Ohio State and BYU Make Statements; Miami Survives a Home Scare

College football delivered one of its wildest Saturdays of the 2026 season.

Five of the nation's top seven teams suffered defeats, including No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Notre Dame. The results created uncertainty across the national championship picture and opened the door for several programs to strengthen their College Football Playoff résumés.

But three teams emerged from Saturday with particularly interesting stories.

No. 4 Ohio State traveled to Bloomington and ended Indiana's 22-game winning streak with a 19-15 victory. No. 8 BYU delivered one of the biggest wins in program history, defeating Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo.

Meanwhile, No. 3 Miami needed double overtime to escape rival Florida State, 43-35, at Hard Rock Stadium.

All three teams won.

However, their victories revealed different things about their championship aspirations.

Ohio State Ends Indiana's Streak, but Victory Comes at a Cost

Ohio State entered Bloomington facing one of its most significant tests of the season.

The Buckeyes were meeting the defending national champions, a program riding a 22-game winning streak and seeking another statement victory in the Big Ten.

Ohio State had something to prove.

The Buckeyes suffered a defeat to Indiana in last season's Big Ten Championship Game, making Saturday's matchup an opportunity to demonstrate that the conference's balance of power remained unsettled.

Ohio State delivered.

The Buckeyes defeated No. 5 Indiana 19-15, relying on defensive execution and a critical fourth-quarter connection between quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Facing fourth-and-one early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State elected to attack downfield.

Sayin connected with Smith for a 38-yard touchdown, extending the Buckeyes' lead to 19-7.

It was the kind of aggressive decision that can define a championship contender.

Rather than settling for a conservative approach, Ohio State trusted its playmakers to deliver in a critical moment.

Smith's touchdown also tied former Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards for the Big Ten career receiving touchdown record.

But Indiana refused to disappear.

Quarterback Josh Hoover returned from an arm injury and helped the Hoosiers cut the deficit to 19-15.

Indiana eventually earned one final opportunity to take the lead.

With just over a minute remaining, Hoover connected with Nick Marsh near the end zone on fourth down.

For a moment, it appeared Indiana had completed another dramatic comeback.

However, Marsh landed out of bounds, and Ohio State retained its advantage.

The Buckeyes ran out the remaining time to secure one of their most important victories of the season.

The Bigger Concern: Julian Sayin's Injury

Ohio State's celebration came with a significant concern.

Sayin suffered an injury to his throwing arm late in the fourth quarter, forcing him out of the contest.

Following the game, head coach Ryan Day indicated that Sayin could miss several weeks.

That development changes the conversation surrounding Ohio State.

The Buckeyes demonstrated that they can defeat an elite opponent in a hostile environment.

Their defense made critical stops, their playmakers delivered, and the team handled the pressure of a top-five matchup.

But the potential absence of their starting quarterback creates uncertainty.

Freshman backup Luke Fahey may now be responsible for guiding an offense with championship expectations.

Ohio State's victory strengthened its position in the Big Ten race.

Whether the Buckeyes can maintain that momentum without Sayin could become one of the most important storylines in college football.

BYU Delivers Its Biggest Statement Against Notre Dame

If Ohio State's victory demonstrated toughness, BYU's performance demonstrated that the Cougars belong in the national championship conversation.

No. 8 BYU entered Saturday undefeated but faced its toughest challenge against No. 2 Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish arrived in Provo with one of the strongest résumés in the country.

BYU wasn't intimidated.

The Cougars defeated Notre Dame 28-24, improving to 6-0 and securing their highest-ranked victory since defeating No. 1 Miami in 1990.

At the center of the performance was quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

Bachmeier accounted for four touchdowns in three different ways.

He threw for 224 yards and a touchdown, rushed for two scores, and caught a touchdown pass on a trick play.

That versatility gave Notre Dame problems throughout the contest.

BYU built a 21-10 first-half advantage, using creative offensive execution and Bachmeier's ability to make plays beyond the passing game.

However, Notre Dame responded.

Quarterback CJ Carr helped the Fighting Irish regain the lead, forcing BYU to produce another answer late in the fourth quarter.

Bachmeier delivered.

With 1:47 remaining, he connected with tight end Walker Lyons for a six-yard touchdown, giving BYU a 28-24 advantage.

Notre Dame still had an opportunity.

The Fighting Irish moved into scoring position on their final possession, reaching the BYU nine-yard line.

But the Cougars' defense held firm.

Carr's final pass fell incomplete as time expired, sending the home crowd into celebration.

BYU Is No Longer Just an Interesting Story

The Cougars have established themselves as more than an undefeated team benefiting from a favorable schedule.

They defeated the nation's second-ranked program with a combination of offensive creativity, quarterback versatility and late-game defensive execution.

Bachmeier deserves significant recognition for his performance.

He didn't simply manage the offense.

He became its most important weapon, contributing as a passer, runner and receiver.

Equally important was BYU's ability to respond after losing the lead.

Championship contenders eventually face moments when their original game plan isn't enough.

BYU encountered that situation against Notre Dame and found another way to win.

Kalani Sitake's program now has a signature victory capable of influencing the College Football Playoff discussion.

The challenge moving forward will be handling the expectations that come with it.

BYU has proven it can defeat an elite opponent.

Now the Cougars must prove they can maintain that standard.

Miami Survives Florida State, but Questions Remain

While Ohio State and BYU were defeating top-five opponents, Miami was fighting to avoid one of the weekend's biggest upsets.

The third-ranked Hurricanes entered their rivalry matchup against Florida State undefeated.

The Seminoles arrived with a 3-3 record and an opportunity to disrupt Miami's championship ambitions.

What followed was a double-overtime thriller.

Miami eventually escaped with a 43-35 victory, improving to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play.

Quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Malachi Toney delivered an outstanding performance, catching 11 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

Toney also threw a successful two-point conversion pass during the second overtime.

Running back Javian Mallory contributed 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Offensively, Miami demonstrated that it possesses enough playmakers to overcome adversity.

But the Hurricanes also allowed Florida State to remain competitive deep into the contest.

Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, repeatedly challenging Miami's defense.

The Hurricanes needed overtime to finish a game they entered as substantial favorites.

In the second overtime, Mensah connected with Toney for a touchdown before Toney completed the two-point conversion to Cooper Barkate.

Florida State had one final possession.

Miami's Bryce Fitzgerald was credited with an interception on the final play, ending the Seminoles' comeback attempt. The ruling produced controversy over the final end-zone sequence.

Miami survived.

But survival and dominance are two different things.

Is Miami Playing Like a National Championship Contender?

There is something to be said for winning difficult rivalry games.

Florida State entered Saturday with a losing record, but rivalry matchups often produce performances that don't reflect a team's season-long results.

Miami deserves credit for responding when its undefeated season was threatened.

Mensah delivered another productive passing performance, and Toney demonstrated why he is one of the Hurricanes' most important offensive weapons.

However, Miami's defensive performance raises concerns.

Allowing 35 points to a struggling Florida State team is not the type of performance Mario Cristobal wants to see as the postseason approaches.

The Hurricanes remain undefeated, and the losses suffered by Georgia and Notre Dame could create an opportunity for Miami to climb to No. 1.

But rankings shouldn't erase what happened on the field.

Miami has the talent to compete for a national championship.

The question is whether the Hurricanes can consistently execute at the level required to win one.

Saturday provided another victory.

It didn't provide every answer.

Three Victories, Three Different Championship Conversations

Ohio State, BYU and Miami all improved their postseason positions, but their performances carried different implications.

Ohio State proved it can win a physical, high-pressure matchup against an elite opponent. Ending Indiana's 22-game winning streak was a significant accomplishment, especially on the road. However, Sayin's injury introduces uncertainty that could shape the Buckeyes' remaining season.

BYU delivered the most complete statement of the three. The Cougars defeated No. 2 Notre Dame, showcased their quarterback's versatility and made a decisive defensive stand when the game was on the line.

Miami demonstrated resilience but also exposed areas requiring improvement. The Hurricanes survived a rivalry scare and remained undefeated, but their defensive inconsistency cannot be overlooked.

The College Football Playoff conversation will continue changing as the regular season progresses.

Saturday's results may dramatically reshape the national rankings, but the next several weeks will determine which programs can turn impressive October performances into championship opportunities.

The Playmaker's Final Take: Winning Matters, but So Does How You Win

There are no style points in the standings.

A victory counts the same whether it comes by one point or thirty.

But evaluating championship contenders requires looking beyond the final score.

Ohio State deserves credit for going into Bloomington and defeating the defending national champions.

BYU deserves even more national attention after taking down Notre Dame in a game that demanded contributions from every phase of its team.

Miami deserves recognition for surviving a difficult rivalry matchup.

Yet each team leaves Saturday facing a different challenge.

Ohio State must navigate uncertainty at quarterback.

BYU must handle increased expectations.

Miami must improve defensively before another opponent takes advantage of its vulnerabilities.

With Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas all suffering defeats, the national championship race has changed dramatically.

The opportunity is there for all three programs.

Ohio State made a statement. BYU announced itself as a serious contender. Miami survived to fight another day.

And in a college football season where the unexpected has become routine, nobody can afford to become comfortable.