On a Tuesday night podcast, we kick things off discussing college football, and my co-host usually bristles about the capricious nature of the AP pollsters. While I usually try to mollify her by explaining the poll is mostly barroom-level banter until December, this season has proven her accurate. Look at this simple statistic: Of the top-10 preseason selections, by just the first weekend of October, half of those teams currently stand with two losses.
Over the past two weekends, six top-10-ranked teams suffered a loss, not one but two have fallen completely out of the top-25, and things are so screwy that Texas Tech is in its highest ranking in that realm in 17 years. Even the Heisman watch is so out of whack that the pundits are left considering Ole Miss replacement QB Trinidad Chambliss as a possible top contender.
Saturday afternoon was awash in no fewer than three surprising upsets, a trend that did not follow through the night games
Bill Belichick’s term at North Carolina is said to be a rebuilding era, but so far, it has mostly been dire. When hosting Clemson, the Tarheels fell behind – early. Clemson led after 11 seconds, from a 75-yard double-pass play. The stadium began emptying before halftime.
Dabo getting crazy to start the game pic.twitter.com/cfWONGhDwf
— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) October 4, 2025
- Three teams came into the weekend having never trailed in a game. Maryland was one and built up a 20-0 cushion over Washington before giving up 24 points in the final 19 minutes to suffer the loss. (Miami surrendered a field goal on an opening drive, so Texas Tech retains the only unblemished schedule.)
- In Laramie, the University of Wyoming hosted UNLV on a field covered by a pregame hailstorm.
- AI has now established the post-game social media trolling, such as South Florida depicting its mascot mining gold coins in a matter of minutes, after the Bulls defeated the Charlotte 49ers.
- Purdue is on a rather bizarre and arbitrary streak. The Boilermakers fall to 0-11 on a week when Taylor Swift releases an album.
Here's a breakdown of the Purdue Football - Taylor Swift album curse.
— cobra. (@cobrastats) October 3, 2025
She released a new album today.
(h/t @DubJellison) pic.twitter.com/ZtckaJM2gX
The marquee games:
UCLA 42 – Penn St. 37
It might be time to admit these are the Paper Lions. The numbers leap off the screen. The Bruins were 24.5 underdogs and led the entire day, going to the locker room with a 27-7 lead. This is only the fifth time a top-10 lost to an opponent with a 0-4 record. The last time this was seen was when UTEP upset BYU – back in 1985. With Ohio State still on the schedule, that will be a needed win to retain postseason hope.
Florida 29 – Texas 21
While all of the focus on this will likely be on Arch Manning, he did not perform horribly with 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His two interceptions were not helpful. But the Longhorn defense allowed Florida to earn 450 yards in total with 50 percent efficiency on third downs. But the sheer absence of a Texas running game was the killer; Manning scrambled for just 37 yards, and yet that doubled all other rushers.
Miami 28 – FSU 22
This heated rivalry saw both teams ranked for the first time in years, and it looked competitive for a spell. The final does not reflect the way Miami dominated this game. After an opening three points given up, the Hurricanes put up four consecutive touchdowns, with Carson Beck hitting C.J. Daniels and Malachi Toney each for a pair of scores. Beck led three drives of 75 yards or more, with the dagger coming from an interception on Seminole QB Tommy Castellanos, followed on the next play with a 44-yard touchdown to Toney. The Miami defense bent but mostly contained the run game and only gave up points in garbage time.
Texas A&M 31 – Mississippi St. 9
The Aggies held a Blackout at College Station, and it also applied to the Bulldogs all game. The Aggies ran over them, pounding out 303 yards and dominating time of possession by 17 minutes. Reuben Owens led all runners with 142 yards, while QB Marcel Reed threw a pair of scores and ran for a third touchdown.
Ohio State 42 – Minnesota 3
Following the trend seen from the top of the poll winners, the Buckeyes gave up an initial field goal and then went on to romp. The #1 team was having fun in the air all day as QB Julian Sayin went 23/37 for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Carnell Tate was his favorite target, reeling in nine catches for 183 yards.
Cincinnati 38 -- Iowa State 30
While technically not an upset, because the Bearcats were slightly favored at home, they took on the ranked and unbeaten Cyclones and controlled the game. After opening a 17-point lead in the 1st, they stretched that to a 31-7 cushion before an Iowa State score as time expired in the half. The strong Cincinnati squad held on and is making a bid to climb into the rankings.
Here is the latest AP Top-25 poll. (First place votes) Both Penn State and Texas fall from the board, as South Florida reenters behind 6-0 Memphis.
1. Ohio State (40)
2. Miami (21)
3. Oregon (5)
4. Ole Miss
5. Texas A&M
6. Oklahoma
7. Indiana
8. Alabama
9. Texas Tech
10. Georgia
11. LSU
12. Tennessee
13. Georgia Tech
14. Missouri
15. Michigan
16. Notre Dame
17. Illinois
18. BYU
19. Virginia
20. Vanderbilt
21. Arizona State
22. Iowa State
23. Memphis
24. South Florida
25. Florida State
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
Help us continue to report the truth about the Schumer Shutdown. Use promo code POTUS47 to get 74% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member