College Football Top 25: 11 Top-Tier Losses in Three Weeks
Week 8 upsets and narrow margins have tied a modern record for instability in the AP Poll, according to ESPN Research.
By Karim Zielinski ·
The AP Poll top 10 lost 11 games during the past three weeks, a figure that ties the modern regular-season record. ESPN Research confirmed the statistic, noting the last comparable span of instability occurred in 2007. The volatility followed a chaotic Week 7 and continued into Week 8 across the country.
Several high-profile teams fell to unranked or lower-ranked opponents. South Carolina defeated Tennessee, with LaNorris Sellers leading the effort. Texas Tech lost to Cincinnati, and USC fell to Wisconsin. USC scored only seven points in that game after a bye week. BYU, which had climbed to No. 2 in the AP Poll after beating Notre Dame, dropped to No. 4 after a double-overtime loss to UCF.
BYU's offense struggled in that defeat. The team averaged 3.2 yards per carry while missing star running back LJ Martin to a lower-body injury. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 16 of 32 passes. Notre Dame, which spent Week 8 on a bye, remains No. 5. Big 12 officials admitted to a mistake in the Notre Dame-BYU game, a ruling that denied the Irish a potential win.
Other top-25 teams secured narrow victories. Indiana beat Michigan 13-6 in overtime, holding the Wolverines to 54 rushing yards on 39 carries. Alabama defeated Texas A&M after scoring fourth-quarter touchdowns, though the Crimson Tide rushed for only 68 yards on 28 carries. Utah beat Houston 21-13 after trailing 10-0 at halftime, maintaining a 7-0 record and the nation's longest winning streak.
Miami, ranked No. 1, defeated Pitt 52-23. Wide receiver Malachi Toney set a school record with 16 catches for 194 yards. Ohio State, No. 3, prepares for a matchup against USC without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. True freshman Luke Fahey is the current starter.
The instability has affected playoff projections. Kentucky, ranked No. 8, beat Vanderbilt 34-17 to secure its third winning record in the SEC since 1977. Wake Forest, ranked No. 11, will face Virginia at home. The conference landscape remains fluid as teams navigate bye weeks and injury returns ahead of late-season matchups.
Source: ESPN
