2026 College Football: Week 10 Takeaways
The CFP committee released their first official rankings on Tuesday, and there are some head-scratchers. A few teams slotted in way too high, and others feel rightfully snubbed for their perceived disrespect. That’s nothing new. Each week, I’m going to dedicate one of my takeaways below to analyzing their rankings. I’ll explain where they went wrong (or right if that miraculously happens like this week) and why, as well as what I’d do differently. Late in the season, draft preparation and playoff positioning take centerstage, and my posts will reflect that, but we’ll still talk about other stuff! Let’s start now with my week 10 takeaways!
(3) Utah Silences Doubters with Victory over (9) BYU in “Holy War”
When Utah debuted at #3 in the initial CFP rankings, people questioned their strength of schedule. 8-0 or not, who had they actually beaten? The Utes had a chance to answer that question with a battle against their archrivals: the BYU Cougars. I think they put most of the lingering doubts to bed. Utah clearly hyped themselves up because they came out on fire. Their first two drives ended in quick TDs, with QB Devon Dampier (14/26, 177 yards, 2 TDs; 20/87/2 rushing; 1/29 receiving) running for one and throwing for another. To BYU’s credit, instead of rolling over, they rattled off 20 straight points of their to take a 20-14 halftime lead.
Interestingly, that was the last time the Cougars would score. Utah’s defense shut BYU out in the second half. They did so by stymieing the running game, which did not benefit much from the return of RB LJ Martin (7/19/1) from injury. Even more importantly, the Utes forced 4 INTs out of QB Bear Bachmeier (21/35, 272 yards, TD, 4 INTs; 8/59 rushing). Lance Holtzclaw, James Chenault Jr, Trey Reynolds, and Nate Ritchie each nabbed a souvenir for the Utah defense. Bachmeier does a lot of good for BYU every game through his throwing and running. In this case though, his turnovers, especially two critical red zone misfires, were killers.
Meanwhile, the Utah offense rebounded from their 2nd-quarter lull. Dampier and WR Braden Pegan (5/86/2) each scored, retaking the lead and then extending it to 28-20. The defense did the rest. Despite the lack of a single sack throughout the game, the Utes did what they do best: getting crucial stops when they’re needed the most. The reason Utah is so dangerous is because they’re an incredibly balanced team. Maybe they aren’t elite in any one category, but they can throw the ball, they can run the ball, and they can stop opponents from scoring. That combination will help you win more often than not, 9 times already in Utah’s case.
Regarding the CFP implications of this game, BYU is in trouble. Their win over Notre Dame will be a feather in their cap no matter what, but their loss to UCF is a stain. The committee clearly didn’t consider the Cougars a top-5 team before, and I doubt they like BYU more now. Winning the Big XII, likely via a rematch against Utah, is their best remaining path, but they’ll need some help reaching the title game. Utah is in a fantastic spot. They’re almost certainly making the CFP, with the remaining question being their seed. The Utes have some tricky games ahead, but they’re equipped to win all of them. If they do, a first-round bye awaits.
(1) Miami Latest #1 to Fall, Stumbling Against Rival (11) Notre Dame
Everyone knows the history between these two teams. From “Catholics versus Convicts” to the present, these schools and their fans hate each other. However, only one team had truly high stakes in this week’s matchup. Miami, at 8-0 and holding the #1 ranking, could lose this game without much consequence beyond seeding. Conversely, Notre Dame’s surprise debut at #11 told us that the committee hates their weak schedule. This game against the Hurricanes was their one chance to fortify their resume given that they already lost to BYU. They had unique outcomes here: win and almost assuredly earn a CFP berth; lose and eliminate themselves like last year.
Miami had a critical deficiency: an ankle injury suffered during practice by star WR Malachi Toney. He’s the heartbeat of the Canes’ offense, and it showed. Miami mustered just 3 first-half points without the field stretcher available. Notre Dame took advantage of that and enjoyed the Hurricanes’ secondary injuries even more. QB CJ Carr (29/40, 319 yards, 3 TDs) diced Miami up, and WRs Micah Gilbert (9/98/2) and Jordan Faison (6/77/1; 56-yard PR) seemed to always be open. For Miami, RB Mark Fletcher Jr (13/57) ran hard, but the team had to abandon the run as they fell behind 24-3 early in the 3rd quarter. Panic time arrived.
Heisman candidate QB Darian Mensah adjusted to life without Toney. His fellow Duke transfer, WR Cooper Barkate (10/118/2) became his main target, and TE Elija Lofton (7/113/1) provided a great secondary option. A stretch of strong defensive play and sheer will from Mensah (24/43, 302 yards, 3 TDs, INT; 11/28 rushing) allowed Miami to storm back to a 24-17 deficit. However, Mensah’s 2nd INT of the season (a great play by S Luke Talich on an underthrown ball) killed the Hurricanes’ momentum, and the defense fell apart. Notre Dame immediately added another TD to extend to a 2-TD advantage as their passing game got back on track.
Another Miami TD and a missed FG by ND made things interesting. However, a turnover on downs and an inability to stop the run (to get the ball back) ended the Canes’ hopes. Notre Dame felt both relief and vengeance, having earned payback for last year’s defeat (and perceived CFP snub) at the hands of their mortal enemies. Thanks to their easy schedule, the Fighting Irish should cruise into the CFP as an at-large team. Miami also has an easy road ahead, and I expect them to win the ACC as a 1-loss champion and maybe still earn a bye. However, Toney will remain out for a while. The lessons learned from playing without him this week will be key.
(2) Georgia, (13) Tennessee Assert Dominance in SEC
Two SEC teams really had fantastic days in their intraconference matchups. One is exactly who you might expect. On the road at (1) Ole Miss, Georgia got revenge for their 2025 CFP loss. Unlike that shootout, only the Bulldogs bothered to score in this one. UGA’s defensive chops were on full display. They made Rebels QB Trinidad Chambliss (18/34, 170 yards, INT, FUM) absolutely miserable. I’ve never seen him look so uncomfortable in the pocket. He probably saw ghosts by the time he took his 5th sack, while the Georgia secondary made every throw a challenge. Ole Miss scored 7 garbage-time points and literally nothing else.
Offensively, Georgia looked as good as I’ve seen them all season. QB Gunner Stockton (9/15, 186 yards, 4 TDs; 6/28/1 rushing) was highly efficient, and the running game piled up 295 yards. In welcome news, the Bulldogs also got a breakout performance from sophomore WR Talyn Taylor (4/140/3), who showed himself to be a potent deep threat. With Miami’s loss, Georgia should be #1 on Tuesday, i.e., back where they belong. Ole Miss isn’t quite as good as their 2025 selves, and it showed against a truly elite team. I consider the Bulldogs near-locks for the CFP after this 42-7 beatdown. One hiccup against Auburn won’t derail their plans.
The other star SEC performer may have been a surprise. Tennessee hosted (6) Kentucky, and while the Volunteers have historically dominated that matchup, these Wildcats are different. Well, they’re different against other teams at least. The Vols made sure that history repeated itself, but they’re different from prior iterations as well. Both teams have offensive coaches but are led by their defenses. Jim Knowles‘ unit suffocated Kentucky, holding them to a pair of second-quarter FGs. They ruined any hope QB Kenny Minchey (26/34, 224 yards, INT, FUM) had with 4 sacks, sticky coverage, and endless pressure.
I’d call the Volunteers’ offense complementary, not a driving force. This was a 13-6 game through 3 quarters before the wheels fell off of Kentucky’s wagon and Tennessee rattled off 21 fourth-quarter points. Tennessee took care of the football and rode RBs DeSean Bishop (25/109/2) and Daune Morris (5/85/1), just like they’ve done all year. These teams are now on fairly equal CFP footing. Neither one can afford another loss before a potential SEC Championship game, but both probably control their own destinies. Tennessee probably has the more sustainable formula, as their defense travels well, but the offense still needs work.
(12) Ohio State, (14) LSU, and (18) Missouri are on CFP Life Support
Due to the surprisingly amount of parity around the college football world, we will likely have the first 3-loss team gain entry into the CFP. However, it probably won’t be one of the teams discussed in this section. First, we have Ohio State, whose low ranking (#12) should have served as a wake-up call. Unfortunately, HC Ryan Day couldn’t do anything about it given his QB situation. The committee clearly took the loss of starter Julian Sayin into account, especially with the way the Buckeyes looked without him against USC. They were 100% correct, as this team is hopeless with freshman Luke Fahey (36/50, 360 yards, 2 TDs, INT).
Don’t read much into OSU’s offensive stats against (23) Oregon. Half of their 28 points (and most of their yardage) came in extreme garbage time. Things looked good at first, with the Buckeyes taking a 14-0 lead. That proved to be a mirage, as the Ducks responded with 38 unanswered points. Fahey did nothing most of the game, and poor WR Jeremiah Smith (7/133/1) is watching his Heisman chances go up in flames. Oregon simply stopped the run and dared Fahey to throw. One thing you can’t blame Fahey for though is the defense. That unit has given up 30+ points in back-to-back weeks. With QB problems and an underachieving defense, the 3-loss Buckeyes are cooked.
LSU had a golden opportunity to earn a resume-defining win. Playing at home against CFP darling (5) Alabama, the Tigers just had to win a game that was a toss-up on paper. One problem: they couldn’t score. Part of the issue was awful 4th-down performance. They went 0/4 on that down, turning the ball over 4 times that way. Two traditional turnovers compounded the problem. WR Jackson Harris (11/166) was pretty much the entire offense, as QB Sam Leavitt (35/47, 380 yards, INT) mostly compiled empty stats. Alabama’s defense, with 4 sacks and stellar tackling, obviously deserves plenty of credit.
The Crimson Tide followed a familiar script: struggle early before pulling away late. QB Keelon Russell (17/24, 206 yards, 3 TDs; 8/25 rushing) hurt his ankle during the game but performed well as a passer. The running game didn’t actually do much other than keep the LSU defense honest. Getting WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (2/14; 2/10/1 rushing) back from injury was huge. Even though he didn’t produce a ton, his presence changed the game. Alabama is in fantastic CFP positioning. LSU’s third loss is crippling because Texas and Tennessee are still on the schedule. Winning both of those might get them in, but I have no faith in their ability to beat those teams.
Finally, we have Missouri, who had a tough draw against a surging (7) Texas team this week. Good news followed the Tigers into the game: RB Ahmad Hardy returned (but barely played), and QB Austin Simmons re-signed. The Longhorns had no WR Cam Coleman or RB Hollywood Smothers, both of whom are injured. Furthermore, star DE Colin Simmons only played on key downs due to an injury of his own. As a result, the game remained close through 3 quarters. I mean REALLY close. We had a 10-10 tie at the half and a 20-20 tie through 3 quarters. A few key differences ruined the Tigers though, especially their own mistakes.
Missouri’s special teams were awful. They missed 2 FGs and had a punt blocked. Their running game struggled against Texas’ stout front. TE Cayden Lee (9/79) lost a fumble in the 4th quarter with the Tigers down 7, setting Texas up 6 yards from doubling their lead. Austin Simmons (23/43, 252 yards, 2 TDs) played really well, but Texas QB Arch Manning (28/38, 297 yards, 3 TDs) was even better. The embattled passer held the ball less and made good decisions. This bodes very well for Texas moving forward. Missouri has the best case among the losing teams in this section, but their starting ranking shows the committee already doesn’t respect them. I don’t think they’re making the CFP.
Weekly CFP Update and Analysis
The CFP committee’s first rankings of the season were divisive to say the least. I full agree with putting Miami at #1, even if their loss this week was a bit predictable. Having Georgia waiting in the wings at #2 was also correct, as they’ve been the country’s best team with the exception of one game. People really questioned Utah’s placement at #3, but an undefeated Big XII team with dominant showings on their resume is deserving of that spot. My first real complaint concerns (4) Indiana. Simply put, the Hoosiers don’t pass the eye test. The defense is great, but this offense is a train wreck. I think they still earn excess respect for what last year’s Hoosiers did.
Alabama at #5 is the most common complaint, and I get it. Specifically, how are they 8 spots ahead of (13) Tennessee, another 2-loss SEC team that whipped the Crimson Tide. Alabama came into the week losers of 2 of their past 3, so their ranking made no sense to me. Kentucky at 6 seemed a bit rich as well. Two of their wins came off of 2-point conversion gambles in OT games, which isn’t sustainable. With Texas appearing at 7, the committee’s bias toward the CFP became clear. The Longhorns have some of the most impressive wins in the country…and two of the most perplexing losses among teams in the top 10.
UCLA being at 8 despite their 8-0 record was fine with me. For a Big Ten team, they’ve had a remarkable easy schedule, and the offense has not excelled since QB Nico Iamaleava got hurt (and he won’t return this year). Similarly, I agreed with Notre Dame’s “stunning” placement at #11 for the same reason. They impressed this week against a hobbled Miami team, but I still think they’re overrated by analysts. The committee had far less respect for the Big XII (with 1-loss BYU and Texas Tech down at 9 and 15, respectively) and the ACC (with only (16) Wake Forest, with several dominant wins and a defeat only against Miami, joining those Hurricanes in the top 25).
The SEC and Big Ten earned much more clout with the committee. Three 3-loss teams from those conferences were ranked, and their 2-loss teams mostly came in ahead of the 2-loss teams from the ACC and Big XII. Among the Group of 6, only Boise State appeared, and they landed at the very bottom of the rankings (25). Some were surprised to see any G6 teams, but the Broncos are legitimate. The committee essentially verified that they’re in the driver’s seat for the one G6 CFP bid, as we all expected, especially with their lone loss coming against a now-ranked Oregon team in a nail-biter (before QB Dante Moore got hurt). Win the Pac-12, and the 12-seed belongs to BSU.