B/R's 2026 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 10

With seven matchups of teams ranked in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, Week 10 was an elimination game for some, and a springboard to a better playoff resume for others.

The biggest outcome of the week was Notre Dame beating Miami, opening the door for there to be a new No. 1 team in the nation.

Utah and UCLA both remained undefeated, with the Utes knocking off another top 10 team in BYU, while Georgia made a compelling case as well in a blowout victory over Ole Miss.

All of that means plenty of shuffling in the top 25 picture, and ahead is an updated look at how the college football experts here at B/R line up the nation's top 25 teams following Week 10 action.

Editor's Note: Rankings will updated, if necessary, after the conclusion of the West Virginia vs. Texas Tech game.

Nos. 25-21

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25. SMU (7-2, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Virginia Tech (51-28)
Next Week: vs. Wake Forest

The Mustangs scored on their first eight offensive drives en route to a 44-14 lead and cruised to victory over Virginia Tech in a battle of two-loss ACC contenders. Kevin Jennings threw for 350 yards and four touchdowns, and a balanced SMU rushing attack finished with 219 yards, 6.1 yards per carry and two more scores. With Wake Forest and Notre Dame still looming on the schedule, SMU has a chance to give its national standing a late boost.

24. New Mexico (8-1, Previous Rank: 25)

Week 10 Result: WIN at Nevada (31-3)
Next Week: vs. UNLV

The New Mexico defense forced 10 punts, one turnover on downs and recovered a fumble, ultimately limiting Nevada to a single field goal in a dominant showing on the road in Mountain West action. With UTSA losing on Thursday night, the Lobos now stand as the clear No. 2 team in the Group of Six picture behind Boise State. Their only loss came against Oklahoma in non-conference play, and they lead the nation with just 10.9 points allowed per game.

23. Ohio State (6-3, Previous Rank: 13)

Week 10 Result: LOSS vs. Oregon (28-41)
Next Week: vs. Northwestern

The Buckeyes scored two touchdowns on their first three drives to build a 14-0 lead, then watched Oregon score 38 unanswered points while their next eight possessions resulted in four turnovers on downs, three punts and an interception. The lack of a consistent running game (21 carries, 53 yards) put a lot on the shoulders of quarterback Luke Fahey, and while he had 360 yards and two touchdowns through the air, it came on 50 pass attempts. The loss is likely the end of the line for Ohio State's playoff hopes.

22. Oregon (6-3, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 10 Result: WIN at Ohio State (41-28)
Next Week: vs. Michigan

The Ducks ripped off 38 straight points after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, picking up a marquee win to bolster a complicated resume that also includes a victory over USC, alongside losses to Illinois and Oklahoma State. Quarterback Dylan Raiola (25/40, 257 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) and running back Dierre Hill Jr. (13 carries, 75 yards, 2 TD) led the offensive attack during the decisive scoring stretch, and the defense effectively shut down the running game to force backup quarterback Luke Fahey into a busy day throwing the football.

21. Ole Miss (6-3, Previous Rank: 15)

Week 10 Result: LOSS vs. Georgia (7-42)
Next Week: at Oklahoma

The Ole Miss offense was simply overmatched by the Georgia defense. Trinidad Chambliss (18/34, 170 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time as a starter at Ole Miss, while the running game finished with 66 yards on 31 carries. With a third loss and a resume that includes wins over Louisville and Missouri that don't carry the same weight they did at the time, the Rebels have tumbled out of the national conversation.

Nos. 20-16

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20. South Carolina (6-3, Previous Rank: 23)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Texas A&M (17-9)
Next Week: at Arkansas

The Gamecocks have now won four straight in SEC play after an 0-3 start to the conference slate. The defense bent but didn't break, allowing 206 rushing yards and 457 total yards, but just three field goals on the scoreboard. LaNorris Sellers continued his recent run of strong play with 251 passing yards, 34 rushing yards and two touchdowns, though his second quarter fumble led to a Texas A&M field goal just before halftime. Next week's road matchup against Arkansas looks like a classic trap game before their Week 12 showdown with Georgia.

19. LSU (6-3, Previous Rank: 9)

Week 10 Result: LOSS vs. Alabama (13-31)
Next Week: vs. Texas

The LSU offense outgained Alabama by a 457-285 margin in total yardage, but an interception, lost fumble, missed field goal, punt and four turnovers on downs made for far too many empty possessions, and four fourth-quarter drives resulted in zero points. Sam Leavitt had 35 completions and 380 yards but didn't have a touchdown while throwing his ninth interception of the season. With three losses and Mississippi State as their best win, Saturday might have been an elimination game for LSU in the College Football Playoff conversation.

18. Arizona (7-2, Previous Rank: 21)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. TCU (29-28)
Next Week: vs. Utah

After an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, failed two-point conversion, successful pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff and 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining, the Wildcats managed to survive in dramatic fashion against TCU. Noah Fifita finished with 313 passing yards and three total touchdowns, and his 15-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Craig late in the fourth quarter set in motion the unlikely series of events that led to the go-ahead field goal.

17. USC (7-2, Previous Rank: 18)

Week 10 Result: BYE
Next Week: at Indiana

The Trojans' remaining schedule is as tough as any in the country, with road games against Indiana and UCLA sandwiched around what should be a comfortable victory over Maryland. If they can find a way to finish 10-2 with those wins on their resume, they will be difficult to leave out of the College Football Playoff field, even if they don't earn a spot in the Big Ten championship game. Quarterback Jayden Maiava entered Week 10 leading the Big Ten in passing yards (2,524) and passing touchdowns (20).

16. Houston (7-2, Previous Rank: 19)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Cincinnati (31-24)
Next Week: at Colorado

Re'Shaun Sanford II scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 51-yard run with 5:10 remaining as Houston came out on top in a back-and-forth game. The Cougars finished with 241 rushing yards and a gaudy 6.9 yards per carry as a team, while quarterback Conner Weigman completed 17-of-24 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns and also added a rushing score. Houston will be favored in each of its final three games against Colorado, West Virginia and Baylor, and with losses to Texas Tech and Utah as the only blemishes on the Cougars' resume, they have a strong case as the third-best team in the Big 12.

Nos. 15-11

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15. Iowa (7-2, Previous Rank: 20)

Week 10 Result: WIN at Northwestern (24-10)
Next Week: vs. Purdue

The Hawkeyes defense kept Northwestern out of the end zone until there was 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, at which point it was already a three-possession game. Hank Brown had a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, while L.J. Phillips Jr. (21 carries, 128 yards) led a rushing attack that had 170 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. The Wildcats were playing without star quarterback Aidan Chiles, who was sidelined with an upper-body injury.

14. Boise State (8-1, Previous Rank: 17)

Week 10 Result: WIN at Colorado State (64-38)
Next Week: vs. Oregon State

A week after leading Boise State's comeback victory over Texas State with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes, backup quarterback Max Cutforth completed 16-of-19 pass attempts for 317 yards and five total touchdowns. He was backed by a rushing attack that averaged 8.0 yards per carry, led by Dylan Riley (19 carries, 192 yards, 2 TD) and Harry Stewart III (9 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD). A tough matchup against a good Oregon State awaits next weekend as the Broncos look to stay atop the Group of Six heap.

13. Kentucky (7-2, Previous Rank: 8)

Week 10 Result: LOSS at Tennessee (6-34)
Next Week: vs. Florida

A six-game winning streak that includes wins over then-No. 9 Texas A&M and then-No. 10 LSU was halted on Saturday when Kentucky was unable to find the end zone against a stout Tennessee defense. Quarterback Kenny Minchey threw an interception and lost a fumble, accounting for two of the three Wildcats' turnovers, to go along with three punts and two turnovers on downs. They likely need to win out against Florida, Missouri and Louisville to have a shot at making the College Football Playoff now.

12. BYU (7-2, Previous Rank: 6)

Week 10 Result: LOSS at Utah (20-28)
Next Week: vs. Baylor

Bear Bachmeier led back-to-back touchdown drives in the second quarter after BYU fell behind 14-0 early, eventually flipping that to a 20-14 lead, but he threw four interceptions on the Cougars' final six offensive possessions, including one from the Utah two-yard line with 4:39 remaining in the game. If BYU fails to make the Big 12 championship game, their two-loss resume with one of those losses coming against UCF might be tough to fit into the field.

11. Texas Tech (7-1, Previous Rank: 14)

Week 10 Result: vs. West Virginia
Next Week: at Oklahoma State

Full details will be added after Saturday night's game concludes.

Nos. 10-6

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10. Wake Forest (8-1, Previous Rank: 16)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Merrimack (77-0)
Next Week: at SMU

The Demon Deacons opted to rest banged-up quarterback Gio Lopez against FCS opponent Merrimack on Saturday, and backup Steele Pizzella shined in his absence. The redshirt freshman had 432 passing yards, 63 rushing yards and four total touchdowns, leading a Wake Forest offense that logged 730 total yards and nine touchdowns. They added a 98-yard pick six and 79-yard punt return touchdown to round out the scoring. A huge road game against SMU next weekend could make or break their College Football Playoff hopes.

9. Alabama (7-2, Previous Rank: 11)

Week 10 Result: WIN at LSU (31-13)
Next Week: at Vanderbilt

Keelon Russell threw a go-ahead touchdown pass late in the third quarter to give Alabama a 17-13 lead, then added two more in the fourth quarter to turn a tight game into a lopsided victory. The Crimson Tide defense surrendered 457 total yards, but just one touchdown and two field goals on the scoreboard, and they forced three turnovers on downs and a punt in the decisive fourth quarter. With only Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and the Iron Bowl remaining on the schedule, this is looking like a playoff team, barring a surprise collapse.

8. Texas (7-2, Previous Rank: 12)

Week 10 Result: WIN at Missouri (34-20)
Next Week: at LSU

Arch Manning had a season-high 28 completions, throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Longhorns to victory in a clash of two-loss SEC teams jockeying for national position. The Texas defense held Missouri to 84 rushing yards, less than half of their season average of 167.5 yards, and limited the Tigers to 3-for-16 on third-down conversions. That's now three wins in a row for Texas following the back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida. 

7. Tennessee (7-2, Previous Rank: 10)

Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Kentucky (34-6)
Next Week: at Texas A&M

Three takeaways on defense and a bruising running game helped the Volunteers pick up a top 10 victory and remain among the two-loss SEC contenders. Workhorse running back DeSean Bishop (25 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD) once again anchored the offense, while linebacker Arion Carter had a standout game defensively with 13 tackles (10 solo), four tackles for loss and two sacks. With a head-to-head win over Alabama, the Volunteers have a solid case for No. 2 team in the SEC right now.

6. Indiana (8-1, Previous Rank: 4)

Week 10 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. USC

Since losing to Ohio State in Week 7, the Hoosiers have narrowly escaped with wins over Michigan (13-6) and Minnesota (23-16), and they enter their bye week coming off a game where a banged up Josh Hoover was benched. 

That leaves plenty of question marks for Curt Cignetti to sort through, but this is still one of the nation's premier teams, anchored by an elite defense. They rank third in points allowed per game (12.4), fourth in rushing yards allowed per game (75.6) and have allowed more than 20 points just once all year.

5. Miami Hurricanes (8-1, Previous Rank: 1)

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Week 10 Result: LOSS at Notre Dame (24-31)
Next Week: vs. Duke

With star wide receiver Malachi Toney sidelined, Darian Mensah completed just 24-of-43 pass attempts for 276 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, and the running game did not provide enough in support of that uncharacteristically inefficient performance.

Elija Lofton (7 catches, 113 yards, 1 TD) and Cooper Barkate (10 catches, 92 yards, 2 TD) stepped up in the passing game, but the Hurricanes couldn't put together a late drive with a chance to tie against the Notre Dame defense.

This was a clash of two elite teams on the Fighting Irish's home turf, and solid proof that both teams belong in the playoff field.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1, Previous Rank: 7)

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Week 10 Result: WIN vs. Miami (31-24)
Next Week: vs. Boston College

A loss might have eliminated Notre Dame from the College Football Playoff field, but instead they flexed their muscles as one of the nation's elite with a victory over consensus No. 1 Miami.

Quarterback CJ Carr (29/40, 319 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT) outplayed counterpart and Heisman Trophy contender Darian Mensah in the passing game, while Nolan James Jr. had a team-high 52 rushing yards and what ended up being the game-winning touchdown.

The Fighting Irish still likely need to win out, and SMU on Nov. 21 is no cakewalk, but they have avoided their biggest threat for a second loss.

3. UCLA Bruins (9-0, Previous Rank: 5)

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Week 10 Result: WIN at Minnesota (34-20)
Next Week: vs. Illinois

A year after UCLA finished 3-9, the Bruins have been one of the biggest surprises in college football under first-year head coach Bob Chesney, who took over after leading James Madison to a 12-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff a year ago.

Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, making his third start since replacing the injured Nico Iamaleava, threw for a career-high 303 yards and three touchdowns despite completing just eight of his 16 pass attempts. The highlight of the game came in the fourth quarter, when he connected with Aidan Mizell on a 75-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the drive after Minnesota had just tied the game 17-17.

The Bruins have Illinois, Michigan and rival USC to wrap up the regular season, and they control their own destiny to secure a spot in the Big Ten championship game as the lone remaining undefeated team in conference play.

2. Utah Utes (9-0, Previous Rank: 3)

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Week 10 Result: WIN vs. BYU (28-20)
Next Week: at Arizona

The Utes stormed out to a 14-0 lead before surrendering 20 unanswered points, but three second-half interceptions by the defense and four total of BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier helped swing the momentum back in their favor.

A 14-yard touchdown pass from Devon Dampier to Braden Pegan gave Utah back the lead with 1:50 remaining, and they built an eight-point advantage on the next possession with Dampier scoring himself on a three-yard run. The Cougars put together a solid drive on their ensuing possession, but Bachmeier was picked off from the Utah two-yard line to end the threat.

Dampier finished with 177 passing yards, 89 rushing yards and four total touchdowns, and Utah survived its toughest remaining test in pursuit of an undefeated season. A road matchup against Arizona next week can't be overlooked, but after that they have only TCU and West Virginia remaining.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1, Previous Rank: 2)

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Week 10 Result: WIN at Ole Miss (42-7)
Next Week: vs. Missouri

The Bulldogs built a 35-0 lead before Ole Miss finally put points on the board in the fourth quarter, cementing their status as the cream of the crop in the SEC this season.

Nate Frazier (16 carries, 107 yards) and Dwight Phillips Jr. (11 carries, 66 yards) led a rushing attack that pounded out 48 carries and 295 yards. Gunner Stockton attempted just 15 passes, but found the end zone with four of them, to go along with his second rushing touchdown of the year.

Missouri and South Carolina the next two weeks are tough matchups, but this looked like a team that can beat anyone on Saturday night.

B/R Top 25 Ranking After Week 10

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Editor's Note: Rankings will updated, if necessary, after the conclusion of the West Virginia vs. Texas Tech game.

B/R Top 25

1. Georgia

2. Utah

3. UCLA

4. Notre Dame

5. Miami

6. Indiana

7. Tennessee

8. Texas

9. Alabama

10. Wake Forest

11. Texas Tech

12. BYU

13. Kentucky

14. Boise State

15. Iowa

16. Houston

17. USC

18. Arizona

19. LSU

20. South Carolina

21. Ole Miss

22. Oregon

23. Ohio State

24. New Mexico

25. SMU