2026 College Football: Week 7 Takeaways
If you thought LAST week had a ton of upsets, you (like me) were totally unprepared for week 7. For the first time ever, #1, #2, #5, #6, and #7 all lost in the same week. Two of them (#2 Notre Dame and #5 Indiana) lost to fellow top-10 teams, which is defensible. I’ll even let #6 Alabama’s loss slide given that it came against a 14th-ranked team with a great defense. #1 Georgia and #7 Texas losing to unranked teams though? I have different words for them, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves. First, we’ve got some playoff-related business to discuss. Let’s jump right in to my week 7 takeaways and see how this insane week went!
CFP Set to Expand to 24 Teams in Obvious Cash Grab
Before we get to all the major upsets that took place this week, let’s discuss the biggest news that came off the field. You’re probably aware that ESPN and the CFP reached a “handshake agreement” to expand the playoff to 24 teams (from 12). This was a dream of the Big Ten, with the ACC and Big XII jumping aboard once they were promised a seat at the table. The SEC was not as enthusiastic. They wanted a 16-team playoff, thinking that 24 was too much. I happen to agree with them. Even the NFL only has 14 teams in its playoff. Nonetheless, money talks, and the SEC consented once they saw their expected payday.
I can’t even be mad at this, as roster costs are out of control. Thanks to NIL, the top teams are spending over $50M just for players this season. Media rights deals are the easiest ways to generate quick and substantial income, so the power conferences needed to milk the CFP for all it’s worth. That doesn’t make a 24-team playoff right for the sport though. Just a quick aside: I pity the team who ends up ranked at #25. Assuming ranked Power 4 conference champions, that means every single team ranked in the top 25 will be participating except one, which is sort of sad. Anyway, let’s look at the changes that will be coming.
For starters, conference championship games are going away. I doubt anyone wants to see a team eventually opt out due to fear of losing their playoff spot with a defeat. Additionally, a team could potentially play 17 games in a season if they earn a seed between 9 and 24 and go on to win the title. We know that “student” athletes are basically pros now, but 17 games is literally an NFL-length schedule. A conference championship game would make that 18, which is untenable. It should be noted that networks who were scheduled to air these title games will be receiving money from the conferences as compensation.
A potentially positive change floated by some is the inclusion of more bowl games in the CFP. Bowl games are losing their relevance as players opt out to “prepare for the draft”. I’m not anticipating that change though. My expectation is that the first two rounds will be games hosted on college campuses, not bowls. The bowl sponsors could put their names on these games, but they aren’t “bowl games”. Many bowls might disappear given that less teams will be available to fill them. Finally, more teams will have a chance to win it all. Teams complain about access every year, and there will now be twice as many opportunities.
Let’s be realistic. Whoever ends up at #25 will still complain, just as #13 moans about the 12-team playoff. This is the nature of the sport. Most people I talk to think that this new format is excessive, but we all agree on one point: we’ll still watch. Those of us who love college football don’t care if they call the games conference championships, bowls, or playoff games. More football is generally a good thing, especially given how much these plays now get paid to play. We’ll see how this all shakes out, but 2027 is going to be the start of yet another new era. Hopefully we’ll see some stability next. I’m just kidding…that’ll never happen!
(1) Georgia, (6) Alabama, and (7) Texas Suffer Rare Same-Day Losses
For the first time since 1996, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas all lost on the same day. Texas went down first in their home game against Florida. Everything started out fine, with UT taking a 17-3 lead in the 2nd quarter. Florida played without QB Aaron Philo, leaving sophomore Trammel Jones Jr to start. He clearly felt uncomfortable early on, and he averaged just 4.4 yards per attempt. However, his counterpart Arch Manning (14/20, 173 yards, TD, FUM) threw the ball no better, giving Jones time to settle into the game. Texas’ defense was also formidable, though it lost some potency once DE Colin Simmons (sack) exited with an injury.
As has been the case many times the season, Texas’ offense went stagnant in the second half. Jones (22/35, 155 yards, 2 TDs; 10/41 rushing) and star RB Jadan Baugh (25/91/1) wore the Longhorns’ defense out with the ground game and put up 27 unanswered points. Texas finally responded with a late TD and even got the ball back with a chance to take the lead, but Manning suffered a strip sack (his 5th sack of the day) to lose the game. Most of the sacks were on the QB, who didn’t get the ball out on time. After being ranked #1 just last week, the Longhorns’ season is suddenly spiraling out of control with (9) Ole Miss up next.
The Georgia-Auburn game in Athens followed a similar script. UGA took a quick 14-0 league, thanks in part to an unexpected cameo from backup QB Ryan Puglisi (3/3, 55 yards). Starter Gunner Stockton (22/34, 272 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 9/26 rushing, FUM) quickly returned to lead a TD drive of his own, and all was right with the #1 team. Then, something unexpected happened: Georgia lost the physicality battle. Auburn ripped off 17 straight points to close the half while holding the Bulldogs to 2 punts, a missed FG, and an INT. QB Byron Brown (15/26, 150 yards, TD; 26/115/1 rushing) and the O-line simply manhandled UGA.
After another Tiger TD and another Stockton INT, Georgia steadied the ship with a field goal and completely clamped down on defense. Stockton then led a 13-play, 94-yard game-tying TD drive with incredible poise, and it felt like Georgia would be alright. On their next possession though, Stockton coughed up the football with 58 seconds left, and Auburn went 40 yards (all on the ground) before kicking a game-winning FG. This stunned people. Georgia rarely loses at home or to unranked teams. Unlike Texas though, this seems more like a one-off than a sign of an impending collapse. I still believe in Georgia, but they aren’t infallible.
Finally, Alabama went on the road to face (14) Tennessee and bounce back from their close loss to Georgia. Instead, we saw the ugly Alabama that appeared in the first half of their game against Florida State. QB Keelon Russell (19/29, 133 yards, 2 INTs, FUM, rush TD) never found a rhythm, committing 3 turnovers and leading just 1 TD drive (which came after an INT gave them the ball in the red zone). Alabama ran for just 2.1 YPC, and they wasted a stellar day by their defense. Tennessee constantly had good field position, but for a full half, they only managed 4 FGs because their offense got nothing done. That kept the game close.
The Volunteers’ defense, however, is a revelation. In their first year under DC Jim Knowles, Tennessee has undergone a complete identity shift. They used to be all offense, but with a QB situation in flux (George MacIntyre (21/31, 197 yards, INT) didn’t impress, defense is their path to victory. Five sacks (with 2 each for LB Jeremiah Telander and DL Tyree Weathersby) and 4 takeaways ruined Alabama’s day. Tennessee’s running game, basically just RB DeSean Bishop (32/159/2) put the game away in the second half of a comfortable 26-10 win. Alabama is simply not “there” yet. Just as importantly, Tennessee remains firmly in the mix.
(4) Ohio State Outlasts (5) Indiana but Loses QB Sayin
I imagine that the Buckeyes circled this game as soon as the schedule came out. They wanted revenge for their loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game last year. That defensive slugfest essentially repeated itself though. Neither Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (15/29, 235 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) nor Indiana QB Josh Hoover (20/40, 296 yards, TD, FUM) found a ton of success, especially in the first half. Mistakes were plentiful, with the Hoosiers missing an FG and losing their first fumble of the year. OSU had 7 untimely penalties and an ineffective ground game. I can’t say enough about these two defenses though. Both excelled.
Buckeyes freshman CB Jay Timmons (7 tackles, 2 PBUs) is a star in the making. He was everywhere, as were his teammates. Indiana’s production came in twos, with DLs Mario Landino and Tobi Osunsanmi earning 2 sacks apiece and CB Amare Ferrell picking off two passes. Sayin’s INTs stopped in the 4th quarter when he left with a shoulder injury. Backup Luke Fahey didn’t complete a single pass, and Indiana nearly made a comeback. However, on 4th-and-4, WR Nick Marsh (3/57/1) ran a great route but barely stepped out of bounds, turning a TD into an incompletion. Thus, the Hoosiers’ 22-game win streak came to an end.
I must reiterate how much I loved the defensive performances in this game. Hoosiers WR Charlie Becker (9/165) broke out, but nobody else did. Indiana even managed to contain Heisman frontrunner Jeremiah Smith (4/68/1). Offensively, I have few nice things to say. Indiana has teetered for weeks because this attack is not as potent as last year’s version. A loss was coming at some point. Ohio State will probably score more against other opponents, but maybe not for a few weeks. Sayin is expected to miss a decent amount of time, and Fahey did not look good. A team this talented can still find a way though!
(3) Miami Wins in 2OT to Claim #1 Ranking as (8) BYU Upsets (2) ND
Arguably, the two best games of the week took place in the 7 PM ET window. Miami hosted Florida State in a rivalry game, and those matchups can always go awry. Weird things happen in these games too. For example, Hurricanes QB Darian Mensah (23/34, 326 yards, 3 TDs, INT) threw his first INT of the season and actually looked human. FSU became a passing juggernaut, with QB Ashton Daniels (15/28, 298 yards, 4 TDs, INT) and WR Duce Robinson (5/113/2) producing their biggest games of the season. Part of that was Miami’s badly injured secondary, which somehow lost even more players during this game.
On offense, Miami fell asleep, with two turnovers on downs and that rare INT. FSU took a 21-14 lead, but the Canes woke up in time. They unearthed a new star RB in Javian Mallory (13/108/2) with Mark Fletcher Jr (16/66/1) banged up, and Mensah smartly relied on WR Malachi Toney (11/154/2; 2/31 rushing). Unlike in previous weeks, FSU didn’t quit, and the teams traded scores until we reached OT tied 28-28. Naturally, both teams easily scored TDs in the extra period, and Miami scored another in 2OT. As a fun little bonus, Toney threw for the 2-point conversion on a trick play, returning to his high school QB roots.
FSU’s response nearly topped all that. A disastrous sequence produced 4th and 21, and their hopes dimmed. Daniels fired a prayer, and WR Micahi Danzy pulled it down for a score. Alas, the ACC saved their Hurricanes, calling a phantom hold on the Seminoles. On 4th and 31, Daniels did it AGAIN, with Robinson getting 2 hands on the ball. The refs correctly called it an INT though, as CB Bryce Fitzgerald truly had possession. Thus, Miami escaped, and with the top 2 teams going down, they’re probably going to be your new #1 team. It wasn’t really convincing, but unlike their competition, they got the job done.
Speaking of #2, the Fighting Irish went to Provo to battle BYU in the most anticipated game of the week. ND had not been challenged this season, while the Cougars were eager to prove themselves in a big game. Even without injured RB LJ Martin, BYU impressed in the first half on offense. QB Bear Bachmeier (23/36, 224 yards, TD, INT; 13/45/2 rushing; 1/15/1 receiving) was a triple threat. His coolest play came in the second quarter, when he caught a pass from WR Kyler Kasper (6/66) and rumbled for a score. They took a 21-10 lead with under 2 minutes to go in the half, at which point Notre Dame had a pivotal sequence.
The Irish moved the ball thanks to 2 DPI calls that were really push-offs (of course the refs called OPI in the 3rd quarter to take away a BYU touchdown). In the most fitting example of “ball don’t lie”, as they neared the goal line, QB CJ Carr (27/49, 261 yards, FUM) tried to spike the ball but lost control of it, leading to a fumble. BYU showed great awareness scooping up the loose ball, ceding no points on the possession. The Cougars crumbled in the second half though. Special teams killed them, with a muff and a failed fake punt at their own 28. Those turnovers only yielded 6 points, but the BYU offense also disappeared.
Slowly but surely, ND chipped away. WRs Jaden Greathouse (8/125) and Jordan Faison (6/64) were unstoppable, especially on contested catches. The Irish finally grabbed a 24-21 lead, but BYU’s defense stiffened, and the offense retook the lead with 1:47 to go. A dramatic final series followed, and the Cougars held strong to keep Carr and company out of the end zone. I knew Notre Dame was not really #2 quality. Their weak schedule always masks their deficiencies. Conversely, BYU proved themselves to be real. It’s time to give them and the entire Big XII more respect. Maybe a win against the NCAA’s favorite son is what they needed.
(9) Ole Miss, (20) Houston Emerge from Overshadowed Top-20 Duels
With all the talk about the teams in the top 10 losing, two games featuring pairs of top-20 teams went under the radar. First, (13) Missouri went to Ole Miss in a return for QB Austin Simmons. The Missouri starter opened last season as Mississippi’s starter and didn’t perform badly, but an injury led to a little known D-II transfer getting his shot. We all know what happened: that man was Trinidad Chambliss, and he never gave that job back. I hate the concept of a player losing his job because of an injury, but after this reunion, it’s hard to think that the Rebels made the wrong choice. This game wasn’t remotely competitive.
Chambliss (20/36, 241 yards, 3 TDs; 4/14/1 rushing) led a balanced and productive offense. Simmons (25/44, 339 yards, INT), without the benefit of a running game, compiled decent counting stats but not much else. I won’t hold his final-drive 4th-and-goal prayer INT against him, but after a field goal on their first possession, the Tigers never scored again. Ole Miss isn’t exactly known for defense, so this 31-3 result was odd. Simmons showed the inconsistency that sometimes holds him back, reminding us that he’s not actually that experienced despite being a senior. Chambliss is the polished player who can carry a team.
In the packed late window, (20) Houston hosted (18) Oklahoma State and treated us to a classic 35-32 Big XII shootout. We saw two of the best QBs in college football. OSU’s Drew Mestemaker (22/34, 365 yards, 3 TDs, INT, FUM; 6/34 rushing) is now the top-rated QB on Mel Kiper’s draft Big Board, while Houston’s Conner Weigman (24/33, 343 yards, 5 TDs, INT; 10/44 rushing) is perennially underrated. It feels like people only remember his underwhelming time at Texas A&M as an under-seasoned QB. They haven’t noticed the mature, effective player that he has become. Sadly, few people probably watched his brilliance in this game.
After a first-drive INT, Weigman played flawlessly. Once he threw his first TD, the Cougars never trailed again. Mestemaker and the Cowboys did keep striking, but impressively, Weigman responded every single time. Neither defense really participated, but this game was fun! After all, there was only one field goal, with everything else being a touchdown. As much as OSU has improved, they’re not QUITE in the upper echelon of Big XII teams. Houston typically occupies that space, but they’re a little bit better this year. One close loss to a high-end Texas Tech team is their only blemish. Don’t forget about the Cougars in the CFP chase.