Week 10 of college football was billed as a battle of heavyweights and the results were delivered. A top-two team fell for the fifth straight week as No. 1 Miami lost to No. 11 Notre Dame, once again sparking the playoff race.
Many other teams also faced significant situations. No. 3 Utah solidified his place among the top contenders. No. 14 LSU found itself on the outside looking in. No. 6 Kentucky moved to the edge of the bubble after a second loss in SEC play.
With that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 10, including several teams that made and broke their playoff records.
Winner: Notre Dame
Last season, the Fighting Irish lost to both of their College Football Playoff opponents, costing them a playoff spot. After losing to BYU earlier this season, Notre Dame was in danger of repeating its mistakes. Instead, quarterback CJ Carr helped the Irish to a thrilling 31-24 victory over No. 1 Miami.
Carr was magnificent in the victory, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns, one of the best performances of his career. He takes the lead in the Heisman Trophy conversation after the win, especially after beating Darian Mensah. But more importantly, Notre Dame actually punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff.
Loser: Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham
It’s bad enough that Whittingham had to watch his protégé, Morgan Scalley, lead Utah to a better start than it’s had in the last 15 years. But after the Utes effectively clinched their spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over BYU, Whittingham had one of the most miserable performances in program history.
The Wolverines lost 15-6 to a Michigan State team that entered without a single Big Ten win. They didn’t score a point until the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. It was the first time Michigan had lost without allowing a touchdown since 1985.
Whittingham is in serious danger of being a one-and-done coach at Michigan after falling to 5-4 and 2-4 in Big Ten play. With three straight games against CFP-ranked opponents, missing a bowl game completely is absolutely possible.
Winner: Georgia
You could beat Kirby Smart once. You won’t get it twice. After losing in last season’s College Football Playoff to Ole Miss, No. 2 Georgia eviscerated the No. 10 Rebels 42-7 to effectively end their College Football Playoff campaign.
The Bulldogs completely stifled Ole Miss’ elite offense, limiting them to 66 rushing yards on 31 carries. Georgia totaled 295 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Gunner Stockton needed just 15 passes to throw for 186 yards and four touchdowns.
College football was waiting for an elite team to emerge. Welcome back, Georgia.
Winner: Utah
When Utah joined the Big 12, they arrived with the expectation of competing for the conference and nationally every year under coach Kyle Whittingham. This never happened. Finally, Morgan Scalley makes them exploit their potential and beat their rival.
The No. 3 Utes picked up a massive win over No. 9 BYU, ending a three-game losing streak against the Cougars. They overcame an early second half deficit thanks to a terrific game from quarterback Devon Dampier, improving to 9-0 for the first time since 2008 (an undefeated season).
The win propels them into the College Football Playoff. Based on what happens tonight, they could have a serious case for #1.
Loser: Ohio State
The last time Ohio State suffered three regular-season losses was in 2011, a season with interim coaching after Tattoogate. The last time they gave up 38 unanswered points was 1999, the penultimate year of the John Cooper era. By all accounts, Ryan Day’s program is hitting rock bottom.
Certainly, Julian Sayin’s quarterback injury looms large in the Buckeyes’ skid. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey struggled in two starts, never quite getting on the same page with his downfield passes. But even though Sayin and Jeremiah Smith managed to plug many of the holes, they served as wallpaper against the rot growing in the walls.
The Buckeyes were bullied on both lines of scrimmage against USC and Oregon, two teams that were pushed around by much of the Big Ten. Their secondary collapsed. Ohio State just isn’t Ohio State right now, and Day better have some good answers to fix that in 2027.
Winner: Jason Witten, Oklahoma offensive coordinator
It’s only one game, but the former Hall of Fame tight end has been a breath of fresh air for the Oklahoma offense. The production and efficiency under Witten was nothing special — 351 yards, 4.8 yards per play — but the change in approach helped pave the way for a much more ball-dominant offense.
The Sooners held the ball for nearly 38 minutes in Witten’s debut behind 40 rushing attempts, tied for the second-most against an SEC opponent in the last two years. Witten also emphasized faster-developing routes for struggling John Mateer, helping him spread the ball around. Five receivers received at least three catches.
Florida is one of the worst defenses in the SEC, so it’s wise not to get too hung up on it. But even though there are plenty of bigger tests ahead, Witten has his own offensive flavor that should complement Brent Venables’ defense much better.
Loser: Kentucky
The Wildcats were one of the biggest surprises in the inaugural CFP rankings, starting at No. 6 as one of the few one-loss SEC teams. This favored position in the rankings takes a huge hit after a miserable performance against No. 13 Tennessee, a 34-6 loss.
After managing the game well for most of the first three quarters, Kentucky triggered a fumble and consecutive turnovers on downs. Tennessee turned every short field into a touchdown to put the game away.
Kentucky should still be safe in the postseason if they can win with remaining games against Florida, Missouri and Louisville. However, if they lose again, they could fall completely, especially after their milestone win against LSU took a hit.
Loser: LSU
Lane Kiffin signed the biggest contract in the SEC and reportedly spent the most money on his college football team this year. After a 31-14 loss to No. 5 Alabama, all LSU has to show for it is an 0-3 record against top 25 opponents in the CFP.
LSU was completely outclassed against the Tide, who came out on top in virtually every big moment. Kiffin’s offense turned the ball over three times and made several trips to the red zone come up empty.
It was Kiffin’s sixth straight loss to Alabama as head coach, and the Tigers’ playoff hopes are on life support. There are no worse returns on investment in 2026.
Winner: Texas
Don’t look now, but the Longhorns look awfully interesting heading into the home stretch. None of their performances have been particularly clean, but No. 7 Texas now has wins over No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 18 Missouri under their belt.
There were some frustrating moments, but Arch Manning played an efficient game with 297 passing yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. If they can avoid mistakes, Texas looks in good shape to reach the playoffs, especially since they rank first as a potential three-loss team.
Loser: Nebraska
There must be a curse in Nebraska. There is no other explanation. The Cornhuskers were 5-0 and looked to be in excellent position to crash the playoffs. Now they’ve lost three straight and haven’t even comfortably reached bowl eligibility after a frustrating 24-13 loss to Illinois on Friday night.
Nebraska had 426 yards of offense, but managed to turn it into just 13 points after several missed field goals and turnovers on downs. They went 1 for 4 on fourth down. After the game, Nebraska fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Will this help? Only if it can lift the curse.
Winner: Ferris State
Too many people know Ferris State as the school that produced Trinidad Chambliss. Everyone should also know them as the most dominant college football team in America.
The Bulldogs just won their 40th straight game, tying a Division II record, after an 80-0 victory over Wayne State. The winning streak goes back to Chambliss’ first solo start in 2024, but Tony Annese has built a machine in Big Rapids. Annese has an absurd 153-21 record with four national championships in the last five years. He’s as good as it gets.
Loser: Tulane
When Jon Sumrall left for Florida, Tulane decided to take the easy way out and promote from within. Former Southern Miss coach Will Hall was elevated from passing game coordinator to head coach. This decision became an absolute disaster. Despite bringing back a talented team, Tulane completely fell off the cliff.
A loss to Tulsa highlights how far this proud program has fallen. The Green Wave lost 60-10, a stunning result for the reigning Conference USA champions. They are now 4-5 with games remaining against North Texas and South Florida.
Tulane could realistically miss a bowl game in 2026. After last week’s performance, Hall should be a one-and-done coach. Tulane can – and must – do better.
Gn sports
