Alabama Outlasts Missouri in a Thriller
No. 8 Alabama and No. 14 Missouri lived up to the billing, with the Crimson Tide edging out the Tigers 27–24 in a game that went down to the wire. Alabama moves to 5–1, continuing its climb after the Week 1 loss to Florida State.
Florida State and Penn State Slide Again
It’s been a nightmare stretch for both Florida State and Penn State. The Seminoles dropped another close one, falling 34–31 to Pitt, marking their second straight loss.
Penn State’s collapse has been even more dramatic. The Nittany Lions suffered an embarrassing 22–21 defeat at the hands of Northwestern. Star quarterback Drew Aller has been ruled out for the year after suffering a serious leg injury In the wake of the loss after dropping 3 straight games, Penn State announced on Sunday that it has fired head coach James Franklin, signaling a major shake-up in Happy Valley.
Indiana Stuns Oregon on the Road
No. 7 Indiana pulled off one of the weekend’s biggest wins, taking down No. 3 Oregon 30–20 in Eugene. The Ducks’ self-inflicted mistakes proved costly, throwing interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter that sealed their fate.
Texas Dominates Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry
Arch Manning and unranked Texas rose to the occasion, defeating No. 6 Oklahoma 23–6 in a statement win in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns’ defense redeemed itself after a rough outing last week against Florida, smothering the Sooners’ offense from start to finish. Texas improves to 4–2, while Oklahoma suffers its first loss of the season.
USC Runs Over Michigan in Primetime
In a marquee Big Ten matchup under the lights at the LA Memorial Coliseum, unranked USC took down No. 15 Michigan 31–13. The Trojans dominated the line of scrimmage, powered by running back King Miller, who averaged nearly nine yards per carry and finished with 158 rushing yards.
Around the Nation
No. 5 Texas A&M handled Florida with ease at home.
No. 9 Texas Tech rolled past Kansas in convincing fashion.
No. 10 Georgia went on the road and beat Auburn 20–10 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Notre Dame, after starting the season 0–2, continued its remarkable turnaround with a 36–7 win over NC State.
Closing Thoughts
Week 7 delivered drama, emotion, and statement performances across the country. Alabama showed championship grit, Oregon stumbled at home, and Penn State’s season unraveled completely with another stunning loss, the loss of QB Drew Allar for the season, and the firing of James Franklin that occurred on Sunday. Texas made headlines with a defining win over Oklahoma. Notre Dame continued to surge after losing back to back games to start the season. As the second half of the season approaches, the stakes are rising, and every Saturday feels bigger than the last.