Week 10 College Football: Top 25 Upsets and Key Matchups Recap

Week 10 of the college football season was wild. Upsets, nail-biters, and last-second drama kept fans glued to their screens.

Lower-ranked teams knocked off big names, and a few squads managed to keep their Playoff dreams alive. NC State’s wild win over Georgia Tech and SMU’s overtime thriller against Miami were just a couple of the weekend’s can’t-miss moments.

Let’s dig into the games and moments that really stood out in Week 10.

NC State Shocks No. 8 Georgia Tech

NC State pulled off a stunner, handing No. 8 Georgia Tech its first loss of the season, 48-36. It was NC State’s first win over a top-10 team in more than four years.

The Wolfpack’s offense was on fire, with quarterback CJ Bailey and running back Duke Scott leading the charge.

Offensive Firepower

Bailey threw for 340 yards and found the end zone three times. Scott piled up 196 rushing yards and a touchdown.

They racked up 583 total yards and scored on eight of ten drives. That’s some serious efficiency.

Georgia Tech’s Struggles

Haynes King did everything he could for the Yellow Jackets, throwing for 408 yards and rushing for 103 with four touchdowns. Still, Georgia Tech’s defense just couldn’t slow down NC State.

King’s big numbers weren’t enough to dodge their first defeat of the year.

No. 18 Oklahoma Edges No. 14 Tennessee

No. 18 Oklahoma squeaked past No. 14 Tennessee, 33-27, in a tense SEC showdown. The lead bounced back and forth all night.

Game-Winning Drive

With two minutes left, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer led a decisive drive, finishing it off with a one-yard touchdown run. Xavier Robinson’s 43-yard rush set up the score and flipped the momentum.

Tennessee’s Effort Falls Short

The Vols got a late field goal to make it close but couldn’t recover the onside kick. They played tough, but Oklahoma held on.

No. 24 Utah Dominates No. 17 Cincinnati

No. 24 Utah rolled over No. 17 Cincinnati, 45-14. That snapped Cincinnati’s seven-game win streak and gave them their first Big 12 loss.

Defensive Mastery

Utah’s defense was relentless, holding the Bearcats to just 87 rushing yards and forcing three turnovers. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati’s quarterback, struggled all game, completing only 33% of his passes.

Offensive Efficiency

Utah’s offense kept the chains moving. Devon Dampier threw for 213 yards, and the Utes rushed for 267 more.

They’ll head into their bye week feeling pretty good about themselves.

More Ranked Results

Other ranked teams were in action too. Here’s a quick rundown:

• No. 21 Michigan edged out Purdue 21-16.
• No. 23 Southern California narrowly defeated Nebraska 17-14.

SMU Upsets No. 10 Miami in Overtime

SMU pulled off the upset of the day, beating No. 10 Miami in overtime, 26-20. It was SMU’s first home win over a top-10 opponent since 1974.

Overtime Heroics

After a back-and-forth regulation, the game went to overtime. SMU’s Ahmaad Moses picked off Miami QB Carson Beck at the one-yard line, and T.J. Harden punched in the game-winner.

Historic Win

This was a huge moment for SMU fans. The Mustangs took advantage and delivered a night to remember.

West Virginia Stuns No. 22 Houston

West Virginia grabbed a big road win over No. 22 Houston, 45-35. The Mountaineers made the most of Houston’s mistakes, and Jordan Scruggs’ 80-yard pick-six was the highlight.

Defensive Playmakers

West Virginia’s defense forced turnovers that turned into points. That opportunism made all the difference.

Offensive Balance

The Mountaineers mixed it up on offense, running and throwing effectively. They just kept finding ways to score.

No. 20 Texas Outlasts No. 9 Vanderbilt

No. 20 Texas kept its Playoff hopes alive, sneaking past No. 9 Vanderbilt 34-31. The Longhorns had to survive a late surge from the Commodores.

Early Dominance

Texas got off to a fast start, racking up 17 points in the first quarter. That early burst put Vanderbilt in a hole.

Vanderbilt’s Comeback Falls Short

Vanderbilt made a furious comeback, scoring 21 straight points in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t recover the onside kick with 33 seconds left.

Duke Takes Down Clemson

Duke did something they hadn’t done since 1980: beat Clemson in Death Valley, 46-45. The Blue Devils snapped a 15-game road losing streak to the Tigers.

Final Minute Drama

Duke scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the final minute to steal the win. Clutch doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Breaking the Streak

That’s a long drought to end. Duke’s poise under pressure made the difference.

No. 2 Indiana Dominates Maryland

No. 2 Indiana kept rolling, blasting Maryland 55-10. The Hoosiers looked strong on both sides of the ball.

Ground Game Dominance

Indiana ran wild, piling up over 300 rushing yards. Kaelon Black led with 110, and Fernando Mendoza added two touchdowns.

Defensive Prowess

Indiana’s defense forced three turnovers and held Maryland’s run game in check. The Terrapins barely saw daylight all afternoon.

No. 16 Louisville Rallies to Beat Virginia Tech

No. 16 Louisville shook off a slow start to beat Virginia Tech 28-16 in Blacksburg. Their ground game and second-half defense were the difference.

Second-Half Surge

Louisville outscored the Hokies 21-0 after halftime. Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown did the heavy lifting on the ground, and Miller Moss sparked things with a big touchdown pass.

Defensive Stand

The Cardinals’ defense locked down in the second half, holding Virginia Tech to under 100 yards and shutting them out the rest of the way.

No. 5 Georgia Holds Off Florida

No. 5 Georgia edged rival Florida 24-20 in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs’ depth and poise were enough to get it done in a tight one.

Key Moments

Gunner Stockton tossed two touchdown passes, and Chauncey Bowens broke off a 36-yard scoring run. Georgia’s defense came up big too, stopping Florida on a crucial fourth down in the red zone.

Florida’s Effort

Florida, with interim coach Billy Gonzalez, fought hard. But the Gators’ offense fizzled late, and Georgia held on.

No. 15 Virginia Holds Off Cal

No. 15 Virginia picked up its eighth win, beating Cal 31-21. The Cavaliers leaned on their running game and got stops when they needed them.

Rushing Attack

J’Mari Taylor and Eli Wood combined for three touchdowns and helped control the clock. Virginia built a 17-7 halftime lead and kept Cal at arm’s length the rest of the way.

Defensive Resilience

Virginia’s defense forced a bunch of punts, keeping the pressure high. Late in the fourth quarter, they sealed the win with a pick-six that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The Cavaliers just kept coming up with stops when it mattered. You could really feel how much those big moments swung the game their way.

For more details on these games and other college football action from Week 10, check out the NCAA’s comprehensive recap.