The biggest week of the college football season?
Possibly.
Days after the first College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled, the path for teams to reach the CFP crystalized. And Week 10 provides plenty of marquee showdowns that will undoubtedly shake up Tuesday's Top 25 reveal.
Writers from across the USA TODAY Network try to make sense of Week 10's biggest storylines. Here's how our writers break down Saturday's big games.
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No. 4 Utah 28, No. 8 BYU 20
Utah keeps winning, and America can no longer ignore the Utes
Utah has spent decades forcing college football’s establishment to respect it. Now the unbeaten Utes are doing it again. Behind Devin Dampier, first-year coach Morgan Scalley and a relentless defense that intercepted BYU four times, Utah remained
perfect with a 28-20 rivalry win. The difference from the breakthrough teams of 2004 and 2008? This time, the Utes have a path to the CFP and a national championship. The SEC and Big Ten can doubt them all they want. Utah is forcing its way to the table.
∎ Click here to read full column from USA TODAY Sports columnist Matt Hayes.
No. 5 UCLA 34, Minnesota 20
UCLA is 9-0 and giving the CFP committee plenty to reconsider
No more doubting UCLA. The unbeaten Bruins improved to 9-0 with a 34-20 win at Minnesota, powered by a breakout performance from quarterback Ty Dieffenbach. The former third-stringer threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns on just eight completions, while UCLA’s defense delivered again. Ranked behind two-loss Alabama and Texas in the first CFP rankings, the Bruins have heard the skepticism. Now they look every bit like a playoff contender, and they’re done asking the committee for respect.
∎ Click here to read full analysis from USA TODAY Sports reporter Jordan Mendoza.
No. 11 Texas 34, No. 19 Missouri 20
Arch Manning is heating up just when Texas needs him most
Arch Manning is heating up at exactly the right time. The Texas quarterback threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover to beat No. 19 Missouri 34-20 on the road. After an uneven start to the season, Manning has delivered consecutive statement performances with the Longhorns’ playoff hopes hanging in the balance. Suddenly, Texas doesn’t just look capable of reaching the CFP. It looks like a team that could make some noise once it gets there.
∎ Click here to read full analysis from USA TODAY Sports reporter Paul Myerberg.
College football top 25 games today: Week 10 scores
All times Eastern
- No. 4 Utah 28, No. 8 BYU 20
- No. 5 UCLA 34, Minnesota 20
- No. 11 Texas 34, No. 19 Missouri 20
- No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 15 LSU | 3:30 p.m. on ABC (Fubo)
- Cincinnati vs. No. 18 Houston | 3:30 p.m. on Fox (Fubo)
- Merrimack vs. No. 14 Wake Forest | 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network (Fubo)
- Oregon vs. No. 10 Ohio State | 3:30 p.m. on CBS (Fubo)
- No. 21 Boise State vs. Colorado State | 6 p.m. on USA Network (Sling TV)
- No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Tennessee | 6:15 p.m. on ESPN (Fubo)
- No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 12 Ole Miss | 7:30 p.m. on ABC (Fubo)
- No. 1 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- No. 20 Iowa vs. No. 23 Northwestern | 7:30 p.m. on Fox (Fubo)
- West Virginia vs. No. 13 Texas Tech | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN (Fubo)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football live analysis: Utah, UCLA, Texas make huge Week 10 statements
