Week 6 was an absolute doozy in college football, and there was a persistent theme coaches love to tell their players: don't beat yourself.
There was plenty of self-inflicted wounds.
The action Saturday was proof there really is no greater opponent than yourself, and that only gets tougher when the spotlight is shining on you. It's worse when the team you're playing is only winning because it benefitted from your mistakes.
Several ranked teams in the country fell victim to their own undoing, and those are things that have to be fixed if you want a real shot of success, highlighting the lowlights in the weekend of football.
Arch Manning and Texas
With how bad Oklahoma's offense was, the only way the Sooners would win was if Texas beat Texas.
Texas made sure to do that.
The Longhorns lost 27-24 by gifting Oklahoma 17 of those points. A blocked punt in the endzone, an Arch Manning pick six to give the Sooners the lead in the fourth quarter and then the fatal interception with 19 seconds left that set up the game-winning field goal for Oklahoma.
Not only was it a bad outing, but it's another ugly one from Manning and company as it hadn't looked like a No. 1 team for awhile, and the quarterback not looking like he's taken a step forward in his development. Texas earned all the horns down from the opposite side of the Cotton Bowl.
Alabama-Georgia referees
The SEC showdown was a tight contest that resulted in a Georgia win, but not without some questionable officiating. It seemed like the Crimson Tide got the short-end of the stick by being on the wrong end of three referee decisions.
First, there was an interception in the third quarter that would have put Alabama in scoring range reviewed and determined incomplete when it looked like linebacker QB Reese had caught the ball. Then in the fourth, it looked like Georgia's Demello Jones committed what looked to be a targeting foul against Ryan Coleman-Williams, but no flag was thrown.
Then came a real egregious, game-changing one. Alabama was in Georgia territory and receiver Rico Scott was hit by KJ Bolden before the ball got to him, and while it looked obvious, no flag was thrown.
The officials didn't call pass interference on this play in Georgia-Alabama. pic.twitter.com/mFMno9Orex
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) October 11, 2026
Alabama ended up losing the game. You can't always blame the referees for losses, but the Crimson Tide do have a case on this.
Oregon
Coming off the inspiring win over USC, Oregon looked like it was back on track toward the College Football Playoff − until the Ducks laid an egg.
Oregon had one of its sloppiest games ever against a resurgent UCLA team, committing seven turnovers in a 17-15 loss as quarterback Dylan Raiola could not move the offense at all, leading to him get benched. Granted the Bruins made mistakes of their own and kept the home team in the game, but that was one of the worst outings in the Dan Lanning era.
Even worse, UCLA was clearly having a good time in Eugene − getting in on the fun with "Shout" before it proceeded to get its first road win at Oregon since 2004.
Now Oregon is 3-2 and its playoff hopes on the brink of death. It doesn't rain in Autzen Stadium, but a storm is brewing over the season.
LSU
There was a viral alleged sign in the LSU facility ahead of the game against Kentucky that appeared to take a shot at the Wildcats quarterback Kenny Minchey. Meant to be bulletin board material for the Tigers, it ended up being one to fire up Kentucky.
Will Stein's team brought the heat against Lane Kiffin's team and forced overtime. In the extra period, Kentucky went for the win on a two-point conversion, and it was successful − pull off by none other than Minchey.
A field storming ensued and Kentucky had some fun with that sign as it handed LSU its second loss of the season.
LSU’s defense hasn’t seen anyone like us or our offensive line yet. pic.twitter.com/TtKWfCe4y0
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 11, 2026
Nebraska
Just when you thought Matt Rhule and Nebraska were turning a corner, they snap back into reality.
The Cornhuskers dominated Indiana but when it came to crunch time, they folded by letting the Hoosiers pull off a fourth-quarter comeback in an instant. It was almost night-and-day in Nebraska's performance, looking like a discombobulated unit in the final 15 minutes.
With the loss, Nebraska has now lost 31 consecutive games against ranked opponents, meaning Rhule has yet to win one in Lincoln. It's tough to think when that dreaded streak will end when old habits won't die.
Penn State whiteout
The Penn State whiteout is one of the best traditions in college football. Other than that, it really isn't much.
Despite a Beaver Stadium record attendance of 114,419, the home field advantage couldn't help the troubling Nittany Lions, losing to Southern California 31-23 for its third consecutive loss − and second loss in row in a whiteout.
You'd think for being game meant for the ultimate home-field advantage would lead to incredible results, and while it's produced iconic moments, it's not entirely successful. Penn State is now just 13-10 in whiteout, and just 9-9 when it plays against a ranked team in those conditions.
And now, the five biggest crowds in Beaver Stadium are all Penn State losses.
We get the competition is stiff, but it's not good when you have record crowds going home defeated.
Pittsburgh
Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi criticized pollsters for not ranking his team until it got to 5-0. Well, it got the number, and it didn't do what's needed to keep it.
Pitt lost quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season to a torn ACL and Holden Geriner didn't hold up in his first career start. He threw two interceptions against North Carolina as the Tar Heels picked up a 21-17 road victory in one of the best results under Bill Belichick, handing the Panthers their first loss of the season.
This is a prime example about why you don't worry about the number next to your name before the midway point of the season, or you just might set your team up for a slip-up.
Texas A&M offense
My how the mighty have fallen in Aggieland. The woes continued for Texas A&M, scoring just six points in a 21-point loss to Missouri.
How bad was it? In the first half, the Aggies had more penalties than first downs in the first half.
The struggles have really gotten to Marcel Reed, who had more incompletions than completions while failing to throw a touchdown pass for the third game in row − instead throwing two interceptions to the Tigers. Just a really bad season shaping up a team that was hoping to make the playoff again.
To make matters worse, coach Mike Elko is taking shots at the fanbase, which is clearly (not) what any team wants to be focusing on.
Vanderbilt
The Commodores saw their 10-game home winning streak end in a thumping from Mississippi, with Trinidad Chambliss and company putting on a comfortable 52-17 win.
Vanderbilt was never competitive in the game, falling to a 42-3 deficit at halftime. Sure enough, it reminded fans of the old days of football when the team was routinely the punching bag of the SEC.
It naturally led to a scene that hasn't been seen at FirstBank Stadium in some time: the lonely fan.
Last man standing at Vanderbilt
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 10, 2026
via ESPN pic.twitter.com/Jhg9RbS5fQ
Poor Vandy.
Washington
Husky Stadium is considered the "greatest setting in college football" with its scenic views. But there was nothing great about the home team on the field.
Washington's high hopes continue to sink deep into the water after Iowa came in and gave the Huskies a sound 41-24 beating. While it may be shocking to see Iowa's offense play at an elite level, the defense was again tough, and absolutley terrorized the Washington offense.
The Huskies finished with -3 rushing yards. Yes, less than zero.
Making matters worse, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. left the game with an injury. It all resulted in a third straight loss and an 0-3 start to Big Ten play, a crushing stretch for a team that was supposed to compete in the conference.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 6 Flop 10: Arch Manning, Alabama-Georgia referees and Oregon lead list
