In college football, ranked teams find themselves perpetually vulnerable, facing unranked adversaries who often create upheaval. This was epitomized in Week 6, which featured a stunning array of upsets, including four top-11 ranked teams succumbing to unranked competition. The upsets included Vanderbilt’s unprecedented victory over No. 1 Alabama, a fourth-quarter comeback by Arkansas against No. 4 Tennessee, Washington avenging their title loss by defeating No. 10 Michigan, and Minnesota’s daring play on fourth down that secured a win against No. 11 USC. This marked a historic occurrence, repeating a pattern not seen since 2007, with particular emphasis on two SEC top-five teams faltering against unranked opponents for the first time ever.
The overall chaos of the weekend resulted in the downfall of six undefeated teams, with other notable casualties including Duke, Missouri, UNLV, and James Madison. This has led to just 12 remaining undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), setting the stage for exciting upcoming matchups, such as the clash between Oregon and Ohio State. Additionally, historical highlights were apparent, with programs like Army and Navy both starting 5-0 for the first time in decades, while Indiana reached 6-0 for the first time since 1967.
The extraordinary nature of Week 6 wasn’t limited to ranked teams; individual performances were remarkable as well. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate after a spectacular 63-yard touchdown run in the game’s opening play, solidifying his status with over 1,000 yards in just five games. Meanwhile, Texas A&M’s first-year coach Mike Elko and the Aggies soared to the top of the SEC standings, while Texas navigated its new league as the last undefeated team.
On the other side of the coin, several teams found themselves in troubling spots, including Kansas which endured its fifth consecutive loss after leading in the fourth quarter, and Auburn suffering its third straight defeat under coach Hugh Freeze. The struggles continued for Mack Brown’s squad, which fell to Pitt, reflecting a tough season for Florida State, now at 1-5. This capped a thrilling Saturday that revamped the Top 10 rankings. Unlike past polls, this Top 10 is focused solely on this season’s performance rather than preseason expectations.
Currently perched at the top of the rankings is the Penn State Nittany Lions, following a solid performance against UCLA. They are closely followed by Oregon, which showcased its recovery from shaky early-season games with a commanding victory over Michigan State. Texas is poised to return to action against Oklahoma, with hopes of getting their star Quinn Ewers back in time. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Buckeyes have finally found their way into the rankings thanks to impressive blowout wins, setting up a crucial matchup against Oregon next week. The Miami Hurricanes managed an incredible comeback against California, although questions remain about their inconsistency.
As the rankings further settle, BYU stands prominently in the top five, backed by two significant wins and a strong defense. Georgia rebounded nicely after a tough loss to Alabama, now gearing up for a matchup against Mississippi State. Clemson has also found momentum, stringing together four consecutive victories after an early setback against Georgia. They appear to be well-positioned for an ACC title run later in the season. Iowa State celebrated its own success with a perfect start for the first time in over four decades, while Notre Dame remains in the mix despite a lack of standout victories thus far. The remarkable events of Week 6 have reshuffled the rankings significantly, with prominent teams like Alabama and Tennessee now dropped from the standings. The landscape of college football continues to surprise and excite as teams strive for an intense postseason chase.