Blowout wins from BYU and Notre Dame landed the two programs in our top 10 this week.
Find out where the Cougars and Fighting Irish chart as we dive into college football’s Week 10 power rankings.
1. Oregon (8-0, 5-0 in Big Ten)
W 38-9 (vs. Illinois) | Last Week: 1 (=)
Oregon had arguably its most complete win of the season against the Illini, outgaining Illinois (6-2, 3-2 in Big Ten) 527-293. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel needs to be in the Heisman conversation; he’s completing a career-high 76.2 percent of his pass attempts for 2,371 yards (9.4 yards per attempt), 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Next: at Michigan (3:30 p.m. | CBS)
2. Penn State (7-0, 4-0 in Big Ten)
W 28-13 (at Wisconsin) | Last Week: 2 (=)
Penn State outmuscled Wisconsin in its largest road win over the Badgers since a 41-point win (48-7) in October 2008. The Nittany Lions withstood quarterback Drew Allar’s lower leg injury with backup quarterback Beau Pribula going 11-of-13 for 98 yards and a touchdown while adding 26 rushing yards on six carries.
Next: vs. Ohio State (12 p.m. | FOX)
3. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 in SEC)
Idle | Last Week: 4 (+1)
Georgia plays Florida in Week 10, having won the past three games in the rivalry by an average of 24 points per game. The Bulldogs haven’t won four in a row over the Gators since they won six straight from 1978-83.
Next: vs. Florida (3:30 p.m. | ABC)
4. Miami (8-0, 4-0 in ACC)
W 36-14 (vs. Florida State) | Last Week: 6 (+2)
Miami received a respite from its recent string of close games with its blowout win over lowly Florida State. Quarterback Cam Ward didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time since October 2023 but still found the end zone with the first receiving touchdown of his career.
Next: vs. Duke (12 p.m. | ABC)
5. Ohio State (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten)
W 21-17 (vs. Nebraska) | Last Week: 4 (-1)
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a tackle by defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Ohio State won 21-17.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes survived the Cornhuskers’ upset bid a week after Nebraska was embarrassed at Indiana, 56-7. Perhaps they were caught looking ahead to Week 10’s massive game against Penn State that could have major ramifications on the Big Ten championship race.
Next: at Penn State (12 p.m. | FOX)
6. Texas (7-1, 3-1 in SEC)
W 27-24 (at Vanderbilt) | Last Week: 5
Texas eked out the win in Nashville despite an inconsistent performance from quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was sacked four times and intercepted twice but also had a stretch in the first half when he completed 17 consecutive pass attempts. The Longhorns will go as far as Ewers takes them, and based on Week 9, the possibilities of where they end up are endless.
Next: vs. Florida (Nov. 9)
7. Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 in SEC)
Idle | Last Week: 8 (+1)
The Volunteers are coming off a bye and play the SEC’s two worst teams before their huge Nov. 16 game at Georgia. Tennessee hosts Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 in SEC) and Mississippi State (1-7, 0-5 in SEC) over the next two weeks as it tries to kick its offense into gear before its toughest test of the regular season
Next: vs. Kentucky (7:45 p.m. | SEC Network)
8. Indiana (8-0, 5-0 in Big Ten)
W 31-17 (vs. Washington) | Last Week: 9 (+1)
The Hoosiers had no problem against last year’s national runner-up, Washington, without outstanding starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke (thumb). Indiana’s defense limited Washington () to 3-of-11 on third downs, 3.7 yards per carry and forced two turnovers.
Next: at Michigan State (3:30 p.m. | Peacock)
9. BYU (8-0, 5-0 in Big 12)
W 37-24 (at UCF) | Last Week: NR (NEW)
BYU and Iowa State (7-0, 4-0 in Big 12) continue jockeying for Big 12 bragging rights. This week, we give the edge to the Cougars after their comfortable 13-point road win against UCF (3-5, 1-4 in Big 12) a week after the Cyclones sweated out a 38-35 comeback home win over the Knights.
Next: at Utah (Nov. 9)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
W 51-14 (vs. Navy) | Last Week: NR (NEW)
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) intercepts a pass intended for Navy Midshipmen running back Eli Heidenreich (22) in front of linebacker Jack Kiser (24) during the second half at MetLife Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Irish’s loss to Northern Illinois (4-4, 1-3 in MAC) is as bad in hindsight as it was in the present, but we can’t ignore how Notre Dame has blown past its competition in the weeks since. Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 in SEC), which Notre Dame beat earlier this season, also boosted the Irish’s resume when it defeated LSU in Week 9 to become the last remaining undefeated SEC team in conference play.
Next: vs. Florida State (Nov. 9)