Upset Saturday gripped college football this past weekend. Only one game involved two ranked teams, but six teams in the top 25 managed to lose. All of a sudden, the parity that didn’t seem possible in an NIL age is now looking inevitable and potentially the result of that NIL. Here are our 10 takeaways from a crazy weekend in the sport.
Chaos grips the SEC
The Alabama Crimson Tide falling to the Vanderbilt Commodores is the upset of the century in college football, but the Vols losing to the Arkansas Razorbacks was nearly as shocking. Add in the Missouri Tigers falling to the Texas A&M Aggies, and all three undefeated teams in the league that played this past weekend lost, two to unranked foes. Only the Texas Longhorns remain perfect there.
Michigan, USC suffer second loss each
Both the Wolverines and the Trojans were getting back into the College Football Playoff hunt after tough losses early, and then they both lost over the weekend. Michigan had a tough loss on the road to the Washington Huskies, a tough place to play, but USC had an inexplicable loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Neither team has room for error the rest of the way.
Upset Saturday avoids four of five undefeated B1G teams
Only the Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost, to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and they were fraudulent anyway. The Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions and Ohio State Buckeyes all blew out their opponents, and the Indiana Hoosiers managed to win as well, so don’t sleep on them. Plenty of teams are alive in the Big Ten race.
Miami survives Upset Saturday with big comeback
All the wild upsets on Saturday were supposed to include the Hurricanes, as they trailed 35-10 to the Cal Golden Bears on the road. However, Cam Ward then led them back to win 39-38 in an amazing, Heisman-like performance, making them the best story in college football over the weekend of the undefeateds. Could Mario Cristobal be bringing The U back?
SMU, Clemson, Syracuse in ACC, College Football Playoff race
While The U looks back, the Florida State Seminoles don’t, as they fell to 1-5 by losing to the Clemson Tigers. Meanwhile, the SMU Mustangs scored a huge win over the Louisville Cardinals. Both teams only have one loss, and Clemson remains undefeated in ACC play. Meanwhile, the Syracuse Orange upset the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, and they only have one loss, so watch out.
Boise State the Group of Five College Football Playoff favorite
With UNLV losing, the Broncos are back on top of the race of Group of Five teams to reach the College Football Playoff. One spot is reserved for that group, and Boise State took the inside track by dominating the Utah State Aggies 62-30 while Ashton Jeanty moved into the Heisman race with 13 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
Army, Navy stay undefeated and could cause more chaos
While BSU leads the Go5 CFP race, the Black Knights and Midshipmen are both 5-0 for the first time since 1943, when both service academies were saving the world in World War II. What if they both finish undefeated or even with one loss and it’s down to those two for the College Football Playoff Go5 spot. The selection committee has to make the decision before they play. That could be insane.
Iowa State, Pitt keep chugging along undefeated
Speaking of undefeated, the BYU Cougars didn’t play this weekend, but the Iowa State Cyclones did, and they blew out the Baylor Bears. As a result, Iowa State joins BYU as the two undefeated Big 12 teams leading the College Football Playoff race there. Going back to the ACC, though, the Pittsburgh Panthers are also still undefeated after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are with Clemson and Miami.
Heisman watch
1. Cam Ward
2. Ashton Jeanty
3. Travis Hunter
4. Jalen Milroe
5. Kurtis Rourke
Top 10
1. Texas
2. Oregon
3. Ohio State
4. Penn State
5. Miami
6. BYU
7. Iowa State
8. Pittsburgh
9. Alabama
10. Georgia
