College Football Week 10 Winners and Losers: Miami Collapses, Texas and Oklahoma Rise

A mere three weeks ago, Miami was near the top of the college football world, 6-0 with wins over three ranked opponents and ranked second in the country.

With an improved defense, an electric receiver room and a veteran quarterback in Carson Beck, this looked like the team that could finally change the program’s recent narrative.

After Saturday’s 26-20 overtime loss at SMU -- its second in the last three games -- it’s safe to say these are the same ol’ Hurricanes.

In Mario Cristobal’s four seasons as head coach, Miami is 25-7 (.781) in games played in August through October and 4-11 (.267) in games played in November or December.

The Hurricanes’ CFP chances took a big hit with their second loss and their chances at even making the ACC championship game, which looked like a certainty not that long ago, are very low.

Here are some more winners and losers from Week 10 of the season:

Winners

Texas

Don’t look now, but Arch Manning is finally starting to look like the quarterback he was hyped up to be all offseason.

In Texas’ first seven games, Manning had just one 300-yard game against Sam Houston State, which is 0-8. He threw for 200 yards just once in a Power Four matchup, with nine touchdowns to five interceptions.

It wasn’t even clear he was going to play this week after he sustained a concussion late in last week’s overtime win at Mississippi State. Not only did he play, he turned in his best game of the season and did so against a ranked opponent.

A 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage set the tone for No. 20 Texas’ 34-31 win over No. 9 Vanderbilt. He finished with 328 yards and three touchdowns. The last two weeks, Manning has thrown for 674 yards, six touchdowns and one pick with a rushing TD.

With only one SEC loss, Texas is very much still alive in the conference race. And they finally looked like the team that was ranked No. 1 in the preseason on Saturday.

Oklahoma

In what was essentially a CFP elimination game, Oklahoma went into Neyland Stadium and came away with a 33-27 win over Tennessee.

It wasn’t pretty for the Sooners. John Mateer (159 yards, no TDs, one pick) continued to struggle in his return from surgery. They had 104 yards of penalties and were outgained by over 100 yards.

But they forced three turnovers -- which they turned into 12 points -- plus a turnover on downs. And Xavier Robinson exploded for 115 rushing yards and a score.

The path to the playoff won’t be easy for Oklahoma. It has No. 4 Alabama up next on the schedule in two weeks. But the Sooners are alive while the Volunteers, at 6-3, are likely not.

Loser

Georgia Tech

It was a no good, very bad day for the ACC.

After No. 10 Miami lost earlier in the day, No. 8 Georgia Tech decided to end its undefeated season with a dud of a 48-36 loss at NC State.

The Yellow Jackets’ defense has not been the strength of this team. But it had been playing much better than the 583 yards it allowed to the Wolfpack, which had lost its last four games against FBS competition.

This didn’t totally blow Georgia Tech’s chance at its first CFP berth. But the Yellow Jackets used what they hope is their mulligan. With one unbeaten team in ACC play and five with one loss, they’re in the midst of a log jam with no guarantee of making it even if they win out.