By Ethan Jones:
Week 6 of college football had no shortage of great games—from rivalry matchups to shocking upsets, this week had it all.
We start in Pasadena, where UCLA pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season by taking down #7 Penn State at the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions entered the game with a 92.6% chance to win and were 24.5-point favorites. But UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava had other plans.
Iamaleava delivered a breakout performance, going 17-for-24 with five total touchdowns—three on the ground and two through the air. His leadership helped UCLA not only earn their first win of the season but also end a 16-game losing streak against top-10 opponents. The Bruins shocked the college football world with a 42–37 victory, pulling off one of the most memorable upsets in recent history.
Another massive upset came in Gainesville, where 1–3 Florida took down #9 Texas in front of a raucous home crowd. Texas came into the game as heavy favorites with a 74.8% chance to win. However, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway rose to the occasion, going 21-for-28 with two touchdowns.
Texas QB Arch Manning struggled to carry on the family legacy, as the Manning clan now holds a 1–4 record in Gainesville (including uncles Peyton and Eli). This loss adds another chapter to the Manning family’s misfortunes in The Swamp.
The upset may have bought Florida head coach Billy Napier some time, as he was reportedly on the hot seat going into the weekend. However, things won’t get any easier for the Gators, who still face five more ranked opponents, including three currently in the top 10.
As a result of their losses, both #1 Texas and #2 Penn State fell completely out of the AP Top 25 rankings—something that hasn’t happened in nearly four decades. The last time two top-10 teams dropped out of the rankings in the same week was September 16, 1986, when #8 Tennessee and #10 Ohio State both lost. Penn State’s fall marks the second-biggest drop for a top-2 team in history, only behind the 1959 Oklahoma Sooners, who dropped out after losing their season opener to Northwestern.
As of now, here’s how the rankings stack up by conference:
- SEC: 9 ranked teams
- Big Ten: 5 ranked teams
- Big 12: 4 ranked teams
- Other conferences with ranked teams: ACC, American, and Independent programs.
Current Top 25 Rankings
- Ohio State
- Miami
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Indiana
- Alabama
- Texas Tech
- Georgia
- LSU
- Tennessee
- Georgia Tech
- Missouri
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Illinois
- BYU
- Virginia
- Vanderbilt
- Arizona State
- Iowa State
- Memphis
- South Florida
- Florida State
As the season progresses, the rankings are bound to shift, and the intensity will only increase.
Looking Ahead to Week 7
The upcoming Week 7 slate also promises excitement, featuring three ranked matchups and several rivalry games. The headline rivalries include the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, and The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry between Auburn and Georgia.
As the season unfolds, the path toward the championship will continue to narrow, and the road ahead will grow tougher. Expect more chaos, drama, and shakeups as we move forward.
Week 6 reminded us all why college football remains one of the most unpredictable and thrilling sports in the country.
