College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examin...

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Pitt, the ACC wrecking ball</h3><p>You don't need to picture Pat Narduzzi swinging on a wrecking ball like Miley Cyrus, but Pitt is doing its best to destroy ACC title game chances for any interested party.</p><p>We were shocked when the longtime Panthers head coach essentially admitted the team was looking past last week's meeting with Notre Dame to focus on its final two ACC games. However, it's tough to argue with his logic after the Panthers' electric start at Georgia Tech. They stunned the Yellow Jackets with 28 straight points, racing out to an early lead. Although things briefly grew tense in the second half, a 100-yard pick-6 made the margin too much to overcome and delivered a crucial win for Narduzzi.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">100 YARD PITT-SIX 🔥💨<br><br>Pittsburgh's defense comes up BIG‼️ <a href="https://t.co/yDxF025FBk">pic.twitter.com/yDxF025FBk</a></p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1992422588564304212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>I've talked at length this season about the weekly drama that is the ACC race, and the nation's most chaotic power conference didn't disappoint Saturday. While early afternoon wins by SMU and Miami went off without a hitch, Pitt's victory tossed a wrench into the battle for a conference championship appearance. Georgia Tech couldn't handle the pressure of a win-and-in situation, so Virginia and SMU now enter the final week in the driver's seat.</p><p>Should the Cavaliers beat Virginia Tech and the Mustangs handle Cal, those two will compete for the ACC championship. If either team loses, Pitt can grab the second spot if it defeats Miami.</p><p>Regardless, next weekend is must-see television to determine who will play for the trophy in the All Chaos Conference.</p><h3>BYU goes big brother mode on Cincinnati</h3><p>Anyone who's a little brother recognized what BYU did to Cincinnati all too well, with the Cougars asserting their physical dominance throughout the entire game at Nippert Stadium. They figured out early that the Bearcats couldn't stop the run and leaned on that heavily with 27 runs against just seven passes in the second half. The end result was a career night for running back LJ Martin, who piled up 266 total yards and two touchdowns in the 26-14 win.</p><p>The Cougars' defensive line, meanwhile, rose up to halt the Bearcats' rushing attack, holding them to 87 yards on the ground - well below their average of 194. The overpowering effort kept BYU tied with Texas Tech atop the Big 12 standings and continued the collision course toward a rematch in the conference title game.</p><h3>We get it, you're focused on Lane Kiffin</h3><p>The Lane Kiffin sweepstakes appear to be down to three suitors with LSU and Florida trying to lure the Ole Miss coach away from Oxford while the Rebels try to get an extension done. While Ole Miss was on a bye, it's probably safe to say the attention of the Gators and Tigers wasn't on their respective games Saturday. </p><p>Florida - who hung with Kiffin's Ole Miss for three quarters earlier this month - looked entirely overmatched from the jump as Tennessee raced to a 31-0 lead. The final 31-11 victory for the Volunteers meant the visitors won in The Swamp for the first time since 2003. It also keeps Tennessee's slim playoff hopes alive with a date versus Vanderbilt left on the schedule.</p><p>LSU didn't suffer the same fate as Florida, as the Tigers at least walked off the field with a victory over Western Kentucky. However, there aren't many LSU fans that would consider a 13-10 home victory over the Hilltoppers to be an impressive performance, and it's clear change is needed in Baton Rouge.</p><p>The good news for the interested parties in Kiffin is that the coach plans to make his announcement on his future next Saturday. The bad news - that's still a full seven days away, so the endless speculation likely isn't going anywhere over Thanksgiving week.</p><h3>Oregon pounds its way to cusp of CFP</h3><p>Of course, Oregon beat USC in a game that was essentially decided by physicality in the trenches, right? That wasn't the only reason the Ducks emerged from Week 13's biggest matchup with the win, but it certainly played a major role. Both teams were missing significant pieces on each of their lines, but Oregon's backups stepped up when needed, especially on the offensive side. The Ducks ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries while holding the Trojans to just 52 rushing yards on a laughable 1.9 yards per carry.</p><p>With injuries ravaging Oregon's receiving corps, Dan Lanning has in recent weeks leaned heavily on a power rushing attack to great success. The team piled up 261 yards on the ground against Iowa a couple weeks ago and ran through USC's defense at will Saturday. Lanning's program now faces a fairly simple scenario next week at Washington: Win and you'll reach the College Football Playoff for the second straight season.</p><h3>More road mistakes for USC</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/cropped_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811082/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247431838.jpg?ts=1763871130 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ali Gradischer / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Lincoln Riley hailed last week's dramatic victory over Iowa in the rain as a "culture win." It took just seven days for the good vibes to fade, as the Trojans repeatedly made mistakes that cost them at Oregon. USC fans certainly didn't love the backbreaking kick return touchdown that Notre Dame ripped off earlier this season to flip momentum in South Bend, and it's probably safe to say they hated the sequel - this time, a punt return - in Eugene even more. Malik Benson's 85-yard scamper broke a 14-14 tie and put the Ducks up for good.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MALIK BENSON WAS FLYIN <a href="https://t.co/rOyUClTk4I">pic.twitter.com/rOyUClTk4I</a></p>— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1992350319292924127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Two Jayden Maiava interceptions and multiple drive-extending defensive pass interference penalties later, we're still a long way from calling USC a championship-caliber outfit. A potential win over UCLA to close the season at 9-3 would be Riley's best record since 2022, his first year with the program. However, he wasn't brought to Los Angeles to post nine-win seasons. USC hired him to win titles. That doesn't seem likely in the near future.</p><h3>THAT'S the Arch we expected</h3><p>If Texas could play Arkansas every week, Peyton and Eli might end up being the inferior Manning quarterbacks. While his overall season has fallen short of the massive expectations heaped on him, Arch Manning on Saturday provided the strongest example of why scouts are so high on his potential. The third-year signal-caller threw for four touchdowns, caught another on a trick play, and found the end zone on the ground as well to total six during the 52-37 blowout victory.</p><p>Arch and the Longhorns' offense looked electric throughout, with Manning spreading the ball around and picking apart the Razorbacks' defense at will. He showed great touch and arm strength on numerous occasions and flashed elite athleticism when hauling in the touchdown catch thrown by wide receiver Parker Livingstone. It would be irresponsible not to note that Arkansas' defense entered the day ranked 118th in the nation, but the performance was still one to hold high. The impressive showing also further heightens next week's home game against Texas A&amp;M - a must-win for the Longhorns' faint playoff hopes.</p><h3>Oklahoma ain't here for beauty contests</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/cropped_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811056/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247425366.jpg?ts=1763860943 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Bahr / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Brent Venables might know the identity of his team - or at least have the ability to articulate it - better than any coach in the country. The Oklahoma head coach kept it simple when describing yet another defensive masterclass by his Sooners in a 17-6 win over Missouri.</p><p>"It's not pretty, but this is not a beauty contest," Venables said postgame with a smile on the ESPN broadcast.</p><p>If you're looking for a sure thing in college football, Oklahoma's defense is about as close as it gets. Despite the defensive line still missing its best player in R Mason Thomas, the team recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss, making a limited offensive showing enough to capture a win. Saturday's result marks the Sooners' fifth ranked victory of the season, more than any other group in the nation.</p><p>It's clear that Oklahoma's defense can keep the team in any game regardless of the opponent. Unfortunately, its offensive struggles make it damn near impossible to pull away. Quarterback John Mateer failed to complete half of his passes and finished with 173 yards through the air, 87 of which came on a catch-and-run touchdown to Isaiah Sategna. The rushing attack put up 3.2 yards per carry, and the offense as a whole managed under 300 total yards for the second straight outing.</p><p>Oklahoma is half of an elite team, with its sixth-ranked defense being consistently sensational and its 88th-ranked offense remaining highly suspect. That should lead the Sooners to the CFP this year but might limit them from making a deep run through December and January.</p><h3>472 rushing yards ... in a loss?</h3><p>The beauty of college football is that the unbelievable seemingly happens on a regular basis. For example, if you tuned into Saturday's game between Kansas State and Utah, you saw the Wildcats shred the hosting Utes for an absurd 472 rushing yards ... and somehow still lose!<em> </em>That type of figure is usually reserved for a service academy, but Kansas State became just the second power conference team since 2000 to lose with at least 470 rushing yards.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Teams rushing for 470+ yards are 141-10 since 2000. The losses:<br>Kansas State today<br>4 service academy games (2 Army, 1 for Navy and Air Force)<br>New Mexico 3 times<br>Georgia Tech vs Tennessee 2017<br>Rice vs San Jose State 2004 <a href="https://t.co/HwyBCnMzTL">https://t.co/HwyBCnMzTL</a></p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1992397121342087675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Utah's playoff hopes appeared doomed as K-State ran wild throughout the opening three quarters in Salt Lake City, but a late comeback from a 12-point deficit helped secure the improbable win and keep the Utes in the mix. It also propped up the Big 12's chances to get a second team in the field instead of only the conference champion. BYU's most impressive win of the season thus far came against Utah - a result that would've taken a serious hit had the Utes fallen Saturday.</p><h3>No offense needed for Notre Dame</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/cropped_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/w220xh124_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/w320xh180_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/w640xh360_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/w768xh432_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/811069/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2247992753.jpg?ts=1763866338 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Football coaches everywhere preach the need to get off to a fast start. I encourage all of them to feast their eyes on Notre Dame's performance Saturday, as you won't find a more perfect opening stretch. The Fighting Irish exploded out of the blocks and held an astonishing 21-0 lead over Syracuse just 5:10 into the game. That's impressive enough on its own, but the chef's kiss was that the Irish <em>had yet to run an offensive play.</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame is winning 21-0. <a href="https://t.co/66sO4jKOyf">pic.twitter.com/66sO4jKOyf</a></p>— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) <a href="https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1992334584500081074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>How, you ask? An opportunistic defense that housed not one, but two pick-6s during that time supplied 14 points, and a punt return touchdown added seven more. That meant the home team had a three-touchdown lead before Jeremiyah Love even took the field. Things only got worse for the Orange once he did, as the Heisman hopeful finished with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries in the eye-popping 70-7 victory.</p><p>Notre Dame can't erase its back-to-back losses to Miami and Texas A&amp;M to start the season, but the Irish are doing the next best thing: beating the tar out of their remaining opponents. They've made it impossible for the committee to leave them out of the playoff.</p><h3>Wild SEC QB stats: Week 13</h3><p>One man's been playing college football for five years, while the other made his first career start, but both Diego Pavia and Deuce Knight put up wild stats Saturday for their respective teams.</p><p>Vanderbilt and Pavia are making a massive push to receive a Heisman invite, as the quarterback continued to cut loose versus Kentucky. He threw for an outrageous 484 yards and five touchdowns and scored another on the ground in a 45-17 blowout victory, his third straight game with an attention-grabbing stat line. Pavia is averaging 409 passing yards per game during that stretch with 11 touchdowns through the air against just one interception. He's also added three rushing touchdowns. If the Commodores secure a win over Tennessee in the season finale next week, they'll have a 10-2 record. That would make them a very intriguing player in the playoff conversation.</p><p>Auburn, meanwhile, turned to Knight at quarterback with FCS Mercer in town, giving the keys to the highly touted five-star freshman. It didn't take long to show what he's capable of, as he raced 75 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the game. Knight finished with 401 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in the 62-17 win. While the level of competition must be accounted for, one has to wonder if Hugh Freeze would still be employed had the team utilized Knight earlier in the year.</p><h3>Not much cheer for Chapel Bill</h3><p>A week filled with cheer in North Carolina turned to a weekend of misery for Bill Belichick, as Saturday's loss to Duke ensured the legendary coach won't be going bowling in his first season with the Tar Heels. The team needed to win both of its remaining contests to make the postseason, a feat that looked well in reach for most of the game versus the Blue Devils. However, Duke roared back and landed the knockout punch on a brilliantly designed fake field goal to set up the game-winning touchdown.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DUKE PULLS OFF THE FAKE FIELD GOAL 🤯 <a href="https://twitter.com/DukeFOOTBALL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DukeFOOTBALL</a> <a href="https://t.co/syr9FoOdue">pic.twitter.com/syr9FoOdue</a></p>— ACC Network (@accnetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/accnetwork/status/1992377521136951753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Even with low expectations, it's tough to see Belichick's first collegiate coaching season as anything but a major disappointment. The Tar Heels have just two wins over power conference competition and are guaranteed to finish with their worst season since 2018.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 13 takeaways

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devon Dampier threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, including a go...

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<p>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devon Dampier threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, including <a href="https://x.com/Utah_Football/status/1992395003990319611">a go-ahead 1-yard score</a> with 56 seconds left, and No. 13 Utah rallied from a 12-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter for a wild 51-47 victory over Kansas State on Saturday.</p>
<p>The game turned on an unusual play. After KSU took a 47-35 lead on Joe Jackson’s third rushing touchdown of the game, the Wildcats went for 2, but Utah’s Tao Johnson intercepted a tipped ball and returned it to the Kansas State end zone for 2 points to make it 47-37.</p>
<p>Dampier’s 20-yard TD toss to Larry Simmons got Utah within 47-44 with 2:47 left. After the Utes forced a punt, Dampier led the winning drive, setting up his go-ahead score with a 59-yard run to the 1 on fourth down.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p><a href="https://x.com/Utah_Football/status/1992396075463004167">Lander Barton intercepted Avery Johnson's pass</a> with 49 seconds remaining to seal it for Utah (9-2, 6-2 Big 12, No. 12 CFP), which kept alive its hopes for a league title and a College Football Playoff berth.</p>
<p>Jackson rushed for a school-record 293 yards for Kansas State (5-6, 4-4), topping Darren Sproles' mark of 292 yards set in 2004. The Wildcats finished with a program-record 472 yards rushing, the most by a Division I team in a loss since Army ran for 534 in a 52-49 loss to North Texas on Nov. 18, 2017.</p>
<p>Dampier threw for 259 yards and rushed for 94. Byrd Ficklin rushed for three touchdowns and Wayshawn Parker had 100 yards on 19 carries for Utah, which had 551 yards of offense to 574 for Kansas State.</p>
<p>VJ Payne knocked the ball out of Dampier's hand and Cody Stufflebean recovered the fumble at the Utah 26-yard line to set up Jackson's 24-yard TD rush midway through the fourth.</p>
<p>Dampier found Dallen Bentley for a 38-yard TD reception and Ficklin ran for his third TD to put Utah up 35-31 early in the third quarter. But Johnson threw to Garrett Oakley for a TD on fourth down and Luis Rodriguez added a 36-yard field goal to put KSU ahead 41-35 with 8:51 to play.</p>
<p>Utah’s defensive leader, John Henry Daley, <a href="https://apnews.com/a8a7711d680f7a0a7ba6a93b304bad70">left the game with a leg injury</a> late in the first quarter, when the defensive end already had two sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for loss. Daley grabbed his leg on a non-contact play and was helped to the locker room.</p>
<p>Accepting coach Chris Klieman’s challenge to play “big boy, physical football,” Kansas State had 348 yards rushing in the first half, including 225 in the second quarter as the Wildcats led 31-21.</p>
<p>Kansas State gashed the Utah defense on its way to five consecutive scoring drives — four TDs and a 22-yard field goal. Jackson gained 236 yards in the first half with TD runs of 66 and 80 yards. Antonio Martin Jr. and Johnson also rushed for scores.</p>
<hl2>The takeaway</hl2><p>Kansas State: Late in a disappointing season that began with Big 12 title hopes, the Wildcats put together an unforgettable display of power and speed on the ground but let Utah make all the big plays in the final three minutes.</p>
<p>Utah: The Utes' defense was overwhelmed by the Wildcats’ physicality on the line of scrimmage, but they found a way to salvage an unfathomable win, largely thanks to Dampier.</p>
<hl2>Up next</hl2><p>Kansas State hosts Colorado next Saturday.</p>
<p>Utah visits Kansas on Friday.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a></p>
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 22: Smith Snowden #2 and Nate Johnson #3 of the Utah Utes celebrate their win over the Kansas State Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Utah rallies for late win despite K-State's 472 rushing yards

Ohio State won comfortably Saturday versus Rutgers, but there's still concern among Buckeyes fans...

<p>Ohio State won comfortably Saturday versus Rutgers, but there's still concern among Buckeyes fans over the absence of star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.</p><p>The dynamic duo was on the sideline in street clothes during the 42-9 victory, a potentially troubling sight with the team's matchup against Michigan just a week away.</p><p>"They are day-to-day, and the staff and those guys are working really hard to get ready to play next week," head coach Ryan Day said postgame, according to <a href="http://x.com/CFBONFOX/status/1992343414223020273?s=20">Fox Sports</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Smith sat out the second half of last week's win over UCLA with what appeared to be a lower-body issue. Tate hasn't played since grabbing five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in a Nov. 1 victory versus Penn State.</p><p>While Ohio State still has plenty of offensive firepower without the pair of pass-catchers, Smith and Tate will likely be needed for the challenging road trip to Ann Arbor. The two have combined for 108 catches, 1,613 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.</p>

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) looks at the scoreboard during the game against the UCLA Bruins and the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 15, 2025, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH.

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Day declares Smith, Tate day-to-day after WRs sat out vs. Rutgers

The latest CFP rankings featured a change in the top four Tuesday as Georgia took Alabama's place...

<p>The latest CFP rankings featured a change in the top four Tuesday as Georgia took Alabama's place in the No. 4 slot, thanks to its 25-point blowout of Texas and the Crimson Tide's loss to Oklahoma.</p><p>The Bulldogs are now in position to receive a first-round bye alongside Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&amp;M, which kept its No. 3 seed after putting together a historic comeback against South Carolina.</p><p>Texas Tech rounds out the top five following another dominant win in the Big 12, while the Sooners surged to No. 8 on account of their massive victory in Tuscaloosa.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>School</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>10-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
<td>10-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Texas A&amp;M</td>
<td>10-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Georgia</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Texas Tech</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Oklahoma</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>BYU</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Alabama fell six spots to No. 10 but still holds three ranked wins on the season. The formula for the Crimson Tide is simple: defeat Auburn in the Iron Bowl to book a seat in the playoff.</p><p>Notre Dame once again finds itself among the 12-team field following another double-digit victory. That keeps a very interesting scenario in play, where an at-large spot could come down to the Fighting Irish and No. 15 Miami. The Hurricanes need plenty of help to make the ACC title game but could finish with a 10-2 record that's identical to Notre Dame's. Those teams met in the season opener, with Miami winning 27-24 at home.</p><p>"When you look at Notre Dame and Miami, we really compare the losses of those two teams," committee chair Hunter Yurachek said during the rankings release show on <a href="https://x.com/ESPNCFB/status/1990964425952546861?s=20">ESPN</a>. "Miami has lost to two unranked teams. Notre Dame has lost to two teams that are ranked in our top 13. So, we really haven't compared those two teams. They haven't been in similar comparative pools, to date, but Miami is creeping up into that range where they will be compared to Notre Dame if something happens above them."</p><p>USC, which orchestrated a comeback victory over Iowa in torrential rain, again rose in the rankings and has a chance to make a major statement Saturday with a road game at Oregon.</p><p>The Longhorns suffered one of the biggest drops of the week, falling from No. 10 after taking their third loss of the year.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>School</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Miami</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Vanderbilt</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>USC</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>9-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Illinois</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Houston</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Tulane</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Arizona State</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Under the current projection, BYU and Utah would be the first teams outside the bracket to allow the top five conference champions a spot in the field. Miami and Tulane are the placeholders of the Nos. 11 and 12 seeds, respectively.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DROGcRHjD6_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DROGcRHjD6_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 6: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to take the field prior to the game against the Austin Peay Governors at Sanford Stadium on September 6, 2025 in Athens, Georgia.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33352309/related

Georgia jumps into top 4 of latest CFP rankings

The Lane Kiffin sweepstakes might be coming to an end soon.  Ole Miss reportedly told the head co...

<p>The Lane Kiffin sweepstakes might be coming to an end soon.</p><p>Ole Miss reportedly told the head coach that it wants a decision on his future with the school prior to the Egg Bowl versus Mississippi State on Nov. 28, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6815449/2025/11/17/lane-kiffin-ole-miss-deadline-lsu-florida-egg-bowl/">Stewart Mandel of The Athletic</a>.</p><p>Kiffin is considered the leading candidate for vacancies at Florida and LSU. Ole Miss, meanwhile, has reportedly been trying to sign him to a contract extension, according to <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/lsu-football-targets-lane-kiffin/article_ef25fcb5-2efb-419a-b618-443c8b404b8c.html">Wilson Alexander of The Advocate</a>. The 50-year-old has steered clear of any definitive statements about his future.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The home crowd in Oxford made its feelings known after Saturday's 34-24 win over Florida, chanting, "We want Lane!" as he walked off the field.</p><p>Florida and LSU have reportedly made serious efforts to lure Kiffin away. Alexander added that the latter flew the coach's family to Baton Rouge on Monday for a tour of the city. The Gators offered the same treatment to Kiffin's family with a visit to Gainesville on Sunday, sources told <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/latest-intel-on-lane-kiffin-as-florida-lsu-pursue-ole-miss-head-coach/">Pete Nakos of On3</a>.</p><p>If Kiffin tells Ole Miss that he's leaving by the school-imposed deadline, the team could be left in a precarious position for the College Football Playoff. It's unlikely a new employer would allow him to remain with the Rebels through the postseason, as recruiting and the transfer portal are vital to roster building in December and January. That scenario could lead to an interim coach taking control ahead of the playoff.</p>

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 29: Lane Kiffin head coach of the Mississippi Rebels looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 29, 2024 in Oxford, Mississippi.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33337291/related

Report: Ole Miss wants Kiffin decision before Egg Bowl

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Venables has the blueprint for beating Bama</h3><p>Alabama fans, take note: When you see Brent Venables on the schedule, consider taking the week off from watching the Crimson Tide. For the second straight season, Oklahoma's defense did the heavy lifting in an upset win over Kalen DeBoer's program. The Sooners forced three turnovers on the road, including a massive 87-yard pick-6. That makes six turnovers that Alabama has committed over the teams' last two meetings.</p><p>There was nothing pretty about the way Oklahoma handled its business. The offense barely sustained any success.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oklahoma's 212 yards is the fourth-fewest yards by an FBS team in a win against a top-5 team since 2000.</p>— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/1989850842271551583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>But the scoreboard doesn't come with pictures, and the final result (23-21) is all that matters to the Sooners, who captured their second straight road victory over a ranked opponent and will surely rise in the next College Football Playoff rankings.</p><p>The loss, which ended the Tide's 17-game home winning streak, was DeBoer's first in Tuscaloosa since taking the job prior to last season and his first while wearing the vaunted "black hoodie of death." It's also one that will sting mightily given how the game broke down.</p><p>Turnovers killed the Tide and wasted a remarkable defensive performance. Their inability to run the ball was the latest example of what's been a major issue for the team this year. Alabama entered the game ranking an eye-popping 120th in yards per rush (3.5), a mark that's sure to get worse after it averaged just 2.4 on Saturday. Ty Simpson can shoulder the load without a run game most weeks, but Venables' defense feasts on one-pronged attacks.</p><p>The defeat doesn't take Alabama out of the CFP race nor does it hurt its chances in the SEC. However, it makes the Iron Bowl at Auburn a must-win game, a scenario that will raise anxiety levels in Tuscaloosa.</p><h3>Kirby masterclass for Georgia</h3><p>You won't get much argument if you call Kirby Smart the best coach in the country, and the Georgia boss showed why once again with another win over Texas on Saturday. After the Bulldogs finally opened up a double-digit lead to start the 4th quarter, Smart opted for a surprise onside kick to immediately get the ball back and deliver the knockout blow.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GEORGIA RECOVERS THE ONSIDE KICK 😱 <a href="https://t.co/dQCcAcRXdi">pic.twitter.com/dQCcAcRXdi</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1989898213541720174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It worked perfectly, but upon further review, the normally risky play came with very little downside for Georgia. Smart - along with everyone else watching - clearly saw that Texas' offense had nothing to stop a dominant defense for the Bulldogs. A failed onside kick would give the Longhorns excellent field position, but Smart likely decided the most pain that would inflict on Georgia was a field goal.</p><p>The victory completes the Bulldogs' SEC schedule with a 7-1 mark and makes Smart 3-0 against Texas the last two seasons. That will be more than enough to get the Bulldogs in the CFP with their seeding the only thing left to be decided.</p><h3>We can stop talking about Texas in the CFP</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/cropped_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810107/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246379978.jpg?ts=1763266304 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Texas repeatedly tried to show us this season that it just wasn't that good, yet we continually ignored that and kept ranking the Longhorns. We ignored back-to-back games where they needed overtime to beat Kentucky and Mississippi State. We didn't bat an eye when Vanderbilt nearly erased a 24-point fourth-quarter deficit in Austin. The Longhorns even fooled the CFP committee to the point that they held a No. 10 ranking heading into Saturday's matchup with Georgia. Here's hoping we can all join together with the realization that Texas isn't a playoff-caliber team.</p><p>The Longhorns are now 4-3 versus power conference competition following the 35-10 loss to the Bulldogs. Their offense looked like a high school outfit, only cracking 200 total yards when the game was out of reach. The final rushing number was 23 yards on a laughable average of 1.4 per carry.</p><p>Maybe the Longhorns will shock Texas A&amp;M in the final game of the season. After all, the Aggies nearly fell to bottom-feeder South Carolina on Saturday. Regardless of the remaining results, we've accumulated enough evidence to know that this version of Texas isn't worthy of a playoff spot.</p><h3>Late charge gives Ole Miss the Kiffin Bowl</h3><p>In classic college football fashion, Florida had the chance to greatly help its head coaching search by beating the man it wants to hire. It's no secret that Lane Kiffin is the desired candidate to take over in Gainesville - a situation that made the Gators' trip to Oxford even more dramatic. A second loss for Ole Miss would've also seriously dented its playoff hopes. For most of the contest, that outcome seemed likely before a late 14-0 run by the Rebels secured a 34-24 victory.</p><p>The key players from Saturday's win are a perfect representation as to why Kiffin is the "Portal King." Division II transfer quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 301 yards, former Missouri running back Kewan Lacy ran for 224 yards and three scores, and ex-Nebraska standout Princewill Umanmielen supplied the game-sealing sack.</p><p>With the game finally decided in the last minute, the crowd began a boisterous "We want Lane!" chant that echoed around The Swamp. The Rebels are 10-1 and a virtual lock for the playoff, provided they avoid a shocking Egg Bowl loss to Mississippi State to end the year. The only question left to answer is whether that will be the last time Kiffin takes the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as the home coach.</p><h3>Wait, Texas A&amp;M won? </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/cropped_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810070/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246877848.jpg?ts=1763256635 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Maria Lysaker / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>If someone told you the halftime score between No. 3 Texas A&amp;M and unranked South Carolina was 30-3, you wouldn't have batted an eye. The unbeaten Aggies have looked downright dominant throughout their SEC schedule, while the Gamecocks entered Saturday sitting second to last in the conference with a dismal 1-6 record.</p><p>Well, it was the visitors who shockingly held the edge in College Station after an incredible first-half showing. South Carolina forced three turnovers and hit multiple big plays to stun the massive crowd and fire up Shane Beamer on his way to the locker room.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LET’S GO!!! <a href="https://t.co/VcutWDvRiV">pic.twitter.com/VcutWDvRiV</a></p>— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockFB/status/1989767754115899503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>File that one under "videos that preceded unfortunate events" because Beamer's mood would change drastically. There were 286 reasons why a comeback seemed improbable, with SEC teams being a perfect 286-0 since 2004 when leading by at least 27 points in a conference game.</p><p>That record is now 286-1 after the Aggies had a second half for the ages. Four touchdowns on their first four drives - all 70 yards or more - took care of the 27-point deficit as their defense pitched a shutout and allowed just 76 total yards. The Gamecocks' offense turned in only one drive lasting more than 2:15, leaving their defense exhausted.</p><p>Marcel Reed rebounded from a dismal opening half with 298 passing yards in the final 30 minutes, and the defense sacked a suddenly overwhelmed LaNorris Sellers four times. It was the type of all-around performance that helped Texas A&amp;M enter the game undefeated in the first place.</p><p>It wasn't pretty, but we've long preached the importance of teams winning their clunkers to retain momentum. The Aggies did exactly that and gained a lifelong memory in the process.</p><h3>Receiver duo has USC thinking CFP</h3><p>We need to get Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane an NIL deal with the U.S. Postal Service because the receiver duo delivers through rain, sleet, snow, and heat. Despite Iowa bringing torrential rain to Los Angeles the last two days, the Trojans leaned on Lemon and Lane for a combined 17 catches, 218 yards, and a touchdown. Their efforts helped USC turn a 21-10 halftime deficit into a crucial 26-21 win over the Hawkeyes, firmly planting the team in the CFP race.</p><p>Lincoln Riley was as enthusiastic as ever down the stretch, <a href="https://x.com/CFBONFOX/status/1989840902215573691?s=20">celebrating multiple times</a> on the sideline as his team clinched the victory. He called it a "<a href="https://x.com/C_Morrissette/status/1989845617796157654?s=20">culture win</a>" postgame - certainly a message to those who have previously criticized his team's ability to win in adverse conditions. He'll get another chance to quiet his critics next week with a blockbuster matchup versus Oregon on deck.</p><p>For Iowa, the close result was just the latest during a good season that's also had plenty of what-ifs. Kirk Ferentz's program has now lost four games to ranked opponents this year by a combined 15 points.</p><h3>Narduzzi wasn't lying</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/cropped_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/w220xh124_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/w320xh180_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/w640xh360_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/w768xh432_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/810053/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2246301343.jpg?ts=1763248842 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Nobody told Pat Narduzzi that Notre Dame's trip to Pittsburgh was supposed to be one of the biggest games of the week. The Panthers' head coach dropped a shocking quote Monday, essentially admitting that his team was more focused on its final two ACC contests than the nonconference matchup with the Fighting Irish.</p><p>"I'd gladly get beat (103-10) or 110-10 in that game," Narduzzi said. "They can put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that."</p><p>Here's the thing: Narduzzi wasn't exactly wrong, but it's surprising that he was so honest publicly. Notre Dame didn't quite hang 100 on Pitt, but it raced out to a 14-0 lead and then coasted to a comfortable victory.</p><p>The final score of 37-15 means the Irish have now won eight straight games by an average of 26 points. Only meetings with lowly Syracuse and Stanford remain, making it likely that Notre Dame finishes 10-2 and reaches the CFP for a second straight year.</p><h3>Rodriguez makes Heisman case</h3><p>Look, the Heisman is likely going to a Big Ten or SEC quarterback, but Texas Tech is trying its best to get Jacob Rodriguez some love. The Red Raiders linebacker announced himself to the national audience last week with 14 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception in a big win over BYU. He was once again dominant Saturday versus UCF, but a cameo on offense helped bring some extra attention his way. The former high school quarterback lined up under center and plunged in for a <a href="http://&lt;blockquote%20class=%22twitter-tweet%22&gt;&lt;p%20lang=%22en%22%20dir=%22ltr%22&gt;Linebacker%20Jacob%20Rodriguez%20with%20his%20FIRST%20CAREER%20OFFENSIVE%20TD%20for%20&lt;a%20href=%22https://twitter.com/TexasTechFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22&gt;@TexasTechFB&lt;/a&gt;%20%E2%80%BC%EF%B8%8F&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And%20he%20hit%20the%20Heisman%20as%20his%20celebration%20%F0%9F%91%80%20&lt;a%20href=%22https://t.co/zzOWSXR1Qr%22&gt;pic.twitter.com/zzOWSXR1Qr&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash;%20FOX%20College%20Football%20(@CFBONFOX)%20&lt;a%20href=%22https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1989801484385661325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22&gt;November%2015,%202025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;%20&lt;script%20async%20src=%22https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%22%20charset=%22utf-8%22&gt;&lt;/script&gt;">two-yard touchdown</a> on the first offensive play of his collegiate career, much to the delight of Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">‼️‼️‼️ <a href="https://t.co/xiOFOj1XKf">https://t.co/xiOFOj1XKf</a></p>— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1989814806652784702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rodriguez added an interception shortly after scoring the touchdown, and the Red Raiders finished the evening with a 48-9 blowout victory to strengthen their argument for a top-four spot in the next CFP rankings. At the very least, the Heisman committee should send the man an invite to New York for the ceremony in December.</p><h3>Navy sinks USF playoff bid</h3><p>If South Florida's CFP bid took on water with a loss to Memphis, consider it sunk after Saturday's defeat at the hands of Navy. The Midshipmen gashed the Bulls' run defense for 338 yards on an outrageous 53 attempts to emerge with a 41-38 win. The result marked South Florida's third loss, including its second in conference, making it almost certain that the team will miss the playoff.</p><p>Upset wins over Boise State and Florida early in the year made South Florida a potential CFP darling, with the Bulls looking primed for the Group of 5 spot in the 12-team field. However, that excitement has fizzled following their second loss in the last three outings. Meanwhile, head coach Alex Golesh has received attention for vacancies at power conference programs across the country. It would be foolish to blame the loss on those rumors, but Navy was significantly more prepared for the contest, generating a 24-9 halftime lead.</p><p>South Florida's loss is great news for James Madison, as the Dukes, who have a perfect Sun Belt record and just one loss overall, could become the G5 favorite to make the playoff.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 12 takeaways

For the opening 30 minutes of action Saturday, Texas A&M looked like an overrated team that had p...

<p>For the opening 30 minutes of action Saturday, Texas A&amp;M looked like an overrated team that had padded its record against the bottom of the SEC en route to a 9-0 start.</p><p>A shocking 30-3 deficit at the break left Kyle Field sounding like a library and those who'd questioned the Aggies' unblemished resume smiling with glee.</p><p>Those smiles turned to frowns during the second half as Texas A&amp;M dug itself out of the 27-point hole and captured a thrilling 31-30 win over South Carolina - the biggest comeback in program history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are four numbers to know from the outrageous game in College Station.</p><h3>20</h3><p>How historically bad was the deficit that the Aggies faced? The halftime margin was the largest for a ranked team trailing an unranked team at home in the past 20 years, meaning that a majority of the students in attendance probably weren't alive the last time a comeback of this nature happened.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not great Bob dot gif <a href="https://t.co/R53BmE2oW4">pic.twitter.com/R53BmE2oW4</a></p>— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanDFischer/status/1989772211029213659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>If the logos were removed from the helmets and jerseys, you would've thought South Carolina was the No. 3 program in the nation, while Texas A&amp;M resembled a shaky group with serious offensive issues. The first-half stats were staggering, with the Gamecocks dominating all facets.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stat</th>
<th>South Carolina</th>
<th>Texas A&amp;M</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Score</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total yards</td>
<td>312</td>
<td>132</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rushing yards</td>
<td>108</td>
<td>-9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yards per play</td>
<td>8.2</td>
<td>4.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turnovers</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>5-0</h3><p>We don't want to pile on the Aggies' performance in the opening half, but it's not a stretch to say the best hit by the hosts came from a police officer following Nyck Harbor's 80-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Harbor appeared to injure his hamstring on the electric scamper and began walking up the tunnel after reaching the end zone. Upon turning around and heading back toward the field, Harbor was bumped by an officer who then pointed aggressively and said something to the Gamecocks receiver.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/kjUp6uySnw">pic.twitter.com/kjUp6uySnw</a></p>— Cowboy Bruce (@vivalaburner) <a href="https://twitter.com/vivalaburner/status/1989764793310621698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It was a weird scene to say the least. The Texas A&amp;M police department <a href="https://x.com/TAMUPolice/status/1989785800549306401?s=20">announced</a> shortly afterward that it relieved the Texas Department of Public Safety trooper of his duties for the remainder of the day. However, almost everything that unfolded from there worked in the Aggies' favor.</p><h3>28</h3><p>Mike Elko's halftime speech must have been the stuff of legend because the Aggies' second act was damn near perfect. They scored on the first four drives of the half while holding the Gamecocks scoreless for the final 30 minutes, resulting in a 28-0 run. The numbers from the opening half essentially flipped, with Texas A&amp;M running South Carolina off the field.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stat</th>
<th>South Carolina</th>
<th>Texas A&amp;M</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Score</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total yards</td>
<td>76</td>
<td>371</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yards per play</td>
<td>2.9</td>
<td>9.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First downs</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sacks</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Aggies deserve plenty of credit for their resurgence, but the Gamecocks' collapse is enough to put Shane Beamer's job in question. South Carolina had only one drive in the second half that lasted more than 2:15, repeatedly sending its exhausted defense back on the field to get shredded. Texas A&amp;M's four touchdown drives all went at least 70 yards, with none taking more than 4:13 off the clock.</p><h3>286</h3><p>Pat yourself on the back if you stayed locked in on this contest because you witnessed SEC history. In the last 21 years of conference play, teams were 0-286 when trailing by at least 27 points - until Saturday.</p><p>The victory likely clinches a playoff spot for the Aggies, even if they lose the season finale to Texas in two weeks, while the defeat may force the Gamecocks to look at the coaching carousel for an upgrade on Beamer.</p>

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: Texas A&M Aggies celebrate their 31-30 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field on November 15, 2025 in College Station, Texas.

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4 insane numbers from Texas A&M's epic comeback vs. South Carolina

The top of the College Football Playoff rankings remains the same after the second edition droppe...

<p>The top of the College Football Playoff rankings remains the same after the second edition dropped Tuesday, with Indiana's late heroics versus Penn State proving enough to keep the Hoosiers at No. 2 behind Ohio State.</p><p>Omar Cooper Jr.'s incredible toe-tapping, game-winning catch in the final minute turned a crushing defeat into a thrilling victory for Indiana to help maintain its Big Ten championship collision course with the Buckeyes.</p><p>Texas A&amp;M and Alabama remained Nos. 3 and 4 in the rankings. They're approaching a blockbuster matchup in the SEC title game should they get through the rest of the conference slate unbeaten.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>9-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
<td>10-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Texas A&amp;M</td>
<td>9-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Georgia</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Texas Tech</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
<td>9-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Oklahoma</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>BYU</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The SEC once again leads the way in seeds 5-12, with Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas, and Oklahoma grabbing four of those slots. The current bracket features one all-SEC first-round matchup, as the Longhorns are projected to face the Rebels.</p><p>Texas Tech jumped to No. 6 this week, thanks to an impressive victory over previously unbeaten BYU. The Cougars dropped to No. 12, which would leave them out of the bracket alongside Oklahoma to satisfy the requirement of the top five conference champions making the field. No. 15 Miami and No. 24 South Florida are projected to take the last two spots as winners of the ACC and the American Conference, respectively.</p><p>Here's how the rest of the top 25 breaks down.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Vanderbilt</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Miami</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>USC</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Louisville</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
<td>6-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Pittsburgh</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
<td>6-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>South Florida</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Cincinnati</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ75v5qksPT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ75v5qksPT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>The other tentative first-round matchups include Georgia hosting South Florida, Oregon facing Notre Dame in Eugene, and Texas Tech welcoming Miami to Jones AT&amp;T Stadium.</p><p>The upcoming Week 12 slate features three games between ranked opponents, with Texas traveling to Georgia, Alabama hosting Oklahoma, and Notre Dame heading to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers.</p>

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach Curt Cignetti looks on from the sidelines during the first half of the College Football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 8, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

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Late heroics keep Indiana at No. 2 in CFP ranks

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Texas A&amp;M is in the playoff</h3><p>Predicting college football outcomes can feel damn near impossible most of the time, but it's probably a safe bet to take a Mike Elko defense against a true freshman quarterback. Matt Zollers is going to be seeing Aggies in his nightmares Saturday after Texas A&amp;M held the first-year Missouri passer to only seven completions for 77 yards.</p><p>Beau Pribula's injury took almost all the shine off Saturday's ranked matchup between Texas A&amp;M and Missouri, with the Tigers simply unable to move the ball through the air. Despite 219 yards rushing from Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts, Missouri was bringing a water gun to fight the fire that is the unbeaten Aggies. Texas A&amp;M's defense posted seven tackles for loss on just 56 total plays and forced two fumbles in the win. Elko's team held leads of 21-0 and 31-10 in the second half and is now 9-0 for the first time since 1992.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>With South Carolina and Texas the only remaining Power 5 conference games on the Aggies' schedule, you can mark them down in pen to be in the 12-team playoff field come December. Even two shocking losses would still see Texas A&amp;M post a 10-2 mark on the campaign - a virtual lock for the postseason.</p><h3>Pray for the ACC tiebreaker admin</h3><p>It's a good thing Stanford is now in the ACC because the conference might need a graduate from the highly respected academic institution to figure out football tiebreakers this season. With Virginia's and Louisville's home losses to unranked Wake Forest and Cal, respectively, the conference title race is officially off the rails. There are now five teams tied with one conference loss on the season, including a Duke team that's 5-4 overall.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Conference</th>
<th>Overall</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>5-1</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>5-1</td>
<td>8-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pittsburgh</td>
<td>5-1</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMU</td>
<td>5-1</td>
<td>7-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Duke</td>
<td>4-1</td>
<td>5-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louisville</td>
<td>4-2</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Miami</td>
<td>3-2</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>That leaves Louisville and Miami as the only programs with two losses near the top of the ACC standings, both needing a little help to reach the title game in early December. Fortunately for them, there are plenty of matchups between the seven teams listed still to be played.</p><p>Oh, and in the basement battle, Clemson finally won a home matchup over an embattled Florida State squad, and Bill Belichick beat Frank Reich in a conference game that required the visitors to travel 2,800 miles. Welcome to the weird world of the ACC in 2025.</p><h3>QB benching season in the SEC</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/cropped_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809203/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245744970.jpg?ts=1762662311 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Imagine telling someone in August that Garrett Nussmeier and DJ Lagway would be benched by interim head coaches in Week 11. However, that's exactly what happened Saturday, as both talented passers were replaced due to poor play in favor of the backups while on the road.</p><p>Interim LSU coach Frank Wilson made the move with Nussmeier in his debut calling the shots, pulling the senior in the third quarter of the loss to Alabama. Nussmeier was 18-for-21 versus the Tide when benched, but offered almost nothing down the field with just 121 yards passing. Several poor decisions also led to some crucial sacks, prompting Wilson to finally decide he'd seen enough and opt for Michael Van Buren.</p><p>Florida firing Billy Napier as head coach would have been believable. What no one saw coming was Lagway's benching that followed. The reason for the sophomore's struggles this year is clear: he can't stop throwing interceptions. Lagway already had a five-pick showing this season at LSU, and he threw three interceptions in three quarters in a blowout loss at Kentucky. Granted, the Gators were missing a significant amount of their roster Saturday, but Lagway time and again made poor choices with his tosses, bringing turnovers into play. He leads the nation with 12 interceptions on the campaign.</p><p>Nussmeier is out of eligibility and bound for the NFL following this season, but Lagway will be an interesting name to watch going forward. Although he and his family have insisted he's sticking at Florida, a new coach is on the horizon in Gainesville. While that person will surely be intrigued by the former five-star prospect, it's long past closing time for the turnover party.</p><h3>The Drive, Indiana edition</h3><p>The FOX broadcast of Indiana-Penn State started with an on-field interview in which Jenny Taft informed Curt Cignetti that the Hoosiers had never won in Happy Valley. Cignetti didn't miss a beat before dropping his reply: "This team has never played here."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Nothing concerns me"<a href="https://twitter.com/JennyTaft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyTaft</a> talks with <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFootball</a>'s Curt Cignetti before kickoff <a href="https://t.co/5lWk0OrHVB">pic.twitter.com/5lWk0OrHVB</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1987206624898134023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It was an interesting response because both were absolutely right. While the Hoosiers had never won at Beaver Stadium, this version of Indiana ain't the same program that entered the season with the FBS record for most all-time losses. This one features dudes who will be competing on Sundays, and that's what wins games in the dramatic moments.</p><p>Fernando Mendoza, go ahead and book your trip to the Heisman ceremony in December. The star quarterback delivered his biggest moment of the season in the game's dying minutes, seemingly unbothered by a four-point deficit in a hostile road environment. The Cal transfer drove 80 yards in 1:15, making multiple big-time throws to put the Hoosiers back up for good. Charlie Becker's incredible grab to set Indiana up deep in Penn State territory was great, but it looked pedestrian compared to what Omar Cooper had in store.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE MOST INSANE TOE TAP YOU'LL SEE ALL SEASON<br><br>Omar Cooper Jr. take a bow 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianaFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/07MncUCK4d">pic.twitter.com/07MncUCK4d</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1987256513531105715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The catch of the year secured the win for Cignetti and Indiana, keeping them perfect on the campaign. The second-year coach admitted postgame that he'd never seen anything like that in his career - something Indiana fans are getting used to saying since Cignetti turned the program around.</p><h3>Give Pavia the Auburn job</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/cropped_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/w220xh124_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/w320xh180_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/w640xh360_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/w768xh432_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/809178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2245750525.jpg?ts=1762652382 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Auburn might as well wrap its coaching search tonight and name Diego Pavia to the position for next season. The Vanderbilt quarterback once again demonstrated that nobody has more ownership over the Tigers, piling up almost 500 yards of total offense in a thrilling overtime victory to make him a perfect 3-0 in his career against Auburn. Add the other two wins to the mix, and Pavia has almost 900 yards of offense and nine touchdowns versus the Tigers.</p><p>Pavia's brilliance helped the Commodores roar back from a 20-10 halftime deficit to secure the win and give Vanderbilt its most victories in a season since 2013.</p><p>From the Auburn side of things, life without Hugh Freeze began with a bang on offense and 38 points on the scoreboard. That comes after a dismal three-point showing at home last week versus Kentucky. The team's new offensive staff seems to have realized something Freeze never did: Ashton Daniels is QB1, and nobody can guard the receiver duo of Eric Singleton and Cam Coleman. The strategy seems obvious after Saturday, but that clarity was missing under Freeze. Daniels threw for 353 yards on the night - over 100 more than Jackson Arnold recorded in a game this season - while Singleton and Coleman combined for an absurd 21 catches, 245 yards, and two touchdowns.</p><p>Although the fan base certainly won't be thrilled with the defensive performance, it had to be somewhat therapeutic to see the offense put up points at a breakneck pace.</p><h3>Punter leads Wisconsin in passing</h3><p>First, let's admire this perfectly executed fake punt by Wisconsin's Sean Hunt for a 24-yard gain.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wisconsin pulls off the fake punt 🤩 <a href="https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BadgerFootball</a> <br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BigTenNetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/qy7REqPSZO">pic.twitter.com/qy7REqPSZO</a></p>— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/1987305526544253240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Great play, but I'm sure you're asking why we're sharing this. Turns out, that was about it from the passing game for the Badgers, with Hunt finishing the contest against No. 23 Washington as the <em>team's leading passer</em>. Now for the craziest part: Wisconsin won!</p><p>The Badgers entered play Saturday already without starter Billy Edwards and lost backup Danny O'Neil early to injury. In total, four players attempted passes for Wisconsin, with the punter leading the way at 24 yards. That was somehow enough, as the defense forced two turnovers and the running game piled up 157 yards.</p><p>The improbable win gave Luke Fickell his first top-25 victory at Wisconsin in the same week he learned he would return next season regardless of how things finish.</p><h3>New-era Texas Tech is a problem</h3><p>It's not every day you get a top-10 matchup in Lubbock, and Saturday's contest between BYU and Texas Tech brought the Red Raiders' favorite son, Patrick Mahomes, back to campus. Mahomes' tenure was a perfect representation of what Texas Tech was for almost the entire 2000s: an explosive passing attack that lit up scoreboards offset by a defense that barely existed. For example, Mahomes once threw for 734 yards in, of course, a loss to Oklahoma. But what we witnessed Saturday on the field was the furthest thing from your dad's Texas Tech, and that has the Red Raiders in the driver's seat for the Big 12 title game.</p><p>We've touched on the dominant Texas Tech defense earlier this season, but we may have undersold its excellence. BYU entered with the nation's 14th-ranked rushing attack at 5.39 yards per carry, but managed only 2.5 yards per carry for 67 yards Saturday. The Red Raiders' defense also excelled on third and fourth down, holding BYU to 4-for-17 in those situations and getting off the field with ease.</p><p>There's plenty of game-breakers all over the field for Texas Tech, but none more important than linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Just ask BYU.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Texas Tech Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez vs #7 BYU<br><br>• 14 Tackles<br>• 1 Tackle for Loss <br>• 1 INT<br>• 1 PBU<br>• 1 Fumble Recovery <br><br>🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/OXYoxXRhro">pic.twitter.com/OXYoxXRhro</a></p>— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAAFNation247/status/1987257786846044270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>If anything, the 29-7 scoreline flattered the Cougars, thanks to the ongoing struggles of Texas Tech's red-zone offense. The Red Raiders entered Saturday ranked 98th nationally in red-zone touchdown scoring at just under 58%. That's only getting worse after five red-zone trips yielded just one touchdown for Texas Tech. Yes, it didn't matter, but if the Red Raiders have intentions to make a CFP run, they must clean up that area.</p><h3>Oregon out-Iowas the Hawkeyes</h3><p>A rainy smashmouth game with only 250 combined passing yards, four field goals, and seven punts? That sounds a helluva lot like you're walking in an Iowa wonderland. A Kirk Ferentz-special was precisely what went down Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, but Oregon left with the victory in a dramatic finish against the Hawkeyes.</p><p>As if the elements didn't make passing hard enough, the Ducks were also missing their top three receivers. That forced Oregon to pound the ball on the ground, and that's exactly what it did. Noah Whittington's 117 yards led the way, as four players rushed for 261 yards on 36 carries. Compiling a hefty 7.3 yards per carry when the defense essentially knows you're running the ball is an incredible total.</p><p>OK, we've hyped up the running game enough. Now, let's get to a throw - THE throw - that went a long way toward deciding this contest. Dante Moore proved why he's a future first-round pick with one of the most clutch tosses you'll ever see.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dante Moore with a PERFECT throw. <br><br>CBS | Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/sCfBb2kmnF">pic.twitter.com/sCfBb2kmnF</a></p>— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1987307791606817248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>That set up the game-winning field goal to keep Oregon very much alive in the race for the Big Ten and CFP.</p><p>UCLA, USC, and Washington may have seemed like odd fits when they joined the Big Ten prior to last season, but the Ducks always appeared more than capable of taking on the conference's identity. They showed that to be the case Saturday, much to the delight of their head coach.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"That looked like an old school Big Ten game today, didn't it?" <br><br>Dan Lanning joins <a href="https://twitter.com/JennyDell_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyDell_</a> after a huge win for Oregon. <a href="https://t.co/ZgEXKJuY4K">pic.twitter.com/ZgEXKJuY4K</a></p>— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1987310173426159972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Explosive Georgia shows up</h3><p>We called out Georgia last week for another underwhelming SEC win versus Florida, and it looked like that was on the menu again early in Saturday's game at Mississippi State. However, the Bulldogs rebounded with an unfamiliar weapon - the explosive play. Georgia entered the contest with only 36 total plays of at least 20 yards this season, ranking 76th nationally - a surprising number given the collection of talent the Bulldogs have. But they hit that number seven times over 60 minutes in Starkville, with Nate Frazier and Noah Thomas running wild in a blowout win.</p><p>Frazier's 59-yard touchdown was part of an absurd 181-yard output on just 12 carries from him, while Thomas took a 64-yard reception to the house to help break things open. Georgia finished with 567 yards - including 303 on the ground - and a whopping 30 first downs. This is exactly the performance Kirby Smart wanted before next weekend's blockbuster matchup with Texas.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 11 takeaways

The rest of the country is looking up at the Big Ten in the first release of the College Football...

<p>The rest of the country is looking up at the Big Ten in the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings for the 2025 season.</p><p>Defending national champions Ohio State and Indiana top the initial list that dropped Tuesday, with the Big Ten duo sitting at a perfect 17-0 on the season thus far. Texas A&amp;M and Alabama sit third and fourth, respectively, and would be the final two teams to receive a bye for the opening round of the playoffs if the season ended today.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>8-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
<td>9-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Texas A&amp;M</td>
<td>8-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Alabama</td>
<td>7-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Georgia</td>
<td>7-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Ole Miss</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>BYU</td>
<td>8-0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Texas Tech</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Oregon</td>
<td>7-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Notre Dame</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Texas</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Oklahoma</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>While Memphis is not ranked in the top 25, the Tigers would be included in the 12-team playoff field as the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion. That would eliminate Oklahoma from the playoff in this scenario, as Virginia also nabs an automatic spot as the ACC winner, bumping out Texas. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE FIRST CFP PROJECTED BRACKET OF THE SEASON 😍🏆<br><br>Which two teams would make it to the final? <a href="https://t.co/JZLFo8Px0T">pic.twitter.com/JZLFo8Px0T</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1985880152530960485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Last year saw the top-4 conference champions receive the first-round bye - a situation that saw Arizona State and Boise State avoid playing in the opening round. That rule was amended in the offseason to drop the conference champion requirement and just reward the four best teams.</p><p>The SEC leads the way with six teams in the initial top 12, as Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas, and Oklahoma join the aforementioned Crimson Tide and Aggies. The Big Ten is next with three teams after Oregon found the No. 9 slot.</p><p>BYU once again entered the first CFP release undefeated, with the Cougars sitting at 8-0 for the second straight season. They have a massive Big 12 tilt with No. 8-ranked Texas Tech this weekend.</p><p>Notre Dame also finds itself in the initial field again despite losses to Miami and Texas A&amp;M to start the season. The Fighting Irish have reeled off six straight wins, but likely have to run the table to lock down a playoff spot.</p><p>Here's how the committee ranked the remaining top 25:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Record</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Louisville</td>
<td>7-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Vanderbilt</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Georgia Tech</td>
<td>8-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Miami</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>USC</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Washington</td>
<td>6-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Pittsburgh</td>
<td>7-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
<td>6-3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 11: Ohio State Buckeyes WR Jeremiah Smith (4) with Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini on October 11, 2025 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IN

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Ohio State, Indiana lead 1st CFP rankings

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Oklahoma defense shuts Neyland down</h3><p>Neyland Stadium at night is one of the toughest places to play in the sport, but when you have the defense Oklahoma has, your game can travel anywhere. The ferocious Sooners' front was as advertised, sacking Joey Aguilar four times and posting eight tackles for loss. Perhaps no play showed how game-changing the defensive line can be than R Mason Thomas' scoop and score in the opening half.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SCOOP. STIFF ARM. SCORE.<a href="https://twitter.com/thomss_r?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thomss_r</a> | 📺 ABC <a href="https://t.co/GK22uaYanI">pic.twitter.com/GK22uaYanI</a></p>— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1984776929346453924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Oklahoma picked off Aguilar three times in the contest with the first-year Tennessee starter clearly spooked by the pass rush. When given time this year, Aguilar has been surgical for the Vols. However, when he's moved off his spot it's been a struggle.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Sooners get a deserved bye week before a blockbuster matchup at Alabama in Week 12. That defensive front will need to be at its absolute best with Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide passing attack firing.</p><h3>That's gotta be it for Freeze at Auburn</h3><p>Surely a three-point showing at home to Kentucky to drop to 1-5 in SEC play is enough to end the Hugh Freeze tenure at Auburn. The offense was once again nonexistent - a common theme this season despite Freeze's history with that side of the football. There are plenty of issues that need work, but the offensive line is the main culprit. Your house with the gorgeous island in the kitchen and the walk-in steam shower in the bedroom still needs a strong foundation to function, and that's the problem Auburn is facing. All the 5-star receivers in the world aren't going to fix that, and seven more sacks highlight just how bad that unit has been. The quarterback nightmare continued with just 123 yards passing between Ashton Daniels and Jackson Arnold, but you can almost forgive them at this point with the way the line has performed.</p><p>Freeze's buyout is modest by today's standards, and Auburn showed with the Gus Malzahn firing years ago it's not afraid to pull the trigger. That's exactly what should be done before the Tigers take the field again this season.</p><h3>USC leans into Big Ten identity</h3><p>A common takeaway since USC made its move to the Big Ten was that the Trojans were simply not physical enough to compete in the conference - especially when traveling east in the month of November. Lincoln Riley's team took a significant step toward flipping that narrative Saturday, grinding out a 21-17 road win at Nebraska thanks to a dominant day rushing the ball. If you remove sacks taken by Jayden Maiava, USC averaged over 6 yards per carry en route to a 202-yard showing with two scores.</p><p>Riley's passing attack has long been one of the best in the country, but Maiava completed just nine passes against the Cornhuskers. In almost every previous Big Ten game that would have signaled doom for USC, but that wasn't the case Saturday. The victory keeps the Trojans alive in the playoff race with a big November ahead.</p><p>The loss drops Matt Rhule - who was given a new contract this week with a $71-million buyout - to 2-24 vs. top-25 ranked teams in his career, 0-8 with Nebraska. However, he certainly gets a pass in this case due to the injury suffered by quarterback Dylan Raiola. The talented passer left in the third quarter after injuring his leg and did not return. The Cornhuskers went stagnant after that, as USC outscored the hosts 15-3 in the second half.</p><h3>Georgia's underwhelming win in Cocktail Party</h3><p>Let's step into the trust tree for a moment and share what could be a controversial opinion: we might be overrating Georgia. After the Bulldogs' late comeback win over a 3-5 Florida team that just fired its coach, it's clear this is a very good team, but not the elite outfit we've grown accustomed to under Kirby Smart.</p><p>The Bulldogs and Gators looked incredibly even throughout the vast majority of the contest, with Georgia once again needing some magic in the final quarter to turn a loss into a victory and remain in the race for the conference title game. For those keeping track at home, that's now three SEC games that Georgia needed late dramatics to win after previously needing a touchdown in the last three minutes to force overtime at Tennessee and a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat Ole Miss. The Bulldogs should definitely be commended for their resiliency in those contests, but at a certain point we need to talk about their inability to separate.</p><p>Much of that comes down to a defensive line that simply isn't doing much to get pressure. The Bulldogs rank 127th nationally in sacks and 133rd of 136 FBS programs in tackles for loss. That seems unfathomable given the history of defensive-line freaks that Smart has sent to the NFL, but that's where we sit today.</p><p>Texas A&amp;M and Alabama are certainly the class of the conference at this point, with Georgia and Ole Miss a notch below. All four could make the CFP field if everything breaks right. However, another early exit for the Bulldogs seems likely based on what we have seen as of late.</p><h3>ACC's final month is gonna be wild</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/cropped_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808188/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244051106.jpg?ts=1762052103 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>At the end of November there will be two teams headed to play in the ACC title game. Good luck figuring out who the heck that is going to be. While the Big Ten and SEC have a couple of programs that have established themselves above the rest, you'd have an easier time hitting numbers on the roulette table than predicting this conference.</p><p>Georgia Tech's loss to NC State on Saturday saw it catch its first conference loss. Virginia now stands alone as the only unbeaten team in league play, despite the fact the Cavaliers have also lost to the Wolfpack. That Week 2 contest was actually a non-conference matchup despite the fact both play in the ACC - contact your local schedule-maker if you would like to complain.</p><p>The Yellow Jackets now sit tied for second with one loss, alongside four other teams. Miami, which many would say is the most talented team in the league, is behind that group with two losses.</p><p>Virginia has the inside track with a contest against Duke the only remaining game against the top half of the league. However, it's probably wise to expect the unexpected in the Atlantic Chaos Conference.</p><h3>It's never easy, but Texas is live for playoff</h3><p>Reach out and check on any Texas fans you may have in your life, the past month has likely aged them at least 10 years. The Longhorns once again supplied one of the more dramatic finishes of the week, surviving a furious 21-0 rally in the fourth quarter by Vanderbilt to keep their playoff hopes alive with a three-point victory. That comes on the heels of back-to-back overtime victories on the road against Kentucky and Mississippi State.</p><p>First, the good: Arch Manning looked solid throughout the contest with 328 yards passing and three touchdowns. The first-year starter had only eight incompletions on the day and the offense looked the best it has all season versus power conference competition. For perhaps the first time this season, Manning received excellent protection up front, with Vanderbilt failing to register a sack. The production at this point doesn't yet scream "No. 1 overall pick," but it's a long way from "He only gets attention because of his last name."</p><p>Okay, now the bad: What the heck was that fourth quarter? The Commodores outgained Texas 238-40 in yards over the final 15 minutes, popping off an outrageous 11.3 yards per play. We can attribute some of that production to a prevent defense with a big lead, but it's still alarming things got close enough for a stressful onside kick in the final minute.</p><p>"The games in November are the ones they remember," Sarkisian said afterwards, according to the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3384354" href="https://thescore.com/news/3384354">Associated Press</a>. "I wish we would have finished a little better, but that's OK. It gives me something to rip their (butts) about Monday."</p><p>A bye week awaits Texas before a three-game stretch - at Georgia, vs. Arkansas, and vs. Texas A&amp;M - that will decide whether the Longhorns return to the CFP.</p><h3>Annual Miami crashout is here</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/cropped_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The fall brings about a number of annual traditions to celebrate across the country: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Mario Cristobal's Miami losing ACC games as a large favorite down the stretch to inevitably miss the playoffs. The latter is usually reserved for late November, but the Hurricanes moved things up this year with a loss at SMU - the first Mustangs home win over a top-10 team in 51 years. That's now the second setback of the season for Miami and it severely dents its playoff chances once again.</p><p>The Hurricanes are now an eye-popping 4-12 once the calendar hits November during Cristobal's tenure. Miami's early-season results the past few seasons have shown a playoff-caliber team that should be able to compete with anybody in the nation. The post-October swoon has shown the opposite, as the uber-talented Hurricanes consistently underperform as crunch time beckons. Last year it was a leaky defense letting down Cam Ward and the nation's top offense. This time out, it's Carson Beck's interceptions weighing down the Canes, with the Georgia transfer now throwing six in the two losses this season.</p><h3>Ohio State Air Force owns the skies</h3><p>Look, almost any quarterback in the country could likely put up numbers with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate as the wide receivers. That might be a fun fourth-quarter game for Ohio State blowouts: Let a non-QB play the position just to see what happens. However, even with the alien squad out wide, what Julian Sayin is doing in his first season as the starting quarterback is remarkable. Sayin absolutely torched Penn State on Saturday, throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns on a sizzling 20-for-23 performance. You don't need an MIT degree to understand that is more touchdowns than incomplete passes.</p><p>We knew Smith and Tate would be the top receiver duo in the nation, but Sayin was a bit of a question mark as a first-time starter for the defending national champions. Surely there would be some growing pains for a man whose last serious game action was in high school, right? Um, no. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julian Sayin 3 games of 85% completed, 300 pass yards &amp; 4 passing TD's this season...<br><br>The most in FBS.</p>— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) <a href="https://twitter.com/colecubelic/status/1984705573120573547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Not only is Sayin starring for a first-year starter, but he's arguably playing the best of any quarterback in college football already.</p><h3>Fernando's an elite big brother</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/cropped_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Winner, Heisman contender, possible first overall pick. You can call Fernando Mendoza many things this year, but don't forget to add elite big brother to the description. One of the unique things about the Indiana quarterback room is that Fernando is joined by his brother Alberto, who is a freshman backup with the Hoosiers. One of the benefits of Indiana blowing the doors off every single opponent on the schedule is that younger brother has gotten plenty of action in the fourth quarters. He once again got some action Saturday with Indiana racing out to a massive 48-10 lead on Maryland. That allowed the younger Mendoza to throw his fourth touchdown of the season and rip off a 53-yard run, much to the <a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1984751040764297638">delight of his older brother</a>. Another dominant win makes it 111-16 the last two weeks for Indiana on the scoreboard - performances that have the Hoosiers firmly alongside Ohio State as the clear choices for most impressive teams so far this season.</p><h3>Questionable call adds to Clemson misery</h3><p>Roughly 99% of the time, it's a cop-out when fans, coaches, and players blame the officiating for a loss. We'll give Clemson fans a pass if they want to file what happened Saturday in the other 1%. Look, we aren't going to absolve the Tigers for their performance the entire game, but they should have had the game won in the final minute after a stop on fourth-and-11 while holding a seven-point edge. However, the back judge deemed pass interference had occurred despite the fact it was the Clemson defender who went flying on the play.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="tl" dir="ltr">hahahhaa HOW <a href="https://t.co/IzxQEJZL1v">https://t.co/IzxQEJZL1v</a> <a href="https://t.co/vF0npBFHcT">pic.twitter.com/vF0npBFHcT</a></p>— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) <a href="https://twitter.com/Blutman27/status/1984705016641302535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>That call gave Duke a first down inside the 5-yard line, which it would promptly cash for a touchdown. While we can pin some of this on the pass interference call, props must be given to the Blue Devils' Manny Diaz for opting to try a 2-point conversion and win instead of heading to overtime. That paid off with a slick play to secure Duke's first win at Clemson since 1980.</p><p>It's the latest in a season of horrors for Dabo Swinney's Tigers, who are now 3-6 on the campaign and have turned Death Valley into the happiest place on earth for opponents. The defending ACC champs are now 2-3 since Swinney's now infamous "if Clemson's tired of winning, they can send me on my way," quote from mid-September.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clemson football has now lost SIX straight home games to power conference teams for the first time since 1970-71. Sitting at 1-4 at home w/ two home games left, they'll finish with a losing home record for the first time since 1998. 2-4 is also their worst ACC start since '98</p>— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) <a href="https://twitter.com/chapelfowler/status/1984708886801039361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33078545/related

CFB Blitz: Week 10 takeaways

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Marcel Reed makes Heisman statement</h3><p>A wide-open race for the Heisman Trophy might be narrowing thanks to Marcel Reed's brilliant trip to Death Valley. The Texas A&amp;M quarterback was a problem for LSU from the jump, putting up over 300 total yards of offense and four touchdowns in a blowout victory.</p><p>Reed now has 23 touchdowns on the season for the 8-0 Aggies, who are without question the top SEC team at this point in the year. He's an explosive play waiting to happen, averaging 16.8 yards per completion and over 8 yards per rush attempt. Perhaps most impressive is Reed's performances in hostile environments, leading Texas A&amp;M to 41 and 49-point efforts on the road at Notre Dame and LSU, respectively.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Reed won't have to wait long to take his show on the road. The Aggies have a trip to No. 15 Missouri awaiting and a blockbuster contest in Austin against Texas to close the schedule.</p><h3>Brian Kelly can probably start packing</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/cropped_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tyler Kaufman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>From Nick Saban to Les Miles to Ed Orgeron, every permanent head coach LSU has employed since 2000 has won the national championship. But Brian Kelly stopping that streak is probably a safe bet. No, the program likely won't fire him on Sunday, but make no mistake, it's over for the fourth-year frontman in Baton Rouge. The once vaunted Tiger Stadium - widely regarded as the toughest place to play in college football - looked like a playpen Saturday as Texas A&amp;M dominated in a 49-25 win.</p><p>The Tigers' offense was again the glaring issue, struggling to run the ball, protect Garrett Nussmeier, or complete anything of note downfield. Only two power-conference teams in the country had yet to score more than 24 points in an FBS-versus-FBS game this season: LSU and North Carolina. The Tigers' last-second score to hit 25 got them off that list, but anytime you're mentioned alongside Bill Belichick's brief collegiate tenure, it's time to start packing the house up.</p><p>The crowd voiced their displeasure down the stretch, with "Fire Brian Kelly" chants spreading throughout the stadium. While that's certainly the desired outcome, the Tigers need to hit the fundraising trail before anything happens. <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/coach">According to USA Today</a>, Kelly's buyout would be almost $54 million if he's fired before Dec. 1.</p><h3>Print the Ole Miss CFP T-shirts</h3><p>A 7-1 record and a final month that won't see Ole Miss play a ranked opponent or leave the state of Mississippi? Print the damn CFP T-shirts, the Rebels are going to the playoffs. Lane Kiffin grabbed the biggest road win of his tenure in Oxford on Saturday, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and a stout defensive effort delivering a victory at Oklahoma. That sets Ole Miss up as strongly as any team in the nation to trot into the CFP. And before you say it - yes, we know Kiffin and the Rebels blew it down the stretch last year. But it feels different this time around.</p><p>Chambliss - who was playing Division II football last year - excelled against one of the nation's top defensive units, throwing for 315 yards and adding 53 on the ground. Still, Kiffin has proven over time that he can put up points with 11 dudes off the street on offense. The defense is what stood out most Saturday, putting on perhaps the most impressive effort of the season. Oklahoma hit two explosive touchdowns of 65-plus yards, but outside of those scores, it was just 218 total yards on 60 plays. The Sooners were just 4-for-14 on third down and gave up three sacks and six tackles for loss.</p><p>As you can guess, Lane was certainly feeling himself after the massive victory.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"A little quieter now than before." 🔥<br><br>Lane Kiffin was feeling it after a big-time road win over Oklahoma 😤 <a href="https://t.co/Z1PA7xvb4a">pic.twitter.com/Z1PA7xvb4a</a></p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1982179394958307405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Outside of Oklahoma, there's certainly one fan base that won't be thrilled with the result: those who support Florida. Kiffin is widely regarded as the favorite for the Gators' head coaching job after the program fired Billy Napier last week. However, a playoff run with the Rebels would push back Florida's timeline to speak with Kiffin and increase the likelihood he stays in Oxford.</p><h3>Drama kings of Texas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/cropped_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Ford / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The idea that everything is bigger in Texas certainly extends to the drama surrounding the Longhorns. Last week, the offense posted just 179 total yards but somehow pulled off an overtime win at Kentucky thanks to a goal-line stand. However, that was boring compared to what the team went through Saturday.</p><p>First came a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3377686" href="https://thescore.com/news/3377686">report in the morning</a> that Steve Sarkisian's representatives had engaged in discussions with NFL decision-makers about head coaching vacancies. That prompted his agency to deny the activity a few hours later in a statement - not exactly what you want your team dealing with right before a game. Texas then looked sluggish at Mississippi State for the opening three quarters, eventually trailing 31-14 heading to the fourth, surely too big a deficit to overcome on the road, right?</p><p>The Longhorns roared back with 24 points in the final 15 minutes, forcing overtime on <a href="https://x.com/TexasFootball/status/1982231532505846126">Ryan Niblett's 79-yard punt return</a> for a touchdown. Want to add drama in the extra session? How 'bout Arch Manning, who was having his best performance of the year, exiting with an injury? Backup Matthew Caldwell entered and tossed an absolute dime on his only pass of the contest - a <a data-in-app-uri="" href="">10-yard throw to Emmett Mosley</a> for the game-winning score.</p><p>Another dramatic win for the Longhorns keeps them teetering on the line of playoff contention for another week. As for Mississippi State, a litany of questionable decisions in the fourth quarter and overtime highlighted exactly why the Bulldogs have lost 16 straight SEC games.</p><h3>Michigan runs all over Sparty</h3><p>Jim Harbaugh wasn't on the sideline, but you can picture the man clad in his khakis and blue polo smiling while watching Michigan run all over Michigan State on Saturday. The Wolverines piled up 49 rush attempts on the Spartans - led by 26 from Justice Haynes - en route to a 31-20 win in the annual rivalry game.</p><p>Michigan showed last year that Sherrone Moore wasn't shy about completely abandoning the passing attack and playing smashmouth football, and that was the approach Saturday. Bryce Underwood had just 27 yards passing in the second half, but the run game torched the Spartans for 189 on the ground in the final 30 minutes.</p><p>That's how you get the job done on the road and take down your in-state rival for the fourth straight year. The Wolverines' final month of the season features three matchups against unranked teams before hosting the blockbuster with Ohio State. They'll need the rushing attack we saw in their latest win if they're going to stun the Buckeyes again.</p><p>The Spartans drop to 0-5 in Big Ten play in another disappointing showing under Jonathan Smith. Thankfully for the fans in East Lansing, basketball season is officially here.</p><h3>Bama's dynamic duo rises in the moment</h3><p>They might not have reached the iconic status of legendary duos like Mario and Luigi, Batman and Robin, Outkast, or Tom and Greg from "Succession," but when you need a perfect play in a big moment, there's no better combo in college football than Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb.</p><p>The coach-coordinator duo made magic with perfect play-calling on numerous occasions at Washington, and they've brought that to Alabama with Grubb on staff after he spent last season in the NFL. That was evident in the clutch at South Carolina on Saturday, with the Crimson Tide desperately needing a two-point conversion to tie the game late.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE GOT DRAMA 🍿 <br><br>ALABAMA COMPLETES THE 2-PT CONVERSION TO TIE THE GAME 😳 <a href="https://t.co/ohL3VyPCgP">pic.twitter.com/ohL3VyPCgP</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1982220152872599687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>They weren't done there, making an excellent running call for receiver Germie Bernard in the final minute to win the contest - albeit against a defense that looked like they were letting Alabama score to get the ball back.</p><p>It certainly wasn't the prettiest outing for Alabama, but that's understandable given the gauntlet it just ran. The Gamecocks were the first unranked opponent in the Crimson Tide's last five games, an incredible run that DeBoer's program somehow navigated perfectly.</p><p>Alabama gets a chance to catch its breath for a week before facing LSU off the bye. Oh, and black-hoodie DeBoer is now 15-2 when wearing his favorite garment on the sideline.</p><h3>Indiana smashes glass slippers</h3><p>The all-business and somewhat surly Curt Cignetti definitely gives off the vibe of someone who has no time for fairy tales. The second-year Indiana coach confirmed that on Saturday, smashing Cinderella UCLA's glass slipper with an emphatic 56-6 beatdown at home. The loss ended the Bruins' three-game conference winning streak since naming Tim Skipper the interim head coach and Jerry Neuheisel Jr. as offensive coordinator.</p><p>Cignetti has made it clear: the scoreboard operator should be ready to work during home games while he's in Bloomington. With Saturday's blowout in the books, the Hoosiers are now averaging 34.5 points per game under Cignetti in home contests against Big Ten opponents. A lights-out defense makes life hell for any road team, something Indiana rolls out every week. On Saturday, the Hoosiers posted three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and forced three turnovers. The Bruins barely topped the 200-yard mark for the game on a meager 3.8 yards per play.</p><p>The Hoosiers hit the road three times in their final four outings, but Maryland, wounded Penn State, and Purdue aren't exactly a murderers' row. Add a home contest with Wisconsin, and it's tough to see anything other than an undefeated Hoosiers in the Big Ten title game at the start of December.</p><h3>Eyes on Vanderbilt</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/cropped_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For the first time ever, millions of people watched Vanderbilt open a football season 7-1 on Saturday. No, it's not the only time the Commodores have hit that number, but with fewer than 8,000 TVs nationwide in 1941, it's safe to say the program's start wasn't heavily watched. Clark Lea's Vanderbilt continued its unbelievable surge with ESPN's College GameDay in town, taking down No. 15 Missouri in an absolute brawl in Nashville. It certainly wasn't the prettiest contest, with the Commodores barely topping 250 yards in total offense. But the defense turned in an outstanding showing down the stretch to hold the line.</p><p>Missouri held the ball for a whopping 36 minutes of action, running 78 plays in the contest compared to 45 for Vanderbilt. No matter the discrepancy, the defense held when needed, including on a last-second Hail Mary pass in the dying seconds. As he's done all season, Diego Pavia supplied the key moment on offense, plunging in for the eventual winning touchdown in the final minutes.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DIEGO PAVIA. CLUTCH.<br><br>VANDY TAKES THE LEAD WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LEFT 🔥 <br><br>Watch now on ESPN and the ESPN App <a href="https://t.co/nHrXp4OVzi">pic.twitter.com/nHrXp4OVzi</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1982219233070137796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Commodores still have some work to do, but it might be time to start having conversations with your great-grandparents about a top-five Vanderbilt. After all, they're the only ones who won't think you're crazy, given the last time that happened.</p><h3>Good or lucky, BYU deserves our attention</h3><p>Five power conference programs entered Saturday undefeated, but only BYU found itself ranked outside the AP Poll's top 10. Whether it was due to an underwhelming schedule or a lack of dominant wins, the Cougars didn't receive the same level of respect nationally as the other unbeaten teams. Voters won't be able to keep BYU on the outside this week after a significant road win at Iowa State - a game that essentially flipped on a special-teams error.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">IOWA STATE TOUCHES THE PUNT AND BYU COMES UP WITH IT 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/BYUfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BYUFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/VroyTPW95w">pic.twitter.com/VroyTPW95w</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1982210414936261028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>A massive blunder on punt coverage gifted BYU the ball in Iowa State territory, setting up the go-ahead touchdown. The Cougars followed with a pick-6 on the next drive, turning what was once a 14-point deficit into a stunning 14-point win to put themselves 8-0 for the second straight season - the first time the program has ever done that.</p><p>An undefeated team with a true freshman quarterback named Bear Bachmeier - who compiled more than 350 total yards Saturday - should probably be getting more of our attention. Expect that to change after the bye week with a trip to Texas Tech.</p><h3>Scoring bingo for Iowa</h3><p>Collect your prize if you were playing Iowa scoring bingo for Saturday's game versus Minnesota. The Hawkeyes put up points early and often on the Golden Gophers, with extra credit given for the variety of attack in the 41-3 blowout.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iowa has hit for the scoring cycle:<br><br>✅TD run<br>✅TD pass<br>✅FG<br>✅Pick 6<br>✅Punt return TD</p>— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hassel_Chris/status/1982183938522054998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Hawkeyes putting up that many points while finishing with less than 300 yards of total offense might be the most on-brand stat line in college football. Don't look now, but after losses to Iowa State and Indiana, Iowa is now firmly in the mix to make some noise in the Big Ten down the stretch. The Hawkeyes hit the bye week with a visit from No. 6 Oregon on deck when they return.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Takeaways from Week 9's biggest games

The Billy Napier era at Florida is finally over.  Athletic director Scott Stricklin fired the emb...

<p>The Billy Napier era at Florida is finally over.</p><p>Athletic director Scott Stricklin fired the embattled coach Sunday following Saturday's narrow win over Mississippi State, the school announced.</p><p>Napier's dismissal had been rumored for weeks, but the administration opted to wait for an open date. The Gators don't play again until Nov. 1, their annual rivalry game with Georgia.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>While Napier's tenure had positive moments, he was never able to sustain enough momentum to get the program back among the SEC's elite. He finishes with a 22-23 overall record with 12 conference wins in four seasons.</p><p>Napier seemed destined for the unemployment line last season after the Gators started his third campaign 4-3. However, the team rallied down the stretch with four straight wins. That was enough for Florida's brass to give him one more chance with quarterback DJ Lagway looking like an emerging star.</p><p>That momentum had evaporated by Week 2, with the Gators falling at home to South Florida in a stunning loss that essentially determined Napier's fate. Subsequent losses to Miami, LSU, and Texas A&amp;M removed any shine from a home victory over Texas, and the move became a matter of when, not if.</p><p>Florida's football program hasn't won more than eight games since 2019. It's a steep decline from the dynasty Urban Meyer built in Gainesville that won national titles in 2006 and 2008.</p><p>Stricklin will now lead the search to hire his third head coach for the Gators. The longtime athletic director previously brought in Dan Mullen and Napier. Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales will serve as Florida's interim head coach for the remainder of the season.</p>

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 18: Head Coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators arrives during Gator Walk before the start of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida.

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Florida fires Napier after 3-4 start

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CFB Blitz: Week 8 takeaways

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CFB Blitz: Week 7 takeaways

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Miami wins state championship</h3><p>Miami's clearly established itself as the best the state of Florida has to offer this year, even with some trademark questionable clock management from Mario Cristobal down the stretch Saturday at Florida State. The final 28-22 score didn't tell the whole story - the Seminoles' final 17 points in the fourth quarter were a bit of a "lipstick on a pig" situation.</p><p>Sometimes it takes a deep dive to decipher what separated two teams, but it was crystal clear in this case: Florida State couldn't stop turning the ball over and Miami kept the stat sheet clean. Two Tommy Castellanos interceptions and an Ousmane Kromah fumble gave the Hurricanes quality field position throughout. As a result, Miami had to run just 59 plays all night, with four of those producing touchdown passes from Carson Beck. His preferred target was once again freshman Malachi Toney, who took in multiple long touchdowns.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MALACHI TONEY RUNS IT IN AGAIN 😤 <br><br>Watch Miami-Florida State on ABC and the ESPN App <a href="https://t.co/DVDLKmQS6V">pic.twitter.com/DVDLKmQS6V</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1974653057938952499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Hurricanes have now completed the Sunshine State trifecta with victories over Florida, South Florida, and Florida State. In a year already filled with upsets, Miami's looked like one of the most complete teams in the country.</p><p>There are now zero ranked teams left on the Hurricanes' schedule, giving them a seemingly comfortable path to both the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. Of course, this is Cristobal's Miami, which fell short in the same situation last season - but this first month suggests "The U" might truly be back.</p><p>As for the Seminoles, their season-opening win over Alabama becomes more puzzling by the week. Back-to-back ACC losses drop them to 1-9 in their last 10 conference games.</p><h3>Ohio State's defense is ... better?</h3><p>With NFL pros littered across the field last season, Ohio State's defense led the country by allowing just 12.9 points per game en route to the national title. The offseason saw eight of 11 starters depart and coordinator Jim Knowles leave for rival Penn State ... and it hasn't mattered whatsoever. The Buckeyes' defense hasn't just maintained its elite level - it's elevated to a place we haven't seen in a long time.</p><p>Forget betting anytime touchdown scorers for Ohio State opponents - the Buckeyes are allowing five points per contest through five games. The latest victim is Minnesota, a team held below 100 yards passing and 75 yards rushing in a 38-point blowout. Outside of Caleb Downs, these Buckeyes names might not impress like last year's defensive roster, but it's the first week of October. Give it time and the likes of Sonny Styles, Caden Curry and Payton Pierce will get the respect they deserve.</p><h3>Nasty Texas A&amp;M is back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/cropped_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jack Gorman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Texas A&amp;M was able to avoid defeat, but allowing 86 points across its opening three games was a surprise for a Mike Elko-coached team. The defensive wizard made his career on nasty, hard-nosed football, only to see the Aggies getting involved in weekly shootouts. Consider the nastiness back in College Station - just ask Auburn and Mississippi State.</p><p>Last week versus the Tigers, the Aggies rushed for 207 yards and allowed 177. Saturday, Texas A&amp;M racked up 300 yards on the ground against 219 total yards for the Bulldogs. It doesn't take an advanced degree in football to understand you'll probably win 99% of games where you outrush the opponent's entire offensive output.</p><h3>That's the Nico UCLA wanted</h3><p>There are 136 programs at the FBS level. Before Saturday, 135 of them had led at some point in a game this season. The only one that hadn't was a UCLA team that's already fired its head coach and offensive coordinator. Surely that state of affairs wouldn't change with No. 7 Penn State coming to town, right? Turns out, the secret to unlocking Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins' attack was 33-year-old Jerry Neuheisel - a man who had never served as an offensive coordinator before this game.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/mQc4pejrt1">pic.twitter.com/mQc4pejrt1</a></p>— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) <a href="https://twitter.com/nocontextcfb/status/1974597870038011993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Iamaleava dominated Penn State's defense, throwing for 166 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 128 yards and three scores. The Bruins outgained Penn State 435 to 357 in yardage - a staggering number considering UCLA entered the game 120th in the country in offense. This is a Nittany Lions defense led by arguably the best coordinator in the country, Jim Knowles, who just got schooled by a man making his debut as play-caller.</p><p>If UCLA is going to get this kind of performance from Nico going forward, the Bruins are a threat to anyone left on their schedule. If not, they can still be happy about playing spoiler to a Penn State team that started the season No. 2 and is now 0-2 in Big Ten play.</p><h3>Wilson might save Napier's job</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/cropped_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">James Gilbert / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Billy Napier's isn't going to get away with this again, is he? The Florida head coach's firing seemed inevitable last season before the Gators ripped off four straight wins - two against ranked opponents - to close the season and save his job. If he somehow dodges a pink slip this time, it'll likely be due to the performance of freshman receiver Dallas Wilson.</p><p>Wilson arrived on campus with tons of hype but had yet to play this season due to injury. Once he hit the field, the woeful Florida offense's fortunes shifted. Texas was powerless against Wilson, and DJ Lagway looked like a future NFL quarterback again. The nation's 116th-ranked offense was suddenly explosive, with Lagway hitting Wilson for six catches, 111 yards, and two scores. The Gators put up over 450 yards on the nation's second-ranked defense and held a double-digit lead for almost the entire second half.</p><p>Saving Napier's job is still borderline impossible: The Gators face five ranked opponents in their last seven games and need to run the table to have any shot at the playoff. Wilson's emergence offers Napier the slightest glimmer of hope. If nothing else, whoever takes over in Gainesville next season will have plenty of talent to work with on offense.</p><h3>2nd-half Alabama restored order</h3><p>Through the opening 30 minutes of action in Tuscaloosa, it looked as though Vanderbilt might do the unthinkable and take down Alabama for the second season in a row. The game was tied 14-14 and the Commodores were holding their own on the road against the Crimson Tide. But in the second half, Alabama reasserted its place above the plucky underdog and among the class of the SEC.</p><p>In the second frame, the Crimson Tide outscored the visitors 16-0, outgained them by over 100 yards, held them to 9 yards rushing, and kept the ball for 19 of the 30 minutes. That's just about the perfect script for salting away a home victory. Hopefully you got your Ty Simpson Heisman bet in weeks ago, because there's not much value left on the budding star passer for the Tide. With 340 more yards and two touchdowns, Simpson has topped the 1,400-yard mark this season with 13 scoring passes against one interception.</p><p>Last October's Vanderbilt upset was one of the most electric scenes of the year, but its main catalyst struggled to replicate the result on the road. Although Diego Pavia made plays early, two interceptions and a fumble doomed any chance the Commodores had.</p><p>This Tide win is the latest in a ridiculous stretch featuring six ranked opponents in seven games. If Simpson can keep dissecting defenses like he's done the past two weeks, they might just run the whole table.</p><h3>Polls were dead wrong</h3><p>The preseason AP poll ranked Texas and Penn State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Even with one loss each, the most recent AP poll still considered them top-10 teams. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3355749" href="https://thescore.com/news/3355749">We kept both programs outside that threshold</a> earlier this week based solely on their mutual lack of power conference wins - and both teams proved we were right to be skeptical with Saturday's road losses as favorites.</p><p>Penn State's defeat at UCLA is by far the more egregious setback (see above). The Nittany Lions looked like the second-best team on the field the entire game and their passing attack once again failed to unlock explosive plays, with Drew Allar's 19 completions going for just 200 yards. We've heard for years that the Nittany Lions lack legit receiving options for Allar. We'll buy that against teams like Oregon, but given the way UCLA has played this year, the Nittany Lions should have been able to get production from their equipment managers out wide.</p><p>However, Penn State's real issue Saturday was coaching: An interim boss and a first-time play-caller seemed significantly more prepared than James Franklin and Knowles. An early Bruins touchdown and surprise onside kick immediately indicated this wouldn't be the soft matchup many expected. The end result was the first loss by a top-10 team to an 0-4 program in the last 40 years.</p><p>A loss in The Swamp is much more digestible regardless of how Florida looks, but Texas now heads into the Red River Rivalry without a power conference win. It's easy to go after Arch Manning for two more interceptions, but the Gators' defense lived in the Texas backfield all game. Six sacks, eight hurries, and seven tackles for loss ruined any offensive progress for the Longhorns.</p><p>With the 12-team playoff, both teams still control their own destiny if they win out. However, it's almost all power conference competition the rest of the way for Penn State and Texas. If the first six weeks of the season are any indication, that's bad news for both.</p><h3>Facing Belichick cures all offensive woes</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/cropped_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w220xh124_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w320xh180_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w640xh360_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w768xh432_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Struggling to score? Can't move the ball or generate explosive plays no matter what? Have no fear, there's a cure for all that ails your offense: a healthy dose of Bill Belichick's North Carolina defense.</p><p>Clemson's offense has been one of the nation's more disappointing units, failing to score 28 points in an entire game yet this season. That continued Saturday as the Tigers went up against arguably the greatest defensive mind in the history of football - just kidding! The Tigers hit the 28-point mark before the end of the first quarter in Chapel Hill, taking a 28-3 advantage after 15 minutes. The 28-3 scoreline might bring up fond memories from Belichick's NFL days, but Tom Brady ain't walking through that door - which might be the main reason the legendary coach has looked anything but since the quarterback left New England.</p><p>By halftime, Clemson piled up 367 yards of total offense and 14 first downs while averaging 10.2 yards per play and 14.8 yards per completion. Nobody summed up the Belichick experience thus far better than this student on the broadcast.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ESPN shares an interview with a UNC student going into commercial, with Clemson leading 28-3.<br><br>"TCU was... I went to that game. And that was, that was one of the saddest feelings I've had in University so far. I've failed midterms before, so that's saying something." 🏈💀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/RekRjA0cAx">pic.twitter.com/RekRjA0cAx</a></p>— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1974526243442933937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>North Carolina is arguably the worst power conference team, which is astonishing given the fanfare surrounding Belichick's hire. According to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1974562110110888159">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>, Belichick's Tar Heels have been outscored by other power conference teams by 29 points per game - the second-worst margin among that cohort.</p><p>The Tigers and Tar Heels were both coming off bye weeks, an opportunity to turn things around after rough starts to the season. You'll never guess which head coach made headlines when he was spotted in Nantucket during that time and which one said he spent the week "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MsVkL_A4HU">self-scouting and evaluating everything</a>."</p><h3>46 straight completions?!</h3><p>This column doesn't usually touch on FCS football, but completing 46 straight passes in a single game deserves a mention. That's exactly what Western Carolina's Taron Dickens did in a 23-21 victory over Wofford on Saturday. That set the new NCAA record for most consecutive completions in a game - and likely the most at any level of football ever. Dickens finished 53-for-56 for 378 yards and three touchdowns. That stat line raises an obvious question: How did the offense only score 23 points?</p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 6 takeaways

Conference play is heating up across the country as the calendar flips to October, and Week 6 is ...

<p>Conference play is heating up across the country as the calendar flips to October, and Week 6 is already upon us.</p><p>With the AP poll dropping weekly, voters are often beholden to how they ranked teams in the preseason for the first month of the schedule. We are under no such restrictions, free to put teams wherever we like based solely on how they have played thus far.</p><p>Without further delay, here's how we see the rankings through the September portion of the 2025 calendar.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>1. Ohio State (4-0)</h3><p>The Buckeyes have played four games and allowed a total of two touchdowns. Julian Sayin looked like a seasoned veteran in his first road start and it appears a new standout running back has emerged in Bo Jackson. The rest of the nation should be afraid - very afraid.</p><h3>2. Oregon (5-0)</h3><p>The Ducks now have the best win of the season - on the road in front of over 100,000 screaming fans in the "White Out" at Penn State. Dante Moore appears to be a full-blown star, and Oregon's on a collision course with Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.</p><h3>3. Miami (4-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/cropped_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The season-opening win over Notre Dame looks better by the week for Miami, and the South Florida blowout should age well as the Bulls enter conference play. A major test awaits with the first road trip of the season taking the Hurricanes to Florida State on Saturday for a rivalry game.</p><h3>4. Ole Miss (5-0)</h3><p>The Lane train is rolling after an impressive home win over LSU on Saturday. That pushes the Rebels to 5-0 with three conference victories already on the resume. Trinidad Chambliss looks like a star in the making - something he will need to be for back-to-back road games at Georgia and Oklahoma in a few weeks.</p><h3>5. Texas A&amp;M (4-0)</h3><p>Will Texas A&amp;M be the fifth-best team in the country at the end of season? No, probably not. But that road win at Notre Dame carries a ton of weight as one of the best in the season's first month. The Aggies need to pile up the wins now with four of their last five SEC games on the road.</p><h3>6. Oklahoma (4-0)</h3><p>The uncertainty around John Mateer's injury keeps Oklahoma out of the top five for this set of rankings. However, even without Mateer in the lineup, a dominant defense gives the Sooners a chance against Texas in the Red River Rivalry two weeks from now.</p><h3>7. Alabama (3-1)</h3><p>Rumours of Alabama's demise may have been premature. The Crimson Tide rebounded in style from a season-opening loss at Florida State with back-to-back blowout victories before ending Georgia's 33-game home winning streak last weekend.</p><h3>8. Indiana (5-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/cropped_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Indiana almost got Iowa'd on Saturday, but Curt Cignetti's outfit is now 2-0 in Big Ten play with a 53-point win over ranked Illinois on the resume. The Hoosiers won't be here long, with a trip to Oregon waiting after their bye week. Win that one and they might just be No. 1.</p><h3>9. Florida State (3-1)</h3><p>Yes, Florida State is behind Alabama despite beating the Tide in Week 1 and holding the same record. However, Alabama just ended the nation's longest home winning streak with an impressive win at Georgia while the Seminoles fell to Virginia. That gives the nod to the Tide, but a home win over Miami this weekend could move Florida State back ahead.</p><h3>10. Georgia (3-1)</h3><p>The three-point loss at home to Alabama actually flattered Georgia, as the Crimson Tide dominated most of that contest. The Bulldogs still have the road win at Tennessee on their resume, enough to keep them in the No. 10 slot.</p><h3>11. LSU (4-1)</h3><p>LSU has a lights-out defense that is strong enough to win the SEC with an offense that remains a question mark weekly. The Clemson and Florida wins didn't prop up the Tigers' resume as we would've expected, but they remain much stronger victories than a number of teams on this list possess.</p><h3>12. Texas Tech (4-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/cropped_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Three home wins over teams outside the power conferences don't move the needle much for Texas Tech, but a 24-point victory on the road at Utah sure does. Don't look now, but there's a very real chance the Red Raiders end the season undefeated, with No. 23 BYU and No. 25 Arizona State the only ranked opponents remaining on their schedule.</p><h3>13. Vanderbilt (5-0)</h3><p>Vanderbilt ahead of Texas and Penn State? We have a rule in our rankings: Good losses don't outweigh zero power conference wins. The Longhorns and Nittany Lions have yet to beat a team in a major conference this season. The Commodores have two such wins and are 5-0 on the season with every victory by at least 20 points. All of this could change Saturday at Alabama, but right now, Vanderbilt's resume is worth the No. 13 slot.</p><h3>14. Texas (3-1)</h3><p>Have we reached the point where we feel comfortable about the Texas offense? No. Is the defense good enough on its own to make the playoff? Yes. The Longhorns face their toughest test since Week 1 with Florida this weekend. How Arch Manning and the offense produces will tell us if they are serious SEC contenders.</p><h3>15. Penn State (3-1)</h3><p>Penn State was highly ranked to start the season and will likely be there again at the end of the season. However, right now, it's a 3-1 team with zero wins over power conference opponents and an overtime home loss to Oregon. The Nittany Lions could have easily won that contest over the Ducks, but the loss drops them well back ... for now.</p>

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CFB rankings: September's top 15 teams

theScore provides insights and analysis from the final day of the Ryder Cup. (All times ET).  5:5...

<p><em>theScore provides insights and analysis from the final day of the Ryder Cup. (All times ET).</em></p><p><strong>5:55 p.m. -</strong> And that's a wrap. The final match between Robert MacIntyre and Sam Burns ended in a draw to make the final margin 15-13 in favor of the Europeans. Nobody would have believed that the Europeans would win the Ryder Cup with only one singles victory Sunday, but that's exactly what happened, thanks to a dominant showing in the four team sessions. Next up is Adare Manor in Ireland in two years, an event that McIlroy and Lowry will certainly be circling on their calendars.</p><p><strong>5:40 p.m. -</strong> First, the Cup was retained, and now it's officially been won. Tyrrell Hatton supplied another half point for the visitors to push them to 14.5 total and secure the victory. The final day was certainly more dramatic - and stressful - than the Europeans hoped for, but they prevailed in the end. During the victory press conference in Rome two years ago, McIlroy declared that the Europeans would win again in New York. Turns out, he was right.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>5:15 p.m. -</strong> It's over! Shane Lowry came to the 18th needing to win the hole and secure a half point for Europe to retain the Cup, and that's exactly what he did. Lowry held the advantage after Henley found the fairway bunker off the tee, but the American hit an incredible shot to 10 feet to the delight of the raucous crowd. However, Lowry answered with a brilliant approach to six feet on the same line as Henley's putt. After the American came up short, Lowry poured his in the middle to set off the celebrations on the side of the 18th. The event marks the first road victory in the Ryder Cup since the Europeans won in 2012.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SHANE LOWRY COMES UP CLUTCH TO RETAIN THE RYDER CUP! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q6LKpWr0aQ">pic.twitter.com/Q6LKpWr0aQ</a></p>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1972411241345044715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>4:45 p.m. -</strong> Scottie is on the board. After a stunning 0-4-0 start to the week at Bethpage, Scheffler finally grabbed that elusive first point with a 2-up win over McIlroy. Both players were clearly exhausted during the match after playing all five sessions, something that dampened the form in the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 singles match in Ryder Cup history. However, Scheffler showed enough of his all-world ability down the stretch to pull ahead and get the victory.</p><p><strong>4:35 p.m. -</strong> Europe is on the cusp with only a half-point needed in the final six matches to secure the win. Aberg gave the visitors their first win of the day with a 2&amp;1 victory over Cantlay while Fitzpatrick settled for a tie despite once holding a 5-up lead over DeChambeau. That's the good news for Europe. The bad news: The Americans lead in four of the final six matches with the other two currently tied. This is far from over.</p><p><strong>4:23 p.m. -</strong> We've got a Ryder Cup! Thomas pours in a 12-footer on the last to finally take down Fleetwood and win 1-up. Two straight birdies for the Americans on the final hole to deliver crucial wins have the crowd in a frenzy, and for the first time, the outcome is in legitimate question.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JT FOR COUNTRY <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/YHIV8mByZv">pic.twitter.com/YHIV8mByZv</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972397700956967115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Thomas now improves to a perfect 4-0-0 in singles play at the Ryder Cup.</p><p><strong>4:10 p.m. -</strong> The comeback is on! Young lit the fuse in the first match of the day with an emphatic birdie on the final hole to keep a charging Justin Rose at bay and win 1-up. There's still plenty of work to be done to erase the massive deficit, but there's hope as cheers ring throughout Bethpage.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAMERON. YOUNG. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/nOwwjdNMiN">pic.twitter.com/nOwwjdNMiN</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972394313905590324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>3:55 p.m. -</strong> Bryson's charge continues! DeChambeau added another win with a brilliant iron shot to the 15th, electrifying the crowd in the process. That makes three holes in a row for the American to cut the deficit to just one with three to play. It's crucial that the U.S. gets a full point from DeChambeau, so his work is far from done.</p><p><strong>3:40 p.m. -</strong> Bryson is doing his best to keep the crowd involved. DeChambeau looked like a shell of himself for much of the match, while Fitzpatrick raced out to a 5-up lead through seven holes. However, DeChambeau has battled back with two straight wins and is now 2-down with four holes to play. The crowd follows the beefy LIV Golf star wherever he goes, and he's playing to that energy with every putt he holes. Will he get the job done or will he run out of holes?</p><p><strong>3:20 p.m. -</strong> The oldest man in the event continues to be a thorn in the side of the American team. Rose, who was at the center of the most heated moment Saturday, once again found himself firmly in the mix, thanks to an outrageous recovery shot on No. 13. After a lengthy rules discussion that involved American captain Bradley, Rose dropped his ball in a precarious position at the par 5. The veteran wasn't bothered, hitting a ridiculous pitch for an ensuing birdie. He added another at the next hole to narrow Young's 3-up lead to just one.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"THAT'S A GOLF SHOT!" <br><br>Justin Rose, that's incredible 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nr4psuIj1v">pic.twitter.com/Nr4psuIj1v</a></p>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1972379483765416142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>3:05 p.m. -</strong> Considering how Fleetwood has performed this week, taking him down would require a herculean effort. Thomas seems up to that task, pushing the pedal down with three straight wins to flip the match from a deficit to a 1-up advantage heading to No. 13. Thomas has long been the heartbeat of the American team. Seeing him best Fleetwood in the second match of the day would spark a glimmer of hope for the hosts.</p><p><strong>2:50 p.m. -</strong> McIlroy finally appears to be out of gas after playing four sessions under the immense pressure of match play and incessant heckling by the crowd. Sunday's marquee match versus Scheffler has largely been a pillow fight of sorts, with both players sitting 1-over for the day through 11 holes. McIlroy is 1-down after Scheffler claimed the 11th hole with a bogey.</p><p><strong>2:40 p.m. -</strong> Young is delivering on Captain Bradley's idea to put him out first in Sunday singles in a big way. With a clutch par putt from distance on No. 12, the New York native now has a 3-up edge on Rose. Young's been a breakout star in this Ryder Cup and could see a career bump like Scheffler as a result. Scheffler was the young standout talent on the the dominant U.S. team that won in a romp at Whistling Straits in 2021.</p><p><strong>2:20 p.m. -</strong> If you were simply listening to the NBC broadcast and not watching, you'd think the Americans were leading in the majority of the matches. They are certainly trying to keep the attention of the viewer, but the fact is the hosts are currently only leading in two matches of the 11 on course. A number are tied that could break their way, but the U.S. needs to win 9 of the 11 to complete the comeback. Over two hours into the action, that doesn't seem very likely.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/cropped_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Scott Taetsch/PGA of America / PGA of America / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>1:55 p.m. -</strong> Perhaps no Ryder Cup member has flipped the sentiment around himself more than Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman entered the event with a dismal 1-7-0 record in his Ryder Cup career but has been one of the top players for Europe this time out. He looks determined to make a closing statement, taking it to DeChambeau early to build an incredible 5-up lead. The largest 18-hole singles win by a European in Ryder Cup history is 5&amp;4, according to <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1972360526945755409">Justin Ray of Twenty First Group</a>. That might be something to keep an eye on.</p><p><strong>1:30 p.m. -</strong> Insert the "<a href="https://tenor.com/svNC1Ws1mY2.gif">Chris Paul hits a huge three to cut the lead to 42</a>" meme for Justin Thomas at Bethpage. Europe needs just two points to retain the Cup and currently leads in five of the eight matches on course, but Thomas' eagle hole-out from 79 yards at No. 6 at least supplied a moment of happiness for the U.S. fan base.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JT from 79 yards out 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/6OuXCb6StP">pic.twitter.com/6OuXCb6StP</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972352904506880075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>1:10 p.m. -</strong> A five-minute stretch summed up the week for the Americans, as the top players on the team once again failed to deliver in the clutch. DeChambeau stiffed his tee shot on the par-3 third to 10 feet, while his opponent Fitzpatrick was in a greenside bunker. The Englishman got up-and-down with a nice bunker shot while DeChambeau promptly three-putted to lose the hole. At roughly the same time, Scheffler duffed a pitch shot that barely traveled 5 feet to go 1-down to McIlroy. That duo entered singles play 1-7 on the week, a throughly disappointing performance that's doomed the U.S. squad.</p><p><strong>12:45 p.m. -</strong> The marquee match of the day is on course with Scottie Scheffler facing Rory McIlroy. It's the first time in Ryder Cup history the top two golfers in the world rankings are facing off in singles. For all his dominance in stroke-play events, Scheffler's an entirely different golfer in the Ryder Cup. He's looking to avoid becoming the first man to go 0-5-0 in the event since the format changed in 1979.</p><p><strong>12:28 p.m. -</strong> The possibility of Bryson DeChambeau driving Bethpage's first green was a hot topic all week, but he's yet to accomplish that feat through the opening two days. While he didn't do so Sunday, he came about as close as possible, launching a 351-yard bomb just a few feet from the putting surface. In what's perhaps the perfect encapsulation of this week's action, DeChambeau scuffled the rest of the hole and lost to a Matt Fitzpatrick birdie despite outdriving him by some 50 yards.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/cropped_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Carl Recine / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>12:15 p.m. - </strong>Cam Young has undeniably been the best American this week and was rewarded with the honor of going off first in singles play. It took him less than 15 minutes to make an impact, pouring in a birdie at the first to grab an early 1-up lead on Justin Rose. There are plenty of questions about captain Keegan Bradley's strategy this week, but leaving Young on the bench for Friday morning foursomes might be the biggest error.</p><p><strong>12:02 p.m. -</strong> Europe inched closer to securing the Ryder Cup before a ball was even struck Sunday. The neck injury that kept Viktor Hovland out of Saturday afternoon's action remains an issue, and the Norwegian was forced to withdraw from his singles match versus Harris English. By rule, that match ends as a tie, giving each team a half-point. That means Europe needs just two points from the remaining 11 matches to retain the trophy.</p>

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Ryder Cup forecaddie: Analysis from Day 3 at Bethpage

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CFB Blitz: Week 5 takeaways

SEATTLE (AP) — Ohio State tied a school record back in April when a whopping 14 players, eight of...

<p>SEATTLE (AP) — Ohio State tied a school record back in April when a whopping 14 players, eight of them on the defensive side, were selected in the NFL draft.</p><p>The losses of key contributors from the national championship-winning team like tackle Tyleik Williams, end JT Tuimoloau and others were expected to hurt the Buckeyes’ vaunted defense, if only a little bit. Same goes for the loss of former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who accepted the same job at Penn State.</p><p>It would have been difficult to gather as much based on the defensive dominance that was on display Saturday as No. 1 Ohio State beat Washington 24-6 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Buckeyes (4-0) limited the Huskies (3-1) to 234 total yards in front of 72,845 fans at Husky Stadium, Washington’s largest crowd since Sept. 28, 2010, against Nebraska. In the process, Ohio State had its 22-game home winning streak broken, one that dated back to 2021.</p><p>“I think it’s a great reference point to come into a stadium like this,” coach Ryan Day said. “This is a great environment. I thought that the fans on their end were loud and showed up in a big way.”</p><p>Ditto for Ohio State’s Caden Curry, who set career highs with three sacks, five tackles for loss and 11 total tackles. The Buckeyes brought down Washington’s dual-threat quarterback Demond Williams Jr. three other times, and the Huskies converted just one of 11 third-down attempts.</p><p>Curry said Ohio State knew that containing Williams would be a key to victory, and that in turn brought out the best in the defense.</p><p>“You love to see the pressure put on you as a defensive line,” Curry said. “I feel like our defensive line this year’s just a bunch of no-names. We just go out there, we just try to ball, we try to play as hard as we can.”</p><p>The Buckeyes’ offense, meanwhile, slowly but surely grinded down the Huskies’ defense, especially in the second half. Julian Sayin completed 22 of 28 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, the latter of which was an 18-yard strike to CJ Donaldson to give Ohio State a commanding 24-6 lead.</p><p>With 1:08 left in the first half, Sayin also found Jeremiah Smith for an 18-yard touchdown pass that gave Ohio State a 7-3 lead it would not relinquish. On third-and-11, Sayin avoided a seven-man blitz to locate Smith.</p><p>“Down 3-0, that was a huge play for the offense …” Sayin said. “We really needed that, and I think the whole offense executed that very well.”</p><p>It was the Buckeyes’ defense, though, that truly impressed, just as it has a third of the way through the regular season under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Including two field goals by Grady Gross on Saturday, Ohio State’s defense has yielded just 22 points this season, and only two touchdowns.</p><p>For as stellar as the Buckeyes’ defense was in 2024, it continues to demonstrate on a weekly basis why it could be as good — if not better — in 2025.</p><p>“I’m not surprised, but it’s exciting,” Day said. “It’s exciting to see the capability, the potential. And I think if we can all stick together as a team, we’ll have a chance.”</p><p><strong>Savvy Sayin</strong></p><p>Sayin passed his first road test without a turnover. The true sophomore entered the contest as the most accurate quarterback in the country, and demonstrated his success through the air can translate on the road, too.</p><p>Throughout the week leading up to the game, Saying said that Day preached to the team to embrace all aspects of playing in a loud, road environment. Sayin’s play proved he was up to the task.</p><p>“Our mindset was just keep swinging,” Sayin said. “Things aren’t going to go our way the whole time, there’s going to be momentum shifts, so we just got to keep swinging.”</p><p><strong>Troublesome without Tacario</strong></p><p>Though Washington’s defense mostly held up against Ohio State offense that had scored at least 37 points in back-to-back weeks, it had to operate without Tacario Davis. Arguably the Huskies’ top defensive back, Davis sat out their 59-24 win against Washington State in the Apple Cup, and was sidelined Saturday despite practicing Thursday and participating in Friday’s team walk-through, per coach Jedd Fisch.</p><p>“I am optimistic about next week based upon how he progressed this past week,” Fisch said. “The doctors will make that final call.”</p><p><strong>The takeaway</strong></p><p>Ohio State: The Buckeyes were the first team this season to rush for over 100 yards in a game against the Huskies, who entered the contest giving up just 62 yards per game on the ground. Bo Jackson led Ohio State with 80 yards on 17 carries.</p><p>Washington: Freshman receiver Dezmen Roebuck continues to assert himself as a solid No. 2 receiving option for Williams. Roebuck had four catches for 58 yards.</p><p><strong>Up next</strong></p><p>Ohio State: Hosts Minnesota on Oct. 4.</p><p>Washington: At Maryland on Oct. 4.</p><p>___</p><p>Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a></p><p> </p>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Ohio State pulls away for comfortable win vs. Washington

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