time they threatened to make it interesting, Wyoming found another gear. Six games, six losses, and not much evidence that number seven is going to look any prettier.
131. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
(Last Week: 132)
(1-5)
Lost to Arkansas State 23-13
Southern Miss finally returned home after more than a month away, and apparently forgot to bring the offense with them. Landry Lyddy threw for 208 yards and a touchdown, but also tossed two interceptions, while the Golden Eagles failed on three fourth-down attempts. Arkansas State then rubbed a little salt in the wound by eating up the final 7:21 with a 14-play drive. Five straight losses, and the Golden Eagles are making a pretty convincing argument that the bottom of the Sun Belt has a basement.
132. Missouri State Bears
(Last Week: 133)
(2-5)
Beat Kennesaw State 24-21
Missouri State finally picked up its first win over an FBS opponent under Casey Woods, and they did it with a little flair. Making his first start, Henry Belin IV threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, both to Isaiah Myers, before engineering a 13-play drive that ate up the final six minutes. Yousef Obeid then drilled a 22-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Bears their first Conference USA victory of the season. Two wins won't get you very far up these rankings, but beating the defending conference champions is a hell of a lot better than losing to them.
133. Kennesaw State Owls
(Last Week: 119)
(1-5)
Lost to Missouri State 24-21
Three straight heartbreaking losses, by a combined seven points. This time, Kennesaw State tied Missouri State at 21 with six minutes remaining, then stood around helplessly as the Bears marched downfield, chewed up every remaining second, and kicked the winning field goal as time expired. Rickie Collins threw for 260 yards, and Dylan Gary hauled in 10 catches for 135, but moral victories don't do much for a team that's now lost five straight. Last year's Conference USA champions have apparently forgotten how to finish a football game.
134. Charlotte 49ers
(Last Week: 138)
(1-6)
Beat Temple 38-31
They won one! After 15 consecutive losses, Charlotte finally remembered what the victory column looks like, stunning three-touchdown favorite Temple on the road. Conner Harrell accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for 281 yards and running for two scores as the 49ers piled up 449 yards of offense. It was also Tim Albin's first victory over an FBS opponent at Charlotte. Nobody's planning a parade just yet, but for one Saturday, the 49ers actually looked like a football team.
135. Temple Owls
(Last Week: 108)
(2-5)
Lost to Charlotte 38-31
There's losing, and then there's becoming somebody else's first win of the season. Temple managed the latter Saturday, surrendering 449 yards to a Charlotte team that hadn't beaten anybody. The Owls actually piled up 455 yards themselves, but a pair of boneheaded penalties helped Charlotte break a 28-28 tie in the fourth quarter. Tight end Peter Clarke became the school's all-time leader in touchdown catches at his position, so at least somebody had a Saturday worth remembering.
136. ULM Warhawks
(Last Week: 134)
(0-6)
Lost to Louisiana Tech 24-0
For thirty minutes, ULM went toe-to-toe with its in-state rival, heading into halftime tied at zero. Then somebody apparently reminded the Warhawks they were winless. An interception on the first play of the second half opened the floodgates, and Louisiana Tech cruised to a 24-0 shutout. Eleven penalties for 118 yards didn't help matters. Six games, six losses, and the Warhawks are still searching for something resembling an offense.
137. Sam Houston Bearkats
(Last Week: 136)
(1-5)
Lost to Western Kentucky 16-3
Three points. At home. Against a Western Kentucky team that came in with a losing record. The Bearkats managed a miserable 177 yards of offense, converted just two of 13 third downs, and committed nine penalties for 100 yards. The defense actually played well enough to keep them in it, but apparently nobody told the offense there was a football game going on.
138. Sacramento State Hornets
(Last Week: 137)
(1-6)
Lost to Ohio 48-7
Homecoming was supposed to be a celebration. Instead, Ohio showed up, ate the cake, opened the presents, and beat the living hell out of the Hornets. Sacramento State trailed 41-0 before finally finding the end zone in the fourth quarter, dropping its fifth straight and remaining winless in MAC play. Welcome to the FBS, boys. It's a rough neighborhood.