Oct 13, 2025, 07:30 AM ET

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Notre Dame dominated NC State, 36-7, behind another stellar performance from QB CJ Carr. More impressively is that a defense, lambasted after an 0-2 start for struggles, particularly in the secondary, dominated, picking off CJ Bailey three times in the win. The ugly start to the season seems like it’s fully in the rearview mirror, but those two early losses mean Notre Dame will continue to walk a tightrope in hopes of a playoff berth, and Week 8 could be the moment the Irish tumble to the ground. USC awaits after a big win over Michigan, with a date in South Bend likely to be the defining moment of Notre Dame’s season. — Hale

Previous ranking: NR

After an impressive 31-13 win over No. 15 Michigan Saturday, the Trojans’ biggest obstacle may be something that they can’t go back and change: their loss to Illinois two weeks ago in a game that was seemingly in their hands before they let it slip away. The reason that loss may linger for Lincoln Riley’s team is the fact that the rest of its schedule is daunting to say the least. USC heads to Notre Dame next before heading to face Nebraska in another tough road environment, then has to deal with pesky teams like Northwestern and Iowa at home. The finishing stretch features a dangerous road trip to play Oregon before getting a suddenly-feisty UCLA team at home. Every game in that stretch is its own tricky obstacle and the Trojans have yet to prove they can play consistent elite football, especially on the road. With their talent, the Trojans are plenty capable. The question is whether they will be able to turn that into results. — Uggetti

Previous ranking: 25

For the first time this fall, Texas finally looked the part of the preseason No. 1 and the national title contender the Longhorns were expected to be in August. With physical line play, a productive run game and error-free football from quarterback Arch Manning, Texas controlled the final 35 minutes at the Cotton Bowl and smoothly dispatched Oklahoma in a 23-6 win that breathed life back into its playoff hopes this fall. The challenge now for the Longhorns will be maintaining that level over the back half of the season with a consistency they simply haven’t shown in 2025. If Steve Sarkisian & Co. can replicate Saturday’s performance outside of a rivalry game when their backs are against the wall, Texas has a shot to claw back into the CFP hunt with only three ranked matchups remaining on the schedule. — Lederman

Previous ranking: 19

The Hoos were off in Week 7, which gave Tony Elliott & Co. a chance to take stock of all that has transpired. After a deflating Week 2 loss to NC State in what was considered a nonconference game, Virginia has roared back to life behind a stellar running game and the heroics of QB Chandler Morris. It has won four straight, including back-to-back overtime wins against Florida State and Louisville Cardinals. The remaining schedule is accommodating — Washington State, UNC and Cal are up next — but the Cavaliers would feel better if the next few W’s don’t require as much stress as the past two. — Hale

Previous ranking: 20

The Commodores got a well-timed bye week following their 30-14 loss at Alabama, giving them a chance to get healthy and dig into how they can fine-tune from their first loss of the year. The defining four-game stretch of their schedule comes next against LSU, Missouri, Texas and Auburn, and they’re getting three of those four at home. Clark Lea’s squad has proven it can compete with anyone in its conference. Now it takes great precision and poise to pull off these upsets. Quarterback Diego Pavia was excellent through his first five starts but has eight turnover-worthy plays this season, according to Pro Football Focus, after producing just five through 13 games in 2024. — Max Olson

Previous ranking: NR

The Bulls cleared one of their few remaining hurdles and secured another résumé-building victory in a 27-point win on the road against previously unbeaten North Texas Friday night. South Florida has now committed 13 turnovers this fall, including three across a messy first quarter against the Mean Green, more than all but four other FBS offenses entering play Saturday. But those turnover troubles haven’t kept the Bulls from reaching the back half of the regular season as one of the Group of 5’s leading CFP contenders. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of USF’s playoff hopes? A Week 9 trip to Memphis on Oct. 25. If the Bulls can land a ranked road win over the Tigers later this month, they’ll reach November with pole position in the American title race, and in turn, a clear path to the first-ever CFP appearance in school history. — Lederman

Previous ranking: 21

The 6-0 Tigers had the week off following their 45-7 rout of Tulsa, which gave them a chance to start working ahead on UAB, as well as their much-anticipated Oct. 25 showdown with South Florida, a game with potentially massive College Football Playoff implications. Coach Ryan Silverfield said he’ll harp on ball security and how important it is that his team take care of the football over the second half of the season. Quarterback Brendon Lewis has been responsible for six of the Tigers’ seven turnovers on the year, and they’ve been fortunate to only lose two of their six fumbles so far. Memphis’ defense has been able to get stops in four of these sudden change situations, but this squad will be in trouble if it’s not careful against a USF team that converted five takeaways into 21 points to rout North Texas. — Olson

Previous ranking: NR

The Utes dazzled in a 32-point win over then-No. 21 Arizona State, their third-largest win over a ranked opponent in school history, led by Devon Dampier‘s three rushing TDs and 120 yards on the ground to go with 104 passing yards. The Utes ended a five-game home losing streak to conference opponents, a shocking stat, but coach Kyle Whittingham said that’s over now. The next test is the big one: a nationally televised Holy War game against BYU in Provo, following last year’s one-point loss in the rivalry. It’s once again predicted to be close: ESPN’s FPI gives the Cougars a 51% chance to win. — Wilson

Previous ranking: 24

Coach Scott Satterfield and the Bearcats said they would be better before the season, and they have backed it up, even after an agonizing loss to Nebraska in the opener. The Bearcats won their fifth consecutive game Saturday, their longest win streak since 2022, and are 3-0 in Big 12 play for the first time. They have one of the nation’s best offensive lines, quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been fantastic, and their defense has been opportunistic in forcing turnovers, adding their seventh forced fumble against UCF. While the defense took a step in the right direction against UCF, allowing only 11 points, Cincinnati still surrendered 1,480 yards in the three Big 12 games. The Bearcats entered Saturday ranked 121st nationally in pass efficiency defense, an area that must improve with upcoming games against Baylor, Utah and BYU. — Rittenberg

Previous ranking: NR

At the halfway point of the season, Nebraska has done enough to get the collective hopes of its fanbase in a rare optimistic position. ESPN’s Football Power Index projects the Cornhuskers’ most likely finish to be 9-3, which would be the program’s best finish since 2016. But the second half of the schedule is full of land mines: There are no easy outs the rest of the way. QB Dylan Raiola has had some incredible moments but his three interceptions against Maryland on Saturday are a bit concerning. — Bonagura