As the season deepens and teams are settling into their character, the competition is ramping up. A number of tight matches between ranked teams and a few upsets were to be found as we move into Autumn football. The coming weeks will just get better as conference matchups become the standard and rivalries will be contested. Here are this weekend’s big game results.

(16) Ole MIss 55 - (23) LSU 49

Two ranked SEC teams delivered a tense, defense-free contest that went back and forth all game to the end. Both quarterbacks nearly had 400 yards apiece and they combined for eight touchdowns. After jumping out to a big first-quarter lead, Mississippi allowed the Tigers to climb back into the game with three touchdowns in the second but still held the lead. Later, LSU held a 9-point lead with just over eight minutes to play with Ole Miss needing two strikes to win the ballgame. They managed to get the go-ahead TD with just 39 seconds to play. LSU had a last-second heave into the end zone but it fell to the turf, and the fans stormed the field. 

🏈 On the field with Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin as students storm the field.

13-LSU 49
20-Ole Miss 55
Final

Yes, Kiffin had a new visor when he came to the postgame press conference.@OleMissFB @OleMissSports @suntarine @aydenwilliams74 pic.twitter.com/Q6gV7DTqxM

— David Edelstein 🌐 (@davidzedelstein) October 1, 2023

(10) Notre Dame 21 - (19) Duke 14

In an opposite fashion, another razor-close game saw two offenses plagued with mistakes and self-created challenges. Both teams moved the ball well enough but faced the inability to finish drives, missed field goals, and quarterbacks who did not light up the field. After sputtering for much of the game, Duke managed a pair of touchdowns and held the lead as they had the ball with just over two minutes to play, but could not stretch the drive to seal it. The Duke defense held up well most of the game and had the Irish pinned with 4th-and-long but gave up a long Sam Hartman scramble to get the first down, and then they followed with Audric Estime running 30 yards for the winning score.

(15) Oregon State 21 - (18) Utah 7

After climbing into the top-10 the Utes finally suffered playing without starting QB Cam Rising, who has been out with an injury. Utah’s defense has been keeping them afloat, but Friday saw an offense unable to operate, with Nate Johnson completing just eight of his 23 pass attempts. The Beavers came back from a tough 3-point loss to Washington State last week for this needed PAC-12 victory.

(1) Georgia 27 - Auburn 20

Georgia continues to show some cracks in their facade, but they maintain their undefeated run from last year’s championship squad. Coming into Auburn favored by 14, the Bulldogs were locked in battle throughout, with the Tigers actually holding a 3rd quarter lead. Carson Beck had a solid, if not explosive game for Georgia as the defense had a tough time with the Auburn running game, even as Auburn QB was throwing for under 100 yards. It took a late 40-yard touchdown throw to Brock Bowers for the top team to leave with the victory.

(20) Kentucky 33 - Florida 14

Florida’s better-than-expected performance this year became compromised in this game in which they were never a factor. Kentucky barely threw the ball on Saturday, because they did not need to. Running back Ray Davis nearly broke Kentucky’s rushing record as he personally outgained Florida with four times the ir yardage total, compiling 280 on the ground and three touchdowns, as well as another touchdown receiving. The undefeated Wildcats got ranked as a result of this victory.

For the new rankings, Kansas and Florida dropped off, as Louisville and Kentucky moved into the poll. Here are the current Top-25 schools (With first-place votes):

1.    Georgia (35)    

2    Michigan (12)    

3    Texas (10)    

4    Ohio State (1)    

5    Florida State (4)    

6    Penn State    

7    Washington    

8    Oregon    

9    Southern California    

10    Notre Dame    

11    Alabama    

12    Oklahoma    

13    Washington State    

14    North Carolina

15    Oregon State    

16    Ole Miss    

17    Miami (FL)    

18    Utah    

19    Duke    

20    Kentucky    

21    Missouri    

22    Tennessee    

23    LSU    

24    Fresno State    

25    Louisville