Week 7 featured a historic day of upsets, and the college football rankings reflect as much. The USA Today coaches poll Top 25 underwent some major changes, as well, with a new No. 1 team and plenty of movement.
Five of the Top 7-ranked teams in last week’s coaches poll lost in Week 7, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 4 Indiana. As a result, Miami now occupies the top spot as one of only a few undefeated teams left standing.
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As for the rest of the rankings, the Etch-a-Sketch got shaken up in a big way after so many upsets throughout the day across college football. Here is the full USA Today coaches poll heading into Week 8.
1. Miami (+2)
It took two overtimes and some close calls, but Miami is now the No. 1 team in the country heading into Week 8, according to the USA Today coaches poll. The Hurricanes stayed undefeated as they outlasted Florida State in an in-state showdown on Saturday.
Malachi Toney scored the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime period to ultimately seal Miami’s sixth win of the season. Darian Mensah had another big game, as well, as he completed 23 of 34 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns.
2. Ohio State (+3)
By literal inches, Ohio State got a huge Top-5 victory at Indiana on Saturday. Hoosiers wide receiver Nick Marsh caught a potential go-ahead touchdown pass while out of bounds, and the Buckeyes could take a knee from there to stay toward the top of the USA Today coaches poll.
However, Ohio State did lose quarterback Julian Sayin for what head coach Ryan Day said could be “several weeks” with an injury. It will be next man up for the Buckeyes, who enter their bye in Week 8.
3. BYU (+5)
BYU fought off a Notre Dame charge in the second half to hold on for a monster upset win at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday. The Fighting Irish got one more chance at the end zone, but CJ Carr’s pass fell incomplete as the Cougars stayed undefeated.
Bear Bachmeier did it all for BYU, completing 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, to an interception, while rushing for 45 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a receiving touchdown on a trick play, giving him the trifecta for the night.
4. Georgia (-3)
After trailing Auburn in the third quarter, it appeared as though Georgia would make a run and avoid the upset in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. But a Gunner Stockton fumble proved costly as the Tigers got the walk-off field goal to stun the top-ranked Bulldogs.
UGA’s loss to Auburn marked the second straight week the No. 1-ranked team fell. The Bulldogs have a bye coming up in Week 8 before returning to action with the annual rivalry affair against Florida in Week 9.
5. Texas Tech (+4)
Texas Tech’s offense was on full display in Saturday’s victory over Arizona State. The Red Raiders cruised to the 53-25 victory to stay undefeated on the season as Big 12 play continues to heat up.
J’Koby Williams led the way for Texas Tech, taking 11 carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Will Hammond also went 18-for-26 for 232 yards and a touchdown in the resounding home win.
6. Indiana (-2)
For the first time since the 2024 College Football Playoff first round, Indiana suffered a loss. The Hoosiers fell to Ohio State at home on Saturday as part of an upset-filled day across the college football world.
Josh Hoover appeared to find Nick Marsh for the go-ahead touchdown in the final seconds, but Marsh caught the pass while his foot was out of bounds. Since it was fourth down, Ohio State got the ball back and was able to run out the clock and seal the victory.
7. Ole Miss (+3)
Ole Miss didn’t leave any room for doubt during Saturday’s home game against Missouri. The Rebels cruised to the 31-3 win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and are now among a number of 5-1 teams in the SEC.
Trinidad Chambliss led the charge, going 20-of-36 for 241 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Ole Miss has now won back-to-back games since its loss to Florida and will now get ready for a trip to Austin to take on Texas.
8. Notre Dame (-6)
Despite a second-half rally, Notre Dame fell to BYU for its first loss of the season. CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish had a chance on the final possession, but the pass sailed out the back of the end zone, though it wasn’t without some controversy.
Notre Dame now enters its bye week with a 6-1 record after its 16-game winning streak came to an end. The Fighting Irish also fell out of the No. 2 spot in the USA Today coaches poll, which saw big-time movement after a wild weekend.
9. Utah (+2)
Through the second half, Utah appeared to be on upset alert as the Utes took on Colorado. They prevailed, though, getting a game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 to play to remain unbeaten under new head coach Morgan Scalley.
Devon Dampier went 24-for-41 for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the effort, to two interceptions. Utah is now 6-0 heading into a big-time showdown with Houston in Salt Lake City as part of the Week 9 slate.
10. UCLA (+2)
With Saturday’s win over Wisconsin, UCLA became the only undefeated team left standing in the Big Ten this year. The Bruins got a grind-it-out victory at the Rose Bowl to improve to 6-0 under new head coach Bob Chesney.
Anthony Woods and Wayne Knight had the two touchdowns in UCLA’s 17-7 victory at home. It’s been a strong start to Chesney’s tenure as the Bruins now turn their attention to a matchup against Michigan State in Week 8.
11. Tennessee (+3)
The Third Saturday in October was a good day for Tennessee. The Volunteers took down Alabama and, therefore, fired up their cigars after picking up the rivalry victory at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
DeSean Bishop once again anchored the Volunteers rushing attack in the effort. He took 32 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns as Tennessee improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in SEC play with the 26-10 win.
12. Kentucky (+5)
The Will Stein Era at Kentucky continued its impressive start with a victory over Oklahoma on Saturday. UK is now 6-1 on the year and has already surpassed last year’s win total as the Wildcats sit tied atop the SEC.
Kentucky now finds itself in the midst of a five-game winning streak, which includes two straight overtime victories. The Wildcats will return home to Kroger Field next week to take on Vanderbilt before the bye.
13. Alabama (-6)
Alabama’s offense struggled in a big way against the Tennessee defense in a rivalry loss. The Crimson Tide totaled 201 yards of offense in the effort as they suffered their second straight loss to fall to 5-2 on the year.
Keelon Russell went 19-for-29 for 147 yards while also adding a rushing touchdown and two interceptions in the effort as Alabama now deals with back-to-back losses. The Crimson Tide will take on Texas A&M this week before the bye.
14. Iowa (+2)
Iowa was idle in Week 7, but the Hawkeyes still benefited from the chaos across the college football slate. They will return to the field this week for a matchup against Minnesota in the Twin Cities this week.
Last time out, Iowa took down Washington 41-24 on the road in Week 6. Kirk Ferentz’s group has only lost to Ohio State this year and will now enter the heat of the Big Ten schedule out of the bye week.
15. USC (-)
USC had a week off in Week 7 but held strong at No. 15 in the USA Today coaches poll amid movement all around the rankings. The Trojans have a trip to Camp Randall Stadium on tap this week to take on Wisconsin.
USC is coming off back-to-back wins before the bye while rebounding from a loss to Oregon. After the Wisconsin game, though, the Trojans face a tough matchup against Ohio State before their second bye and will visit Indiana Nov. 14.
16. Houston (+2)
Houston improved to 6-1 with Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma State. The Cougars have won four straight and find themselves squarely in the USA Today coaches poll heading into Week 8 of the 2026 college football season.
Conner Weigman went 24-for-33 for 343 yards and five touchdowns as part of a monster performance in the Top-25 showdown. UH will visit Utah in Week 8 before heading into a Halloween bye week.
17. LSU (+4)
LSU bounced back from its loss to Kentucky in a big way on Saturday. The Tigers dominated Mississippi State 31-0 as the Bulldogs entered the day without playmakers Kamario Taylor and Fluff Bothwell.
It was a strong performance from Lane Kiffin’s group, which is now 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play this season. LSU will get ready to visit The Plains to take on Auburn – which just beat No. 1 Georgia – prior to the Halloween bye.
18. Texas (-12)
For the second straight week, Texas found itself on the wrong end of an upset. This time, the Longhorns fell to Florida in Austin to fall to 5-2 on the season after ranking No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll just two weeks ago.
Arch Manning struggled again in Week 7, going 14-for-20 for 173 yards and a touchdown. The Longhorns now have to prepare to take on Ole Miss in primetime on Saturday as they look to right the ship quickly.
19. Wake Forest (+4)
Wake Forest continued its impressive second season under Jake Dickert with a 41-7 victory at Cal on Saturday. That took the Demon Deacons to 6-1 on the year, one year after going 9-4 overall.
Wake Forest now heads into its bye week on a four-game win streak, which includes a road win at then-No. 16 Louisville. Up next, the Demon Deacons will return home to face Virginia in Winston-Salem on Halloween.
20. SMU (+2)
SMU extended its win streak to three games with a home win over Virginia on Saturday. The Mustangs have been rolling since a loss to Louisville and are now 5-1 as they get ready for a matchup against Cal next time out.
Rhett Lashlee’s group is still very much in the race in the ACC as the college football season continues to roll along. Four teams currently have one loss in the standings and sit behind unbeaten Miami heading into Week 8.
21. Missouri (-8)
Missouri had a rough go against Ole Miss on Saturday in a 31-3 loss in Oxford. The Tigers still find themselves in the USA Today coaches poll with a 5-2 record as they get ready to head into their Week 8 bye.
Austin Simmons completed 25 of 44 passes for 339 yards in the effort, but Missouri could not find the end zone. After the bye, Eli Drinkwitz’s group will have a trip to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas in Week 9.
22. Boise State (+2)
The highest-ranked Group of 6 team a week ago, Boise State was idle in Week 7. But much like the other teams that were on byes, the Broncos’ ranking shifted as a result of a wild day of college football.
Boise State improved to 5-1 with a victory over Fresno State prior to the bye. The Broncos will continue Pac-12 action next week against Washington State as they look to stay at the top of the new-look conference’s standings.
23. Northwestern (+3)
It came down to the final minutes, but Northwestern continued its winning ways with a victory over Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan State. The Wildcats jumped into the USA Today coaches poll last week and stayed in the Top 25 after the victory.
Northwestern is now 5-1 on the season, fueled by the success in Chip Kelly’s Wing-T offense. The Wildcats continue Big Ten play at Ryan Field this week as Rutgers comes to Evanston for a Week 8 matchup.
24. Florida (+9)
Fresh off back-to-back losses, Florida has returned to the USA Today coaches poll after a thrilling victory over Texas on Saturday. The Gators rallied from a 17-3 deficit and got the 27-17 win at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Jadan Baugh led the way with 25 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, which proved to be the game-winner after Texas answered with a score. UF is now 5-2 under new coach Jon Sumrall as the Gators enter the bye week.
25. Oregon (NR)
Though backup quarterback Brock Thomas got the start, Oregon eventually pivoted to Dylan Raiola in the fourth quarter against Nebraska. He led the charge and eventually helped the Ducks come back to defeat his former program.
Raiola went 11-for-18 for 59 yards and a touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson to put Oregon out in front 17-14. That held as the final as the Ducks improved to 4-2 on the year and bounced back from a loss to UCLA last time out.
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