A weekend that looked relatively calm on paper turned into another reminder that nothing about the 2026 season is predictable.

No. 2 BYU and No. 8 Texas Tech both lost their perfect records, No. 11 Tennessee and No. 15 Iowa were beaten on last-second field goals, and No. 16 USC was handled by Wisconsin. Meanwhile, No. 19 Texas kept its season alive against Ole Miss, No. 10 Utah remained undefeated by rallying past Houston, and No. 1 Miami looked completely comfortable in its first game atop the rankings.

By the end of Saturday, only Miami, UCLA and Utah remained undefeated among FBS teams, an extraordinarily small group this early in the season.

No. 19 Texas 34, No. 7 Ole Miss 27

The biggest game of the weekend became exactly what Texas needed.

The Longhorns entered having lost consecutive games to Oklahoma and Florida and were staring at the possibility of a three-game collapse. Instead, they built a 24-3 halftime lead and then survived a furious Ole Miss comeback.

Raleek Brown was outstanding for Texas, rushing for 157 yards on 23 carries, while Arch Manning threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and also scored twice on the ground.

Ole Miss cut a 21-point deficit to 24-24 early in the fourth quarter, but Texas answered with Manning's one-yard touchdown run and a late field goal.

Trinidad Chambliss threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions proved costly, including one in the end zone with two seconds remaining.

Texas improves to 5-2 and keeps its postseason hopes very much alive. Ole Miss falls to 5-2.

No. 10 Utah 21, No. 14 Houston 13

Utah's undefeated season nearly disappeared under the lights in Salt Lake City.

Houston led 13-7 entering the fourth quarter and had controlled much of the game defensively. Then Devon Dampier took over.

The Utah quarterback rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including the nine-yard score with just over two minutes remaining that finally gave the Utes breathing room.

Wayshawn Parker had already put Utah ahead 14-13 earlier in the fourth.

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 282 yards, but the Cougars were shut out over the final quarter and lost a crucial late fumble deep in their own territory.

Utah moves to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Big 12, extending the nation's longest active winning streak to 13 games.

UCF 39, No. 2 BYU 31, 2OT

The biggest upset of the weekend came in Orlando.

BYU arrived 6-0, ranked No. 2 and fresh off its dramatic victory over Notre Dame. UCF sent the Cougars home with their first loss.

The game was tied 24-24 after regulation. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime before UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw another touchdown in the second extra period and followed it with a successful two-point conversion.

BYU then failed on fourth down.

Jenkins finished with 293 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while UCF accumulated 463 yards.

BYU falls to 6-1, while UCF improves to 4-3 in one of the Knights' biggest victories since joining the Big 12.

Cincinnati 37, No. 8 Texas Tech 24

Another unbeaten Big 12 contender went down at Nippert Stadium.

Texas Tech actually led 6-3 after the first quarter before Cincinnati erupted for 21 second-quarter points.

Running back Cole Tabb was the difference-maker, rushing for 173 yards on 16 carries, including a 58-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.

Cincinnati quarterback JC French IV threw four touchdown passes despite two interceptions.

Texas Tech committed three turnovers and was penalized 13 times for 85 yards, a disastrous combination on the road.

The Red Raiders fall to 6-1, creating even more uncertainty in the Big 12 championship race.

No. 1 Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23

Miami handled the No. 1 ranking beautifully.

Darian Mensah completed 31 of 37 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns, and receiver Malachi Toney produced another remarkable game.

Toney caught a program-record 16 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns as Miami piled up 506 yards.

The Hurricanes led 31-7 at halftime and never allowed Pitt to seriously threaten.

After surviving Florida State in double overtime the previous week, this was a much more authoritative performance.

Miami improves to 7-0 and strengthens its position atop the national rankings.

No. 6 Indiana 13, Michigan 6, OT

This looked like Big Ten football from another era.

Indiana and Michigan combined for just 436 yards and failed to score a touchdown in regulation.

Michigan tied the game 6-6 on a field goal with two seconds remaining, sending it to overtime.

Indiana responded with Josh Hoover's four-yard touchdown run. Michigan then failed to score on its possession.

Hoover threw for only 81 yards, but Indiana's defense held Michigan to 224 total yards and forced two turnovers.

The Hoosiers rebound from their Ohio State loss and improve to 7-1, earning their first victory at Michigan since 1967.

South Carolina 27, No. 11 Tennessee 24

Tennessee went from beating Alabama to losing at the gun one week later.

South Carolina led 14-0 early before Tennessee rallied to take a 21-17 halftime advantage.

The Volunteers later pushed the margin to 24-17, but LaNorris Sellers scored on a four-yard run with 1:17 remaining to tie the game.

Then came disaster for Tennessee.

On the Volunteers' next possession, George MacIntyre was sacked and fumbled. South Carolina recovered, moved into range and Malik Orsan hit a 48-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.

Sellers finished with 306 total yards and accounted for three touchdowns.

Minnesota 13, No. 15 Iowa 10

The Floyd of Rosedale belongs to Minnesota.

Iowa tied the game at 10 with 3:49 remaining when Hank Brown connected with Reece Vander Zee for a 37-yard touchdown.

Minnesota responded with one final drive.

Drake Lindsey completed a critical 39-yard pass to Jalen Smith, setting up Landon Drzewiecki's 46-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.

Iowa actually outgained Minnesota 288-209, but committed four turnovers.

For Minnesota, it adds another rivalry trophy to a season that already included reclaiming the Little Brown Jug from Michigan.

No. 13 Alabama 31, Texas A&M 20

Alabama finally stopped the bleeding.

After consecutive losses to Georgia and Tennessee, the Crimson Tide returned home and defeated Texas A&M 31-20.

It was an important stabilizing victory for an Alabama team whose season had suddenly begun moving in the wrong direction.

The Tide now sit at 6-2 and remain very much alive in the larger postseason picture.

No. 18 LSU 38, Auburn 17

Auburn could not follow its stunning upset of Georgia with another major win.

LSU took control early and rolled to a 38-17 road victory, improving to 6-2.

After losing in overtime to Kentucky earlier this month, LSU has now responded with convincing wins over Mississippi State and Auburn.

No. 9 UCLA 28, Michigan State 10

UCLA just keeps winning.

The Bruins improved to 7-0, handling Michigan State 28-10 at the Rose Bowl and remaining one of only three undefeated FBS teams.

UCLA has now survived Oregon on the road, beaten Wisconsin and taken care of Michigan State in consecutive weeks.

The Bruins' rise from early-season curiosity to legitimate playoff contender is no longer hypothetical.

Wisconsin 24, No. 16 USC 7

This was one of the weekend's biggest surprises.

USC entered Madison 6-1 and ranked No. 16. The Trojans left with only seven points.

Wisconsin's defense dominated, turning what looked like another important USC road test into a convincing 24-7 Badgers victory.

The loss drops USC to 6-2 and damages the Trojans' position in an already crowded Big Ten race.

No. 21 Boise State 31, Washington State 10

Boise State took care of business in Pullman.

The Broncos controlled Washington State 31-10 and improved to 6-1, continuing their climb after the early-season loss to Oregon.

Boise State remains firmly in the postseason conversation.

No. 12 Kentucky 34, Vanderbilt 17

Kentucky finally played a game that did not require late overtime drama.

The Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt 34-17 and improved to 7-1.

After a string of close wins over Texas A&M, LSU and Oklahoma, Kentucky produced a more comfortable result and continues to emerge as one of the SEC's biggest surprises.

No. 25 Arizona 39, Iowa State 3

Arizona celebrated its return to the rankings with a demolition.

The Wildcats held Iowa State to only three points and won 39-3, one of the most lopsided results of the entire ranked slate.

Arizona improves to 6-1 and looks increasingly legitimate in the Big 12 race.

No. 23 SMU 59, California 20

SMU erupted offensively against Cal.

The Mustangs scored 59 points, easily putting away a Bears team that had just been routed by Wake Forest the previous week.

SMU moves to 6-1 and continues to position itself as a factor in the ACC.

No. 24 Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14

Northwestern's remarkable season continued.

The Wildcats crushed Rutgers 42-14, improved to 6-1 and extended their winning streak to four games.

After beating Penn State, Ball State and Michigan State, Northwestern has now added a comfortable conference win and should continue climbing in the rankings.

Another Saturday of October chaos

This weekend did not match the sheer magnitude of the previous week's Top 10 carnage, but it may have been even more important for the Big 12.

BYU and Texas Tech both lost their perfect records, Houston lost at Utah, and Utah emerged as the conference's only undefeated team.

Nationally, the picture is now remarkably narrow.

Only Miami, UCLA and Utah remain undefeated in the FBS, the first time in the modern FBS/FCS era that three or fewer unbeaten teams have remained this early in the calendar.

Texas also revived its season against Ole Miss. Indiana survived Michigan. Alabama finally stopped its losing streak.

And Tennessee, Iowa and USC all learned the same lesson that has defined October:

There are very few safe Saturdays left.