Following a dramatic week of college football in week six, week seven continued the trend of high-flying offense and seismic change to the AP Top 25 poll. With most teams shifting towards full time conference play, the stakes became higher, and the losses stung even harder.
Grab a drink, put on your favorite album and relax while Lucas and I break down the best games of this past weekend.
No. 1 Ohio State’s dominant defense sends Illinois out of the rankings
Is there a better unit in the country than Matt Patricia’s “penny front” defense down in Columbus? Through the first half of the 2025 season, the Buckeyes have allowed just six points per game and under 230 combined yards of offense per game- that is mind-boggling when you consider all of the defensive starters Ohio State lost to the draft this April.
The Buckeyes added the then-No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini to the list of teams OSU froze in its tracks on Saturday in a 34-16 win against a team coming off a statement victory against USC just two weeks prior. In a game where Ohio State led 20-3 at halftime, the Buckeye’s front seven was absolutely lethal, combining for four sacks and two turnovers.
For what has become a beloved trend in the capital of the Buckeye state, OSU is once again set to run the table and find itself undefeated and in the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2020. With Michigan losing to No. 20 USC, the Buckeyes do not have a ranked opponent left on their schedule, but with Ryan Day’s recent troubles against the Wolverines, one question remains: can they beat Michigan?
No. 5 Rebels eek out win in Oxford against Washington State
The No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels, despite their undefeated status and premium ranking, have gone through quite the tumultuous season in just six games. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons injured his ankle in a win over Kentucky in early September, and senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a transfer from Ferris State, has done nothing but win since taking the starting job, propelling the Rebels to a win over the No. 10 LSU Tigers in week five.
As for the Washington State Cougars, it has not been a lightning fast start to the 2025 campaign. After losing quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma, Wazzu has opened at a modest 3-3, winning its first two contests before allowing Washington and North Texas to both drop 59 points on the Cougars in back-to-back games.
Senior WSU quarterback Zevi Eckhaus marched the Cougars down the field on their last drive of the first quarter, capping off a nine-play drive with a passing touchdown to freshman wide receiver Landon Wright. The Rebels responded with two scoring drives of their own, before the Cougars struck again with a 46-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Kirby Vorhees.
However, Chambliss would not let his Rebels relent, as a 17-yard rushing touchdown from the senior QB and a 35-yard touchdown throw to junior wide receiver Cayden Lee would ultimately be too much for the Cougars, as Hotty Toddy won 24-21.
Overall, Ole Miss has put itself in the mix with Alabama and Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference. The good news for the Rebels is that the team only has two more ranked opponents left on the schedule- the bad news being that those two teams are No. 9 Georgia and No. 14 Oklahoma.
USC shocks No. 15 Michigan in dominant Big Ten victory
Unranked USC made a loud statement Saturday, rolling past No. 15 Michigan 31-13 in a game that showcased the Trojans’ resurgence under the bright lights of the Big Ten.
Led by a rejuvenated offense and a lockdown defensive effort, USC controlled the tempo from start to finish. Quarterback play was sharp and efficient, while the Trojans’ defense clamped down on Michigan’s rushing attack and forced key turnovers that swung momentum early.
The win not only marks one of USC’s most complete performances of the season, but also propels the Trojans into the national rankings at No. 20, while Michigan falls out of the Top 25 entirely.
A statement win for USC — and a reminder that the Trojans are back to being a legitimate force in the Big Ten.
No. 7 Indiana Stuns No. 3 Oregon, Rises to No. 3 in the Nation
In one of the biggest statement wins of the season, the No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers took down No. 3 Oregon 30-20 inside Autzen Stadium, proving they belong among college football’s elite.
From start to finish, Indiana showed balance, poise and toughness on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the charge with key throws under pressure, including a clutch touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt late in the game to seal the victory. Senior running back Roman Hemby provided the spark early, finding the end zone twice and setting the tone for a physical offensive performance.
Defensively, the Hoosiers’ secondary was relentless—recording multiple interceptions on Oregon’s highly-touted sophomore quarterback Dante Moore and holding one of the most explosive offenses in the country to just 20 points.
With the win, Indiana moves to No. 3 in the national rankings, officially establishing themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. The Hoosiers are not just a feel-good story anymore—they’re one of the best teams in the nation and a serious threat to make a postseason run.
Moving ahead
Week eight’s marquee matchup is the historic “Third Saturday in October” between the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide. Both teams are coming off solid weeks, and it will be very interesting to see senior Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar compete against Alabama’s defense.
Week seven was all it was chalked up to be. Should the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet in a made-for-Hollywood meeting in the conference championship, we’ll remember this game week for years to come.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.
Lucas Cochran is a photographer. Contact him at [email protected].