College football risers and fallers: Tennessee looks like contender, LSU looks like frauds

There are still more than a handful of teams vying for a College Football Playoff berth after 10 weeks of the season. The picture is starting to become clearer, though.

Ohio State's loss to Oregon and Notre Dame's win over Miami helped paint two of the clearest paths to the CFP in Week 10. The Buckeyes now have three losses on the season and have a miniscule chance at the 12-team field, especially without quarterback Julian Sayin. Notre Dame, meanwhile, all-but secured its spot after taking down the No.1 Hurricanes in a must-win game given its weak strength of schedule.

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The SEC race is also starting to figure itself out. Tennessee crushed Kentucky and Georgia dominated Ole Miss, resulting in the Vols and Bulldogs being in prime position for an SEC championship game berth. Texas still lingers, too, especially after its 34-20 win over Missouri on the road.

Some of these teams are trending up, while others are trending down. Here's a look at college football's latest risers and fallers after Week 10:

College football risers after Week 10

Tennessee

Tennessee's identity is clear: Cause havoc on defense and run the ball. It's different than usual, but it has worked this season for coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols made a statement with their 34-6 win over Kentucky in Week 10, as they rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns as a team. Quarterback George MacIntyre only needed 14 pass attempts while former starter Faizon Brandon entered in special packages and added 53 total yards and a touchdown.

Tennessee all of a sudden looks like a real SEC contender, despite not having a high-end quarterback.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame had to win in Week 10, or it would've been at risk of being 10-2 again without a ranked win. The Fighting Irish essentially locked up a CFP spot with their 31-24 win over then-No. 1 Miami, assuming they win at least two of their next three games.

CJ Carr was maybe the biggest winner in Week 10, too. He threw for over 300 yards with three touchdowns in the win, and with other outcomes across the country, might be the Heisman Trophy frontrunner now.

Oregon

Oregon was on pace for a disastrous season after early season losses to Oklahoma State, UCLA and Illinois. But after back-to-back wins over Northwestern and Ohio State the Ducks are back in the CFP picture.

Oregon has a real path to a Big Ten championship game berth should it win out. Its remaining schedule is manageable, too, with games against Michigan, Michigan State and Washington.

The 2026 season has not gone to plan for Oregon, one of the national championship favorites entering the season. It absolutely could still compete for a title, regardless.

College football fallers after Week 10

Ohio State

Ohio State's CFP chances are all-but cooked following back-to-back losses double-digit losses to Southern California and Oregon.

The Buckeyes have already secured their worst regular season finish since 2011, although most of that is due to losing starting quarterback Julian Sayin. True freshman Luke Fahey has struggled in his first two starts, as expected for a first-year player.

It could get worse for Ohio State going forward, also, with games against Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan.

LSU

Advanced metrics still like LSU — No. 7 in ESPN's SP+ — but it's now 6-3 this season without a ranked win after its 31-13 loss to Alabama at home.

The Tigers likely control their own destiny going forward if they can win games vs. Texas and Tennessee to boost their resume, but they have no room for error with three weeks left in the regular season if they want to reach the CFP in Lane Kiffin's first year at the helm.

Kentucky

Kentucky has been an awesome story this season, but its massive 34-6 loss to Tennessee in Week 10 might be a sign of things to come.

The Wildcats and first-year coach Will Stein have to prove their loss was an aberration. None of their remaining games are easy, either, with Florida, Missouri and in-state rival Louisville on the horizon.

It's time to see what Kentucky is made of. Fall apart down the stretch and the Wildcats will be frauds. Bounce back, and Kentucky deserves a CFP berth.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football risers and fallers: Tennessee looks like contender, LSU looks like frauds