I Went From Sweating Through a 19–15 Ohio State Win to Watching the Entire National Title Picture Catch Fire

By Toss Boss | Toss Boss CFB

I went from sweating through a 19–15 Ohio State win to watching the entire national title picture catch fire.

Saturday, October 17, might go down as the day the 2026 college football season completely changed. No. 1 Georgia lost. No. 2 Notre Dame lost. No. 6 Alabama lost. No. 7 Texas lost. And somehow, in the middle of all that chaos, Ohio State survived.

Five of the AP Top 7 lost on the same Saturday for the first time in the poll's history. If you thought this season couldn't get any crazier, think again.

Ohio State 19, Indiana 15: Survival in Bloomington

The Buckeyes walked into Bloomington and walked out having ended Indiana's 22-game winning streak. That's the sentence that matters.

The rest? A lot less comfortable.

Julian Sayin left in the fourth quarter with an injury to his throwing arm, and Ryan Day said he would probably miss several weeks. Ohio State now faces a huge question at quarterback heading into its October 31 trip to USC.

Luke Fahey could be in line for an expanded role, but the Buckeyes need to evaluate their options during the bye week. Tavien St. Clair is another name fans will want to see considered. Whoever gets the opportunity, Ohio State cannot afford to let the offense fall apart without Sayin.

Credit where it's due: the defense made crucial plays when the game was on the line. But Jeremiah Smith delivered one of the biggest offensive moments of the afternoon, catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from Sayin on fourth-and-1. Smith continues to build his case as one of the country's most dangerous receivers, even as the quarterback situation becomes a major concern.

Then came the final Indiana drive.

Nick Marsh appeared to make the go-ahead touchdown catch, only for the play to be ruled incomplete after he stepped out of bounds. Ohio State escaped with a four-point win, but the Buckeyes have plenty to clean up before their next game.

A win is a win. However, the offense needs answers, and the secondary cannot keep giving opponents opportunities to steal games at the finish.

Down Goes No. 1 — Again

Auburn 27, Georgia 24.

Auburn walked into Athens as a massive underdog and left with one of the biggest wins in program history.

Alex McPherson's last-second field goal stunned the Bulldogs after Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton committed a costly late fumble. Auburn capitalized, moved into field-goal range, and completed the upset.

The result was especially remarkable because Georgia became the second consecutive No. 1 team to lose to an unranked opponent. Oklahoma had knocked off then-No. 1 Texas the previous week.

Two straight Saturdays. Two fallen No. 1 teams.

Georgia's national-title path suddenly looks a lot different, and the rest of the country is ready to take advantage.

Florida 27, No. 7 Texas 24

Florida came into Austin as a significant underdog and left with a comeback victory.

The Gators erased a 17–3 deficit and scored 24 unanswered points to take control. Quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. stepped into his first career start and helped deliver one of the season's most surprising results.

Texas had opportunities to recover, but Arch Manning's late fumble ended a potential game-tying or game-winning drive.

For the Longhorns, this is another painful setback. Their season has taken a turn nobody expected, and the pressure is mounting.

For Florida, it's a statement win that could change the direction of its season.

Michigan Benches Bryce Underwood — And Finds a Spark

Michigan's afternoon against Penn State was another reminder that college football can change in a hurry.

The Wolverines were held scoreless in the first half and managed only 80 yards of offense. Bryce Underwood struggled, and Michigan made a quarterback change after halftime, turning to freshman Tommy Carr.

The change helped spark a 21–18 victory.

Carr contributed with his legs, while Michigan's defense forced three turnovers that set up scoring opportunities. The Wolverines scored all three of their touchdowns after takeaways and did enough to finish the job.

Carr's family connection made the moment even more memorable: he's the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

One game doesn't settle Michigan's long-term quarterback situation, but it gives the coaching staff something to evaluate. Underwood's struggles also raise questions about how quickly Michigan can get its offense back on track.

And Then No. 2 Went Down, Too

BYU 28, Notre Dame 24.

If Georgia's loss wasn't enough chaos, BYU delivered another major shock by taking down No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo.

The Cougars rallied late, with Bear Bachmeier helping lead the offense and Walker Lyons catching the go-ahead touchdown with 1:47 remaining. Notre Dame had one final opportunity, but its last drive ended with an incomplete pass near the goal line.

The Irish finished the night with 261 passing yards from CJ Carr, who completed 27 of 49 attempts without a touchdown.

Notre Dame had its chances, but BYU made the decisive plays at the end.

The loss sends Notre Dame tumbling in the national-title conversation and gives BYU a signature victory. For Carr, it's a game he'll want back as the Irish regroup.

No. 1 and No. 2 both losing on the same regular-season Saturday is rare territory. And with so many other ranked teams taking losses, the next poll could look dramatically different.

The Picture Now

Just a week ago, the national-title conversation centered on a familiar group of contenders. Now, the landscape has changed dramatically.

• Georgia: A shocking home loss to Auburn.

• Texas: Back-to-back losses after falling to Florida.

• Alabama: Beaten by Tennessee, 26–10.

• Notre Dame: Knocked off by an unbeaten BYU team.

• Ohio State: Still standing after surviving Indiana, but facing major questions at quarterback.

Miami also survived Florida State in double overtime, winning 43–35. That keeps the Hurricanes firmly in the conversation for the top spot in the next AP poll.

Ohio State has a case to move up after beating a top-five opponent on the road, but nothing is guaranteed. The next rankings will depend on how voters weigh the Buckeyes' narrow victory against Miami's unbeaten record and the rest of the results.

For Ohio State, the bye week could not come at a better time. The team needs to get healthy, figure out its quarterback situation, and prepare for USC on October 31.

The Buckeyes are still in the thick of the national-title race. Now they need to prove they can stay there.

Final Thoughts

Saturday was a reminder of why we watch college football.

Rankings don't protect you. Reputations don't win games. Being the favorite means nothing once the ball is kicked off.

Georgia fell. Notre Dame fell. Texas and Alabama took major hits. BYU and Auburn delivered unforgettable wins. And Ohio State survived a game that nearly slipped away.

The Buckeyes might not be No. 1 when the next poll comes out, but they're right in the conversation. After a Saturday like this, nobody should assume the rankings will stay the same for long.

Tomorrow, we'll break down where Ohio State stands in the national-title race and what the quarterback situation means for the rest of the season.

Tonight, just appreciate the chaos.

This is college football. And this season is far from predictable.