usatoday
As Week 10 of the college football season approaches, the races for conference championships in the Power Four remain undecided. A pivotal moment occurred in Week 9 when a Julian Sayin-less Ohio State offense sputtered in a 30-18 upset loss to Southern California, throwing the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff aspirations into uncertainty.
True freshman Luke Fahey, making his first career start, looked the part of a rookie quarterback, and Ohio State's unresolved quarterback situation offers little optimism. The Buckeyes likely need to win out to secure a CFP berth, but that path is fraught with challenges.
Only three unbeaten teams remain in college football: No. 1 Miami, No. 4 Utah, and No. 5 UCLA. However, Week 10 could alter that landscape. The Hurricanes face a crucial test against No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 1, while the Utes and Bruins take on formidable foes in BYU and Minnesota, respectively.
Ohio State's Week 10 matchup against unranked Oregon could have major implications for both the Big Ten standings and the CFP race. The Ducks are not yet eliminated from contention; a win would thrust them back into the conversation and potentially push the Buckeyes onto the CFP bubble.
Key Analysis
Here are the latest risers and fallers in college football heading into Week 10:
Risers
USC
Questions about Lincoln Riley's future have quieted after the Trojans' 30-18 victory over Ohio State. The win marked Riley's first against a top-five team as a head coach since 2017, when he was at Oklahoma. USC, now 7-2, controls its own destiny. A win over the Buckeyes could be the momentum boost the Trojans need to win out and secure their first CFP appearance under Riley.
South Carolina
Shane Beamer's job security was in question after a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky on Oct. 3, but the Gamecocks have since turned things around. They've reeled off wins over Florida (38-19), Tennessee (27-24), and a dominant 42-25 victory over Oklahoma on Nov. 1. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is playing like a top NFL prospect again, and South Carolina is now 5-3 after a 2-3 start. The vibes are high in Columbia, with the Gamecocks among the hottest teams in the country.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest appears to be the second-best team in the ACC and a legitimate CFP contender. Second-year coach Jake Dickert has done one of the best coaching jobs in the country, leading the Demon Deacons to a 9-4 record last season and a 7-1 start in 2026. Wake Forest is coming off back-to-back dominant wins over California (41-7) and Virginia (51-7). Quarterback Gio Lopez, who was an afterthought in the transfer portal after struggling at North Carolina last season, has been one of the best additions in the sport, with 24 total touchdowns and just one interception. The Demon Deacons may get another shot at Miami after their narrow loss earlier this season.
Fallers
Ohio State
Ohio State's offense struggled without Sayin, and the consequences could be severe: a missed CFP and a lost Heisman Trophy for Jeremiah Smith. With remaining games against Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan, the Buckeyes are in danger of missing the playoff despite one of the most talented rosters in the country. Coach Ryan Day must get either Fahey or Tavien St. Clair ready to win games at quarterback.
Indiana
Indiana has not looked like a national championship contender after losing numerous contributors from last season's title team. The Hoosiers have scored just 51 combined points in their last three games, prompting coach Curt Cignetti to bench quarterback Josh Hoover in favor of backup Grant Wilson, who led Indiana to a 23-16 overtime win over Minnesota in Week 9. Indiana needed a 60-yard field goal and overtime to beat the Gophers on Oct. 31, a week after needing OT against a Michigan team with an abysmal offense. The Hoosiers' offense faces serious questions moving forward.
Oklahoma State
First-year coach Eric Morris deserves credit for Oklahoma State's high-powered offense, but the defense will be a major concern heading into 2027. The Cowboys allowed 51 points in a 51-49 loss to Iowa State in Week 9 and have now surrendered 24 or more points in five consecutive games, including matchups against Colorado and UCF. The loss puts Oklahoma State in a difficult position for Big 12 championship game contention with two conference losses.
Originally reported by usatoday.