(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) looks to pass the ball during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026. https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2026/10/18/byu-footballs-win-over-notre-dame/
If you needed proof that no one is safe in college football, October 17, 2026 delivered it. Five of the AP poll’s top seven teams lost on the same day, a first in the poll’s history, and it was the first time since 2012 that the top two teams both lost on a regular-season Saturday.
The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs fell in the day’s most shocking upset. Auburn won in Athens on a 34-yard field goal as time expired, 27-24. Entering the day, AP No. 1 teams had won 93 straight home games against unranked opponents, and Georgia had won 9 straight in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Both streaks ended on Saturday.
In a top-five showdown, No. 4 Ohio State won at No. 5 Indiana, 19-15, ending the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak. Indiana receiver Nick Marsh caught what would have been a game-winning touchdown on fourth down but failed to keep his feet in bounds. Ohio State escaped Bloomington with the win, but it may have cost them. Quarterback Julian Sayin left with his arm in a sling and is expected to miss several weeks.
The night’s marquee game belonged to Provo. No. 8 BYU beat No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 with College GameDay on campus. The Cougars led 21-10 at halftime, but Notre Dame answered with 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. BYU’s defense closed it out with a controversial goal-line stand. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw a touchdown, caught one on a trick play, and ran for two more. The ending was disputable, and CBS Sports reported that the Big 12 said Notre Dame should have had one more play. The loss ended the Irish’s 16-game win streak. It was BYU’s first win over an AP top-two team since 1990.
Alabama lost 26-10 at Tennessee, committing four turnovers and managing just 54 rushing yards. Texas blew a home lead to Florida, 27-24, as first-time starter Tramell Jones Jr. steered the Gators to the win. Texas has now lost two straight to unranked opponents, and Florida has now beaten the Longhorns two years in a row. Saturday was also the first time Alabama, Georgia, and Texas all lost on the same day since October 26, 1996.
No. 22 LSU shut out No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0, with the Bulldogs playing without star quarterback Kamario Taylor. No. 9 Ole Miss took care of No. 13 Missouri 31-3, completely shutting down Jamal Roberts, one of the best running backs in the nation.
Kentucky is the SEC’s feel-good story. The Wildcats improved to 6-1 with a 21-13 win at Oklahoma, picking off John Mateer three times and finishing with four interceptions. Houston outlasted Oklahoma State 35-32 behind five touchdown passes from Conner Weigman.
Oregon survived Nebraska 17-13 when Dylan Raiola, who started the day on the bench, threw the winning touchdown with 28 seconds left. Miami needed two overtimes to beat rival Florida State, 43-35.
Out of the chaos, UCLA is the last unbeaten team in either the Big Ten or SEC. Bob Chesney’s Bruins moved to 6-0 with a 17-7 win at Wisconsin. In the Big 12, BYU, Utah, and Texas Tech remain among the few unbeaten Power Four teams, alongside Miami and UCLA.
Seven weeks in, the race for the top is wide open, and this sport remains as unpredictable as ever.
