RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

College football fans across the country had circled October 12 on the calendar as a day of games not to be missed. It lived up to the hype, as the day featured excellent matches at the top of the sport’s hierarchy and, for me, a new No. 1-ranked team.

The state of OhioOregon The game featured six lead changes, while four more games featuring top 25 teams required overtime to determine a winner.

And while there are nine undefeated teams left in the sport at mid-season, no team feels unbeatable and no team has distinguished themselves with a resounding performance that signals success will be achieved in November, let alone the second . mid October.

The only thing that is certain is the uncertainty that makes this sport the best in the world, and the second axiom of college football holds true: whatever can happen, will happen. Just add water – or 2024 Vanderbilt.

With that, here’s a look at my top 25 rankings after week 7 of the college football season:

1. Oregon (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Ohio State, 32-31

The Ducks outlasted the Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium, marking their first victory against a top-five opponent as a Big Ten member. The Ducks have won 35 of their last 36 games at Autzen, putting up 32 points on a defense that had given up just 6.8 points per game prior to their first loss of the season.

2. Texas (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Oklahoma, 34-3

Oklahoma briefly looked like it might be primed for a battle with an early takeaway, but the Longhorns began to overwhelm the Sooners with 21 points in the second quarter and 34 unanswered by the end of the game. Quinn Ewers returned from injury and threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, while adding another score on the ground.

3. State of Ohio (5-1)

Result week 6: Lost to Oregon, 32-31

The Buckeyes failed to do what most people do when they visit Eugene: win. But Ohio State still looks like one of the top four teams in the sport and a team that could still challenge for the Big Ten title.

4. Penn State (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated USC, 33-30

The Nittany Lions battled back from a 14-point deficit to earn their first road victory since Aug. 31 and replace themselves as one of only three undefeated teams left in the Big Ten.

Tight end Tyler Warren enjoyed what could be a Mackey Award-winning performance with 17 catches for 224 yards with a touchdown in the win.

5. Georgia (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Mississippi State, 41-31

The Dawgs couldn’t cover the spread, which was 33.5 points, but they got the win and set themselves up for a monstrous top-five showdown in the SEC next week. They travel to Austin, Texas, to play the undefeated Longhorns. Carson Beck threw for 459 yards in the win, but the Dawgs gave up 306 passing yards to Michael Van Buren Jr., which is concerning as they prepare to play against a top-10 Texas offense.

6. Miami (Fla.) (6-0)

Result week 6: Inactive

7. Clemson (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Wake Forest, 49-14

Since scoring just three points against Georgia in Week 1, Clemson has scored 40 or more points in four of five wins, and at least 29 points in all five. The Tigers have looked like the best team in the ACC since Week 2.

8. The state of Iowa (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated West Virginia, 28-16

Matt Campbell’s team just keeps winning. Rocco Becht completed 18 of 26 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown, while Carson Hansen carried the ball 20 times for 96 yards and three scores.

No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Highlights

9. BYU (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Arizona, 41-19

The Cougars forced four goals against the Wildcats to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2020. With the win, BYU remains atop the Big 12 standings in a tight race for first place. Cougars QB Jake Retzlaff threw for 218 yards with two touchdowns in the win.

Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 14 BYU Cougars Highlights

10. LSU (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Ole Miss, 29-26 (OT)

Garrett Nussmeier found Kyren Lacy for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of an overtime scrimmage, giving the Bayou Bengals a walk-off victory. Nussmeier finished with 337 passing yards, three TDs and two INTs in what could be a season-defining win for the Tigers, who look to separate in a loaded SEC.

11. Tennessee (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Florida, 23-17

For the third straight game, Tennessee’s passing attack looked anemic. However, against a depleted and humiliated Florida team, the Vols did enough to earn their second win in SEC play with a huge game against Alabama next week.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has yet to pass 200 yards since the Vols’ Week 2 win against NC State.

12. Alabama (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated South Carolina, 27-25

Alabama survived this game thanks to a missed field goal and a poorly managed final possession by the Gamecocks. For two and a half games, the Tide didn’t look good – proven with a loss to Vanderbilt – and now face a South Carolina team that will struggle to win eight games this season. One bright spot is that Alabama’s defense recorded four takeaways and four sacks against the Gamecocks.

13. Notre Dame (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Stanford, 49-7

The Fighting Irish scored 35 points in the second and third quarters and got their best performance yet from QB Riley Leonard, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 229 yards and four total touchdowns.

14. Texas A&M (5-1)

Result week 6: Inactive

15. Missouri (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated UMass, 45-3

Welcome back, Mizzou. Wideout Luther Burden accounted for 127 yards, including a rushing touchdown of 61 yards, on just seven touches against the Minutemen.

16. Boise State (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Hawaii, 28-7

It’s the Ashton Jeanty show in Boise, and it was on again Saturday. The all-rounder rushed for 217 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a score through the air in the Broncos’ win over Hawaii.

17. State of Kansas (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Colorado, 31-28

The Wildcats escaped Boulder with a win, but it wasn’t easy. Chris Klieman’s team relied on the run game and halfback DJ Giddens, who carried the rock 25 times for 182 yards in the victory.

18. Illinois (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Purdue, 50-49

Luke Altmyer threw for 379 yards with three touchdowns in what became an instant Big Ten classic. A game that featured more than 1,000 yards of offense, including more than 600 through the air, came down to a two-point conversion attempt that the Illini stopped to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive.

Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 23 Illinois Battles Illini Highlights

19. Indiana (6-0)

Result week 6: Inactive

20. Pitt (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Cal, 17-15

With the win, Pitt improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1982 and has established itself as a legitimate challenger in the ACC title race. And the Panthers did it without much offensive distance. They only managed 277 total yards – almost 250 below their average through the first five games of the season.

21. Ole ma’am (5-2)

Result week 6: Lost to LSU, 29-26 (OT)

Lane Kiffin’s team racked up 464 yards of offense, but the Rebels defense couldn’t slow LSU’s offense when it mattered most. Jaxson Dart passed for 284 yards and a score, but he completed only 24 of 42 passes in the game, which likely ended his Heisman chances, as well as the Rebels’ SEC title chances.

22. State of Arizona (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Utah, 27-19

If you need to get tough yards, give the ball to Cam Skattebo. That’s what the Sun Devils did Friday night, when the senior running back thundered for 158 yards and two touchdowns in an upset victory over Utah. With the win, the Sun Devils reached over their preseason win total (4.5).

“For those of you who won,” ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said, “put your money back into the NIL collective.”

23. SMU (5-1)

Result week 6: Inactive

24. Army (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated UAB, 44-10

Quarterback Bryson Daily was responsible for a total of five touchdowns in a loss that started with a 20-point first quarter for the Black Knights. The win makes Army 6-0 for the first time in 28 years and extends the team’s winning streak to 10 games, dating back to last season.

25. Navy (5-0)

Result week 6: Inactive

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The number one college football show.‘Follow him @RJ_Young And subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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