Top Ten Teams Lose Eleven Games
A three-week span matches the 2007 record for upsets, reshaping the playoff picture for fans and bettors alike.
By Jabari Long ·
College football fans are watching their favorite teams fall in record numbers. Over the last three weeks, eleven top-ten teams have lost games. ESPN Research confirms this ties the record for the most upsets in any three-week span during the AP Poll era. The last time this happened was in 2007.
South Carolina stunned Tennessee in a come-from-behind victory. LaNorris Sellers led the Gamecocks to a win that derailed the Volunteers' playoff hopes. In a similar turn of events, Texas Tech lost on the road at Cincinnati. USC also stumbled, managing just seven points against Wisconsin after a bye week.
BYU’s rise to number two in the AP Poll lasted only one week. The Cougars fell in a double-overtime loss to UCF on the road. Star running back LJ Martin missed the game with a lower-body injury. BYU averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in the loss. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed only 16 of 32 passes.
Indiana survived a trip to Michigan with a 13-6 overtime win. The Hoosiers relied on their defense to hold the Wolverines to 54 rushing yards. Michigan had not lost to an AP top-ten team while allowing 13 or fewer points since 1985. Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover threw his first interception of the season but made two key plays in overtime.
The chaos extends beyond the Big 12 and SEC. Miami retained the number one spot after a 52-23 win over Pitt. Malachi Toney caught 16 passes for 194 yards, a school record. Ohio State sits at number three without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. True freshman Luke Fahey is expected to run the offense.
The instability continues to reshape the standings. Utah leads the Big 12 after winning 7-0. They came back from a 10-0 deficit at halftime to beat Houston 21-13. Alabama avoided a third straight loss by beating Texas A&M in the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide will face LSU on November 7.
The schedule ahead remains packed with potential shockers. Notre Dame hosts Miami in two weeks. Georgia faces Florida in Atlanta before traveling to Ole Miss. Wake Forest prepares to host Virginia and then FCS Merrimack. These matchups could determine which teams advance to the postseason.
