By Zion Murray
Week 10 of the 2026 college football season delivered everything fans could have asked for. Seven matchups featured teams ranked in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, making Saturday one of the most important weekends of the regular season.
From major upsets and rivalry victories to dominant performances with significant College Football Playoff implications, the first weekend of November provided a reminder of just how quickly the college football landscape can change.
Many teams delivered wins that defined the trajectory of their season, while others suffered losses that could dramatically affect their postseason outlook.
Week 10 College Football Winners
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
There is no question who deserves the top spot among Week 10’s winners. Notre Dame entered Saturday with something to prove after receiving the No. 11 ranking in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. With a loss to BYU earlier in the season, Notre Dame had its back against the wall and most likely would’ve been eliminated from playoff contention with a loss.
With a matchup against the nation’s top-ranked team, the Fighting Irish had an opportunity to deliver a statement that could almost lock in their spot in the postseason. Notre Dame defeated Miami 31-24 in South Bend, handing the Hurricanes their first loss of the season and earning one of the biggest victories of the season thus far.
The Fighting Irish built a 24-3 advantage before Miami attempted to mount a comeback. The Hurricanes made things interesting in the second half, but Notre Dame’s defense delivered when it mattered most. Miami had an opportunity to tie the game late, but a controversial call led to a fourth-down incompletion, effectively ending its chances.
Notre Dame now has a signature win against the nation’s top-ranked team, something that will significantly strengthen its postseason resume. The Fighting Irish still have work to do, but Marcus Freeman’s program made an enormous statement.
Tennessee Volunteers
While Notre Dame might have had the biggest win of the weekend, Tennessee delivered one of the most impressive performances of any SEC team this past weekend. The Volunteers welcomed No. 6 Kentucky to Neyland Stadium for an important SEC rivalry matchup. Kentucky entered the game with a top-10 ranking and legitimate playoff aspirations.
Those aspirations took a significant hit by the end of the night as No. 13 Tennessee defeated Kentucky 34-6, earning another important victory and strengthening its own playoff resume. While the game was competitive at halftime, the Volunteers completely shut down Kentucky in the second half, holding the Wildcats scoreless while adding three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The most encouraging part of Tennessee’s performance was its ability to control the game physically. The Volunteers finished with 240 rushing yards and three total rushing touchdowns. DeSean Bishop led the way with 109 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Volunteers consistently moved the football on the ground while their defense made life difficult for Kentucky.
Tennessee now has another top-10 victory, and the result should move the Volunteers considerably higher in the next round of playoff rankings. With November underway, Tennessee has positioned itself to make a legitimate postseason push.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia reminded everybody why it remains one of the most dangerous programs in college football. The Bulldogs traveled to Oxford to face No. 10 Ole Miss in a matchup between two SEC programs with legitimate playoff ambitions. What was expected to be a competitive contest quickly turned into a complete mismatch.
No. 2 Georgia defeated Ole Miss 42-7, delivering one of the most dominant performances of the entire season. Georgia established control early, taking a 28-0 halftime lead while completely overwhelming the Rebels on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs’ defense was particularly impressive, limiting Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to under 200 passing yards and no touchdowns.
The Bulldogs’ performance was significant as Miami’s loss to Notre Dame opened the door for Georgia to strengthen its position near the top of the national rankings. Georgia has the talent, experience and defensive ability to compete for another national championship. After week 10, the Bulldogs look like the most complete team in the country and a legitimate championship favorite.
Utah Utes
Utah picked up one of its most important victories in recent program history. The Utes hosted No. 9 BYU in the Holy War, with both programs entering the rivalry matchup ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams for the first time in the series’ history. Utah emerged with a 28-20 victory, snapping a three-game losing streak against its rival.
The biggest difference in this game was Utah’s defensive performance. The Utes intercepted BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier four times, consistently creating problems for the Cougars’ offense. BYU had opportunities to swing momentum in its favor, but the turnovers proved too costly.
The environment in Salt Lake City also played a major role this weekend as the crowd kept BYU on their toes all game long. The Utes taking a 14-0 lead after their first two offensive possessions established the crowd as an advantage from the beginning of the game.
This victory kept Utah undefeated at 9-0 and strengthened its position in the Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff conversations. With Miami now suffering its first loss, Utah is one of just two remaining undefeated teams in the country, alongside UCLA.
For a program led by first-year head coach Morgan Scalley, the Utes look to be a true contender and this victory represents another important step toward competing for something much bigger.
Losers
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State’s loss to Oregon was concerning. The Buckeyes were playing at home, had an opportunity to earn an important victory against a ranked opponent and appeared to have control of the game early. Instead, they suffered a 41-28 defeat.
The Buckeyes struggled to maintain any offensive rhythm or momentum, and Oregon took advantage of nearly every opportunity presented to it. Allowing 38 unanswered points to the Ducks might have put the final nail in the coffin of Ohio State’s playoff hopes.
This loss comes after Ohio State previously suffered a defeat against USC, making this another damaging result during an important stretch of the season.
Losing quarterback Julian Sayin to injury has taken away the consistency of the Buckeyes’ offense as they have struggled to find a spark. Despite this, Ohio State still has the talent to compete with the nation’s best, but its recent performances have created legitimate concerns.
There is a lot of frustration in Columbus as since they were already on the outside looking in, this loss effectively ends the Buckeyes’ season and their chances of bringing home another National Championship.
Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss suffered one of the most embarrassing losses of the weekend. The Rebels entered the matchup against Georgia ranked No. 10 and had an opportunity to keep their name in the playoff conversation with a victory. Instead, they were completely overwhelmed.
The 42-7 defeat exposed significant problems on both sides of the football. Georgia’s defense limited the Ole Miss offense as the Rebels struggled to establish any consistency against the Bulldogs’ physical front.
Trinidad Chambliss, who entered the game as one of the SEC’s most exciting quarterbacks, had a particularly difficult night. Chambliss looked lost and struggled against the opposing pass rush.
The performance in this game raises serious questions about whether the Rebels are ready to compete with the very best programs in the country under first-year head coach Pete Golding. A team with playoff aspirations cannot afford to look that unprepared in such an important matchup. The Rebels’ loss effectively ends their chances at making the College Football Playoffs unless a miracle presents itself.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee was damaging for several reasons. The Wildcats entered Neyland Stadium ranked No. 6 nationally and had an opportunity to establish themselves as one of the SEC’s premier programs in year one of the Will Stein era.
Instead, they were dominated by a Tennessee team that completely outmatched them physically. The 34-6 defeat was particularly concerning because Kentucky’s offense completely disappeared and was unable to truly get going. After managing to cut Tennessee’s lead to four points before halftime, the Wildcats failed to score again.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey hadn’t thrown an interception since September and only had one on the season heading into this matchup against the Vols. Minchey left Neyland Stadium with another one as Jim Knowles and the Tennessee unit performed a defensive masterclass.
The Wildcats now have to regroup after losing a critical rivalry matchup. Their ranking and playoff hopes will undoubtedly take a hit, and the performance raises questions about how they will respond during the remainder of the season.
LSU Tigers
LSU also had a disappointing weekend. The Tigers hosted Alabama in Baton Rouge, hoping to earn a major SEC victory and keep their playoff hopes alive in the process. However, Alabama walked away with a dominant 31-13 victory.
The Crimson Tide controlled much of the contest, using its physicality and offensive execution to establish an advantage and to create separation in the second half. For LSU, this loss was particularly frustrating because playing Alabama at home presented an opportunity to deliver a defining victory. Losing to the Crimson Tide in the final annual matchup between the two schools also has to leave the Tigers with a terrible feeling.
Entering the season, the LSU Tigers were the talk of the town. With a new head coach in Lane Kiffin and a roster loaded with talent from the transfer portal, LSU looked like potential contenders for the SEC and the playoffs.
This loss hurts the Tigers as it effectively eliminates them from playoff conversations. Those in the Bayou must be frustrated knowing their coaching staff and roster are talented enough to compete with elite programs, yet the Tigers struggled to keep pace.
Alabama deserves credit for its performance, but LSU has to be concerned about its inability to compete consistently against the SEC’s top programs. When looking at their preseason expectations, the current state of LSU football under Kiffin might be underwhelming to some.
The biggest takeaway after Week 10 is that the College Football Playoff race remains wide open, as anything can happen on any given Saturday. There are still several weeks remaining, and plenty can change before the playoff field is selected. However, if Week 10 proved anything, it is that no ranking or preseason expectation guarantees anything once November football begins.