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10/18 12:32 CDT Shakeup Saturday: 5 of the top 7 teams in the Top 25 lost in
the regular season for the first time
Shakeup Saturday: 5 of the top 7 teams in the Top 25 lost in the regular season
for the first time
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
College football has never experienced a Saturday like this.
Five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 lost on the same day in the
regular season for the first time in history. The last time anything even
remotely close happened was on Jan. 2, 1989, according to Sportradar, when five
of the top eight teams lost.
Shakeup Saturday was driven by the Southeastern Conference, with No. 1 Georgia,
No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas going down as touchdown or more favorites.
No. 2 Notre Dame (at No. 8 BYU) and fifth-ranked Indiana (against No. 4 Ohio
State) also lost, although those were less shocking.
It's the first time Nos. 1 and 2 lost on the same day in the regular season
since Oregon (to Stanford) and Kansas State (to Baylor) in 2012 and first time
in the same week since Alabama (to Auburn) and Miami (to Pittsburgh) on
Thanksgiving weekend in 2017.
The chaos, which is sure to shuffle the poll and College Football Playoff
seeding forecasts, cleared a path for No. 3 Miami to take over the top poll
spot after beating rival Florida State 43-35 in a double-overtime classic that
ended in controversy.
The Hurricanes can only hope to do better than the No. 1 team has the last two
weeks; Texas and Georgia lost to unranked teams, the first time that's happened
in consecutive weeks since Notre Dame (to Stanford) and Michigan (to Michigan
State) in 1990.
Five of the top eight teams in the AP poll lost on the same day in 1989 when
No. 3 West Virginia, No. 5 USC, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 7 Auburn and eighth-ranked
Arkansas stumbled in bowl games.
Big 12 admits end-of-game error
The Big 12 issued a statement acknowledging its officials erred by not allowing Notre Dame one more play when the game clock showed one second remained when CJ Carr's incomplete pass hit the ground on the final play. Irish coach Marcus Freeman was not asked about the time issue in his postgame news conference. "Following the Big 12's review of the final play of Saturday's Notre Dame-BYU game, it was determined that time remained on the clock when the ball hit the ground and the play was incorrectly cleared by the replay officiating crew," the Big 12 said in a statement. "The Conference will conduct a complete review of its end-of-game officiating process in advance of next week's games."
Chaos on the SEC It was nearly as rare for heavyweights Georgia, Alabama and Texas to lose on the same Saturday, which hadn't happened since Oct. 26, 1996, according to the SEC. It showed why SEC coaches were so hesitant to give in to playing a nine-game league slate. And it might be fitting that the bloody Saturday came on the same week the SEC capitulated to the Big Ten to move closer to finalizing a 24-team playoff. The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) had been the league's last remaining team without a loss, but Gunner Stockton threw two interceptions and fumbled with less than a minute to play in a 27-24 stunner to unranked Auburn (4-2, 2-2). Georgia, which had won 53 in a row against unranked teams, was a 20 1/2 -point favorite in the game known as "the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry." Alex McPherson's 34-yard field goal on the final play sent the visiting sideline into a frenzy. It was Auburn's first win in Athens since 2005 and the program's first road win against the nation's No. 1 team since winning at Florida in 1994. "We're just continuing to plug," said Auburn coach Alex Golesh, whose team scored on a trick play and an amazing, one-handed catch. "We're going to build Auburn back to where everybody wants it, one game at a time. Just hang with us." A week ago, it was then-No. 1 Texas losing to unranked Oklahoma. That setback seemed to have a carryover effect for the Longhorns. Arch Manning had more late-game woes against Florida. He fumbled with less than two minutes to play --- a week after throwing an interception that helped Oklahoma win a week ago --- and the Longhorns (4-2, 1-2) lost 27-24 at home to the Gators (5-2, 3-2). Texas was a 10 1/2-point favorite. Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked five times as Texas lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2021. Like Auburn and Florida, No. 14 Tennessee delivered a defensive gem in the rivalry known as the "The Third Saturday in October." The Volunteers (6-1, 3-1) held Alabama to 201 yards in a 26-10 win in Knoxville, shutting down dynamic quarterback Keelon Russell and breaking out cigars for the third consecutive year. The Vols finished with five sacks and four takeaways. Tennessee won without quarterback Faizon Brandon (shoulder). George MacIntyre filled in and got plenty of help from DeSean Bishop, who ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Alabama (5-2, 3-2) was a 7 1/2-point favorite but lost its second straight. Fans rushed the field afterward, and the Vols will gladly pay the SEC fine. In other ranked SEC action, No. 22 LSU overwhelmed 16th-ranked Mississippi State 31-3; No. 9 Ole Miss thumped 13th-ranked Missouri 31-3; and No. 15 Kentucky beat Oklahoma 21-13 on the road, making first-year coach Will Stein the first Wildcats coach to win six of his first seven games in more than a century.
Indiana loses for the first time in 23 months
Indiana's 22-game winning streak ended in gut-wrenching fashion against No. 4 Ohio State. The defending national champion and fifth-ranked Hoosiers looked like they were going to rally to beat the Buckeyes, but standout receiver Nick Marsh stepped out of bounds in the end zone and negated what would have been a 27-yard touchdown reception on a fourth-and-4 play in the final minute. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) ran out the clock from there, escaping with a 19-15 victory despite losing quarterback Julian Sayin to a right shoulder injury. Sayin left in the fourth quarter returned with his throwing arm in a sling. Coach Ryan Day said Sayin would miss "several weeks." It was Indiana's first loss since falling at Notre Dame in the 2024 College Football Playoff and ended a 19-game winning streak at home. The Hoosiers (6-1, 3-1) turned the ball over twice and missed two field goals, the first one after quarterback Josh Hoover missed seeing a wide-open receiver streaking toward the end zone.
Another highlight-reel catch for the Heisman Trophy favorite Jeremiah Smith delivered another highlight catch, this one resulting in a 38?yard touchdown on a fourth-down play against Indiana. Smith tracked the pass from Julian Sayin and outjumped two defenders in the end zone for his 12th TD catch of the season and the 39th of his three-year college career. Smith's latest one matched former Michigan standout Braylon Edwards for the record for most receiving touchdowns in a Big Ten career. Smith accomplished the feat in nine fewer games than Edwards. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
Big 12 admits end-of-game error
The Big 12 issued a statement acknowledging its officials erred by not allowing Notre Dame one more play when the game clock showed one second remained when CJ Carr's incomplete pass hit the ground on the final play. Irish coach Marcus Freeman was not asked about the time issue in his postgame news conference. "Following the Big 12's review of the final play of Saturday's Notre Dame-BYU game, it was determined that time remained on the clock when the ball hit the ground and the play was incorrectly cleared by the replay officiating crew," the Big 12 said in a statement. "The Conference will conduct a complete review of its end-of-game officiating process in advance of next week's games."
Chaos on the SEC It was nearly as rare for heavyweights Georgia, Alabama and Texas to lose on the same Saturday, which hadn't happened since Oct. 26, 1996, according to the SEC. It showed why SEC coaches were so hesitant to give in to playing a nine-game league slate. And it might be fitting that the bloody Saturday came on the same week the SEC capitulated to the Big Ten to move closer to finalizing a 24-team playoff. The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) had been the league's last remaining team without a loss, but Gunner Stockton threw two interceptions and fumbled with less than a minute to play in a 27-24 stunner to unranked Auburn (4-2, 2-2). Georgia, which had won 53 in a row against unranked teams, was a 20 1/2 -point favorite in the game known as "the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry." Alex McPherson's 34-yard field goal on the final play sent the visiting sideline into a frenzy. It was Auburn's first win in Athens since 2005 and the program's first road win against the nation's No. 1 team since winning at Florida in 1994. "We're just continuing to plug," said Auburn coach Alex Golesh, whose team scored on a trick play and an amazing, one-handed catch. "We're going to build Auburn back to where everybody wants it, one game at a time. Just hang with us." A week ago, it was then-No. 1 Texas losing to unranked Oklahoma. That setback seemed to have a carryover effect for the Longhorns. Arch Manning had more late-game woes against Florida. He fumbled with less than two minutes to play --- a week after throwing an interception that helped Oklahoma win a week ago --- and the Longhorns (4-2, 1-2) lost 27-24 at home to the Gators (5-2, 3-2). Texas was a 10 1/2-point favorite. Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked five times as Texas lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2021. Like Auburn and Florida, No. 14 Tennessee delivered a defensive gem in the rivalry known as the "The Third Saturday in October." The Volunteers (6-1, 3-1) held Alabama to 201 yards in a 26-10 win in Knoxville, shutting down dynamic quarterback Keelon Russell and breaking out cigars for the third consecutive year. The Vols finished with five sacks and four takeaways. Tennessee won without quarterback Faizon Brandon (shoulder). George MacIntyre filled in and got plenty of help from DeSean Bishop, who ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Alabama (5-2, 3-2) was a 7 1/2-point favorite but lost its second straight. Fans rushed the field afterward, and the Vols will gladly pay the SEC fine. In other ranked SEC action, No. 22 LSU overwhelmed 16th-ranked Mississippi State 31-3; No. 9 Ole Miss thumped 13th-ranked Missouri 31-3; and No. 15 Kentucky beat Oklahoma 21-13 on the road, making first-year coach Will Stein the first Wildcats coach to win six of his first seven games in more than a century.
Indiana loses for the first time in 23 months
Indiana's 22-game winning streak ended in gut-wrenching fashion against No. 4 Ohio State. The defending national champion and fifth-ranked Hoosiers looked like they were going to rally to beat the Buckeyes, but standout receiver Nick Marsh stepped out of bounds in the end zone and negated what would have been a 27-yard touchdown reception on a fourth-and-4 play in the final minute. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) ran out the clock from there, escaping with a 19-15 victory despite losing quarterback Julian Sayin to a right shoulder injury. Sayin left in the fourth quarter returned with his throwing arm in a sling. Coach Ryan Day said Sayin would miss "several weeks." It was Indiana's first loss since falling at Notre Dame in the 2024 College Football Playoff and ended a 19-game winning streak at home. The Hoosiers (6-1, 3-1) turned the ball over twice and missed two field goals, the first one after quarterback Josh Hoover missed seeing a wide-open receiver streaking toward the end zone.
Another highlight-reel catch for the Heisman Trophy favorite Jeremiah Smith delivered another highlight catch, this one resulting in a 38?yard touchdown on a fourth-down play against Indiana. Smith tracked the pass from Julian Sayin and outjumped two defenders in the end zone for his 12th TD catch of the season and the 39th of his three-year college career. Smith's latest one matched former Michigan standout Braylon Edwards for the record for most receiving touchdowns in a Big Ten career. Smith accomplished the feat in nine fewer games than Edwards. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
