Week 7 of the college football season delivered one of the wildest Saturdays in years, with Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama and Texas all going down on October 18, 2026, and the Hawkeyes positioned to move up without even taking the field.
Iowa sat at home on a bye week, but the carnage around the country strengthened the Hawkeyes' playoff case. According to EssentiallySports' projected AP Top 25, Iowa is set to jump from No. 17 to No. 14 after entering the weekend at 5-1 following a convincing road win over Washington.
Georgia and Notre Dame Stumble
Georgia, the nation's top-ranked team, lost 27-24 to unranked Auburn at Sanford Stadium. Gunner Stockton fumbled with 58 seconds left in a tie game, and Auburn kicked the winning field goal. Yahoo Sports reported that undisciplined penalties compounded the Bulldogs' problems in a defeat that wrecked their unbeaten start.
Notre Dame had a clear path to No. 1 after Georgia's loss, but the Irish fell 28-24 at BYU in Provo. The Cougars' Bear Bachmeier scored through the air, on the ground and as a receiver, and his late touchdown pass to Walker Lyons held up. Notre Dame's 16-game winning streak is over, and ESPN reported that the Big 12 admitted the game's final play was incorrectly ended, saying the Irish should have had another second on the clock.
Miami Projected to Take Over No. 1
Miami survived Florida State 43-35 in double overtime and is projected to claim the top spot. The Hurricanes are 6-0 and 4-0 in ACC play. Ohio State, which ended Indiana's 22-game winning streak with a 19-15 win in Bloomington, is projected at No. 2. Indiana's streak ended in heartbreaking fashion when Nick Marsh's apparent go-ahead catch was ruled incomplete because he stepped out of bounds.
BYU, now 6-0, is projected third. Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Tennessee and Utah round out the projected top 10. Tennessee hammered Alabama 26-10, holding the Tide to 201 total yards and forcing four turnovers. It's the first time since 2007 that Alabama has lost back-to-back regular-season games.
What the Rankings Mean for Iowa
The Hawkeyes' rise comes without a snap. Iowa entered the bye at 5-1 after beating Washington on the road, and the chaos above them did the rest. EssentiallySports noted that Iowa's physical style and improving resume keep the program in the playoff conversation, though the remaining Big Ten schedule will decide whether that talk turns into something real.
USC, also on a bye, is projected to climb to No. 15. The Trojans still have Ohio State and Indiana ahead, games that will test their credentials and could shape Iowa's path in the conference standings.
Elsewhere in the projected rankings, Texas fell hard after a 27-24 home loss to Florida, dropping from No. 7 to No. 18. Florida's backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. led the Gators back from a 17-3 deficit in Austin. Kentucky moved up to No. 12 after forcing four turnovers in a 21-13 win at Oklahoma, and UCLA stayed unbeaten at 6-0 despite losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a serious knee injury.
The Road Ahead
The Big Ten remains the deepest conference in the country, and Iowa's schedule offers no breather. With Ohio State, Indiana and USC all ahead, the Hawkeyes control their own argument. Win the games in front of them, and the committee will have to listen.
Iowa held steady as Week 7 chaos reshuffled the Top 25, and the new poll will be released Sunday. Miami is expected to sit at No. 1 for the first time this season.
FAQ
Where is Iowa projected in the new AP Top 25?
Iowa is projected at No. 14, up from No. 17, after sitting on a bye week while higher-ranked teams lost.
Who is projected to be the new No. 1 team?
Miami, which is 6-0 after beating Florida State 43-35 in double overtime on October 18, 2026.
Which Top 25 teams lost in Week 7?
Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma State all lost on October 18, 2026.