Week 6 recap
Last weekend brought many exciting matchups resulting in surprising results. The No. 1 team in the country, the Texas Longhorns, squared off against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River rivalry in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas was the clear favorite, but the unranked Sooners never let the Longhorns catch momentum.
Oklahoma’s quarterback John Mateer had been struggling this season and threw three interceptions against Texas last year. This time, he played his best football, completing two huge throws after the Sooners picked off Arch Manning with 19 seconds to go.
“I thought about this game for 365 days,” Mateer said. “I think that was the longest fourth quarter I’ve ever been a part of. It was awesome, and I’ll never forget it. But I knew 19 seconds left that this was the time.”
Oklahoma didn’t settle for overtime. The Sooners drove into field goal range, and kicker Tate Sandell converted a 47-yard game-winning kick as the Sooners edged the Longhorns 27-24. Oklahoma improved to 3-2, while Texas fell to 4-1.
Also, the loss dethroned Texas from the top spot in the AP Poll - the Longhorns are now ranked seventh. The country has a new No. 1 team, and it's Georgia.
The Bulldogs recorded a huge win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in an SEC showdown. Georgia played on the road and grabbed its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2014. The game was neck-and-neck, with both teams tied at 17 while entering the last quarter.
The Bulldogs made a field goal with 5:25 remaining in the game to go up 20-17. Alabama had a chance to score, but the ending was wrapped in controversy - wide receiver Rico Scott got loose, running to the end zone. Georgia safety KJ Bolden took him down in what appeared to be a clear pass-interference penalty.
But the officials never threw a flag.
The penalty would have moved the Crimson Tide into field-goal range, giving them a chance to tie the game. Instead, Bolden sacked quarterback Keelon Russell on the next play, and Alabama had to punt. Game over.
“We can’t put the game in that situation where the officials come into play,” said Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. “We just got to control the things we can control.”
The defending champions Indiana Hoosiers faced a tough, resilient team in the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the road, and for a while, it seemed like the Huskers would hand the Hoosiers their first loss of the season. Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Anthony Colandrea delivered a 39-yard running touchdown to put Nebraska ahead 17-6.
Indiana didn’t fold. As soon as the Hoosiers got the ball back, quarterback Josh Hoover executed a run-pass option to perfection, and wide receiver Nick Marsh ran for a touchdown. Then, Indiana forced Nebraska to go three-and-out and set up the game-winning drive.
On fourth-and-one, the Huskers defense was ready to stop the run. Instead, Hoover passed the ball to a wide-open Marsh, and the Hoosiers scored a 44-yard touchdown to win the matchup.
“I'm not sure it's completely sunk in — it's starting to — that we won because it took everything the players and coaches had in that one to find a way to overcome,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said. “Give Nebraska a lot of credit. We did a nice job of regrouping at halftime. Great win on the road, hard-fought. A win like that has a lot of value.”
The hero of the weekend title goes to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Going into the weekend unranked, Kentucky welcomed #10 LSU Tigers in Lexington. The Tigers were coming off a dominant victory over McNeese, and they also dismantled Texas A&M in Week 4. Kentucky edged unranked South Carolina in overtime in Week 5 and knew that battling LSU would take everything they had. And they left it all on the field, upsetting the Tigers 35-34 in overtime once again.
The Wildcats became the first team in FBS history to win back-to-back games by one point in overtime.
Kentucky led 21-17 at halftime, but LSU took over in the second half, taking the lead. After missing two field goal attempts, the home team was down 27-24 with the ending approaching. But the Wildcats did get into field goal range with 12 seconds to go, and this time kicker Adam Zouagui converted a 33-yarder to send the game to overtime.
LSU scored a touchdown first. Kentucky responded accordingly, then set up a two-point conversion attempt. After the ball was snapped, quarterback Kenneth Minchey ran completely untouched into the end zone as a huge gap opened right in front of him to lift Kentucky to a 35-34 victory.
“I’m in shock. We’ve got a really good football team. People count us out. I took a picture of ESPN College GameDay this morning; everyone picked LSU. Keep doing that. It gives us a lot of fuel,” Kentucky head coach Will Stein said. “It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. We just kept chopping. We kept fighting.”
The loss dropped LSU to No. 22, while the Wildcats are now fifteenth-ranked and improved to 5-1. The Tigers fell to 4-2, and now their postseason appearance is in jeopardy.
Now, it’s time to block off your Saturday: NCAA football returns to the screens, featuring numerous games you don’t want to miss! Here are our top picks.
#4 Ohio State vs. #5 Indiana
One of the most exciting conference clashes is here, as the Hoosiers host the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game rematch.
Last season, Indiana outlasted Ohio State 13-10 in what turned into a defensive battle. Now, the Buckeyes have a huge chip on their shoulder and lots of motivation to take down the defending national champion.
The winner will gain a significant advantage in the race for the Big Ten championship game while strengthening its CFP resume.
The Buckeyes enter the biggest game of their season at 5-1, riding a four-game winning streak after a narrow 24-23 loss to Texas in Week 2. Ever since losing to the Longhorns in Austin, Ohio State has looked nearly unstoppable.
The Buckeyes scored at least 31 points in all of their last four games, while also locking opponents up defensively. They allowed Iowa to score only 14, then held Maryland to 16. Quarterback Julian Sayin has already thrown for 1,772 yards and boasts a 71.2% completion rate.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has emerged as one of the nation's most explosive offensive weapons, recording 27 receptions for 516 yards and eight touchdowns over three conference games, and is among the best wide receivers college football has ever seen. He gives opposing defenses nightmares, and the Sayin-Smith duo is hard to stop.
"Jeremiah's a freak," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, whose teams have faced Smith three times. "He can strike the fear of God in you on any snap."
Ohio State has many weapons, but so does Indiana. Third-year head coach Curt Cignetti is a proven mastermind, and there is no doubt he will come up with a great plan to stop the dynamic Buckeyes offense.
Quarterback Josh Hoover has been outstanding this season, throwing 17 touchdown passes without an interception through six games. His connection with wide receiver Nick Marsh will be crucial against an Ohio State defense that has looked increasingly formidable.
Having a home-field advantage is going to be a big boost for Indiana.
Focus point: Ohio State has ruled out running back Ja’Kobi Jackson, who was limping after a play against Maryland last week. The Buckeyes average 165.7 rushing yards per game, and their running scheme is critical to their success. In the 2025 Big Ten championship game, Indiana outlasted Ohio State and claimed the title.
"It is going to be a huge challenge," said Ohio State coach Ryan Day. "They do an excellent job up front on defense. Their defensive line is one of the biggest challenges we'll have all season, so we've got to have a great week of preparation."
Ohio State must figure out how to replace Jackson’s production; otherwise Indiana will get a significant advantage.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
#2 Notre Dame vs. #8 BYU
Two undefeated teams collide in their biggest test yet.
Notre Dame travels to Provo to face the Cougars, who are eyeing a spot in the playoffs. This showdown could prove pivotal in determining their postseason ambitions. Both programs boast elite quarterbacks, strong defenses, and the highest ambitions.
This is going to be a thrilling contest worth watching. The Fighting Irish have won four consecutive meetings between these two, but the Cougars will have home-field advantage for the first time since 2004.
Notre Dame is 6-0 but hasn’t played a ranked opponent yet. The last time the Fighting Irish won a road game against a top-10 school was in 2012, when they beat No. 8 Oklahoma. This game will showcase where Notre Dame stands against ranked competition.
Quarterback CJ Carr has been one of the team's biggest strengths, completing 71% of his passes for 16 touchdowns and recording only one interception. His ability to make smart decisions and deliver accurate throws has allowed Notre Dame to remain balanced offensively.
Wide receivers Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert have emerged as important targets, while freshman running back Jonaz Walton has helped energize the rushing attack.
BYU isn’t notoriously known as a football powerhouse, but ever since hiring Kalani Sitake as its head coach, the Cougars have been building a strong, resilient, and reliable program. This year, they have established themselves as one of the most dangerous teams in college football.
BYU is physical and disciplined, making nothing easy for its opponents. The Cougars are coming off a convincing 24-10 victory over Iowa State, during which they produced 506 total yards while keeping the Cyclones' offense in check for most of the game.
They must keep its composure against Notre Dame and stay true to their identity, not letting the Irish dictate the tempo of the game.
Focus point: The Cougars face a little bit of adversity as star running back LJ Martin is out with an ankle injury. His absence could be fatal for BYU, as he averages 7.8 yards per carry and has three touchdowns and 344 yards so far this season. He’s one of the most productive players on offense for the Cougars. Notre Dame’s defense has been particularly effective against the run this year so far, allowing just 58.3 rushing yards per game. With Martin out and Irish already guarding the running game well, this could be the deciding factor.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
#18 Oklahoma State vs. #20 Houston
The Big 12 conference is set for another exciting matchup!
The contest between the Cowboys and the Cougars could determine who plays in the championship game and who will be left out. The Cowboys are 2-0 in conference play, so they have a little bit more room for error.
But Houston is 2-1 after losing to Texas Tech, and another loss could keep the program from competing for the conference crown.
Oklahoma State has become one of college football's biggest turnaround stories under first-year head coach Eric Morris.
After going 1-11 last season, the Cowboys are 4-1 now, and took down then No. 6 Oregon Ducks 39-31. They are riding a four-game winning streak, having the momentum on their side. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has been a driving force behind the Cowboys' resurgence.
He has thrown for at least 300 yards in four consecutive games, helping Oklahoma State rank among the nation's most productive passing offenses. Oklahoma State has a strong running game because running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young keep opposing defenses on their toes.
The Cowboys scored 39 or more points in their last four games.
For Houston, this would be a huge victory, proving that the Cougars can compete with the elite conference teams. As mentioned above, Houston is physical - the team possesses a tremendous ability to sustain long drives through physical play, which allows the Cougars to control the clock, wear down opposing defenses, and limit opportunities for explosive offenses like Oklahoma State's.
Houston averages approximately 230 rushing yards per game and has been particularly effective on third downs, converting 62.7% of its attempts.
This is going to be a thrilling contest for the Big 12 bragging rights.
Focus point: Oklahoma State and Houston are meeting as ranked opponents for the first time since joining the Big 12 era! The Cougars joined in 2023, but the Cowboys have been a member since 1996. Both teams have done an incredible job building their football programs in 2026. Oklahoma State has the potential to record an incredible turnaround from a massive losing season a year ago. Can they somewhat replicate Indiana’s success and rebuild in record time? This game will partially answer this question.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas