Just when it looked as if conditions were right for another quiet week at and near the top of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, two top-10 teams lost in Saturday's early window of games.
No. 9 Vanderbilt made a gallant comeback attempt but came up just short in a 34-31 loss at No. 20 Texas, and No. 10 Miami lost 26-20 in overtime at SMU. The losses dealt big blows to Vandy and Miami's College Football Playoff hopes.
No. 1 Ohio State should hold down the top spot Sunday for the 10th straight week after pulling away from Penn State in the second half in a 38-14 win. No. 2 Indiana should stand pat following a 55-10 win at Maryland.
No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Alabama and No. 6 Oregon were idle.
No. 5 Georgia battled all afternoon with Florida, trailing by three points in the middle of the fourth quarter before winning 24-20. The margin could have been greater, but the Bulldogs took a knee twice on the Florida 1-yard line to end the game.
— No. 13 Texas Tech, which beat Kansas State 43-20 on the road, probably will move up a spot or two because of the losses by Vanderbilt and Miami.
— No. 15 Virginia made the trip across three time zones and won 31-21 at California. That trip is never easy and may merit giving the Cavaliers a one- or two-rung bump.
— No. 20 Texas’ 34-31 victory over Vanderbilt extended its win streak to four games. The Longhorns were up 10-0 early, scoring a touchdown on their first play from scrimmage and converting Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia’s fumble into a field goal. Pavia ran and threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut a 34-10 deficit to three points.
— No. 9 Vanderbilt has two losses and will stay in the Top 25. About the best the Commodores can hope is that things break right for them and their regular-season finale at No. 14 Tennessee is a playoff play-in game.
— No. 10 Miami lost to a then-unranked Louisville two weeks ago and now to an unranked SMU. The Hurricanes' only chance of getting to the CFP is to somehow reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and win it — a real long shot.
— No. 22 Houston will have a one-week stay in the Top 25 after losing 45-35 at home to a West Virginia team that came in with two wins. The Mountaineers converted four Houston turnovers into 17 points and overcame eight penalties.
— It'll be interesting to see how voters view No. 12 Notre Dame's 25-10 win at Boston College. The Irish led just 12-10 late in the third quarter against an opponent that had lost seven straight and whose only win was against Fordham of the Championship Subdivision.
— North Texas' 31-17 win over previously unbeaten Navy will position the Mean Green for their first ranking since 1959. UNT has received votes in four polls while getting out to an 8-1 start.
No. 17 Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) at No. 24 Utah (6-2, 3-2)
The Bearcats are the surprise of the Big 12 and roll into Salt Lake City on a seven-game winning streak. The Utes hammered Colorado last week without injured QB Devon Dampier. This will be the first meeting of the schools in football. BetMGM Sportsbook: Utah by 10.5.
No. 18 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) at No. 14 Tennessee (6-2 3-2)
It's the second straight year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel faces his alma mater. He led the Sooners to the 2000 national title and was AP player of the year and Heisman Trophy runner-up that year. His Joey Aguilar-led offense has been nearly unstoppable. Oklahoma brings in the SEC's top defense but one that gave up 32 of the 34 points in a home loss last week to Ole Miss. BetMGM Sportsbook: Tennessee by 3.
No. 23 Southern California (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) at Nebraska (6-2, 3-2)
The de facto Big Ten game of the week since all luster came off Penn State-Ohio State after the Nittany Lions' free fall. USC is unbeaten in six previous meetings. The albatross of a 28-game losing streak against ranked opponents hangs over Nebraska. BetMGM: USC by 6.5.
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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