The college football season has reached November, so it's the last opportunity for playoff contenders to impress the committee before the first rankings are released this Tuesday.
Here's a look at the biggest games of Week 10:
No. 4 Ohio State hands No. 3 Penn State its first loss ;
No. 4 Ohio State took down No. 3 Penn State, 20-13, behind a late fourth quarter goal line stand. It was the first time the Buckeyes beat a top-5 team on the road since 2006 and the 12th win against Penn State in the last 13 meetings.
After jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the matter of minutes highlighted by a pick six, Penn State's offense struggled to find much momentum for the rest of the game, scoring just three points after the first quarter. A lot of that had to do with the Buckeyes' defensive success in the red zone, intercepting Allar and forcing a turnover on downs.
Ohio State QB Will Howard, a Pennsylvania native, bounced back from the interception and fumble, finishing with 182 yards on 16 of 24 passes with two touchdowns and a game-clinching scramble. Ohio State improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten with the win.
Although the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1) suffered their first loss of the year, the team's College Football Playoffs hopes are still alive with zero AP Top 25 teams currently left to play.
The Buckeyes' road win helps their resume for the CFP and keeps them in Big Ten Championship Game contention. OSU faces No. 13 Indiana in a few weeks.
Full coverage: No. 4 Ohio State takes down No. 3 Penn State on the road
Louisville stuns No. 11 Clemson, 33-21
Louisville delivered a statement win, defeating No. 11 Clemson 33-21 at Memorial Stadium and handing the Tigers their first ACC loss of the season. The Cardinals executed a balanced attack, led by quarterback Tyler Shough and running back Isaac Brown, who combined for three rushing touchdowns.
Clemson initially gained momentum in the first quarter when Cade Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 12-yard touchdown, putting the Tigers up 7-3. However, Louisville responded with a 92-yard drive capped by Shough’s acrobatic 4-yard rushing touchdown, flipping the lead back to the Cardinals.
The Cardinals' defense stepped up, blocking two Clemson field goal attempts, while kicker Brock Travelstead converted four field goals, including a critical 49-yarder in the third quarter. Louisville’s offense capitalized on Clemson’s struggles, with Brown breaking free for a 47-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing the win.
Phil Mafah was a bright spot for Clemson, rushing for 140 yards and scoring twice late in the game. Yet, Clemson’s comeback efforts fell short, and Louisville’s consistent pressure on Klubnik forced several incomplete passes, stalling crucial drives.
With the win, Louisville (6-3, 4-2 ACC) tightened the ACC race, while Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) faces renewed questions about its playoff hopes.
South Carolina rolls No. 10 Texas A&M, 44-20
The unranked South Carolina Gamecocks stun No. 10 Texas A&M, 44-20.
There are no more undefeated teams in conference play in the SEC.
The Aggies had not allowed 30 points in a game all season before going to Columbia, and their defense allowed less than 100 rushing yards per game entering this matchup. The Gamecocks rushed for over 275 tonight, dropping over 500 yards of total offense.
South Carolina jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, but TAMU was able to claw back quickly, tying the game 20-20 by halftime. However, the Aggies did not come out of the locker room with the same magic they did last week against LSU.
TAMU and its new starting quarterback, Marcel Reed, were held under 130 total yards in the second half as the Gamecocks tallied 275. South Carolina, led under center by Lanorris Sellers, averaged almost nine yards per play in the second half, as the Aggies had no response for the Gamecocks rushing attack.
Sellers threw for 244 yards and two scores while adding 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Aggies could not bring Sellers down, recording zero sacks on the night.
Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) drops its first SEC matchup, and the Aggies will get a bye week to get right and prepare for the remainder of the season.
South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC) sits just one game out of bowl eligibility, and Sellers and company will get a crack at a gritty Vanderbilt squad next weekend in Nashville looking to build on this massive win.
No. 2 Georgia rallies past Florida, 34-20
Georgia rallied from a sluggish start to secure a 34-20 victory over Florida in Jacksonville on Saturday. After trailing 13-6 at halftime, the Bulldogs found their groove in the second half, with Carson Beck leading the charge through the air. Beck finished 25-of-40 for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while the Bulldogs’ ground game added balance with 146 yards.
The Gators initially struck first with a touchdown pass from freshman QB DJ Lagway, followed by a field goal, putting Georgia on its heels. Florida’s defense also forced three interceptions, including two in the first half, disrupting Beck's rhythm early on. However, the Bulldogs adjusted, scoring 28 points in the second half, including a critical touchdown pass to Cash Jones and another to Dominic Lovett.
Florida’s offense struggled to maintain momentum after Lagway exited with an injury, as backup Aidan Warner completed only 7-of-22 passes for 66 yards with an interception.
The Bulldogs’ ability to execute in the red zone proved decisive, converting all four trips inside Florida’s 20-yard line, compared to the Gators’ two-for-two efficiency. With the win, Georgia extends its win streak over Florida and retains momentum heading into a challenging stretch against ranked opponents.
No. 5 Miami tops Duke behind second half comeback
Cam McCormick #84 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates his touchdown with Cam Ward #1 against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
No. 5 Miami overcame a sluggish first half to defeat Duke, 53-31.
The Blue Devils (6-3, 2-3 ACC) took a 21-17 lead into halftime and even extended it to 28-17 in the third quarter. The Hurricanes (9-0, 5-0 ACC) appeared to be heading toward yet another close call, as was the case in earlier wins over Louisville, Virginia Tech and Cal.
But Miami came alive in the second half and outscored Duke 36-3 down the stretch.
Cam Ward provided another stellar outing, finishing with 400 yards and five touchdowns on 25 of 41 passing. Wideout Xavier Restrepo caught three of those touchdowns and finished with 146 yards on eight catches.
Thus far, Miami’s close calls have done little to sway poll voters away from the Canes. But the playoff committee could sing a different tune this Tuesday when examining a playoff resume that lacks games against fellow ACC frontrunners Clemson, Pittsburgh and SMU.
Texas Tech upsets No. 11 Iowa State
Texas Tech took down one of college football’s final unbeaten teams, upsetting No. 11 Iowa State, 23-22, after a successful two-minute drill.
The Red Raiders and Cyclones were neck-and-neck at halftime. A matchup filled with downpour and a slippery surface, both teams combined for four turnovers while Iowa State led 13-10.
Texas Tech retook the lead in the third quarter with a 19-yard receiving touchdown, but the Cyclones punched back with less than three minutes left in the contest on a 44-yard receiving touchdown.
That’s when Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton and the offense went to work. A 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive, Texas Tech capped it off behind running back Tahj Brooks’ direct snap turned touchdown with 22 seconds left.
Tahj Brooks for the lead in Ames‼️ ⌚️
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB)
📺 ESPN |
Iowa State’s loss leaves six unbeaten teams left in the FBS, but doesn't close the door in making the Big 12 championship game. The road win makes the Red Raiders bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season.
Vanderbilt becomes bowl eligible, beats Auburn
There’s big news out of Alabama again, but it’s probably not what you think.
Just a month after beating then-No. 1 Alabama, Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 with its 17-7 victory over Auburn. It’s the Commodores’ first win at Auburn in program history — and the first time Vandy beat Alabama and Auburn in the same year since 1955.
Quarterback Diego Pavia has been a huge leader for the Commodores (6-3, 3-2 SEC) this season, and Saturday was no different. He threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. This was Pavia’s second-straight win at Jordan-Hare Stadium after he led New Mexico State to a 31-10 win over the Tigers in 2023 before transferring to Vanderbilt. Pavia has also beaten Auburn coach Hugh Freeze for the past three years in games involving 4 schools
Though Saturday’s scoreboard tilted toward Vanderbilt, Auburn (3-6, 1-5) outgained the Commodores in total offensive yards, 327 to 227. On top of that, Tigers QB Payton Thorn outpaced Pavia, completing 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards, but the Vanderbilt defensive line proved to be a brick wall, sacking Thorn three times and limiting the Auburn rushing attack to 88 yards.
Thorn’s interception with 1:41 left cemented the Commodores victory.
Vanderbilt is having a surprising season. Every loss has come within a four-point margin to then-No. 5 Texas, then-No. 7 Missouri and Georgia State. With a 6-3 record and a possible win against Week 11 opponent South Carolina, the Commodores are set up well to end the year with a winning record for the first time since 2013.
