Saturday of Week 7 turned out to be quite astonishing in college football, with five out of the top seven teams in the AP Poll, including the top two, suffering losses.
What could we think about this situation? The interplay of transfer culture and standardized revenue-sharing tends to create a wider divide between power conferences and others. However, within the Power 4, the teams seem to be more closely matched, which inevitably leads to upsets where top teams stumble against lower-ranked opponents.
That being said, some defeats are still quite concerning. So, how much panic should a highly ranked team feel, on a scale of one to ten? Let’s dive into that.
Georgia (lost to Auburn, 27-24)
The Bulldogs kind of let this one slip away. They averaged 6.8 yards per play compared to Auburn’s 4.9 but somehow allowed Auburn to not only stay competitive but take control for a period. There were a few special teams blunders, and Gunner Stockton’s two interceptions and a fumble leading to Auburn’s game-winning field goal were costly. While it raises some frustrations, they’re not all reasons for concern about future performances. Stockton usually avoids turnovers, and Georgia tends to be more disciplined than this. Yet, their unusual roughing-the-passer penalty helped Auburn’s winning drive.
In the grand scheme, Georgia’s standings in the SEC didn’t take a significant hit given the results around them. Their room for error has definitely shrunk, and it’s hard to predict the long-term impact of letting a rival claim a big win. If Auburn, revitalized by this victory, gears up for tougher competition ahead, it could turn into a bigger regret for Georgia.
Notre Dame (lost to BYU, 28-24)
It’s tough to critique a team that lost narrowly on the road to what is now the second-ranked team in the country. Nonetheless, this marked Notre Dame’s first real challenge of the season, and it was clear that both the offense and defense underperformed. The offense ended with a 38 percent success rate, their lowest, and averaged just 4.8 yards per play, which wasn’t great. Defensively, they allowed a concerning 48 percent success rate, particularly struggling against BYU’s passing game. Still, the game could have turned out differently if QB CJ Carr had executed a spike correctly at a crucial moment.
The biggest challenge for Notre Dame now is their schedule. They only have one more game against a team that could impress the playoff committee. If they lose to Miami in Week 10, the committee might overlook a 10-2 record with unimpressive wins against SMU and Wisconsin. They faced a similar situation last season, losing to Miami and Texas A&M, and that was a frustrating outcome. Their postseason hopes may hinge on the matchup against Miami on November 7.
Miami (beat Florida State, 43-35)
The Hurricanes make the list primarily for nearly dropping a game to unranked Florida State. To be fair, Florida State has shown competitiveness against several strong teams this season, and rivalry games often lead to unexpected performances.
That said, there’s a bit of concern regarding Miami’s pass defense. They gave up several deep plays and faced a couple of nail-biting Hail Mary attempts in double overtime that could have turned disastrous. Currently, injuries have plagued their defensive backs, and without the pass rush they had last year, their secondary seems vulnerable. This could certainly pose problems as the playoffs approach.
Indiana (lost to Ohio State, 19-15)
The Hoosiers’ impressive 22-game win streak came to an end as some misfortune caught up with them. Nick Marsh’s apparent game-winning touchdown catch was negated when he stepped out of bounds. Up to this point, Indiana had fumbled 13 times over the past year and a half but managed to retain possession most of the time; this time, Josh Hoover lost the ball twice, and Ohio State recovered both. A couple of missed field goals didn’t help much either.
Looking forward, Indiana’s schedule seems manageable, with their hardest match likely being against a somewhat average Michigan team next week. They’re still regarded as an elite team. Although they’ve stumbled this season, they should remain strong contenders for the playoffs given their remaining games.
Texas (lost to Florida, 27-24)
Arch Manning faced a tough outing, sacked five times and ultimately fumbling during a comeback effort against Florida. To even stay in contention, the Longhorns needed a punt return touchdown as Florida dominated possession, holding the ball for almost 40 minutes and overpowering Manning’s offense on crucial third downs.
The Longhorns’ run game was virtually nonexistent, despite several high-profile additions during the transfer season. They’ve faced back-to-back losses, and with their remaining matchups, including Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M, the challenges are significant. Admittedly, the Aggies are struggling, but rivalries can be tricky.
If Steve Sarkisian doesn’t quickly address these ongoing issues, Texas could miss out on capitalizing on one of the most talented rosters in the nation. A playoff spot may still be within reach with a 9-3 record and a win against Ohio State, but there’s no guarantee.
Alabama (lost to Tennessee, 26-10)
Alabama encountered significant troubles on offense against a robust defensive front from Tennessee. With their center sidelined, the Tide struggled mightily, averaging just 3.7 yards per play and managing only two conversions on thirteen third downs while racking up ten penalties. Perhaps once fully healthy, the Tide’s offense will regain its rhythm, but they certainly looked disarrayed compared to past performances.
This loss marks the first time since 2007 that Alabama has lost two consecutive regular-season games. There’s a sense that they can improve in the weeks ahead, but they need to win all remaining games for a solid playoff chance, especially with a challenging matchup against LSU coming up.
Missouri (lost to Ole Miss, 31-3)
Missouri’s previously thrilling offense hit a brick wall against an Ole Miss defense that had struggled all season. The Mizzou run game was inconsistent without star running back Ahmad Hardy, resulting in a significantly below-par performance. The defensive effort also faltered, and Austin Simmons wasn’t able to cover the gaps.
The loss negatively impacted Missouri’s rankings, dropping them ten spots in ESPN’s FPI and several spots in other metrics. In essence, this defeat transformed them from a serious contender to a team with significant questions. With tough games against Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma still ahead, their path appears challenging.
