Man, Week 7 of college football was absolutely wild, right? The tide just changed out of nowhere, and that means Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s latest Top 10 is shaking things up with a bunch of new teams. Some of these picks are going to make you scratch your head, but that’s why we love The Bear, always keeping things interesting!
The Bear’s Big Questions: Are These Teams For Real?
Okay, let’s dive into some of these rankings, because Fallica himself admits he’s got questions. Kicking things off at No. 10 is Tennessee, and even The Bear is wondering, “Do I think Tennessee really is the 10th best team in the country? No.” But hey, they just beat up Bama in the trenches, they *could* have beaten Texas, and they stomped Auburn twice in an ugly game. When you look at what UCLA or Utah or Kentucky have accomplished, it’s hard to argue too much with the Vols being here. But get this: they’re ‘dogs against South Carolina this week, so that ranking might not last long.
Then there’s Houston at No. 9, and Fallica has them ranked ahead of Utah. Oddsmakers totally disagree, with the Utes favored by 6.5 points in this weekend’s massive game. Houston could have easily won in Lubbock, and their win over Oklahoma State is definitely better than anything Utah has put on the field so far. We’re about to find out who’s right when these two face off!
Texas Tech slides in at No. 8, after their offense just blew up against a pretty bad Arizona State defense. They don’t have Utah or BYU on the schedule, which helps, but that trip to Stillwater could be a real problem. Honestly, The Bear is straight-up saying he has “no idea what to do here,” and he’s “not sure Tech is better than a lot of teams that currently have a loss or two.” But for now, they’re sitting pretty as a placeholder because of that zero in the loss column. Can they keep it?
Flaws and Fears: Contenders With Red Flags
Things get even crazier when you hit the teams with some real warts. Indiana, at No. 7, just took their first loss since 2024, and it feels like the high-leverage plays finally went against them. The offensive worries are legit, man. Josh Hoover has barely completed 50% of his passes over the last two games, and the run game has been struggling hard, with only 138 yards against Nebraska and Ohio State. BUT, and this is a big one, they were inches away from beating Ohio State despite all that! Bryant Haines’ defense is the real deal and will keep them in just about any game on their upcoming schedule. There aren’t many losable games left, but a trip to Ann Arbor this weekend is definitely one of them.
And then there’s Ole Miss at No. 6. Fallica admits, “We’ve now reached the point of the rankings where I have no idea what to do.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement! Trinidad Chambliss is, no joke, the “scariest quarterback in the country to face,” and their defense totally shut down Missouri like nobody else has this year. Sure, there’s that ugly loss at Florida, which The Bear calls a “terrible spot,” but when you’re looking at a bunch of flawed teams, the Rebs’ upside is just higher than the other teams he was considering. They could literally end Texas’ season this week. What a wild ride!
One last bombshell: the biggest thing that happened last weekend was the Julian Sayin injury. According to The Bear, that totally changes everything.
What’s Next: The Gauntlet Continues
So, what’s on tap? We’ve got Houston and Utah squaring off to prove who’s actually better. Tennessee heads to South Carolina as an underdog, which is always spicy. Indiana is in Ann Arbor, a huge test for their defense-first identity. And Ole Miss has the chance to crush Texas’ season hopes. Get ready, because these rankings are anything but settled!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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