College football stock up, stock down from Week 6: A New No. 1 on Sunday

What a week of college football. Week 6 didn’t disappoint, and there was wire-to-wire action all throughout the day on Saturday. Nebraska appeared to have Indiana under wraps, but the Hoosiers’ massive fourth quarter allowed them to stay undefeated on the season.

Both Dylan Raiola and Arch Manning made some crucial mistakes, allowing Oregon and Texas, respectively, to get taken down. Kentucky took down LSU in overtime, and USC got a much-needed win over Penn State.

Then the big game didn’t disappoint.

Georgia and Alabama went down to the wire, with the Bulldogs coming out on top with a 20-17 win. With the Longhorns going down, Georgia is likely going to be No. 1 on Sunday.

Here is whose stock has gone up and whose stock has gone down.

MORE: ESPN College GameDay Week 7 location announced, breaks 17-year hiatus

Stock up: Georgia vs. Alabama lived up to the hype

Oct 10, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Hezekiah Millender (19) and quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) warms up before the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

We wondered if the hurricane was going to mess with this game, but it didn’t, and the game lived up to the hype. Georgia would win in Tuscaloosa, 20-17, and the Bulldogs’ ground game was the big winner. Shockingly, star running back Nate Frazier didn’t play, but he didn’t need to with both Dwight Phillips Jr and Bo Walker leading the way for the ‘Dogs.

Keelon Russell played great for Alabama, throwing for 185 yards and a score but he did have a costly fumble in the game. However, the game-changer was the no-pass interference call on Alabama’s last drive of the game. It wasn’t called and Kalen DeBoer wasn’t happy.

And Georgia walked away with a massive win.

Stock down: Nebraska beating an AP Top 25 team

Oct 10, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) runs against Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Stephen Daley (9) and defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt (18) during the third quarterat Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Nebraska entered the game against Indiana 5-0, but there were many questions about who the Huskers had beaten. It didn’t appear to matter early in the game, as Nebraska looked much better than Indiana. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea was running all over the Hoosiers’ defense, and Nebraska found itself up 17-6 in the fourth quarter.

But the rest of the quarter belonged to Indiana, and the Hoosiers would go on to win, 20-17. The loss to Indiana now gives Nebraska 31 straight losses against AP Top 25 opponents. The Huskers’ defense allowed two long touchdown receptions by Nick Marsh and Nebraska couldn’t capitalize on offense.

Although Nebraska had 391 yards compared to Indiana’s 328, along with 25 first downs to the Hoosiers’ 13 — Indiana won in the only stat that matters.

Stock up: UCLA’s statement win

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava looks to pass as the Oregon Ducks host the UCLA Bruins on Oct. 10, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

It was supposed to be a high-scoring affair in Eugene, but it turned out that the defenses dominated. But it was UCLA’s defense that really dominated. Oregon didn’t have starting quarterback Dante Moore, who sat out this game after sustaining a concussion two weeks ago against USC.

Dylan Raiola drew the start, and the Ducks’ offense had no answers for UCLA. The Bruins forced seven turnovers in the game and UCLA walked away with a 17-15 win. The Bruins remain undefeated at 5-0, and UCLA’s schedule isn’t all that daunting.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava exited the game and didn’t return. His status will loom large, but running back Wayne Knight carried the load, rushing for 103 yards and a score in the win.

Stock down: Florida wasn’t actually back

Oct 10, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) runs with the ball while South Carolina Gamecocks edge Anthony Addison (40) chases \d2h at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Florida’s 52-28 win over Ole Miss seems like an eternity ago. That’s because the Gators were humbled last week against Missouri, after moving up to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll. And this week, at home against South Carolina, the Gators lost to a two-win Gamecocks team, 38-19.

It’s clear Jon Sumrall’s defense is a big issue, and it’s going to be hard to win consistently in the SEC with a bad defense. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the game. Offensively, running back Jadan Baugh was stifled once again.

Baugh was among the best running backs in the country through four weeks, but in the last two weeks, Baugh has run for 13 and 259 yards, respectively.

Stock up: Bill Belichick has a signature moment

Oct 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; *North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Ade Willie (3) talks with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick (right) during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

One week after Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi told AP Voters to wake their a**** up, his team fell to North Carolina. The Tar Heels won at the No. 25 Pitt Panthers, 21-17. Both teams had two turnovers, and the Panthers dominated with 369 total yards compared to North Carolina’s 269, but Bill Belichick’s team won.

In fact, it’s Belichick’s first win over a ranked opponent, and in typical Belichick fashion, his post-game answer wasn’t all that interesting.

“Just get ready for Duke,” Belichick said of the win over Pitt. He will need his quarterback to play a little cleaner to beat Duke, which suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday to Georgia Tech.

Stock down: Arch Manning and Dylan Raiola

Oct 10, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Reggie Powers III (3) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the second half at Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Dylan Raiola came into the game against USC and played tremendously to propel the Ducks to victory. With Moore sitting another game, it was Raiola who drew the start, and it was supposed to be a big game for the Nebraska transfer, playing against a poor UCLA passing defense.

But the Bruins dominated, and Raiola was pulled after going 6-for-19 for 43 yards and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble. So Dan Lanning turned to third-string Brock Thomas to finish the game.

And then there is Arch Manning. He threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns. But Manning’s fourth quarter was terrible. The potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft allowed Oklahoma to get back into the game after tossing a pick-six, and then throwing a late touchdown.

His second interception allowed the Sooners to walk off with a 47-yard field goal to win 27-24. The Red River Rivalry was great, but that was another poor performance from Manning.

—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —