Week 7 of the college football season produced thrilling wins and disappointing losses, with Oregon's victory over Ohio State and USC's falter against Penn State taking center stage.
College football's Week 7 lived up to its hype, delivering nail-biting contests from noon ET to the wee hours of Saturday night. Amidst the action, familiar faces emerged as winners and losers, shaping the landscape of the season.
1. **Oregon Ducks:** The Oregon Ducks quacked their way to one of their most impressive victories of the season, beating Ohio State 32-31. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel led the charge, accounting for 224 yards and a touchdown.
College Football Week 7 Winners and Losers: Oregon Ducks Triumph, USC Trojans Disappoint
2. **Vanderbilt Commodores:** Diego Pavia continued his impressive run as Vanderbilt upset Kentucky 24-21. The Commodores' defense gave Kentucky fits, while Pavia notched two touchdowns.
3. **Penn State Nittany Lions:** Penn State rallied from a 20-6 deficit at halftime to defeat USC 30-27. Tight end Tyler Warren had a monstrous game, totaling 224 yards and a touchdown.
College Football Week 7 Winners and Losers: Oregon Ducks Triumph, USC Trojans Disappoint
4. **Texas Longhorns:** Texas solidified its status as the nation's top team with a dominant 34-3 victory over Oklahoma. The Longhorns' defense suffocated the Sooners, while Quinn Ewers returned from injury to lead the offense.
5. **Jedd Fisch (Washington Huskies):** First-year Washington coach Fisch earned a signature win by upsetting Michigan 31-14. The Huskies avenged their national championship loss and secured a significant conference victory.
College Football Week 7 Winners and Losers: Oregon Ducks Triumph, USC Trojans Disappoint
6. **Army & Navy:** Both military schools picked up victories, with Army defeating UAB 44-10 and Navy enjoying a bye week. Notably, both schools are now ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, marking the first time since 1960 that they appear in the rankings simultaneously.
1. **Ole Miss Rebels:** Ole Miss suffered a devastating 27-24 loss to LSU in Death Valley. The Rebels led throughout the game, but LSU's Cade York kicked a field goal as time expired to seal the victory.
College Football Week 7 Winners and Losers: Oregon Ducks Triumph, USC Trojans Disappoint
2. **USC Trojans:** Lincoln Riley's tenure at USC continues to falter with a 30-27 loss to Penn State. The Trojans' defense allowed the Nittany Lions to convert two fourth-down conversions and tie the game.
3. **Alabama Crimson Tide:** Despite their 27-25 victory over South Carolina, Alabama's performance has raised concerns. The Tide looked sluggish and lacked the physicality they've displayed in the past.
4. **Will Howard (Ohio State Buckeyes):** Howard's costly miscue in the final seconds of Ohio State's game against Oregon cost the Buckeyes a chance at a potential game-tying field goal.
5. **Rutgers Scarlet Knights:** After starting the season 4-0, Rutgers lost 35-0 to Wisconsin. The Scarlet Knights' impressive start is now in doubt as they face two consecutive conference losses.
As the college football season progresses, teams will continue to face important tests and the winners and losers will shift. Week 7 provided a glimpse into the current landscape, as emerging teams like Oregon shine and established programs like USC struggle to find their footing.
