Nashville Shakes Up College Football Rankings
Nashville, Tennessee — It was another wild Saturday in college football, and Nashville was the place to be if you were looking for upsets and surprises. This week, the Vanderbilt Commodores shocked the world by taking down the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a thrilling 40-35 game. Can you believe it? It’s been 40 years since Vandy defeated Alabama, making this victory a historic moment for the school.
Alabama’s Shocking Fall
Last week, Alabama was celebrating after knocking off the No. 2 team, Georgia, but this week it was a whole different story. Despite leading at times during the game, the tides turned as they faltered to the Commodores, leaving fans in disbelief. Now, we can definitely expect a shake-up in the rankings come Sunday. Look out for a new No. 1.
Ready for the Rankings Shuffle
With Alabama’s loss, the contenders for the top spot are pretty clear. The No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers also faced defeat against Arkansas, so it’s likely that either Texas, who currently stands as the No. 2 team, or Ohio State will claim the coveted No. 1 spot. Texas didn’t even play this weekend as they are gearing up for the intense Red River Rivalry against No. 19 Oklahoma. Remember, these neutral-site rivalry games can be bonkers. Just last season, Texas was stunned by Oklahoma, and then, in 2022, it was a total blowout when Texas crushed OU by 49-0. It’s anyone’s game!
Ohio State Keeps Rolling
Meanwhile, Ohio State cruised to victory over Iowa, winning 35-7. The Buckeyes showed some fireworks with quarterback Will Howard throwing four touchdowns—three of them to Emeka Egbuka. The defense clammed down on Iowa, only allowing them to score in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes have been strong this season, but they’ll have a real challenge next week against No. 6 Oregon. This matchup looks like it could be the showdown of the weekend!
Surprising Winners and Losers
Across the board, there were some incredible stories unfolding as other teams made headlines this past weekend. The service academies, Army and Navy, both celebrated wins, making them both 5-0 for the first time since 1945. Can you believe that? Navy dominated Air Force 34-7, and Army rolled over Tulsa 49-7.
A Pitt Stop on the Road
In another exciting turn, the Pitt Panthers are also making waves. They’re 5-0 for the first time since 1991 after a solid 34-24 win at North Carolina. Quarterback Eli Holstein is leading the charge with an impressive performance, throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Talk about stepping up the game!
Making Their Move
Meanwhile, back to Syracuse. The Orange managed to pull off a nail-biter against No. 25 UNLV with a last-minute touchdown, winning 44-41. They’re now 4-1, showing they can hang with the best and keep their hopes alive.
In the Losers’ Corner
However, not everyone had a great day. Oklahoma State was taken down hard, losing 38-14 to West Virginia, struggling to get their running game going. And let’s talk about Auburn, which faced a loss against No. 5 Georgia. Coach Hugh Freeze made headlines again by placing the blame on his quarterback after a crucial play didn’t go as planned. Are the players not executing, or is it time to question the coaching strategy? It’s hard to tell.
The Road Ahead
The next couple of weeks are bound to be wild as teams gear up for intense matchups. Texas has to prepare for Georgia in Week 8 while Ohio State has to face Penn State on Nov. 2. With the ups and downs we’ve seen this season, who knows what the rankings will look like next? Stay tuned folks, this season’s just heating up!
