Forget Texas and Alabama. College football’s Playoff race has gone completely off script

The top 10 is dangerous territory. At least Texas and Alabama don’t have to worry about that anymore.

They’re in a rankings tailspin, and they gained company from ranked teams that exited the weekend with wounded resumes and playoff worries.

Georgia, Alabama, Texas and defending national champion Indiana all lost on a day when Bob Chesney’s UCLA Bruinsremained undefeated.

Toppmeyer: Arch Manning is a Texas problem, and Steve Sarkisian is last to see it

The only thing you can safely expect in college football is bad officiating.

Here’s what’s left on my mind after Week 7:

Surprise playoff contenders emerge in Big Ten, SEC

Get this: UCLA and Kentucky are atop the Big Ten and SEC standings.

The undefeated Bruins are the best bet to join Ohio State and Indiana in the playoff if the Big Ten is to be a three-bid league, like last year. UCLA’s defense keeps proving itself, and the schedule sets up the Bruins for continued success. Southern Cal is the only ranked opponent left in UCLA's final six games. It’s reassuring for UCLA, too, that backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach played so well against Wisconsin in place of injured starter Nico Iamaleava.

Also, it’s time to seriously consider the playoff merits of Kentucky (6-1) after its win at Oklahoma that landed a knockout punch on the Sooners.

Kentucky’s previous win against LSU is a resume booster, and three of its final five games are at home.

UCLA and Kentucky being in playoff contention with first-year coaches in mid-October does two things: For one, this should shut up any coach who’s asking for patience, if Curt Cignetti’s warp-speed success hadn’t done that already. Also, if UCLA and Kentucky are in contention for a 12-team playoff, that tells me the playoff affords ample accessibility, even if the money grubbers demand expansion.

Alex Golesh delivers win of the weekend and quote of the weekend

Auburn fans celebrated its first win against Georgia since 2017 by rolling Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper — and rolling coach Alex Golesh’s house, too.

“Only in Auburn does everybody know where you live,” Golesh told reporters after the stunning 27-24 takedown of No. 1 Georgia. “I guess it beats a for-sale sign, right?”

Toomer’s Corner this evening…. pic.twitter.com/uSOfCw9xJ9

— James Spann (@spann) October 17, 2026

Golesh’s predecessors Hugh Freeze and Bryan Harsin never beat either Alabama or Georgia, the program’s two main rivals.

When I spent a day at Auburn in the offseason for a story about Golesh and his task in turning around this program, I learned the Tigers “don’t even have red Gatorade in” the football facility under Golesh, as Auburn center Cole Best told me.

Offensive coach Tyler Hudanick said you won’t find red pens, either.

“Those all got thrown away,” Hudanick told me.

As explained to me, this reflects the importance Golesh places on winning the Iron Bowl. Rival Georgia wears red, too.

Maybe, eradicating all things red came off a tad hokey when I heard about it in February, but you know what plays well in October for a ravenous fanbase? A rivalry win such as this one.

Roll the trees and toast the moment, Auburn, with any drink that’s not flavored fruit punch. You’ve waited long enough for this moment.

Another first-year coaching success story at Ole Miss

I count Pete Golding as another first-year coach in the playoff mix. Yes, he inherited a surging program after getting promoted to replace Lane Kiffin at Mississippi, but credit Golding for keeping the roster together and the momentum rolling.

The wheat started to separate from the chaff and the playoff picture cleared ever so slightly within the SEC when Ole Miss thumped Missouri, 31-3.

UCLA, Kentucky and Ole Miss are a step closer to the playoff than Alabama, LSU, Texas or Michigan. These are bruising times for bluebloods.

Three and out

1. Ohio State’s win at Indiana provides important resume cushion, especially with Julian Sayin suffering an injury that Ryan Day says will sideline his quarterback for “several weeks.” The Buckeyes can make the playoff with their backup, but they’ll need Sayin back to be a frontline title contender.

2. Notre Dame lost its first real test of the season, 28-24 at BYU, but at least the officiating controversy allows the Irish to pin an asterisk next to the loss. The Irish’s next test won’t come until next month, when they play Miami. A win at Miami probably clinches a playoff bid for Notre Dame. But, the Irish also could likely make the playoff with a competitive loss and a 10-2 record, especially if BYU wins the Big 12. It’s good to be Notre Dame.

3. After Maryland lost 37-30 to Rutgers in a Big Ten cellar battle, quarterback Malik Washington was asked about the possibility of coach Mike Locksley being fired. “If the scenario arises, scenario arises,” Washington said. “We’ll deal with it.” He added the team also will “deal with” it if Locksley isn’t fired. Ouch. Maryland remains overdue for an interim coach.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Listen to his podcast, "College Football Unfiltered." Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Forget Texas and Alabama. College football’s Playoff race has gone completely off script