Week 10 delivered everything fans love about college football: upsets, playoff drama, and individual brilliance. As November began, the race for the College Football Playoff tightened, and several contenders saw their dreams shaken.
Ohio State and Indiana Stay Perfect
The top two Big Ten powers flexed their muscles. No. 1 Ohio State dismantled Penn State 38-14 behind quarterback Julian Sayin’s near-flawless performance (20-of-23, 316 yards, 4 TDs). Sayin now looks like the Heisman frontrunner, leading the nation in completion percentage and big-play efficiency. This will make for a very interesting finish to the year and something that we will discuss here in a future post as the Heisman race has now firmly cemented around 4 players. Meanwhile, No. 2 Indiana steamrolled Maryland 55-10, piling up over 300 rushing yards and forcing three turnovers. Both teams appear destined for a collision in the Big Ten Championship with playoff stakes at their peak.
SEC Drama: Georgia Survives, Oklahoma Stuns Tennessee
The annual “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” lived up to its billing as No. 5 Georgia edged Florida 24-20. A late touchdown run by Chauncey Bowens sealed the Bulldogs’ fifth straight win in the rivalry. Georgia remains in the playoff hunt but faces a brutal closing stretch.
In Knoxville, No. 18 Oklahoma earned a season-defining 33-27 win over No. 14 Tennessee. After the Vols briefly took the lead with under three minutes left, OU responded immediately. A 43-yard burst by Xavier Robinson set up quarterback John Mateer’s game-winning score. The Sooners’ defense forced three turnovers, and kicker Tate Sandell drilled four field goals, including two from 55 yards. This victory keeps Oklahoma’s SEC title hopes alive.
Ole Miss Inches Closer to History
Lane Kiffin’s No. 7 Ole Miss handled South Carolina 17-7 in a defensive slugfest. Running back Kewan Lacy broke free for a 54-yard touchdown to seal the win. At 8-1, the Rebels are now just two wins away from their first-ever playoff berth.
Upsets Shake the CFP Picture
The biggest shock came in Dallas, where SMU toppled No. 10 Miami 26-20 in overtime. Kevin Jennings threw for 365 yards, and Ahmaad Moses’ interception in OT set up the winning score. Miami’s playoff hopes are now on life support.
Elsewhere, No. 20 Texas outlasted No. 9 Vanderbilt 34-31 in a thriller. Arch Manning looked sharp, and the Longhorns survived a furious Commodores rally that fell short on an onside kick attempt. Vanderbilt’s loss likely ends its playoff bid.
In the ACC, NC State shocked previously unbeaten No. 8 Georgia Tech 48-36, racking up 583 yards of offense. CJ Bailey threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, while Duke Scott added 196 rushing yards. The ACC race is now wide open, with Virginia emerging as the frontrunner