Week 7 of the 2026 college football season arrives Saturday, Oct. 17, with six ranked matchups headlined by No. 2 Notre Dame visiting No. 8 BYU, and the week carries extra weight for Iowa fans after Washington's 41-24 loss to the Hawkeyes last week.
According to CBS Sports, the Week 7 slate is the best of the season so far, with No. 1 Georgia hosting Auburn, No. 6 Alabama traveling to No. 14 Tennessee, and a top-five showdown between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana in Bloomington. ESPN's Week 7 betting lines corroborate the spreads and totals for those marquee games.
What the Week 7 odds say
Notre Dame is favored by 10 on the road at BYU in a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff with an over/under of 47.5, per CBS Sports. Georgia is a 20.5-point home favorite over Auburn, Alabama is an 8.5-point road favorite at Tennessee, and Indiana is a 3.5-point underdog hosting Ohio State.
Online sports betting is legal in more than 30 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and major sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM continue to offer sign-up promotions as the season nears its midpoint. Bettors should check whether their state permits wagering and gamble responsibly.
Games that matter to Iowa fans
Washington at Purdue, Friday night
Both teams sit at 3-3, but they are trending in opposite directions. Purdue has won back-to-back games over Illinois and Minnesota, while Washington has dropped three straight, including that 41-24 defeat in Iowa City where the Huskies allowed three passing touchdowns to Iowa's backup quarterback. Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne has nine touchdowns against one interception this season while completing 68.9% of his passes. Purdue is a 3.5-point home favorite with a total of 52.5.
Nebraska at Oregon, Saturday night
The nightcap pits two teams coming off tough losses. Nebraska suffered its first defeat of the season, 20-17 against Indiana, while Oregon fell out of the top 25 with a loss to UCLA. Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is expected to start for the Ducks as star Dante Moore remains sidelined with a concussion. Oregon is a 7.5-point favorite.
Utah's Wayshawn Parker keeps rolling
Iowa State fans will remember Utah running back Wayshawn Parker, who ran for 174 yards against the Cyclones earlier this season. The No. 11 Utes are unbeaten under first-year coach Morgan Scalley and are 15.5-point favorites at Colorado on Saturday night.
Top matchups to watch Saturday
Ohio State at Indiana may be the game of the week. The Hoosiers shocked the Buckeyes 13-10 in last season's Big Ten Championship Game, their first win over Ohio State since 1988. Indiana is 6-0 and Ohio State is 5-1, and CBS Sports notes there is a decent chance these teams meet again in the conference title game or the College Football Playoff.
Georgia climbed to No. 1 after a 20-17 road win over Alabama, and quarterback Gunner Stockton has 14 touchdowns against two interceptions. The Bulldogs rank third nationally in scoring offense at 42.8 points per game and have not allowed more than 20 points in any game.
Notre Dame and BYU are both unbeaten, and it is the first-ever top-10 matchup in Provo. Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr has 1,378 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception, and he is trying to strengthen his Heisman Trophy campaign. BYU is expected to be without running back LJ Martin, who suffered a leg injury against TCU on Oct. 3.
Heisman race at the halfway point
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is the favorite at -220, according to DraftKings odds cited by CBS Sports. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is next at +950, followed by Carr at +1000. Notre Dame (-4000) and Georgia (-3000) have the shortest odds to make the College Football Playoff.
Any expansion of the playoff field would change the stakes of weeks like this one, as critics of a 24-team format have argued it would drain drama from the regular season.
Week 7 betting trends worth knowing
- The under is 7-0 in Ohio State's last seven road games.
- Alabama is 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 meetings with Tennessee.
- The over is 5-0 in Nebraska's last five games following a loss.
- Utah is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 meetings with Colorado.
- BYU is 5-0 against the spread in its last five October games.
FAQ
What channel is Notre Dame vs. BYU on Saturday?
The No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 8 BYU game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Provo, Utah. Local listings carry the broadcast details.
Who is favored in Ohio State vs. Indiana?
Ohio State is a 3.5-point road favorite against Indiana, with an over/under of 50.5, according to CBS Sports and ESPN.
Did Iowa beat Washington in Week 6?
Yes. Iowa defeated Washington 41-24, with the Hawkeyes' backup quarterback throwing three touchdown passes in the win.
Where can I legally bet on college football?
Online sports betting is legal in more than 30 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, though availability varies by state and bettors should confirm local rules before wagering.