The NCAA Top 25 football scores for Saturday, October 24, 2026, featured several major upsets, overtime thrillers and impressive performances from nationally ranked teams during Week 8 of the 2026 college football season.
No. 1 Miami delivered a dominant victory over Pittsburgh, while No. 2 BYU suffered a stunning double-overtime loss to UCF. Other ranked teams, including Texas Tech, Tennessee, Iowa and USC, also suffered defeats that could significantly impact the next AP Top 25 rankings.
Here is a complete look at the latest college football Top 25 scores, biggest upsets and important results from Saturday’s action.
NCAA Top 25 Football Scores: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Below are the final scores involving AP Top 25 teams during Week 8 of the 2026 NCAA football season.
| Matchup | Final Score |
|---|---|
| No. 1 Miami vs. Pittsburgh | Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23 |
| No. 2 BYU vs. UCF | UCF 39, BYU 31 (2OT) |
| No. 6 Indiana vs. Michigan | Indiana 13, Michigan 6 (OT) |
| No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 19 Texas | Texas 34, Ole Miss 27 |
| No. 8 Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati | Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 24 |
| No. 9 UCLA vs. Michigan State | UCLA 28, Michigan State 10 |
| No. 10 Utah vs. No. 14 Houston | Utah 21, Houston 13 |
| No. 11 Tennessee vs. South Carolina | South Carolina 27, Tennessee 24 |
| No. 12 Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt | Kentucky 34, Vanderbilt 17 |
| No. 13 Alabama vs. Texas A&M | Alabama 31, Texas A&M 20 |
| No. 15 Iowa vs. Minnesota | Minnesota 13, Iowa 10 |
| No. 16 USC vs. Wisconsin | Wisconsin 24, USC 7 |
| No. 18 LSU vs. Auburn | LSU 38, Auburn 17 |
| No. 21 Boise State vs. Washington State | Boise State 31, Washington State 10 |
| No. 23 SMU vs. California | SMU 59, California 20 |
| No. 24 Northwestern vs. Rutgers | Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14 |
| No. 25 Arizona vs. Iowa State | Arizona 39, Iowa State 3 |
Rankings reflect the AP Top 25 entering Week 8. All scores listed are final.
Biggest College Football Upsets in Week 8
UCF Shocks No. 2 BYU in Double Overtime
One of Saturday’s biggest surprises came when UCF defeated No. 2 BYU, 39-31, in double overtime.
The result handed BYU a costly defeat and could shake up the upper portion of the AP Top 25 rankings.
Cincinnati Defeats No. 8 Texas Tech
Cincinnati delivered another major upset with a 37-24 victory over No. 8 Texas Tech.
The loss could have significant implications for Texas Tech’s conference championship ambitions and College Football Playoff positioning.
Texas Knocks Off No. 7 Ole Miss
No. 19 Texas earned an important ranked victory by defeating No. 7 Ole Miss, 34-27.
The result gives Texas a valuable win against a Top 10 opponent and could help the Longhorns climb in the national rankings.
South Carolina Upsets No. 11 Tennessee
South Carolina defeated No. 11 Tennessee, 27-24, in one of Saturday’s closest finishes.
The narrow loss could damage Tennessee’s standing in the national rankings as the regular season approaches its final stretch.
Wisconsin Dominates No. 16 USC
Wisconsin produced an impressive 24-7 victory over No. 16 USC.
The Badgers held USC to just seven points, delivering one of the weekend’s most convincing wins against a ranked opponent.
No. 1 Miami Remains Unbeaten
Miami strengthened its position atop the college football rankings with a commanding 52-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
The Hurricanes scored 52 points and continued their undefeated campaign, making another strong case to remain the nation’s No. 1 team.
With BYU losing to UCF, Miami’s victory becomes even more important heading into the next round of rankings.
Other Notable NCAA Top 25 Results
Several other ranked programs recorded important victories Saturday.
No. 6 Indiana survived Michigan in overtime, winning 13-6 in a defensive battle.
No. 9 UCLA continued its undefeated season with a 28-10 victory over Michigan State, while No. 10 Utah defeated No. 14 Houston, 21-13, in another important ranked matchup.
No. 13 Alabama defeated Texas A&M, 31-20, and No. 18 LSU earned a 38-17 victory over Auburn.
Meanwhile, No. 23 SMU delivered one of the highest-scoring performances among ranked teams, defeating California, 59-20.
How Week 8 Results Could Impact the AP Top 25 Rankings
Saturday’s results could produce major changes in the next AP Top 25 college football poll.
The biggest storylines include:
- Miami: Strengthened its case to remain No. 1 after defeating Pittsburgh.
- BYU: Could drop significantly after losing to unranked UCF.
- Texas: Could climb following its victory over No. 7 Ole Miss.
- Texas Tech: Faces a potential rankings decline after losing to Cincinnati.
- UCLA: Continued building its case as a national championship contender.
- Indiana: Survived an overtime challenge to preserve its momentum.
- Tennessee and USC: Could fall following losses to unranked opponents.
The new rankings will provide a clearer picture of how voters evaluate these results.
When Are the Next AP Top 25 College Football Rankings Released?
The next AP Top 25 college football rankings are expected to be released on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The updated poll will reflect the results from Week 8 and could feature significant movement among teams competing for conference championships and College Football Playoff positions.
The AP Top 25 is separate from the official College Football Playoff rankings, which are released later in the season.
NCAA Top 25 Football Scores FAQ
Who won the biggest college football game Saturday?
One of the biggest results was UCF’s 39-31 double-overtime upset of No. 2 BYU. No. 19 Texas also defeated No. 7 Ole Miss, 34-27.
Did No. 1 Miami win in Week 8?
Yes. No. 1 Miami defeated Pittsburgh, 52-23, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Did BYU lose in Week 8?
Yes. No. 2 BYU lost to UCF, 39-31, in double overtime.
Which Top 25 teams lost Saturday?
Ranked teams that suffered losses included BYU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Houston, Tennessee, Iowa and USC.
When will the new college football Top 25 rankings come out?
The next AP Top 25 poll is expected Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Where can I check the latest NCAA football scores?
College football fans can follow updated scores, schedules, rankings and game results through NCAA.com, ESPN and other major college football scoreboards.
Final Thoughts
Week 8 of the 2026 college football season delivered several results that could reshape the national championship conversation.
Miami continued its undefeated run, while BYU’s surprising loss to UCF opened the door for movement near the top of the rankings. Texas earned a statement victory over Ole Miss, and Cincinnati, South Carolina and Wisconsin delivered important upset wins.
With the regular season moving toward November, every result becomes increasingly important for conference championship races and College Football Playoff positioning.
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