Ohio State was on a bye week after getting through the first half of the schedule plus one undefeated. There wasn\u2019t really a close contest in there, with the 14-7 win over Texas<\/a> in the season opener the only game that was decided by one score.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s up to Ohio State to avoid an upset at the hands of Penn State<\/a>, but having the extra week of rest and preparation should certainly help. Beyond that, only the finale against Michigan<\/a> looks like a real test.<\/p>\n RESULT: 56-6 win vs. UCLA<\/a> Still, the Hoosiers were in control from the start. The road ahead continues to look perfectly navigable, mostly thanks to Penn State\u2019s collapse. There isn\u2019t a top 25 opponent left on the schedule, though three of the final four games are away from home.<\/p>\n RESULT: 49-25 win at LSU<\/a> The final game of a brutal three-game road swing is here now, with a road trip to a borderline top 25 Missouri<\/a> team. That, though, will come after a much-needed bye week.<\/p>\n RESULT: 29-22 win at South Carolina<\/a> It was Bernard\u2019s second touchdown in the final three minutes of the game. Stars show up when they need to, and he certainly did for Alabama.<\/p>\n RESULT: BYE Georgia has a couple tricky tests in the back half of the schedule, and the margin for error is small. Home dates against Texas<\/a> and Georgia Tech<\/a> could provide a real challenge.<\/p>\n RESULT: 21-7 win vs. Wisconsin<\/a> The biggest concern for Oregon coming out of the game was the health of quarterback Dante Moore<\/a>, who took a nasty shot to the nose and was gushing blood during the game. He checked out and did not return, and his status will certainly bear monitoring going forward.<\/p>\n RESULT: 41-16 win vs. Syracuse<\/a> King accounted for 304 yards passing and three touchdowns, as well as 91 yards rushing and two more scores. He\u2019s the heart and soul of the top 25 outfit, and Georgia Tech has a real shot at the College Football Playoffs as a result.<\/p>\n RESULT: 34-26 win at Oklahoma<\/a> Oklahoma simply couldn\u2019t get back into the game after falling behind in the fourth quarter. Now, the Rebels are poised to lock up a playoff berth. No top 25 opponents remain on the schedule and the only road game remaining is the Egg Bowl vs. Mississippi State<\/a>.<\/p>\n RESULT: 42-7 win vs. Stanford<\/a> Mark Fletcher<\/a> scored three touchdowns on the ground and ran for 106 yards, as the Hurricanes piled up 199 yards rushing as a team. For Miami, win and advance is plenty good enough for now. Next up is a tough road test at SMU<\/a>.<\/p>\n RESULT: 17-10 win<\/a> vs. Missouri<\/a> The win was the program\u2019s second straight over a ranked opponent, both at home. Now, it appears likely that only one top 25 opponent will remain on the schedule. Up next is a road trip to a Texas team that has been very up and down.<\/p>\n Rest of the AP Top 25 Projections<\/p>\n BYU Cougars<\/a> (8-0)<\/p>\n Notre Dame Fighting Irish<\/a> (5-2)<\/p>\n Texas Tech Red Raiders<\/a> (7-1)<\/p>\n Virginia Cavaliers<\/a> (7-1)<\/p>\n Tennessee Volunteers<\/a> (6-2)<\/p>\n Louisville Cardinals<\/a> (7-1)<\/p>\n Oklahoma Sooners<\/a> (6-2)<\/p>\n Cincinnati Bearcats<\/a> (7-1)<\/p>\n Missouri Tigers<\/a> (6-2)<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns<\/a> (6-2)<\/p>\n Houston Cougars<\/a> (7-1)<\/p>\n Michigan Wolverines<\/a> (6-2)<\/p>\n![\"Indiana](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Untitled-7-1-1024x538.png\")
(Robert Goddin | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Indiana wasted no time blowing past UCLA, keeping the Bruins from entertaining any real ideas of a big upset. It wasn\u2019t a perfectly clean day, as the Mendozas threw two interceptions in the contest.<\/p>\n
It was a back-and-forth affair with LSU early on, and it bogged down a little for Texas A&M thanks to a pair of Marcel Reed<\/a> interceptions. Then the Aggies simply turned it on in the second half and ran away with it.<\/p>\n
Alabama trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter but found a way to win anyway. A late strip and steal allowed the Crimson Tide to flip the script quickly in the fourth quarter, and Germie Bernard<\/a> punched it in with a 25-yard touchdown run to give Alabama the lead and the win.<\/p>\n![\"Kirby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27361532_168399295_lowres-1024x576.jpg\")
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Following the big win over Ole Miss<\/a> a week ago, Georgia had a bye week to rest and recuperate ahead of the Florida<\/a> game. The momentum gained from the Ole Miss contest is real, though, especially after the Rebels validated it with a top 25 win over Oklahoma<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Oregon had a much tougher than anticipated meeting with Wisconsin, which did a nice job keeping the Ducks from hitting explosive plays. Still, the game was never really in question in terms of game flow.<\/p>\n
The Haynes King<\/a> show rolled on, and at this point it\u2019s fair to wonder if anyone can stop the talented dual-threat quarterback. Syracuse certainly had no answers in a game it trailed in early on and could never get back into.<\/p>\n![\"Ole](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27417311-1-1024x576.jpg\")
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
While Trinidad Chambliss<\/a> and Kewan Lacy<\/a> were excellent offensively, the story of the day was the Ole Miss defense. After collapsing a week prior against Georgia, the unit buckled down to perplex John Mateer<\/a> and keep him off-kilter throughout the second half.<\/p>\n
It was a close game for a half, and there were moments when it looked like Miami might be in trouble again. Then the Hurricanes buckled down, rode the ground game and put the Cardinal away for good.<\/p>\n
In a defensive battle, Vanderbilt finally broke things open with an 80-yard touchdown run in the second half. Then it hung on. The defense was stout, coming up with a fourth-down stop near the goal line that knocked Missouri starting quarterback Beau Pribula<\/a> from the game.<\/p>\n