greatest? craziest? what a weekend!
Week 7 of the 2026 CFB season will go down in history as one of the greatest, and craziest, of all-time. #1, #2, #5, #6 and #7 all went down to defeat and the only reason that every team in the top ten didn’t lose was because #8 (BYU) beat #2 (Notre Dame), #9 (Ole Miss) was dominant for the first time all season and #3 (Miami, FL) escaped in double OT. Let’s look back at last weekend, then prepare for a week eight that could be just as topsy turvy.
Week 7 Look Back
Team that made the biggest statement - #2 BYU - Just last week, I wrote this in anticipation of BYU’s matchup with Notre Dame…
“Last year, the Cougars were undefeated when they made a trip to Lubbock. GameDay on hand. Whole nation watching. And, then PFFFFFTTT the air went out of the balloon as Texas Tech took them out behind the woodshed. So, this time, it’s the Irish BUT, this time, it’s in Provo, one of the most difficult places in the nation for a visiting team to come out with a win. This is a massive one for BYU and the Big 12.”
The Cougars did ALL of that on Saturday night in a classic in Provo.
Players that showed out
Houston QB Conner Weigman - FIVE TD passes in 35-32 win over #18 Oklahoma State
Auburn QB Byrum Brown - 150 yards, one TD passing, 115 yards, one TD rushing in an upset over #1 Georgia AT Georgia
Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop - 159 yards and two tuds rushing in win over #6 Bama
Kentucky S Jordan Castell - nine tackles, a PBU, INT on fake FG & game ending INT at Oklahoma in Kentucky win
Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez - threw four TDs in 41-7 win over Cal
UCLA LB Jalen Woods - nine tackles, one sack in dominant defensive performance over Wisconsin - UCLA D held Wisconsin to just 214 yards and 7 points
Best Game of the Weekend - Pick one!
Indiana had a win in its pocket but WR Nick Marsh was inches out of bounds on a potential game winning TD v. Ohio State
Auburn was down early 14-0, but roared back to take a 24-14 lead. Then, K Alex McPherson kicked the game winner with zeroes on the clock to beat #1 Georgia in Athens.
BYU-Notre Dame had it all, brilliant play, amazing Provo energy and a little controversy wrapped up in a 28-24 Cougars win in the perhaps the greatest game in LaVell Edwards Stadium since the aforementioned led the Cougars to a win over #1 Miami, FL in 1990
Florida State-Miami, FL? How do you even try to explain that wild one?
Tennessee upset #6 Alabama.
Five top ten teams went down to defeat, including former #1 Texas. Just two weeks ago, Texas was the number one team in the nation and now the Longhorns have lost back-to-back weeks to unranked teams.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy that showed out - Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse - He does get overshadowed by teammate Jordan Faison a bit, but he had a tremendous game against BYU. He caught nearly everything…well, those throws that he wasn’t interfered with, but I’m an innocent bystander and I digress. Either way, he has a different gear when tracking the deep ball and can be a catch-and-run stud at the next level.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e Player I’m still crushing on - Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker - I know, I know, the Cougars put one on the Cowboys, but it’s hard not to watch Mestemaker, in his #17 jersey, ¾ arm delivery, supercharged arm strength, plus speed and NOT think about the Buffalo Bills star QB Josh Allen. Now, he’s not THAT skilled…yet, but it’s close. PLUS arm, smarts, good vision, quick delivery, tough as heck. He’s got the full package. He was the only reason Oklahoma State was able to stay in the ball game with Houston last Saturday night.
Week 8 Look Ahead
Team that can make the biggest statement - #19 Texas - Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns season is hanging by a thread. They probably need to win out to have ANY chance at the playoff. The schedule is relentless and after losing to two unranked SEC schools, now comes one of the best (Ole Miss) into Austin. It’s time to make a statement, with or without Arch Manning under center.
Player(s) to Watch - UCLA LBs Jalen Woods and Teddy Omosigho - #9 and #10 in your program, but they are the top two leaders of this outstanding defense out on the West Coast. They tackle everything, have 50 tackles this year each and drive this UCLA engine/team. Michigan State will be physical, no question, but they have to handle these two stars.
Best Game of the Weekend - #14 Houston at #10 Utah - The Cougars are playing well and had an emotional home night win over ranked Oklahoma State last week. The Utes are steady as can be, but on a Saturday night with GameDay in town, the MUSS will be ready to rock with the Cougars in Utah’s house. Big, BIG one in the Big 12 this weekend.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy to watch - Tennessee DE Tyree Weathersby & IDL Xavier Gilliam - Every time I turn on Tennessee games, #18 and #2 are taking over the game. Weathersby is big, long and ferocious, registering 6.5 sacks already this season. Gilliam is in the mold of Seattle Seahawks star Byron Murphy II - strong, leverage winner and playmaker.
John’s Top 3 - Best games thus far of the 2026 season - Each week I’ll give a quick top 3 on any topic. Last week, it was the greatest college games I’ve ever seen in person and this week it’s a look back at the three best games of the 2026 college season…thus far, of course.
3. BYU - 28 v. Notre Dame - 24
2. Texas - 24 v. Ohio State - 23
1. Ole Miss - 32 v. LSU - 24
The Big 12 Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
It’s not hard to look at the opponents that Utah has played this year and feel like it really hasn’t beaten a team of substance. No wins over ranked opponents. Narrow wins over unranked teams, like last week’s win over Colorado. So, the first test of the season will happen on Saturday night when the battle tested Houston Cougars come to town with one of the best QBs in the nation Conner Weigman as hot as ever. Oh boy, here we go!
The SEC Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
Many will point to the last two weeks as the downfall of the Texas Longhorns season, but the reality is that the Horns just haven’t played well at all this season. Other than a stirring fourth quarter comeback against Ohio State, they just haven’t been, well, good at all throughout this season. To SAVE the season, head coach Steve Sarkisian will need to pull out all of his tricks to get it done, including the unthinkable - benching Arch Manning? No way, right? RIGHT?!?
Top 5 to Watch - This will give you an idea of where my eyes will be this weekend
5. Is it time? - I referred to it above - will Sarkisian bench Arch? Manning isn’t the only issue, but the offense is a major one and its not getting any help from the much ballyhooed QB.
4. Someone’s going down - Last week reminded us that a top ten ranked team is just as vulnerable at this time of year as anyone else. Does Michigan pop Indiana? Will Cincinnati find a way in the Queen City to drop Texas Tech? Pitt down in Miami?
3. Desperation - Texas A&M has been on the brink since losing to Missouri, while Alabama has suffered two losses in a row on the road. A desperate team is a scary team, but what if BOTH are just as desperate?
2. Sellers, to be buyers? - South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers has a chance to keep rising with an upset win at home against Tennessee. If he can do it, NFL scouts will take notice…again.
1. Night time in Salt Lake City! - I’m not sure anyone saw this one happening quite this way eight weeks ago, but #14 Houston v. #10 Utah is as good as it gets in CFB this weekend. CAN’T WAIT!!