2025 Week 10 College Football Recap And Top Performers

If there’s one takeaway from Week 10 of the 2025 college football season, it’s that quarterback play took center stage. Signal-callers across the country stepped up, delivering standout performances—win or lose—that shaped the weekend’s outcomes. As we turn the calendar to November, every snap carries added weight for teams jockeying for position in this year’s College Football Playoff race. Here’s a quick roundup of what we learned from the past week.

What Did We Learn From Week 10?

• For a brief stretch, Penn State kept things competitive against Ohio State—until the second half, when the Buckeyes took full control. It almost felt like Ohio State eased off the gas early just to keep the game interesting before asserting their dominance.

  
  

• Texas’ win over Vanderbilt was tighter than expected, especially given their comfortable halftime lead. Still, credit must go to Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, who cleared concussion protocol earlier that morning and delivered his second consecutive 300-yard passing performance. That said, Diego Paiva deserves recognition as well, accounting for over 300 passing yards and four total touchdowns. Something tells us this won’t be the last time these two teams square off this season.

  
  

• And so it begins—another familiar storyline for the Miami Hurricanes. They start strong, only to fade down the stretch. Their loss to SMU was avoidable, but Carson Beck’s interceptions didn’t help. One thing is clear: no matter how stout Miami’s defense may be, this team will only go as far as Beck can take them.

  
  

• This year’s Georgia Bulldogs may not be as dominant as their 2021 or 2022 counterparts, but they continue to find ways to win when it matters. It took a late touchdown to edge out a struggling Florida Gators squad, but Georgia’s resilience keeps them firmly in the SEC conversation.

  
  

• Louisville is loaded with talent. Whether it’s running back Isaac Brown on offense or defensive standouts Clev Lubin and Antonio Watts, the Cardinals are the real deal. After a sluggish first half, they erupted for 21 unanswered points to blow past Virginia Tech. This team is legit.

  
  

• Now sitting at 8–1, Virginia is one of the ACC’s most intriguing programs. Much like Georgia Tech, we won’t truly know what kind of team the Cavaliers are until they face elite competition—no disrespect to California.

  
  

• Behren Morton’s return has Texas Tech back on track. Their offense clicked in a convincing win over Kansas State, and with Morton under center, the Red Raiders look like legitimate playoff contenders.

  
  

• While CJ Carr and Jeremiyah Love often grab headlines, Notre Dame’s defense deserves more attention. Against Boston College, the Fighting Irish racked up five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Any team facing Notre Dame should fear their defense first—and worry about the offense later.

  
  

• As underwhelming as South Carolina has been this season, Ole Miss has emerged as one of the most surprising stories in college football—thanks in large part to the breakout performance of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Following their loss to the Rebels, the Gamecocks are now left hoping to secure bowl eligibility. Meanwhile, Ole Miss continues to climb the ranks and should be considered a legitimate Championship contender.

  
  

• Haynes King once again carried Georgia Tech in their matchup against a 4–4 NC State squad, but the result was a disappointing upset loss. As noted in previous recaps, the Yellow Jackets won’t be serious ACC contenders if they continue to rely solely on King’s heroics. The pressing question remains: who else will rise to the occasion?

  
  

• Even without star running back Justice Haynes, Michigan had no trouble asserting its dominance on the ground against Purdue, racking up 253 rushing yards in a convincing win. What makes the Wolverines truly dangerous is the depth of their backfield—Jordan Marshall stepped up in Haynes’ absence and showcased the same elite-level talent. This one-two punch at running back has the potential to carry Michigan deep into the postseason.

  
  

• It wasn’t John Mateer’s sharpest outing, but fortunately for Oklahoma, the defense stepped up and spoiled what could have been a breakout performance for Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar. The Volunteers now find themselves on the outside looking in, and it’ll take a miracle to claw their way into this year’s College Football Playoff conversation. As for the Sooners, they remain in the hunt—for now.

  
  

• At 8–1, the Memphis Tigers are firmly positioned as a top contender among Group of Five programs aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoff. One standout takeaway: their secondary is great, anchored by playmakers Chris Bracy and Kamari Wilson.

Week 10 College Football Top Performers

Offense -

QB Darian Mensah - Duke

QB Owen McCown - UTSA

QB Haynes King - Georgia Tech

QB Cade Klubnik - Clemson

QB Julian Sayin - Ohio State

RB Caleb Hawkins - North Texas

QB Arch Manning - Texas

QB Jeff Sims - Arizona State

RB Kewan Lacy - Ole Miss

QB Alonza Barnett III - James Madison

QB Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt

RB Emmett Johnson - Nebraska

QB Kevin Jennings - SMU

RB Isaac Brown - Louisville

QB CJ Bailey - NC State

WR Antonio Williams - Clemson

WR Cooper Barkate - Duke

WR Eli Stower - Vanderbilt

WR Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State

WR Carnell Tate - Ohio State

WR David Amador II - UTSA

RB J'Koby Williams - Texas Tech

QB Samari Collier - Coastal Carolina

RB Antwan Roberts - Marshall

QB Luke Altmyer - Illinois

WR Jordan Hudson - SMU

QB Sawyer Robertson - Baylor

Defense -

DL Melkart Abou Jaoude - North Carolina

LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Notre Dame

LB Drayk Bowen - Notre Dame

LB Arvell Reese - Ohio State

S Tae Johnson - Notre Dame

DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. - Ohio State

LB R Mason Thomas - Oklahoma

LB Colin Simmons - Texas

S Fred Perry - Virginia Tech

S Quinton Hammonds - North Texas

EDGE Ethan Burke - Texas

LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Notre Dame

DB Chris Bracy - Memphis

DB Keionte Scott - Miami

LB Kam Robinson - Virginia

LB Suntarine Perkins - Ole Miss

LB Gabe Jacas - Illinois

EDGE Malachi Lawrence - UCF

LB Owen Heinecke - Oklahoma

DB Xavier Lucas - Miami

DB Ahmaad Moses - SMU

DL Ethan Hassler - Arkansas State

DE Demarcus Hendricks - Arkansas State

DB Brent Austin - California

LB Anwar Sparrow - Syracuse

DB Kamari Wilson - Memphis

LB Austin Romaine - Kansas State

DL Eddie Walls III - Houston

LB Sam Brumfield - Memphis

LB TJ Bush Jr. - California

LB Anthony Hill Jr. - Texas