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By Dave Zelio

October 15, 2026

By Dave Zelio

October 15, 2026

 

Week 7 already! And it comes with a host of intriguing games, including six pitting teams that are ranked in the AP Top 25. Two of them are top-10 matchups, too. The stage is set for more poll chaos on Sunday.

 

Let's dive in!

 

THE BIG TEN'S NEW RIVALRY?

 Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti shouts to the fans as he leaves the field following an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The Big Ten is among the conferences with a long list of storied rivalries.

 

Battling for the Land Grant Trophy or the Little Brown Jug or Floyd of Rosedale are beloved and familiar touchstones to the past. And Ohio State vs. Michigan, well, that’s on the Mount Rushmore of college football rivalry games.

 

You know what’s not on that list? Indiana vs. Ohio State.

 

We get it: It’s hard to have a rivalry when the series history is 31-1-1 in favor of the Buckeyes and the first win in the series for the Hoosiers came 10 months ago.

 

Still, there is potential here. Indiana won its first national championship (in football) last season and seems to be settling in as one of the Big Ten's bullies.

 

Could Indiana's outspoken Curt Cignetti and the quieter Ryan Day of Ohio State become some version of Woody vs. Bo, Saban vs. Jimbo, Osborne vs. Switzer? 

 

We can only hope. It's early. But if the fifth-ranked Hoosiers beat the fourth-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday it will help.

 

Read the full story here. And since this rivalry doesn't have a cheeky name yet, email us what you think it should be called! Your answers might be shared in next week's edition.

 

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FROM SNUBS TO SHOWDOWN

BYU and Notre Dame players watch Kyle Brindza's 51 yard field goal in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, in South Bend, Ind.  (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

The first half of the season has been dominated largely by big showdowns in the Big Ten (see above) and Southeastern conferences. A quick thanks to schedulers for delivering that Ohio State-Texas crossover epic.

 

This makes sense: 15 of the current Top 25 teams are in those two juggernaut conferences.

 

We're here, though, to talk about a non-conference game, which is any game involving famously steadfast independent No. 2 Notre Dame.

 

The Fighting Irish visit No. 8 BYU on Saturday in the first top-10 showdown ever at LaVell Edwards Stadium, which has been hosting games since 1964.

 

These two teams have underwhelming schedules for the most part and you may recall they were the first two left out of the College Football Playoff last season. This game is a golden opportunity to burnish CFP seeding credentials. Read more.

 

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OVERTIME

The best so far: Meet the midseason AP All-America team

Ohio State vs. Indiana is stacked with WRs: Do not miss these receivers putting on a show

WATCH: Maura Carey explains Texas' fall, Georgia's shiny new No. 1 seat

The Big 12's best game might surprise you: No. 18 Oklahoma State visits No. 20 Houston

Oh, hi! Austin Simmons of No. 13 Missouri returns to No. 9 Ole Miss

The picks are in: Sorry, Hoosiers. Sorry, Cougars

WATCH: What's a Hoosier anyway? The origins of college football nicknames

Assist from the judge: Court clears 2 Michigan players to play this season

Will Stein is rolling: A 5-1 start and two top-10 upsets at Kentucky

Realignment!: James Madison will be on the move out of the Sun Belt

Fan Poll: Make your predictions for the next Top 25 poll by 7 p.m. ET

 

I'm Dave Zelio, college sports editor for the AP and the only person to settle the debate over New York and Chicago pizza (I simply eat both). Sign up for AP News Alerts to not miss any breaking college football news in between sends.

I'm Dave Zelio, college sports editor for the AP and the only person to settle the debate over New York and Chicago pizza (I simply eat both). Sign up for AP News Alerts to not miss any breaking college football news in between sends.