2023-24 College Football: Week 10 Review

Top to bottom, this was the best week of college football we've seen this season. All of the big games were tight. We saw some games go to overtime. A few ranked teams were upset. Some conference pictures began to clear up. Others only got muddier. From bell to bell, we got everything we could've asked for from this slate of games. The rest of the season has been put on notice because this was a wild ride. 

Note- The numbers to indicate a team's ranking will come from the AP Poll, not the College Football Playoff Poll. While the committee listed Ohio State as the #1 team in the country, I still recognize Georgia as #1. It's not out of spite. I'm not a fan of either team. It's only so I can stay consistent. 

Games of the Week- The Entire 12 p.m. Window

Please allow me to explain. The early window of games this season has often been a letdown. At 12 p.m., once College Gameday finished, we'd be promised games between evenly-ranked or skilled opponents, only for one to be blown out. It wasn't always the case, but it was a frequent occurrence. This week, the early slate of games set the tone for the rest of the day. The five games at noon were incredibly tight, so I couldn't pick just one to highlight. Instead, I'll talk briefly about each game. 

#7 Texas 33, #25 Kansas State 30 (OT) (Austin, TX)

If I had to single out a game for being the "best" of the weekend, this would likely be it. With the Big 12 wide open again, both teams entered the weekend with one loss in conference play. The winner would remain at the top, while the loser had ground to make up. Without Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns immediately took control of the game. They led 17-7 at halftime and were up by 20 points in the third quarter. The Wildcats scored at the end of the third quarter to make it 27-14, then forced fumbles on consecutive Texas drives, leading to two touchdowns, though a failed two-point conversion kept it tied at 27. Texas nailed a field goal to retake the lead, then stopped Kansas State on 3rd & 1 to force a 27-yard field goal, which was missed. The Wildcat got the ball back, drove down the field, and nailed a 45-yard kick to force overtime. The Longhorns settled for another field goal during their possession in overtime. The Texas defense stepped up and denied Will Howard on 4th down to win the game, keeping them atop the conference. 

#11 Ole Miss 38, Texas A&M 35 (Oxford, MS)

All afternoon, Ole Miss and Texas A&M traded blows. When one team scored, the other followed. The Rebels held a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter and had a 31-21 lead heading into the fourth. The Aggies got within a field goal early in the final quarter, then took the lead with 4:34 left. Ole Miss got the ball back and took a ton of time off the clock before Quinshon Judkins powered one home from a yard out to regain a three-point lead. Ole Miss thought they'd sealed the game with an interception in the final 30 seconds, but it was ruled an incomplete pass, allowing Texas A&M to attempt a 47-yard field goal to force overtime. Unfortunately, the kick came up short, helping the Rebels avoid the upset. 

Clemson 31, #12 Notre Dame 23 (Clemson, SC)

It has been a lousy year in Death Valley for Clemson. Entering the game at 4-4, the Tigers were no longer the kings of the ACC. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has shown flashes of brilliance but has also seen their fair share of struggles. The Tigers made a major statement in this game, jumping on the Irish early and doing just enough to hold on for dear life. Phil Mafah had a career game, running for 186 yards and two touchdowns as Clemson led 24-9 at the break. Notre Dame made a significant push in the third quarter, drawing within eight points entering the fourth. Clemson's defense shut Sam Hartman down, but a late fumble by Mafah allowed him to get the ball back for a chance to tie it. However, the defense held firm, intercepting Hartman to hand him his fifth career loss to the Tigers in a much-needed upset win for Clemson. 

Arkansas 39, Florida 36 (OT) (Gainesville, FL)

The only game without many implications, Arkansas and Florida, decided they wanted to be noticed, too. For the entire game, neither side gained much separation from the other. Arkansas buried a game-tying field goal with 44 seconds left, allowing Florida a chance to go the other way to win it. There was a minor controversy that nearly helped the Gators pull it off. Whenever the offense makes a substitution, the defense is allowed the same opportunity, and it's the referee's job to allow it to happen. Arkansas wasn't given the luxury in the final ten seconds. Instead of holding the ball and allowing time to likely run out, Florida was able to spike the ball, setting themselves up for the game-winning field goal. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, Florida missed it wide right to send the game to overtime. The Gators kicked a field goal, but the Razorbacks scored a touchdown, snapping a six-game losing streak to earn their first conference win. 

#3 Ohio State 35, Rutgers 16 (Piscataway, NJ)

While the final score makes it look worse than it was, the team the playoff committee dubbed the best in the country struggled against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights led 9-7 at the break after three second-quarter field goals. The game-changing play was a 93-yard interception return by Jordan Hancock, giving the Buckeyes all of the momentum. Two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. would help Ohio State pull away, keeping them perfect on the season. 

Upset of the Week- Army 23, #17 Air Force 3 (Denver, CO)

The country has one less undefeated team after this weekend. Needing a win to claim the Commander-in-Chief Trophy, Air Force laid an egg at home against Army. Bryson Daily scrambled for a 62-yard touchdown to set the tone, and by halftime, the Falcons trailed 23-3. The second half was all about defense. The Golden Knights finished the game with six takeaways, keeping the Falcons out of the endzone for 60 minutes to complete the upset. 

Other Notable Games

#5 Washington 52, #24 USC 42 (Los Angeles, CA)

Defensive Coordinators shield your eyes. The reigning Heisman winner and my current pick to win this year's Heisman battled in Los Angeles with significant implications for both sides. The Trojans had played themselves out of the playoffs but were still near the top of the conference. Washington's perfect season and playoff hopes were in the balance. The Huskies and Trojans went blow for blow in the first half. Washington tied the game at 28 with 1:14 left in the first half before forcing a turnover to set themselves up to take the lead. While Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. were the big names, the story of the night was Dillon Johnson. Johnson ran for three touchdowns in the first half, including the go-ahead score with 20 seconds left in the half to put the Huskies up by seven. Things slowed down in the second half, but the teams were tied at 42 entering the fourth quarter. Grady Gross nailed a kick from 43 yards, and Johnson put an exclamation point on the game with his fourth touchdown of the night to keep Washington undefeated with three games left. 

#8 Alabama 42, #13 LSU 28 (Tuscaloosa, AL)

In another battle with conference implications, Alabama welcomed Jayden Daniels and LSU into town to determine the likely winner of the SEC West. As good as these teams are, this turned into a track meet between Daniels and Jalen Milroe. Each quarterback threw for 219 yards and ran for over 150. The difference was the frequency with which Milroe found the endzone with his legs. All three of Alabama's first-half touchdowns were from Milroe running it in, then he added a fourth in the second half as part of 21 unanswered points to help the Crimson Tide roll past LSU to put a stranglehold on the division. 

#1 Georgia 30, #14 Missouri 21 (Athens, GA)

While the #1 team, according to the playoff committee, struggled, life wasn't much easier for the other #1 team in the country. Missouri stuck with Georgia for the entire first half as they entered the break tied 10-10. The Tigers took the lead early in the third quarter before the Bulldogs started to flex their muscles a little bit. Two touchdowns in the third gave Georgia a 24-13 lead, and while Missouri did pull within three, that's as close as it got as the Bulldogs added two field goals to take the win at home. 

Oklahoma State 27, #10 Oklahoma 24 (Stillwater, OK) 

With the landscape of college football changing rapidly, this game was billed as the final Bedlam for the foreseeable future as Oklahoma moves to the SEC. The story was also helped by how Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were part of the tie atop the Big 12 with one loss in conference play. Ollie Gordon II was the focus of the afternoon. Gordon II ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter to put the Cowboys up by a field goal. The difference in the game was turnovers. The Sooners lost the ball three times, allowing the Cowboys to win at home, leaving themselves in a tie with Texas for the conference crown. 

Arizona 27, #20 UCLA 10 (Tuscon, AZ)

Is it fair to call something an upset if everyone in the world saw it coming? Few teams in the country are flying under the radar as much as Arizona is. Noah Fifita has taken the Wildcats and turned them into a juggernaut against ranked conference opponents. After close losses to Washington and USC, Arizona has won three straight against ranked teams after dismantling UCLA. Fifita threw for 300 yards and three scores as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half. 

Power 5 Races

ACC- Race for 2nd (Florida State clinched its spot in the ACC Championship game on Saturday).

Louisville (5-1)- Wins over Georgia Tech, Boston College, NC State, Duke, and Virginia Tech. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Virginia, at Miami

Georgia Tech (4-2)- Wins over Miami and North Carolina. Losses to Louisville and Boston College.

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Clemson, vs. Syracuse

Duke (3-2)- Win over NC State. Loss to Louisville.

Remaining Conference Schedule- at North Carolina, at Virginia, vs. Pittsburgh

North Carolina (3-2)- Win over Miami. Loss to Georgia Tech. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Duke, at Clemson, at NC State

NC State (3-2)- Win over Miami. Losses to Louisville and Duke. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Wake Forest, at Virginia Tech, vs. North Carolina

Boston College (3-2)- Win over Georgia Tech. Loss to Louisville. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Virginia Tech, at Pittsburgh, vs. Miami

Virginia Tech (3-2)- Loss to Louisville. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Boston College, vs. NC State, at Virginia

Miami (2-3)- Losses to Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and NC State. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Florida State, vs. Louisville, at Boston College

This race is Louisville's to lose. The loser of the Duke-UNC game is out of the race, and even if Duke wins, they've lost to Louisvillle. The same applies to Virginia Tech and Boston College, who meet next week. Georgia Tech has to go on the road to face Clemson, who just beat Notre Dame. The Cardinals having one less conference game remaining puts them in a great spot. North Carolina is the only team with a reasonable shot should Louisville fall, and the Tar Heels still have Clemson and NC State should they beat Duke. A win next week against Virginia should wrap things up for the Cardinals.

Big Ten East

This race is simple. Michigan and Ohio State are both 6-0 in conference play. Penn State is 5-1, having lost to Ohio State. Michigan faces Penn State next Saturday. If Michigan beats Penn State and Maryland the following week both on the road, and Ohio State beats Michigan State and Minnesota at home, the Wolverines and Buckeyes will meet during the final weekend to determine a winner. If Penn State beats Michigan and Michigan beats Ohio State, all three teams will finish with one conference loss. The tiebreaker is determined based on the conference records of the three team's West opponents. As of 11/5, Penn State holds the edge, thanks to Michigan and Ohio State facing 1-5 Purdue and the Nittany Lions beating 4-2 Iowa. All of this can be avoided if Michigan beats Penn State. 

Big Ten West

Iowa (4-2)- Wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern. Loss to Minnesota. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Rutgers, vs. Illinois, at Nebraska

Minnesota (3-3)- Wins over Nebraska and Iowa. Losses to Northwestern and Illinois. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Purdue, at Ohio State, vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin (3-3)- Win over Illinois. Loss to Iowa.  

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Northwestern, vs. Nebraska, at Minnesota

Nebraska (3-3)- Wins over Illinois and Northwestern. Loss to Minnesota. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, vs. Iowa

Illinois (2-4)- Win over Minnesota. Losses to Nebraska and Wisconsin. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Indiana, at Iowa, vs. Northwestern

Northwestern (2-4)- Win over Minnesota. Losses to Nebraska and Iowa. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, at Illinois

 

While the East is more straightforward to determine, the West is a nightmare. With Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska losing this weekend, Iowa remains atop the division. Illinois and Northwestern would typically be out of it, but the absurdity of the division keeps them in the race for now. No one wants to win because they know what lies ahead if they win the division. There's no use picking a winner because it'll change next week. 

Big 12

Texas (5-1)- Wins over Kansas and Kansas State. Loss to Oklahoma. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at TCU, at Iowa State, vs. Texas Tech

Oklahoma State (5-1)- Wins over Kansas State, Kansas, West Virginia, and Oklahoma. Loss to Iowa State.

Remaining Conference Schedule- at UCF, at Houston vs. BYU

Kansas (4-2)- Wins over Oklahoma and Iowa State. Losses to Texas and Oklahoma State. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Texas Tech, vs. Kansas State, at Cincinnati

Oklahoma (4-2)- Wins over Iowa State and Texas. Losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. West Virginia, at BYU, vs. TCU

Kansas State (4-2)- Win over Texas Tech. Losses to Oklahoma State and Texas. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Baylor, at Kansas, vs. Iowa State

West Virginia (4-2)- Win over Texas Tech. Loss to Oklahoma State. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Oklahoma, vs. Cincinnati, at Baylor

Iowa State (4-2)- Win over Oklahoma State. Losses to Oklahoma and Kansas. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at BYU, vs. Texas, at Kansas State

Texas Tech (3-3)- Losses to West Virginia and Kansas State. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Kansas, vs. UCF, at Texas

Texas and Oklahoma State are the remaining one-loss teams at the end of the weekend. Behind them, there's a logjam. Based on remaining schedules, Oklahoma State has the easiest path going forward, playing three teams out of the race. Oklahoma and West Virginia have one game against teams remaining, though it's a head-to-head battle next weekend. We'll get a clearer picture next week, but I see no reason why Texas and Oklahoma State can't ride to the end without any hiccups. 

PAC-12

Washington (6-0)- Wins over Arizona, Oregon, and USC. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Utah, at Oregon State, vs. Washington State

Oregon (5-1)- Win over Utah. Loss to Washington. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. USC, at Arizona State, vs. Oregon State

USC (5-2)- Win over Arizona. Losses to Utah and Washington.

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Oregon, vs. UCLA

Arizona (4-2)- Wins over Oregon State and UCLA. Losses to Washington and USC. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Colorado, vs. Utah, at Arizona State

Oregon State (4-2)- Wins over Utah and UCLA. Loss to Arizona. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Stanford, vs. Washington, at Oregon

Utah (4-2)- Wins over UCLA and USC. Losses to Oregon State and Oregon. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- at Washington, at Arizona, vs. Colorado

UCLA (3-3)- Losses to Utah, Oregon State, and Arizona. 

Remaining Conference Schedule- vs. Arizona State, at USC, vs. California

Washington is very close to clinching one of the two spots in the conference title game. A USC win over Oregon next weekend could get the job done. The way USC's defense is playing makes me think that's easier said than done. The Huskies and Ducks are the frontrunners, though Arizona has made a massive jump up the standings in recent weeks. The Wildcats have a legitimate shot at the title game, though games against Colorado and Utah could prove tricky. 

SEC

Both races in the SEC are pretty much determined. Georgia is on their way to winning the SEC East, needing one win in their final two conference games to get the job done. Granted, those games are against Ole Miss and Tennessee. Alabama has the inside track on the SEC West after beating LSU. A win over Kentucky or an Ole Miss loss to Georgia would seal the deal. 

My Top 25

1. Georgia (9-0, W 30-21 #14 Missouri) (-)

2. Michigan (9-0, W 41-13 Purdue) (-)

3. Florida State (9-0, W 24-7 Pittsburgh) (-)

4. Ohio State (9-0, W 35-16 Rutgers) (-)

5. Washington (9-0, W 52-42 #24 USC) (-)

6. Oregon (8-1, W 63-19 California) (-) 

While it means nothing, I disagree with the committee placing Ohio State at #1 on Tuesday night. While their resume has some good wins, I still think Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State are more complete teams. There is no change to the top of my rankings. Unless someone missteps, I don't foresee anyone moving down until Michigan plays Ohio State in three weeks. 

7. Texas (8-1, W 33-30 (OT) #25 Kansas State) (-)

8. Alabama (8-1, W 42-28 #13 LSU) (-)

9. Penn State (8-1, W 51-15 Maryland) (-)

10. Ole Miss (8-1, W 38-35 Texas A&M) (+1)

The status quo continues through the rest of my Top 10. While Alabama's win over LSU is more impressive than Texas' nail-biter in overtime with Kansas State, the Longhorns' head-to-head win keeps them ahead. Penn State knocked the stuffing out of Maryland ahead of its battle with Michigan. The only new face in the Top 10 is Ole Miss, moving up one spot following Oklahoma's loss. 

11. Louisville (8-1, W 34-3 Virginia Tech) (+3)

12. Tennessee (7-2, W 59-3 Connecticut) (+4)

13. Utah (7-2, W 55-3 Arizona State) (+4)

14. Missouri (7-2, L 30-21 #1 Georgia) (-1)

15. Oregon State (7-2, W 26-19 Colorado) (+4)

We start to see more movement once we leave the Top 10. Louisville, Tennessee, and Utah all shoot up the board after blowout wins, and though Oregon State only beat Colorado by a touchdown, they jump due to several teams losing. I only dropped Missouri a little after losing to Georgia. The Tigers played a solid game against the Bulldogs, taking a single-digit loss in Athens on Saturday.  

16. Oklahoma (7-2, L 27-24 Oklahoma State) (-6)

17. Kansas (7-2, W 28-21 Iowa State) (+4)

18. Oklahoma State (7-2, W 27-24 #10 Oklahoma) (NR)

19. James Madison (9-0, W 42-14 Georgia State) (+3)

20. LSU (6-3, L 42-28 #8 Alabama) (-5)

The repercussions of Saturday's shakeup can be felt in the bottom half of the rankings. Oklahoma took a significant slide, losing its second straight game on the road. Kansas, one of Oklahoma's two losses, gets a boost after a close win against Iowa State. Oklahoma State, the Sooners' other loss, takes the biggest jump of the week after their Bedlam win. Undefeated James Madison kept its streak going, running away from Georgia State. LSU also took a nice fall after losing to Alabama. While the loss wasn't bad, the Tigers have three on the season, making it hard to overlook despite their overall play. 

21. Arizona (6-3, W 27-10 #20 UCLA) (NR)

22. Fresno State (8-1, W 37-30 Boise State) (+3)

23. Tulane (8-1, W 13-10 East Carolina) (-)

24. Notre Dame (7-3, L 31-23 Clemson) (-12)

25. Liberty (9-0, W 56-30 Louisiana Tech) (+2)

Arizona's recent run has them in the Top 25 for the first time this season. They've come out of nowhere as an outsider to potentially steal a spot in the PAC-12 title game. Fresno State kept a firm hold on the Moutain West in its win over Boise State, helping give them a bump. Tulane stays strong at #23. While they escaped East Carolina with a win, it wasn't a pretty one. Notre Dame took the biggest tumble of the week after falling in Death Valley to Clemson. This loss likely kills their New Year's 6 aspirations. Rounding out the Top 25 is another newcomer, undefeated Liberty. While the Flames are yet to play anyone noteworthy this season, it's hard to look past their zero losses. 

The Next 5

26. North Carolina (7-2, W 59-7 Campbell) (+2)

27. Air Force (8-1, L 23-3 Army) (-9)

28. UCLA (6-3, L 27-10 Arizona) (-8)

29. Duke (6-3, W 24-21 Wake Forest) (-3)

30. Iowa (7-2, W 10-7 Northwestern) (-)

Week 11 Preview

1. #2 Michigan at #9 Penn State (University Park, PA)

This is Michigan's last big hurdle before Ohio State on Thanksgiving weekend. If they beat the Nittany Lions, it's best-on-best for the division crown, while a Penn State win would cause chaos in all of the best ways possible. 

Prediction- #2 Michigan 38, #9 Penn State 27

2. #10 Ole Miss at #1 Georgia (Athens, GA)

While the implications for the SEC picture are lessened by Alabama beating LSU, it's still a Top 10 matchup between two very good teams. This win could help squash opinions on Georgia not being good enough to be the top team in the country. 

Prediction- #1 Georgia 34, #10 Ole Miss 21

3. #13 Utah at #5 Washington (Seattle, WA)

As the Huskies sit atop the PAC-12 undefeated, their spot in the conference title game is far from guaranteed. Their next two games are very tough, starting with the two-time reigning conference champions, who are coming off a lopsided victory over Arizona State. 

Prediction- #5 Washington 41, #13 Utah 27

4. USC at #6 Oregon (Eugene, OR)

It wouldn't surprise me at all if we saw a game similar to USC-Washington in this one. Caleb Williams and the Trojans offense are starting to click again, but Bo Nix just put up 63 points against California and will be playing a defense that has been very bad. 

Prediction- #6 Oregon 51, USC 40

5. #16 Missouri at #14 Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

Missouri's loss to Georgia took them out of the SEC East race, leaving Tennessee as the last line of defense to dethrone the Bulldogs. While it's unlikely to happen, Tennessee could be right there if Georgia were to stumble, with a head-to-head coming in two weeks. 

Prediction- #14 Tennessee 31, #16 Missouri 28

6. West Virginia at #17 Oklahoma (Norman, OK)

After beating Texas in the Red River Rivalry, the Sooners looked to be the frontrunners of the Big 12. Two weeks later, they're looking to stay afloat in the conference after consecutive losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State as they welcome West Virginia to town. 

Prediction- #17 Oklahoma 48, West Virginia 27

7. #8 Alabama at Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

The Crimson Tide have survived games against Ole Miss and LSU to emerge as the uncrowned winners of the SEC West. All it'll take is a win against an up-and-down Kentucky team that is trying to find its footing going down the stretch. 

Prediction- #8 Alabama 37, Kentucky 24

8. Duke at #24 North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)

If you live in the Triangle, you know this isn't a battle between two basketball schools. Drake Maye and the Tar Heels will welcome the Blue Devils to town, who are likely to be without star quarterback Riley Leonard after sustaining a toe injury a few weeks ago. 

Prediction- Duke 31, #24 North Carolina 30

 

9. Miami at #4 Florida State (Tallahassee, FL)

Gone are the days when this game between Miami and Florida State meant much for both teams. Florida State still has aspirations of making the CFP as the ACC's only hope, while Miami is trying to find an identity after another unbalanced season. 

Prediction- #4 Florida State 45, Miami 25

10. #23 Arizona at Colorado (Boulder, CO)

I'm firmly on the Arizona bandwagon after the last three weeks of upsets. Now, they will play from the front as they travel to Colorado to face Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes, who've fallen off since their scorching hot start. 

Prediction- #23 Arizona 27, Colorado 24