4 biggest fallers in College Football after Week 7

This was not the week to be in the top-10 of the college football AP Poll. A literally unprecedented 5 teams ranked in the top-10 lost this week. Some of them have more concerns than others. Some of them will drop further in the polls and power rankings than others. So, what teams, in the top-10 and beyond, are going to fall the hardest after this week?

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Texas

For the second straight week, the Longhorns find themselves in this column. And it is because, for the second straight week, they lost an unfathomable game to an unranked opponent where their offense looked like garbage. But it wasn’t just the offense that was the issue today, as the defense couldn’t get off the field. On Florida’s first scoring drive of the second half, they converted 5 consecutive 3rd downs.

Back to the offense – here is the bottom line: this does not look like a vintage Steve Sarkisian offense. If Sarkisian is in his own head with playcalling, then he needs to give it up. If he doesn’t trust Arch Manning to execute his offense, then he needs to find a QB. This marriage between Sarkisian and Manning either needs counseling or a divorce.

Notre Dame

It took a lot of things to go wrong for Notre Dame to lose to BYU this Saturday. First, you had the litany of trick plays by the Cougars and the raucous home crowd. But you also had a flubbed spike attempt that was somehow ruled a fumble near the end of the first half and cost Notre Dame 3 points. Then you had a very controversial no-call on a potential defensive pass interference on the last play of the game (that also may have ended with one second on the clock).

But because all of that went against the Irish, they now find themselves in a precarious position: with a schedule that lacks premier opponents, they better beat Miami in November to avoid a repeat of 2025. Notre Dame is not the only team in the country with a less-than-ideal schedule, but they are the only ones who don’t have a Conference Championship game to fall back on.

Georgia

It was the epitome of an “emotional hangover” game. After the wild ride that was last week’s win over Alabama, which saw the Bulldogs rise to #1 in the AP poll. This week was supposed to be a roll-over of little old Auburn, and Georgia was almost 20-point favorites. But the Georgia defense struggled to contain Byrum Brown in the pocket all day, and he made them pay.

The Bulldogs actually found themselves with a chance to win the game late in the 4th quarter, but a Gunner Stockton fumble allowed Auburn a chance to kick a game-winning field goal. The Bulldogs are still likely to finish the season 11-1, but they’re certainly not going to be thought of as the best team in the country any longer.

Penn State

If you thought last week was rock bottom for Penn State, then do I have news for you! This week, Penn State traveled to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan. They outgained Michigan, held the Wolverines to only 90 passing yards, and Michigan replaced QB1 Bryce Underwood mid-game with Tommy Carr.

Somehow, even with all of that going their way, Penn State still found a way to lose the game, 21-18. This team may struggle to reach bowl eligibility with how they are playing.

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