Week 10 of the college football season saw teams across the country facing scares and upsets on the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 1.

University of Texas vs. Vanderbilt University

As part of the noon window, the No. 20 University of Texas Longhorns welcomed the No. 9 Vanderbilt University Commodores to Texas Memorial Stadium in a highly-anticipated Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup. The Longhorns started the season ranked No. 1 before falling out of the top 25, but have been steadily climbing back up after four straight wins.

Longhorn quarterback Arch Manning put on a show in his first game back from a concussion, throwing for 328 yards and three touchdowns. Texas led 34-10 in the fourth quarter, when Vanderbilt staged a valiant comeback effort led by quarterback Diego Pavia. He threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but the Longhorns were able to hold onto the 34-31 win when the Commodores failed to convert an onside kick in the final minutes. 

Texas has continued to climb in the rankings since the win, now sitting at No. 13. Vanderbilt fell to No. 15, with the teams sitting at No. 5 and No. 7, respectively in the SEC standings.

University of Miami vs. Southern Methodist University

In one of the biggest upsets of Week 10, Southern Methodist University Mustangs (SMU) took down No. 9 University of Miami with a 26-20 overtime victory at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. The Mustangs sealed the win when Ahmaas Moses intercepted Miami quarterback Carson Beck in overtime, setting up a one-yard rushing touchdown by T. J. Harden to clinch the game. 

The Mustangs showed grit throughout the game, rallying after Marquise Lightfoot’s late, unnecessary roughness penalty on Miami gave SMU a crucial first down. That mistake set up Sam Keltner’s 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with just 35 seconds left in regulation. 

The win marked SMU’s first victory over a top-10 opponent in 42 years, sparking a massive on-field celebration. Excited fans stormed the field, tore down a goalpost and carried it across the campus before placing it at the fountain by Dallas Hall. 

University of Louisville vs. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

In the afternoon window, the No. 16 University of Louisville Cardinals traveled to Blacksburg, Vir. to go head-to-head with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Hokies. With their first possession, the Cardinals scored a touchdown on a 52-yard run by running back Isaac Brown. However, following this drive, the Cardinals offense slowed down, with quarterback Miller Moss throwing an interception on the Cards next scoring opportunity. Hokies quarterback Kyren Drones was then able to run down the field and score a touchdown to tie the game up, with Virginia Tech taking the lead following a blocked punt for a safety. In the second quarter, Drones threw a touchdown pass to put the Hokies up 16-7 going into halftime. 

In the second half, the Cardinals were able to mount a comeback that began with a deep touchdown pass by Moss to wide receiver Caullin Lacy and a 63-yard punt return by Lacy that allowed Louisville to score again. Up 21-16 in the fourth quarter, Isaac Brown was injured at the beginning of a drive that ended in a touchdown by running back Keyjuan Brown to put the Cards ahead 28-16, a lead they held until the end of the game. Isaac Brown’s injury is believed to be significant and will sideline him for the foreseeable future.

This was a significant road win for the now No. 14 Cardinals as they look to make a bid for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship.

University of Kentucky vs. Auburn University

In the late window, the University of Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Alabama to face the Auburn University Tigers. The Wildcats entered the day with a winless 0-5 record in the SEC.

The teams produced a low-scoring affair, entering halftime tied 3-3. The Wildcats were scored  the only touchdown of the night coming out of the break on a 13-yard throw from quarterback Cutter Boley to wide receiver Kendrick Law. Kentucky was able to sustain this 10-3 lead thanks to an impressive defensive performance, racking up seven sacks and an interception. The Wildcats held onto the lead and defeated the Tigers by a final score of 10-3, collecting their first SEC win of the season.

“I was emotional walking off that field because of the pride that I feel for this team. It’s been hard. I acknowledge that, but these guys have not flinched. I know the results aren’t always there, but I know in my heart that these guys are getting better,” said Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops. 

Georgia Institute of Technology vs. North Carolina State University

Unfortunately for the No. 8 Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) Yellow Jackets, their path to the ACC championship had to run through the North Carolina State University (NC State) Wolfpack’s Carter-Finley Stadium at night. The Wolfpack was relentless on offense, scoring touchdowns on their opening drives and ending the first quarter up 14-7. After a brutal first quarter, the Yellow Jacket’s defense failed to adapt and allowed NC State to score twice more, leaving Georgia Tech down 24-17 by halftime.

The second half was no friendlier to Georgia Tech as NC State scored four more times in the second half in part thanks to a stellar performance by quarterback CJ Bailey. Bailey threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns while running for 34 yards and a touchdown to upset the top-10 Yellow Jackets, 48-36.

This result has added more chaos to the ACC championship race as teams like the University of Virginia Cavaliers and the Louisville Cardinals are now in a position to secure spots in the game.

University of Oklahoma vs University of Tennessee

No. 18 Oklahoma edged out No. 14 Tennessee 33-27 in a Saturday night shutdown at Neyland Stadium, relying on key defensive plays and clutch late-game execution to secure a crucial road win. 

Quarterback John Mateer led the Sooners with 159 passing yards and 80 rushing yards, including a one-yard touchdown run with under two minutes left that sealed the victory. Oklahoma’s defense was the difference-maker, forcing three turnovers that led to 13 points. Linebacker R. Thomas Mason delivered a game-changing play for the Sooners with a 71-yard fumble return for a touchdown, while kicker Tate Sandell nailed four field goals, including two from 55 yards and another from 51.

Tennessee made one last push late, with Mike Matthews catching a 15-yard touchdown to make it 26-24, but Oklahoma recovered the onside kick. Running back Xavier Robinson then broke free for 43 yards before intentionally sliding at the one-yard line to set up Mateer’s clinching score. 

The win keeps Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff hopes alive ahead of a crucial trip to No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 15. Tennessee, meanwhile, will use its upcoming bye week to regroup before hosting New Mexico State. 

Playoff Picture and Preview

This week’s results will be considered thoroughly in the season’s first College Football Playoff ranking that will determine the first official playoff picture on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Week 11 promises more exciting college football as the No. 8 Brigham Young University Cougars face the No. 9 Texas Tech University Red Raiders and University of California Golden Bears travel across the country to play No. 14 Louisville Cardinals.