I. Week 7 — A Wild Ride of Upsets
Week 7 lived up to expectations as one of the wildest weekends yet in the 2025 season. Several ranked teams bit the dust, while underdogs and surprising contenders grabbed the headlines.
1. Indiana stuns Oregon — the marquee upset
The headliner was No. 7 Indiana’s 30-20 road win over No. 3 Oregon. Indiana’s win snatched away Oregon’s long home‐winning aura and vaulted the Hoosiers into the national conversation.
Oregon’s home streak was snapped, and the Ducks tumbled in the rankings.
For Indiana, it was a signature win — only their second over a top-5 team in program history.
Indiana’s defense was especially stout in the fourth quarter, shutting down Oregon’s offense when it mattered most.
That upset reshaped the national narrative: Indiana went from a rising contender to a legitimate dark horse in the Big Ten and in the playoff picture.
2. Texas shocks Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry
In another stunner, Texas beat No. 6 Oklahoma, 23-6, in the Red River showdown. Oklahoma fell eight spots in the rankings as a result.
Texas, previously unranked, reentered the Top 25 at No. 21.
The Longhorns dominated the second half, outscoring Oklahoma 20–0 after halftime.
3. Other notable upsets & surprises
Week 7 featured eight ranked teams losing across the country. Here are a few highlights:
Michigan fell to USC, 31-13, dropping out of the rankings entirely.
Illinois, which faced Ohio State, lost and also exited the Top 25.
Missouri came up just short in a 27-24 loss to Alabama.
Arizona State and Iowa State were two Big 12 teams that plummeted out of the rankings after losses to unranked opponents.
Florida State took its third straight defeat and dropped from the poll.
This wave of upsets created unusually high movement in the rankings and injected new life into teams that had quietly been building momentum.
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II. The New AP Top 25 (Post–Week 7 / Heading into Week 8)
The shakeups from Week 7 produced a dramatically revised Top 25. Below is the updated AP poll and analysis of major movements:
(Records are as of Week 7, before the next week’s games)
Rank School Record Notes
1 Ohio State 6-0 Held steady with win over Illinois.
2 Miami 5-0 Idle this week, held at No. 2.
3 Indiana 6-0 Jumped from No. 7 to No. 3 after upset win.
4 Texas A&M 6-0 Beat Florida; swapped place with Ole Miss.
5 Ole Miss 6-0 Held on to a narrow win over Washington State.
6 Alabama 5-1 Climbed after close win over Missouri.
7 Texas Tech 6-0 Stayed undefeated, beating Kansas.
8 Oregon 5-1 Fell due to upset loss; dropped five spots.
9 Georgia 5-1 Won over Auburn to maintain position.
10 LSU 5-1 Reentered or held in top 10 after win vs South Carolina.
11 Tennessee 5-1 Narrow win versus Arkansas helps maintain momentum.
12 Georgia Tech 6-0 Perfect in ACC so far.
13 Notre Dame 4-2 Beat NC State; holding on.
14 Oklahoma 5-1 Dropped far after upset loss.
15 BYU 6-0 Stayed perfect with OT win over Arizona.
16 Missouri 5-1 Lost tight game to Alabama, falling in rankings.
17 Vanderbilt 5-1 Idle week; held in poll.
18 Virginia 5-1 Idle week; retaining position.
19 South Florida 5-1 Jumped after rout of North Texas.
20 USC 5-1 Reentered poll after upset over Michigan.
21 Texas 4-2 New entry after Red River win.
22 Memphis 6-0 Idle; perfect record aids retention.
23 Utah 5-1 Entered poll after blowout win vs Arizona State.
24 Cincinnati 5-1 New entry after win over UCF.
25 Nebraska 5-1 Rounded out the new poll with win over Maryland.
Others receiving votes include Illinois (113 votes), Michigan (73), Washington, UNLV, Navy.
Major Movers & Storylines
Indiana vaulted into the top 3, its best AP ranking ever.
Michigan was completely unranked after falling to USC.
Oklahoma had one of the steepest drops — eight spots — following its upset.
Texas and USC were two of the biggest beneficiaries, both returning to the Top 25.
The churn was historic: eight ranked teams lost in a single week, prompting five new entrants — the most turnover in a regular-season poll since October 2022.
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III. Implications & Projections from Here
Week 7’s chaos did more than just shake up the standings — it shifted momentum, redefined narratives, and set up consequential matchups ahead.
1. Indiana enters the national title conversation
With its win at Oregon and a 6–0 record, Indiana is no longer a surprise story — it’s a contender. The Hoosiers now have leverage when it comes to College Football Playoff (CFP) resume building.
If they can continue winning in the Big Ten and take down fellow ranked teams, they may force voters to take them seriously in the final four.
That said, Indiana still must navigate quality matchups, road games, potential injuries, and depth — the same challenges any contender faces.
2. Power in flux
The upsets exposed how thin the margin is among top programs. No lead is safe, and teams that haven’t shown consistency (especially away from home) are vulnerable.
Oregon’s tumble warns of overreliance on home advantage.
Oklahoma’s fall echoes similar collapses in past seasons when expectations were high.
Michigan’s slide may foreshadow even tougher times in the Big Ten grind.
This volatility opens the door for teams like Texas Tech, Memphis, Cincinnati, and Georgia Tech to push for respect and higher seeding if they stay undefeated.
3. The ACC and SEC jockeying intensifies
In the SEC, Alabama’s climb, Texas’ resurgence, and Georgia’s steadiness place the conference in flux. The margin between second and fifth in the SEC could be razor thin by season’s end.
In the ACC, Miami (5–0) remains the benchmark. But Georgia Tech’s perfect start and Virginia’s rise signal that challengers exist.
4. Schedule and timing matter
At midseason, strength of schedule will be scrutinized. Undefeated teams that have faced few tests will be judged skeptically unless they prove themselves in later weeks.
Teams like Indiana, Texas A&M, BYU, Georgia Tech, and Memphis may get more credit if they continue winning over stronger foes.
Also, home vs. road splits or late-season conference road tests could make or break playoff hopes.
5. Momentum & confidence are real
Upsets can serve as catalysts. Indiana’s win should galvanize its fan base and players. Texas’ dominance in the second half of its game might give it renewed belief.
Contrastingly, teams that lost unexpectedly — Oregon, Oklahoma, Michigan — must quickly regroup or risk spiraling.
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IV. Looking Ahead — Key Weeks & Matchups
Here are a few matchups to watch in Week 8 and beyond that might further reshape the Top 25:
Indiana vs. Michigan State — can Indiana keep rolling?
Alabama vs. Tennessee — a pivotal SEC clash for playoff credentials.
Ole Miss @ Georgia — a chance for a top-5 showdown and big résumé boost.
USC @ Notre Dame — when both teams are in upward trajectories, that rivalry carries weight.
BYU vs. Utah — a matchup that could reorganize Big 12 pecking order.
Any of these could produce a signature win or another shakeup.
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V. Conclusion
Week 7 delivered the kind of upheaval that makes college football beloved — major upsets, wild swings in the rankings, and bold new narratives. Indiana’s rise to No. 3, Texas’ reentry into the poll, and the mass exodus of ranked teams show that no program is safe.
As the season advances, consistency, depth, strength of schedule, and the ability to win in hostile territory will separate pretenders from playoff contenders. But for now, we’re left with a more open, more dynamic race.
