RJ Young
FOX Sports National University Football Analyst
After Vanderbilt’s come-from-behind victory over Virginia Tech in Week 1, I decided to read “Vanderbilt Hustlers” for the first time. Because student newspapers do a good job of covering original stories, especially when amazing news happens on campus. Then we learned that the Commodores’ upset of the Hokies had caused the student section to become so full that it was closed before the game started. And since the Commodores upset the Hokies, there’s also an article about how Vanderbilt is doing well with the expansion of Opportunity Vanderbilt, a program that provides full-tuition scholarships to students whose families make less than $150,000 a year. I made it. And approximately 54% of the school’s alumni are donors to the program. This means that if they are admitted, they will be committed.
This is the truth, Vanderbilt. I don’t care if we don’t win anymore SEC games or anything else. But I have to say, winning in football is what brought me here. Winning in soccer is why I am speaking out about the great financial aid programs you have put in place. Because winning in soccer is a catalyst for change.
Now, in the wake of Vanderbilt’s unforgettable 40-35 come-from-behind victory over No. 1-ranked University of Alabama on Saturday, Opportunity Vanderbilt University is attracting attention outside of Nashville and higher education journalism. I hope that even more attention will be focused on parts of the university that would not otherwise be. Because Vanderbilt invested in football. Because Vanderbilt’s football team pulled off the most surprising upset of the year.
Bravo, Vandy.
So here are my top 25 rankings after Week 6 of the college football season.
1. Ohio State (5-0)
Week 6 results: 35-7 win over Iowa
Ohio State became the first team in two years to score on its first possession against Iowa (Michigan, Oct. 1, 2022). The touchdown was scored on a 14-yard catch by Emeka Egbuka, who finished with nine catches for 71 yards and three TDs. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent and have earned the right to be here, but now the winner will get a top-five showdown with the Oregon Ducks for Big Ten supremacy and perhaps the No. 1 ranking in the sport. Masu.
2. Texas (5-0)
Week 6 Results: Idol
3. Oregon State (5-0)
Week 6 results: 31-10 win over Michigan State.
The Ducks cruised past the Spartans despite Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throwing multiple interceptions in the same game for the first time since November 2022. Running back Jordan James rushed 24 times for 166 yards in the win.
Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 6 Oregon Ducks Highlights
4. Georgia (4-1)
Week 6 results: 31-13 win over Auburn.
With the win over the Deep South’s oldest rivalry, Georgia State is one win away from setting a new regular season winning streak. However, it was the Dawgs’ 27th consecutive win at Sanford Stadium.
5. Penn State (5-0)
Week 6 results: Defeated UCLA 27-11.
The Nittany Lions have specialized in complementary football this season, and their defense has allowed just 18 points in the past three games. With Nick Singleton out, Penn State rushed for a season-low total of 85 yards per game after entering the game averaging 251 yards per game.
6. Miami (Fla.) (6-0)
Week 6 results: 39-38 win over Cal.
Take a bow, Cam Ward. Ward’s Heisman chances were all but over after it looked like Miami was headed for an upset loss, but the Canes’ senior QB led his team to a miraculous come-from-behind victory after trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter. The win was Miami’s biggest upset since 2003.
7. Clemson (4-1)
Week 6 results: 29-13 win over Florida State.
What was expected to be a big ACC showdown heading into the season turned into a rout for the Tigers, who outscored the lowly Seminoles in total yards, 500-250. Dabo Swinney’s team is averaging 48.5 points per game since Week 1’s loss to Georgia.
8. Iowa State (5-0)
Week 6 results: 43-21 win over Baylor.
Roco Becht threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, and Matt Campbell’s team improved to 5-0, its best start since 1980.
Jaylon Jackson rushes for a 10-yard TD as Iowa State gives Baylor the lead.
9. BYU (5-0)
Week 6 Results: Idol
10. Tennessee (4-1)
Week 6 result: Lost to Arkansas 19-14.
Josh Heupel’s team held a 14-3 lead in the third quarter, but everything quickly went downhill for the Vols after that. Nico Iamareaba wasn’t himself in this game, but it was Arkansas’ first home win against a top-five opponent since defeating No. 3 Volante in 1999, at the expense of Tennessee.
11. Oklahoma (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
12. LSU (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
13. Ole Miss (5-1)
Week 6 results: Defeated South Carolina 27-3.
The win was highlighted by not one, but two rushing touchdowns by 325-pound JJ Peggs, the 100th win of Lane Kiffin’s head coaching career. The Rebels forced two turnovers, recorded six sacks and had 10 total tackles in the win.
14. Alabama (4-1)
Week 6 result: Lost to Vanderbilt 40-35.
How about this as a statistic? Less than seven minutes into the game, Alabama was down 13-0 to Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt scored a total of 13 points against Alabama in 19 years under Nick Saban.
Another example is: At halftime, Bama led Vandy 23-14. This is the first time since 1977 that Vandy held a lead at halftime against the No. 1 team in the country. Vandy head coach Clark Lee was born in 1981.
And here’s the final statistic. Vanderbilt’s win over Alabama marks the first win in program history against a top-five opponent.
15. Notre Dame (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
16. Texas A&M (5-1)
Week 6 results: 41-10 win over Missouri State.
The Aggies trap the tigers, put them on leashes, and throw them into the zoo so we can point and laugh. Texas A&M dominated the game from start to finish, leading 34-0 at one point in the third quarter. Quarterback Connor Weigman has returned to the field and revealed he plans to hit the trick-or-treat circuit as Johnny Manziel this month.
17. Missouri State (4-1)
Week 6 result: Lost to Texas A&M 41-10.
The Tigers played like a journalism school on Saturday, being embarrassed on the road by an A&M program that was the favorite to win the CFP and dropped Mizzou to the bubble tier.
Week 6 results: 62-30 win over Utah State
Ashton Giunty has been out of this world through the first six weeks of the season. He ran for an astonishing 186 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday, but only needed half of it to get there.
Ashton Giunty scores a ridiculous 75-yard TD to extend the lead between Boise State and Utah State.
19. Kansas State (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
20. Illinois (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
21. Indiana (6-0)
Week 6 results: 41-24 win over Northwestern
This was the Hoosiers’ sixth win, making them the first team to qualify for a bowl this season. The Hoosiers have 500 yards of offense in their last three games and have the third-highest scoring offense in the nation.
Before IU coach Curt Cinetti took over, Indiana had won just nine of its past 36 games. And the sixth win was important for Cinetti, who earned a $250,000 bonus and an automatic one-year extension to his contract if IU reaches bowl eligibility.
22. Pitt (5-0)
Week 6 results: 34-24 win over North Carolina State.
Pat Narduzzi is on an excellent football team led by former Alabama quarterback Eli Holstein, and he threw for 381 yards and three scores against the Tar Heels. With victory, panthers They reached 5-0 for the first time since 1991.
23.SMU(5-1)
Week 6 results: 34-27 win over Louisville.
The win gave SMU a win in the top 25, but its only loss was to an undefeated BYU team. It’s possible the Mustangs find a path to the ACC title game in their first year in the league.
24. Utah State (4-1)
Week 6 Results: Idol
25. Navy (5-0)
Week 6 results: Air Force, 34-7 loss.
Navy and Army have similar records to 1945, the last time they went undefeated with a combined 10-0 record. Although they are members of the American Athletic Conference, they will face off the weekend after the conference championships are held. But there’s a chance they could compete for the AAC title.
RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” please follow him @RJ_Young Subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.
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