Six NCAA football teams suffered their first losses of the season on Saturday
The GIST: We’re officially halfway through college football season, and the gridiron did not disappoint this weekend. Though nine teams still have a perfect record, six squads watched their undefeated season come to a humbling close on Saturday. Good thing no one says “there’s no crying in football.”
If the glass slipper fits: Hold onto your uprights, because despite Alabama’s now-healthy Heisman QB Bryce Young throwing for 455 yards, the Crimson Tide committed 17 penalties and allowed the most points ever under head coach (HC) Nick Saban, handing the Tennessee Vols both the 52–49 W and their No. 3 ranking.
- As for the Vols, the only thing bigger than QB Hendon Hooker’s five TD passes was his 13-second, 45-yard final drive to set up the game-winning field goal.
Last men standing: After handing the Oklahoma State Cowboys their first loss of the season, the TCU Horned Frogs are the only unbeaten team in the Big 12. The Frogs may have entered the fourth quarter down 30–16, but they held the Pokes scoreless while notching two TDs to force overtime (OT).
- It took two OTs for TCU to lasso the 43–40 win, and they were handsomely rewarded — the Frogs hopped into the Top 10, entering Week 8 at No. 8. Ribbit, ribbit.
Sweet and salty: Last week’s loss to UCLA must have burned, because now–No. 15 Utah served up some sweet SoCal revenge in Salt Lake City on Saturday, taking down the now–No. 12 USC Trojans 43–42. The big difference in this one? The Utes rushed in the winning two-point conversion with 48 seconds remaining. As they say, go big or go home.
Coachless, not winless: It took six games, but the Colorado Buffaloes finally won a game (the last FBS team to do so this season), taking down the Cal Golden Bears 20–13 in OT this weekend. So what changed? Well, the Buffs fired both their HC and defensive coordinator earlier this month.
- Fun fact: The five teams who’ve sent their HCs packing this season have seen significantly more wins post-firing.
