College football sees multiple major upsets during a memorable Saturday slate
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Saturday’s college football shakeup leaves top-ranked teams reeling
College football delivered a stunning Saturday on October 17, 2026, as several of the nation’s highest-ranked teams suffered unexpected defeats. Auburn stunned No. 1 Georgia, BYU took down No. 2 Notre Dame, and Florida handed No. 7 Texas a costly loss.
With five of the AP Top 7 teams falling on the same day, the results shook up the national rankings and changed the outlook for several playoff contenders.
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BYU hands No. 2 Notre Dame a four-point defeat
No. 8 BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo, Utah, ending the Fighting Irish’s unbeaten start to the season. The Cougars improved to 6-0, strengthening their position among the leading teams in the national rankings.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw a touchdown pass and rushed for 2 scores, helping BYU overcome Notre Dame. Walker Lyons caught the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass late in the game, giving BYU the lead it needed to secure the victory.
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Florida rallies to beat No. 7 Texas in Austin
Florida defeated No. 7 Texas 27-24 on October 17 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. The Gators scored 24 unanswered points to overcome an early deficit and hand Texas a home loss.
Freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. threw for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first career start. Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw a late touchdown pass to cut the deficit, but Florida held on to secure the 27-24 victory.
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Tennessee knocks off No. 6 Alabama
Tennessee defeated No. 6 Alabama 26-10 in Knoxville on October 17, handing the Crimson Tide their second consecutive loss. The Volunteers improved to 6-1 overall, while Alabama fell to 5-2.
Running back DeSean Bishop helped lead Tennessee’s offense after halftime. Alabama managed just 201 total yards and committed four turnovers, including 2 interceptions by quarterback Keelon Russell. The victory gave Tennessee another important win in its rivalry with Alabama.
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Ohio State ends Indiana’s 22-game winning streak
No. 4 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Indiana 19-15 in Bloomington on October 17, ending the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak. The Big Ten matchup featured 2 highly ranked teams, and Ohio State improved to 6-1 overall.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the Buckeyes protect their lead. Indiana had a late opportunity to take the lead, but its fourth-down attempt fell incomplete. Ohio State secured the victory and moved to No. 3 in the AP Top 25.
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Five of the AP Top 7 teams lose on Saturday
October 17 produced an unusual result across the national rankings, as five of the AP Top 7 teams entering the day lost. Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas all finished Saturday with defeats, reshaping the conversation around the leading programs.
Auburn beat Georgia, BYU defeated Notre Dame, Ohio State overcame Indiana, Tennessee knocked off Alabama, and Florida beat Texas. According to reporting published after the games, it was the first regular-season Saturday in AP poll history on which five of the top seven teams lost.
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Miami survives Florida State in double overtime
No. 3 Miami defeated Florida State 43-35 in double overtime on October 17, keeping its unbeaten season intact. The Hurricanes improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Malachi Toney caught 11 passes for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, then threw the decisive 2-point conversion pass in the second overtime. Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 23 of 34 passes for 326 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Miami’s victory helped the Hurricanes move to No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
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Miami takes over the top spot in the AP poll
Miami moved from No. 3 to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 released on October 18, earning the program’s first top ranking since 2002. The Hurricanes received 40 first-place votes after defeating Florida State in double overtime.
BYU climbed from No. 8 to No. 2 following its victory over Notre Dame, reaching its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season. Ohio State moved into third place, while the weekend’s losses also affected the positions of Georgia, Indiana, Texas and Alabama.
Interesting fact: Georgia’s home stadium, Sanford Stadium, is known for its private hedges surrounding the field.
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Kentucky defeats Oklahoma behind defensive takeaways
Kentucky defeated Oklahoma 21-13 in Norman, Oklahoma, on October 17. The Wildcats improved to 6-1 overall and extended their winning streak, while Oklahoma fell to 3-3.
Kentucky’s defense made key plays late in the game, including an interception returned for a touchdown and another interception in the closing seconds. Those takeaways helped the Wildcats protect their lead and secure the victory over Oklahoma.
Interesting fact: Notre Dame Stadium opened on October 4, 1930, and the Fighting Irish marked the occasion with a 20–14 victory over SMU.
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LSU shuts out No. 16 Mississippi State
No. 22 LSU defeated No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0 in their Southeastern Conference matchup in Baton Rouge on October 17. The Tigers improved to 5-2 overall, while Mississippi State fell to 4-2.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, completing 31 of 38 passes without an interception. LSU’s defense helped secure the shutout by limiting Mississippi State’s scoring opportunities. The victory marked LSU’s first home shutout against an SEC opponent since 2006.
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Houston edges No. 18 Oklahoma State in a shootout
No. 20 Houston defeated No. 18 Oklahoma State 35-32 in a Big 12 contest on October 17. The Cougars improved to 6-1 overall, while Oklahoma State fell to 4-2 after the narrow defeat.
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 343 yards and 5 touchdowns, completing 24 of 33 passes. Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw for 365 yards and 3 touchdowns, but his team finished 3 points short. Houston secured an important victory over a ranked conference opponent.
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Ole Miss dominates No. 13 Missouri
No. 9 Ole Miss defeated No. 13 Missouri 31-3 in their Southeastern Conference matchup on October 17. The Rebels scored the game’s final 31 points after Missouri opened with a field goal.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss accounted for 4 touchdowns, throwing 3 touchdown passes and rushing for another score. Running backs Kewan Lacy and Makhi Frazier added 122 and 101 rushing yards, respectively. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 339 yards but did not record a touchdown.
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Northwestern wins with a field goal in the final seconds
No. 25 Northwestern defeated Michigan State 24-21 in East Lansing on October 17, when kicker Jackson Kleather converted a 34-yard field goal in the final five seconds. The Wildcats erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure their fifth victory of the season.
Northwestern’s defense stopped Michigan State’s late attempt to take the lead, helping set up the Wildcats’ winning drive. Northwestern then advanced into field-goal range, allowing Kleather to deliver the decisive kick. The victory improved the Wildcats to 5-1 overall and kept them in the AP Top 25.
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Like this post and comment with the upset that surprised you most. Which team impressed you the most, and which ranked program has the most work to do after Saturday’s results?
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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