TRENDING NFL Week 8 updates College Fantasy Waiver Wire F1 Mexico City GP updates CFB winners & losers Williams earns MVP honors Story by Story by Ranking the best college football games of Week 10 in a loaded slate Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK Sun, November 1, 2026 at 9:01 PM UTC · 6 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Week 10 of the college football season is shaping up to be an all-timer, with two top-10 matchups and four more ranked games.
ESPN's "College GameDay" is headed to South Bend, Indiana, for No. 1 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, but the pregame show had plenty of other options. No. 4 Utah hosts in-state rival No. 8 BYU in the "Holy War" and No. 15 LSU faces No. 9 Alabama.
REQUIRED READING: Would Notre Dame be No. 6 without those golden helmets? Please
No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 16 Tennessee, No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 11 Texas vs. No. 19 Missouri round out the list of top-25 matchups. The ranked games aren't the only matchups of note in Week 10, either. Minnesota is aiming to upset undefeated No. 7 UCLA while No. 10 Ohio State is hoping to keep its season alive against Oregon.
Week 10 looks like it'll deliver. Which are the best games of the weekend? Here's a look at our top games of Week 10:
Week 9 of the college football season brings matchups from across the country as teams compete in conference and nonconference action. Immanuel Ezeogu #52 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates after a sack in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats in the game at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) Salesi Moa #12 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at SHI Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland, Getty Images) Steve Angeli #9 of the Syracuse Orange runs the ball for a touchdown against Alexander Kilgore #23 and Sael Reyes #22 of the SMU Mustangs during the first quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Rebecca Villagracia, Getty Images) Chris Cole #9 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after recovering a fumble and rushes in for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland, Getty Images) Deuce Alexander #1 of the Mississippi Rebels dives toward the pylon during the first half against Kaleb Harris #8 of the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Justin Ford, Getty Images) Terrance Carter Jr. #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III, Getty Images) Josh Manning #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats runs before scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes in the game at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) Running back L.J. Phillips Jr. #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes goes up the field in the second half against linebacker Cooper Catalano #44 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Kinnick Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Madison, WI. (Matthew Holst, Getty Images) Shazz Preston #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball as Aidan Gousby #7 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes the tackle during the first half at Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) Bo Walker #24 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland, Getty Images) Tommy Carr #14 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at SHI Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland, Getty Images) Mekhi Mason #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats attempts to recover a ball that was fumbled into the end zone for a touchback in favor of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) Quarterback LaNorris Sellers #16 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates as he is lifted up by guard Hank Purvis #52 after throwing for an 84-yard touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Bahr, Getty Images) Tramell Jones Jr. #9 of the Florida Gators fumbles the ball as he is pressured by Gabe Harris Jr. #0 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) Joseph Williams #8 of the Colorado Buffaloes runs after a catch in the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) Steve Angeli #9 of the Syracuse Orange throws the ball during the fourth quarter against the SMU Mustangs at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Rebecca Villagracia, Getty Images) Brenden Jordan #7 and Brice Pollock #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tackle Quincy Craig #24 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the game at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III, Getty Images) Adon Shuler #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks up a pass intended for Truman Brasfield #83 of the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson, Getty Images) Bear Bachmeier #47 of the Brigham Young Cougars is stopped on the goal line by Owen Long #22 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Provo Utah. (Chris Gardner, Getty Images) Wayshawn Parker #1 of the Utah Utes runs with the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images) 1 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Week 9 of the college football season brings matchups from across the country as teams compete in conference and nonconference action. Immanuel Ezeogu #52 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates after a sack in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats in the game at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) 1 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Week 9 of the college football season brings matchups from across the country as teams compete in conference and nonconference action. Immanuel Ezeogu #52 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates after a sack in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats in the game at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) 2 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Salesi Moa #12 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at SHI Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland, Getty Images) 3 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Steve Angeli #9 of the Syracuse Orange runs the ball for a touchdown against Alexander Kilgore #23 and Sael Reyes #22 of the SMU Mustangs during the first quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Rebecca Villagracia, Getty Images) 4 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Chris Cole #9 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after recovering a fumble and rushes in for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland, Getty Images) 5 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Deuce Alexander #1 of the Mississippi Rebels dives toward the pylon during the first half against Kaleb Harris #8 of the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Justin Ford, Getty Images) 6 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Terrance Carter Jr. #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III, Getty Images) 7 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Josh Manning #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats runs before scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes in the game at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) 8 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Running back L.J. Phillips Jr. #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes goes up the field in the second half against linebacker Cooper Catalano #44 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Kinnick Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Madison, WI. (Matthew Holst, Getty Images) 9 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Shazz Preston #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball as Aidan Gousby #7 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes the tackle during the first half at Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) 10 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Bo Walker #24 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland, Getty Images) 11 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Tommy Carr #14 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at SHI Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland, Getty Images) 12 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Mekhi Mason #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats attempts to recover a ball that was fumbled into the end zone for a touchback in favor of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) 13 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Quarterback LaNorris Sellers #16 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates as he is lifted up by guard Hank Purvis #52 after throwing for an 84-yard touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Bahr, Getty Images) 14 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Tramell Jones Jr. #9 of the Florida Gators fumbles the ball as he is pressured by Gabe Harris Jr. #0 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) 15 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Joseph Williams #8 of the Colorado Buffaloes runs after a catch in the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field on October 31, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images) 16 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Steve Angeli #9 of the Syracuse Orange throws the ball during the fourth quarter against the SMU Mustangs at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Rebecca Villagracia, Getty Images) 17 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Brenden Jordan #7 and Brice Pollock #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tackle Quincy Craig #24 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the game at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III, Getty Images) 18 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Adon Shuler #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks up a pass intended for Truman Brasfield #83 of the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson, Getty Images) 19 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Bear Bachmeier #47 of the Brigham Young Cougars is stopped on the goal line by Owen Long #22 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Provo Utah. (Chris Gardner, Getty Images) 20 / 20 College football's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations in Week 9 Wayshawn Parker #1 of the Utah Utes runs with the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images) Ranking top college football games of Week 10 1. No. 3 Utah vs. No. 7 BYU "GameDay" isn't going back to Salt Lake City in Week 10, but a top-10 matchup between rivals like Utah and BYU is what college football is all about. These fans do not like each other, and the winner is the clear frontrunner to win the Big 12 this season.
It's going to be a scene for the "Holy War" on Nov. 7. Unfortunately, the game is at 10 a.m. local time (noon ET).
Miami faces its first test of the season against Notre Dame following back-to-back sketchy weeks against unranked opponents. The Hurricanes needed two overtimes to beat Florida State in Week 8 before taking down North Carolina 38-35 in Week 9.
The game also has massive implications for Notre Dame, given the Fighting Irish 's schedule. A 10-2 Notre Dame team without a signature loss would likely be on the CFP bubble, just like it was last season.
Miami-Notre Dame is also littered with Heisman Trophy candidates like Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney and CJ Carr. In a wide-open race, can one of those three players have a Heisman moment and vault to the top of the race?
Alabama and LSU look like the two best two-loss teams in college football. A win puts one of these teams in a solid spot among CFP contenders in the SEC, while a loss puts one in a tough situation going forward.
It seems like a 3-loss SEC team will make the CFP this season, but with three regular season games left after this matchup, it leaves virtually no wiggle room. Keelon Russell and Sam Leavitt is also an underrated quarterback matchup.
A rematch of last season's CFP quarterfinal matchup, Georgia is looking for revenge against Ole Miss in Week 10.
Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss made the Bulldogs look silly at times in the CFP last season. Can he keep that magic going in 2026?
A Georgia loss would make for some interesting shifts in the SEC championship game race, if it happens.
As bad as things have gone for Oregon this season, it's technically still in the Big Ten conference championship game race. Ohio State, meanwhile, needs to figure out its offense fast if it wants to reach the CFP.
The Buckeyes weren't great offensively in their 30-18 upset loss to unranked USC in Week 9, leaving them without much room for error going forward. Their quarterback situation is still murky, too, as true freshman Luke Fahey struggled mightily at times in his first career start.
There could be some huge momentum shifts going forward for the winner and loser of this game.
Baylor: Dave Aranda ( fired Oct 25 ). Aranda was 40-40 during his seven seasons in charge in Waco. (Chris Jones, IMAGN IMAGES) NC State: Dave Doeren ( fired Oct. 24 ). Doeren was fired after 14 seasons leading the Wolfpack, compiling a 98-74 record in Raleigh. (Greg Atkins, IMAGN IMAGES) Maryland: Mike Locksley ( fired Oct. 21 ). Locksley was 39–54, which includes six games as an interim coach in 2015 and his hiring full time before the 2019 season. (Robert Goddin, USA TODAY Sports) 1 / 3 2026 college football coaching changes: Every coach fired this season Baylor: Dave Aranda ( fired Oct 25 ). Aranda was 40-40 during his seven seasons in charge in Waco. (Chris Jones, IMAGN IMAGES) 1 / 3 2026 college football coaching changes: Every coach fired this season Baylor: Dave Aranda ( fired Oct 25 ). Aranda was 40-40 during his seven seasons in charge in Waco. (Chris Jones, IMAGN IMAGES) 2 / 3 2026 college football coaching changes: Every coach fired this season NC State: Dave Doeren ( fired Oct. 24 ). Doeren was fired after 14 seasons leading the Wolfpack, compiling a 98-74 record in Raleigh. (Greg Atkins, IMAGN IMAGES) 3 / 3 2026 college football coaching changes: Every coach fired this season Maryland: Mike Locksley ( fired Oct. 21 ). Locksley was 39–54, which includes six games as an interim coach in 2015 and his hiring full time before the 2019 season. (Robert Goddin, USA TODAY Sports) 6. No. 8 Kentucky at No. 16 Tennessee Kentucky achieved its highest-ever ranking at No. 8 in Week 10. One of the biggest surprises of the college football season under first-year coach Will Stein, it's time to see if the Wildcats can handle the pressure with a CFP bid on the line going forward.
Kentucky's remaining schedule won't be easy, either, with the Vols, Florida, Missouri and Louisville left on its slate. A win would show the Wildcats are for real.
Tennessee, meanwhile, likely has to have a win to stay in CFP race. A top-10 ranked win would be huge for the Vols' resume.
Do you like offense and minimal defense? What about games that last into early Sunday morning? The Pac-12 has the game for you, then.
Oregon State and Texas State rank No. 4 and 7, respectively, in total offense this season, with both units averaging over 500 total yards per game. Texas State seemingly finds itself in a back-and-forth game every week, and is coming off a 46-45 loss to Boise State in which they scored 36 unanswered points to take the lead before losing it late.
Oregon State will also be looking to bounce back after its 38-22 loss to Fresno State.
Trap game incoming? A road game against Missouri won't be easy for Texas, which has played better in its last two wins against Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
The Longhorns and Tigers are both aiming to keep their CFP hopes alive with a win. The former Big 12 foes face off at noon ET on Nov. 7.
Minnesota nearly upset Indiana in Week 9. Maybe it can get it done against UCLA in Week 10?
The Golden Gophers will be a real test for the Bruins , who haven't faced the toughest schedule in college football this season by any means. Backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach will face his toughest test as a starting quarterback, too, against a stout Minnesota defense.
Northwestern is enjoying one of its best seasons in years. Its hoping to not drop back-to-back games for the first time all season when it faces Iowa.
It's a battle of two Big Ten teams that are trying to stay in Big Ten championship game contention and two teams that are aiming to be in the upper tier of the conference.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking the best college football games of Week 10 in a loaded slate
Source: Sports
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