Utah reaches 9-0 while Ohio State and Nebraska tumble
Week 10 results see the Utes surge up the rankings, Oregon upset the Buckeyes, and Nebraska fires its offensive coordinator after a third straight loss.
By Aiko Petrov ·
Utah reached 9-0 for the first time since 2008 following a win over BYU on Saturday. The No. 3 Utes defeated the No. 9 Cougars to snap a three-game losing streak against their rival. Quarterback Devon Dampier led the offense to overcome an early second-half deficit. The victory positions Utah as a contender for the College Football Playoff, with a potential case for the No. 1 spot depending on tonight's results.
The win ends a period of underperformance for the program since joining the Big 12. Coach Kyle Whittingham had expected the team to compete for conference and national titles annually. Under new leadership, the team has finally met those expectations. The result sharpens their resume ahead of the playoff committee's final rankings.
Ohio State suffered a setback against Oregon at the Horseshoe. The No. 12 Buckeyes were stunned by the Ducks, marking their third loss of the regular season. The last time Ohio State fell three times in a regular season was in 2011. That season followed the Tattoo Gate incident and featured interim coaching. The team also gave up 38 unanswered points, a feat last achieved by the Buckeyes in 1999 during the John Cooper era.
Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey started the game after Julian Sayin was injured. Fahey struggled to connect with downfield receivers in his first two starts. The team was outplayed on both lines of scrimmage. The secondary failed to stop the run, contributing to the defensive collapse. Coach Ryan Day must address these issues to improve the program's standing for the 2027 season.
LSU fell to No. 5 Alabama in a 31-14 defeat. The loss gives the Tigers a 0-3 record against CFP Top 25 opponents this season. Head coach Lane Kiffin signed the largest contract in the SEC and reportedly spent the most on roster construction this year. The offense turned the ball over on downs three times. Several red zone trips ended without scoring. This marks Kiffin's sixth straight loss to Alabama as a head coach.
Texas continued its strong season with an efficient performance from Arch Manning. The No. 7 Longhorns have wins over No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 13 Tennessee, and No. 18 Missouri on their record. Manning passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. The team ranks first in line as a potential three-loss team for the postseason. Their performances have not always been clean, but the results place them in a favorable position.
Nebraska lost to Illinois 24-13 on Friday night, extending their losing streak to three games. The Cornhuskers began the season 5-0 but have since struggled to maintain momentum. They finished the game with 426 yards of offense but only 13 points. The team went 1-of-4 on fourth down and missed multiple field goals. Following the loss, Nebraska fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.
Ferris State tied a Division II record with its 40th straight win. The Bulldogs defeated Wayne State 80-0. The streak dates back to 2024, starting with the first solo start by Trinidad Chambliss. Coach Tony Annese has compiled a 153-21 record over his tenure. He has won four national championships in the last five years. The team is based in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Tulane lost to Tulsa 60-10, a result that highlights the team's decline. The Green Wave are now 4-5 on the season. They were the reigning American Conference champions. Will Hall was promoted from passing game coordinator to head coach after Jon Sumrall left for Florida. Hall previously coached at Southern Miss. The team still has games remaining against North Texas and South Florida. A bowl appearance in 2026 is now uncertain.
