Six top-two losses put 2026 season within reach of 2007 record
October 2026 tied a 19-year-old mark for top-two upsets, and Saturday's schedule offers a chance to extend a streak of dominance.
By Nour Haddad ·
The college football landscape is shifting toward the kind of volatility last seen in 2007. As of early November 2026, six distinct teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the AP poll have suffered defeats. That total marks the highest number of top-two losses before the November season segment since 1984. Only the 1981 season recorded more such upsets prior to the fall break, with seven.
October 2026 stands out as a historic month for inconsistency. The five losses by AP top-two teams during that month tie the record set in November 2007. It is also the first time since November 2007 that the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams ended a calendar month with a losing record of 4-5. This level of disruption breaks a long period of stability at the top of the sport.
The current season is poised to test the all-time record for consecutive weeks featuring a top-two loss. Five of the six upsets this year have occurred in the last four weeks. A defeat on Saturday would give 2026 company in matching the 2007 mark, where a top-two team lost in five straight weeks. The 2007 campaign remains the benchmark for chaos, with No. 1 or No. 2 teams losing eleven times overall.
Week 10 presents a concrete opportunity to shake the rankings further. No. 1 Miami travels to face No. 4 Notre Dame, while No. 2 Georgia visits No. 12 Ole Miss. These are not routine matchups. Both leading teams have shown recent fragility. Miami has needed late escapes against unranked opponents, and Georgia suffered a stunning loss to Auburn after securing the top ranking.
The 2007 season is remembered not just for the volume of upsets, but for the variety of teams involved. While traditional powers like LSU and Ohio State fell, programs such as Missouri, Kansas, and South Florida briefly held top-two spots. In 2026, the losses have been concentrated among Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas. However, the field is narrowing as Utah and UCLA remain undefeated in the top five.
Unranked opponents have been a primary source of trouble for elite programs this year. Four of the six top-two losses in 2026 came against teams without a ranking. This mirrors the 2007 dynamic, where eight of eleven top-two defeats were inflicted by unranked rivals. The data suggests the talent gap between the very top and the middle tier of the sport has narrowed considerably.
The consolidation of talent in the SEC and Big Ten has not prevented upsets. Instead, the depth chart across the sport appears thinner. It is increasingly difficult for elite programs to field two or three deep rosters with high-quality players. The modern transfer portal allows athletes to find immediate playing time and compensation elsewhere, preventing the long-term roster building that defined the post-2007 era.
A specific example of this depth issue is the backup quarterback position. Quality backups at elite schools often leave for starting jobs at mid-major programs. This leaves top teams with less cushion when injuries or poor play occur. The College Football Playoff committee is set to begin weekly rankings, and the current state of the sport offers no clear favorite for the national title.
The parity on display this season may be a lasting trend or a temporary outlier. Regardless, the unpredictability has produced a competitive field that contrasts sharply with the dominance seen in the years following 2007. With a full month of games remaining, the potential for further upsets is high. The next few weeks will determine if the 2026 season joins 2007 in the record books for chaotic top-tier play.
