by Jack Chambers for Wannamakeabet.com
If you spent Saturday explaining why your favorite team couldn’t possibly lose, hopefully somebody took your phone away before kickoff.
October 17 delivered a spectacular demolition of college football’s pecking order. Five of the nation’s top seven teams lost. Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas all went down. Some were legitimate shockers. Others were heavyweight matchups somebody had to lose. Together, they left the playoff conversation looking like a bar argument with absolutely no adult supervision.
Auburn 27, No. 1 Georgia 24: The Big One
Georgia had a 14-point lead, home-field advantage and the No. 1 ranking. Auburn apparently found none of that particularly intimidating.
The Tigers rallied, and Alex McPherson’s 34-yard field goal as time expired finished the job. Georgia committed three turnovers, including Gunner Stockton’s late fumble, handing Auburn the opportunity it needed.
That’s the problem with being the best team on paper: the paper doesn’t protect the football. Auburn earned the celebration. Georgia earned a very uncomfortable film session.
No. 8 BYU 28, No. 2 Notre Dame 24: Provo Makes Its Case
BYU didn’t need anyone’s permission to join the national championship discussion.
Bear Bachmeier accounted for four touchdowns: two rushing, one passing and one receiving. Apparently, handling just one job would have been insufficient. Notre Dame fought back from a 21–10 halftime deficit, but BYU delivered the winning touchdown late and survived the Irish’s final possession.
The Cougars remain unbeaten. Anyone still dismissing them should probably update the argument.
No. 14 Tennessee 26, No. 6 Alabama 10: No Fluke Required
Tennessee beat Alabama by 16. This wasn’t a weird bounce followed by desperate clock management.
The Volunteers controlled the outcome with defense and sent the Crimson Tide home with ten points. Alabama’s logo remains impressive. Unfortunately, logos don’t sustain drives.
Florida 27, No. 7 Texas 24: Trouble in Austin
Florida rolled into Austin with Tramell Jones Jr. making his first career start and walked out with a win. The Gators scored 24 unanswered points, and a late Arch Manning fumble ended Texas’ comeback opportunity.
Freshman quarterback. Hostile stadium. Ranked opponent. Somebody forgot to tell Florida this was supposed to be difficult.
The Rest of the Damage
The underdog parade extended well beyond the headliners: Kentucky beat Oklahoma 21–13; Boston College topped Pitt 27–21; Rutgers beat Maryland 37–30; North Carolina edged Duke 24–20; TCU handled Baylor 17–6; Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 31–21; Ball State escaped Bowling Green 32–31 in double overtime; Charlotte stunned Temple 38–31; and San Diego State beat Fresno State 26–23.
Elsewhere, lower-ranked LSU blanked Mississippi State 31–0, and Houston edged Oklahoma State 35–32. Ohio State’s 19–15 win over Indiana added another top-five casualty, while Miami narrowly avoided joining the wreckage, surviving Florida State 43–35 in double overtime.
The lesson? Rankings start arguments. Games settle them.
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