Week 10 of the college football season delivered some major surprises, with Clemson’s shocking loss taking center stage. In Death Valley, Clemson fell to a 5-3 Louisville team, a stunning upset that shifted the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture.
Though Louisville has a strong strength of schedule, having lost only to Notre Dame, Miami, and SMU, few expected them to overpower Clemson in such a fashion. The Tigers, who had been averaging 42 points per game, managed only one meaningful touchdown, with most of their points coming in garbage time. The loss was a blow to Clemson’s CFP hopes and a major upset in what was supposed to be a straightforward week.
Rank | Team | Why are they here | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Georgia | SEC Champion | 1 |
2 | Oregon | Big 10 Champion | 2 |
3 | Miami | ACC Champion | 3 |
4 | BYU | Big 12 Champion | 10 |
5 | Ohio State | At-large | 7 |
6 | Texas | At-large | 9 |
7 | Penn St | At-large | 8 |
8 | Notre Dame | At-large | 11 |
9 | Tennessee | At-large | 7 (week five) |
10 | Indiana | At-large | Not Ranked |
11 | Texas A&M | At-large | 5 |
12 | Boise St | MW Champion | 12 |
Another team unexpectedly knocked out of the CFP picture was Iowa State. The Cyclones, one of the few remaining undefeated teams, faced Texas Tech at home on Saturday night, hoping to start 8-0 for the first time in program history. But the Red Raiders had other plans, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with just 19 seconds left on the clock to seal a 23-22 victory.
This defeat not only ended Iowa State’s unbeaten streak but likely also ended its CFP hopes. They’re unlikely to finish the season unscathed, but even if they go on to make the Big 12 championship, their strength of schedule isn’t great and might not win them a ticket to the CFP without taking home the conference trophy. BYU now takes their spot as the Big 12 front-runner.
In the SEC, Texas A&M also faced an upset that shook up the rankings. The Aggies came into Week 10 as conference leaders but were overwhelmed by South Carolina, who racked up 44 points against a defense that hadn’t allowed more than 24 points all season. Despite this setback, Texas A&M remains in the SEC race, with a showdown against Texas at season’s end determining much of their championship hopes.
Replacing Clemson and Iowa State in the CFP predictions are two new teams: undefeated Indiana and Tennessee — making its second appearance this season. Tennessee has bounced back after a slip-up against Arkansas, while Indiana continues to surge, now leading the Big Ten alongside Oregon after Penn State’s heartbreaking loss to Ohio.