COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 11 Northwestern at Penn State
Gett

The college football season of madness has only continued into Week 7 as more heavyweight teams hit the mat. Eight AP Top 25 teams are set to lose and several other undefeateds picked up critical losses that will reshape conference title races. 

The biggest win of the day came as No. 7 Indiana stunned No. 3 Oregon in a battle for Big Ten supremacy. However, a Texas rebound against No. 6 Oklahoma also gives them a chance to get back into the mix. No. 25 Florida State seems done after a third straight loss, while No. 14 Missouri came just short of upsetting No. 8 Alabama. 

The chaos kept rolling into the late slate as No. 5 Texas A&M survived a challenge from Florida, and No. 10 Georgia outlasted Auburn. Weather also created some strange matchups for No. 18 BYU against Arizona and Utah against No. 21 Arizona State. Here are the biggest winners and losers of Week 7. 

This might not be peak Alabama, but this version of the Tide finishes like one
Brandon Marcello
This might not be peak Alabama, but this version of the Tide finishes like one

Loser: Wisconsin

The Luke Fickell era has brought plenty of disappointment, but a 37-0 home loss to Iowa marks one of the lowest in the history of the program. The Badgers were held to only 209 yards and fewer than four yards per play as they fell to 2-4 and 0-3 in Big Ten play. In the next four games, Wisconsin plays No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon and No. 7 Indiana. A 2-10 season is in play, which would be the worst since 1990, the year Barry Alvarez was hired. Fickell has a substantial buyout, but the administration must ask some difficult questions.  

Winner: Indiana

It's time to retire the doubt. No one can claim that Indiana has failed to beat an elite opponent after outlasting No. 3 Oregon 30-20. Instead, the Hoosiers should wake up on Sunday with the best ranking in program history. An AP top 3 slot feels all but certain, which would best the No. 4 mark reached in both 1945 and 1967. 

It was a big-time performance by the Indiana defense, holding a potential Oregon rushing game to 81 yards on 30 carries. The Hoosiers also picked off Ducks quarterback Dante Moore twice and receiver Elijah Sarratt bodied the Oregon defense with eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. 

Indiana isn't just good enough to make the College Football Playoff. There are real national championship aspirations in Bloomington. 

Loser: Penn State

The Nittany Lions went from a lackluster season to one of the most disappointing campaigns of the 21st Century. Penn State lost a stunner 22-21 against Northwestern to fall to 3-3 and 0-3 in Big Ten play. The defense struggled to get off the field, ultimately leading to a 10-minute gap in time of possession in a devastating loss. 

The loss is a second straight as 20-point underdogs, becoming the first team to do that in at least 30 years. The Nittany Lions are also the first team ranked preseason No. 2 to start 3-3 since Oklahoma in 1965. It's a full on disaster in State College that could lead to both the Nittany Lions and James Franklin to ask some serious -- and difficult -- questions about their future together. 

Winner: USC

Last year, Michigan served as a "Welcome to the Big Ten" moment for the Trojans, physically bullying them out of a much-needed victory. This year, USC flipped the script and handed No. 15 Michigan a massive 31-13 loss behind its physical dominance. 

USC ran for 224 yards behind a bruising 158 from King Miller. Michigan mustered only 109 on 31 carries, which was diminished greatly after running back Justice Haynes went to the locker room. If USC is ready to play bullyball against the patron saint of bullying, the Trojans could be more of a factor in the College Football Playoff race than expected. USC still only has one loss during a 5-1 start, a 34-32 decision against Illinois decided at the buzzer. 

Loser: SEC refs

There will always be a few controversial calls over the course of a game, but a pair in Auburn's loss to Georgia really jumped off the page. First was a timeout called by Georgia coach Kirby Smart that he bizarrely managed to convince the offiicials was actually just clapping. He got the benefit of a timeout, but was not charged one. 

Then, there was the controversial overturned Jackson Arnold touchdown. Instead of going up 17-0, the play ended up ruled a fumble. That moment kicked off a 20-0 run by Georgia that decided the game. The SEC has already had to put out one statement affirming a missed call. More should be on the way. 

Winner: South Florida

The Bulls took control of the Group of Six race after a sensational performance against previously undefeated North Texas. South Florida did not play its cleanest game, but the Bulls simply managed to bully the Mean Green down the stretch during a 63-36 win, that hinged on a 28-0 run over fewer than four minutes of game time. Quarterback Byrum Brown was strong again, throwing for 245 yards, rushing for 82 yards and scoring five touchdowns. The defense also forced UNT QB Drew Mestemaker's first three interceptions of the year. USF has so many ways to beat conference opponents, and the win sets up a Group of Six Super Bowl against Memphis in three weeks. 

Loser: Florida State

An eternity has passed since the No. 25 Seminoles pulled a monumental upset against Alabama in the opener. Now, Florida State has been solved. The program lost a stunner 34-31 against Pittsburgh, their third straight loss to open ACC play. The Panthers scored 13 straight points in the fourth quarter to put the game away as the FSU offense fell flat. The defense gave up 476 yards. 

The Seminoles have been miserable in ACC games over the past two years, losing 10 of their last 11. The loss effectively eliminates them from consideration for the ACC title and postseason play as the program falls to 3-3. A bounce-back season was enough to quiet the whispers around Mike Norvell, but road games against Clemson and Florida remaining could bring more trouble. 

Winner: Kent State

Few programs have had a tougher year than Kent State. The Golden Flashes lost their head coach for off-field reasons before the season and were in the midst of a 26-game losing streak against FBS opponents. Finally, it came to an end as Kent State routed UMass 42-6 in an emotional victory. Quarterback Dru DeShields threw for four touchdowns and wide receiver Da'Realyst Clark added a 91-yard return for touchdown to finally pick up a win. The Golden Flashes have spent most of the last three years at the bottom of the CBS 136 Rankings. Finally, that will change. 

Loser: Oklahoma

Oklahoma was fortunate to magically get quarterback John Mateer back from hand surgery after only 17 days. Physically, he looked great, showing plenty of zip on the ball. However, he threw three interceptions that cost the Sooners significantly in a 23-6 loss. 

But making matters worse, the No. 6 Sooners were bullied in every area of the field. Texas put together consecutive drives of 13+ plays to take control of the third quarter. The Sooners averaged only 1.8 yards per carry. Oklahoma could not create any meaningful explosives. 

Suddenly, a season that looked promising is teetering on the edge. The Sooners still have five games remaining against AP top 15 opponents. Their playoff case is running out of steam already. 

Winner: UCLA

Two weeks ago, UCLA was well on its way to a winless season. What a difference Tim Skipper makes. The interim coach led the Bruins to their second straight win, a 38-13 road decimation of Michigan State, an unbelievable turnaround. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava had another great game with three passing touchdowns. Suddenly, the Bruins are 2-1 in Big Ten play with a few more winnable games on the schedule. This roster was never as bad as their 0-4 start, but Skipper has found something the program can build on. 

Loser: Big 12 hopefuls

It's well established that No. 9 Texas Tech is poised to run away with the Big 12. The second spot in the Big 12 title game is up for grabs. After a bizarre weekend of college football, it's unclear whether anyone wants the smoke. 

No. 22 Iowa State was the early favorite after a strong nonconference slate, but the Cyclones lost a surprising game against Colorado. TCU was hyped coming into the year, but the Frogs are now 1-2 in conference after struggling Kansas State walloped them. No. 21 Arizona State is losing big against Utah as of publication. 

In fact, the only other team that's undefeated in Big 12 play is Cincinnati. The Bearcats have showed some exciting upside after beating UCF 20-11. Needless to say, though, the race is wide open. 

Winner: Bowling Green

Over the past 20 years, Bowling Green was 0-75 in games after trailing by at least 21 points. Against MAC mainstay Toledo, the Eagles flipped the trend. Bowling Green scored 28 unanswered points between the end of the first half and fourth quarter as both legs of the two-quarterback system found success. Receiver Cameron Pettaway scored two touchdowns on two catches, including a 73-yard strike. Suddenly, Bowling Green has its first winning streak against Toledo since 2009. It's been a solid start to the Eddie George era. 

Loser: Sam Houston

Winless Sam Houston came out guns blazing against Jacksonville State, easily their best performance of the season. However, boneheaded decisions by the Bearkats' defensive staff cost them in a stunning 29-27 loss to the Gamecocks. Sam Houston had Jax State dead to rights, facing fourth-and-2 from their own 25-yard line with 15 seconds remaining. Cam Cook broke off an 18-yard run. Immediately after, the Bearkats gave up passes of 17 and 5 to set up a 52-yard field goal as time expired. There's no reason Jacksonville State should have gotten even an attempt. Instead, the miserable season continues for Sam Houston coach Phil Longo.