We've reached the point in the season where top-tier teams start to separate themselves from the non-contenders. I'm a firm believer that the slate from October 17 to November 7 would largely determine the College Football Playoff field and the Heisman Trophy race. If yesterday was a preview of things to come, we're in for a wild next couple of weeks. The Top 25 AP rankings had a big shake up this weekend with the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th teams all losing and the 3rd 4th ranked teams coming into the weekend playing in a narrow, one-possession game.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell to No. 4 in this week's AP Poll after their 28-24 loss to the undefeated BYU Cougars on the road. This is the Cougars biggest win since the 1990 season where they defeated the No. 1 ranked Miami Hurricanes. BYU comes in at No. 2 in this weeks rankings. For the Irish, their season is far from over, but last night's loss showed us this team has a ways to go before they can be deemed 'championship-caliber'.
Despite a valiant comeback attempt in the waning moments, they fell short but it was the events that led up to the final offensive drive of the game that led to their demise. The offense couldn't get anything going in the first half, headlined by missed opportunities, poor execution and vanilla play calling. For the defense, they couldn't get off the field in the moments that mattered the most, a story as old as time the last two seasons against Top 10 teams.
As disappointing as the loss was, Notre Dame wasn't the only Top 10 team that lost this weekend that shook up this week's AP Poll. The formerly ranked No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs lost at home to an unranked Auburn team causing them to drop to No. 5. The Indiana Hoosiers lost at home to the Ohio State Buckeyes who jump back up to No. 3 in the polls after a resume-building road win while the Hoosiers drop to No. 6.
The Alabama Crimson Tide dropped back to back games for the first time since 2013, and the first time in the regular season since 2007, after losing to Tennessee on the road in a rivalry matchup. The Tide now rank No. 13 by the Associated Press and the Vols jump up to No. 11 in this week's rankings. The Texas Longhorns have now lost back to back games against unranked opponents after losing to Florida at home ending their win streak of 19-straight home wins against unranked teams. The Longhorns now rank No. 19 in the country.
It was an unprecedented weekend of college football with several Top 10 teams falling. This was the first season since 1996 where Alabama, Georgia and Texas all lost in the same weekend. Notre Dame lost their first game in 17 outings, Indiana's win streak came to an end, Miami remains unscathed and the race to the College Football Playoffs are heating up.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25
1. Miami Hurricanes (6-0)
2. BYU Cougars (6-0)
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)
5. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)
6. Indiana Hoosiers (6-1)
7. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1)
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0)
9. UCLA Bruins (6-0)
10. Utah Utes (6-0)
11. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1)
12. Kentucky Wildcats (6-1)
13. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2)
14. Houston Cougars (6-1)
15. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1)
16. USC Trojans (6-1)
17. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1)
18. LSU Tigers (5-2)
19. Texas Longhorns (4-2)
20. Florida Gators (5-2)
21. Boise State Broncos (5-1)
22. Missouri Tigers (5-2)
23. SMU Mustangs (5-1)
24. Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)
25. Arizona Wildcats (5-1)
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Source: Yahoo Sports










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