CBS Sports reported that the BYU Cougars defeated No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday in one of the defining results of Week 7.
Five of the AP Top 25’s top seven teams lost, creating major movement in the national championship picture.
CBS Sports also identified Auburn’s 27-24 victory over Georgia in Athens and Texas’ loss to Florida as central Week 7 results. The winners-and-losers labels are CBS Sports’ analysis, not official designations.
College football Week 7 winners and losers
- Five of the AP Top 25’s top seven teams lost during Week 7.
- BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 and strengthened its College Football Playoff case.
- Auburn defeated Georgia 27-24 in Athens, ending a 21-year wait for a victory there.
BYU moved into the College Football Playoff conversation
CBS Sports named BYU its most significant winner after the Cougars beat Notre Dame 28-24. The result gave BYU a major victory against a highly ranked opponent and pushed the program into a more prominent position in the national discussion.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the late game-winning drive, according to CBS Sports. The Cougars held on against Notre Dame after the Fighting Irish entered the game ranked No. 2.
CBS Sports wrote that BYU would secure a College Football Playoff spot if it continues to win. That assessment places added value on the Cougars’ remaining schedule and makes each subsequent result important to their postseason case.
Texas faced renewed pressure after the Florida loss
The Texas Longhorns lost to Florida, giving Steve Sarkisian’s team another setback during a season under scrutiny. CBS Sports characterized Texas’ offensive game plan as a major problem against the Gators.
Sarkisian said everything was up for evaluation after the loss, CBS Sports reported. The outlet also evaluated Arch Manning’s development and the pressure surrounding Sarkisian’s job outlook.
CBS Sports framed the Florida result as a test for the direction of the Texas program. Its analysis also focused on the Longhorns’ mistakes and the responsibility facing the program’s leadership.
SEC results exposed new pressure points
Week 7 produced several consequential SEC results. Auburn ended a 21-year wait for a victory in Athens, Ole Miss overwhelmed Missouri and Tennessee handed Alabama a 26-10 defeat.
| Matchup | Result | Week 7 consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn at Georgia | Auburn won 27-24 | Auburn ended a 21-year wait for a win in Athens |
| Missouri at Ole Miss | Ole Miss won 31-3 | Missouri averaged 1.5 yards per carry |
| Alabama at Tennessee | Tennessee won 26-10 | Alabama suffered a significant conference loss |
| Vanderbilt at Arkansas | Arkansas won 31-21 | Arkansas earned its first SEC win in the cited period |
CBS Sports credited Auburn’s defensive performance in the upset of Georgia. The Tigers’ victory gave them a result with immediate importance in the SEC race and ended a long drought in Athens.
Ole Miss controlled Missouri in a 31-3 victory, while Missouri’s offense struggled to establish the run. CBS Sports highlighted the Tigers’ average of 1.5 yards per carry as a measure of the Rebels’ defensive control.
Alabama’s loss at Tennessee added another major result to a weekend filled with defeats among highly ranked teams. Arkansas also secured its first SEC win of the cited period by beating Vanderbilt.
The rest of the Week 7 winners and losers
Baylor lost to TCU 17-6, giving the Bears a damaging result against a rival. CBS Sports included Baylor among the weekend’s losers after the offense produced only six points.
North Carolina improved to 4-2 by defeating Duke 24-20. CBS Sports identified the Tar Heels as a winner from the result, which moved North Carolina to six games above the.500 mark in the season record cited.
Rutgers defeated Maryland 37-30 behind a major performance from wide receiver KJ Duff. Duff caught nine passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, according to CBS Sports.
The collection of results left Week 7 with clear winners in BYU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas, North Carolina and Rutgers, while Texas, Alabama, Baylor, Missouri, Georgia and Maryland absorbed consequential losses. CBS Sports’ evaluations centered on the national playoff picture, conference positioning and pressure on programs facing difficult stretches.
