11 Top 10 Losses: A Modern College Football Record
College football has matched a 2007 record for instability as 11 of the nation's best teams have lost in the last three weeks.
By Elizabeth Morales ·
Eleven top 10 teams have lost their last three games, a number that ties the most in any three week span of the AP Poll regular season. ESPN Research confirmed the streak, which had not occurred since 2007. The data points to a season where traditional power rankings have lost their usual predictive value. The instability has forced coaches and fans to reassess playoff odds after every weekend.
The trend accelerated in Week 8, which featured a series of high profile upsets. South Carolina defeated Tennessee, while Cincinnati beat Texas Tech. Wisconsin also hosted USC, limiting Lincoln Riley's team to just seven points. BYU, which had risen to No. 2 after beating Notre Dame the previous week, fell in double overtime to UCF. The loss erased the momentum from the Cougars' recent success.
Several teams also survived close finishes. Indiana won 13 to 6 in overtime at Michigan. Alabama needed fourth quarter touchdowns to defeat Texas A&M. Boise State escaped a loss to Washington State with a late surge. These narrow margins added to the confusion surrounding the current standings.
Miami holds the No. 1 spot after a 52 to 23 victory over Pitt. Malachi Toney caught 16 passes for 194 yards, setting a school record. However, the team allowed three sacks to Pitt. The Hurricanes play at North Carolina next. They will face Notre Dame on Nov. 7, a date that looms large for the top of the bracket.
Ohio State sits at No. 3 after a bye week. The Buckeyes are without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. True freshman Luke Fahey took over as the starter. The team will test its new offense at USC this Saturday.
Georgia is ranked No. 4. The Bulldogs lost 27 to 24 to Auburn on Oct. 17. They gained only 113 rushing yards in that game. Georgia prepares to face Florida in Atlanta on Saturday. They then travel to Ole Miss the following week.
Kentucky is No. 8 after a 34 to 17 win over Vanderbilt. The Wildcats are 6 and 0 in their last six games. They have secured their third winning record in the SEC since 1977. Kentucky has a bye this week before playing Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, and Louisville to finish the regular season.
Utah is No. 9 with a 7 and 0 record. The Utes came back from a 10 point halftime deficit to beat Houston 21 to 13. The team has the nation's longest winning streak. With Texas Tech and BYU losing, Utah is now considered the favorite in the Big 12.
Source: ESPN
