Five takeaways from CFB Week 7: Indiana rises, Penn State plummets

2. Penn State loses its season

The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) were hanging by a thread after a shocking loss at UCLA last week. It's hard to believe, but Saturday's loss at home against Northwestern (4-2, 2-1) was even more devastating.

Northwestern limited Penn State to 13 first downs, forced two turnovers and capitalized on six first-half PSU penalties for 71 yards.

Penn State has lost three in a row and quarterback Drew Allar was injured in the fourth quarter and will miss the rest of the season. The national title and CFP hopes are dashed for the preseason number two team.

“We shouldn’t lose that game," said Penn State head coach James Franklin postgame. "It’s 100% on me, and we’ve got to get it fixed. I will get it fixed.”

3. Texas bounces back

Don't count Texas out yet. The Longhorns (4-2, 1-1) needed a big win in the Red River Rivalry, and they got it, beating No. 6 Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1) 23-6.

It's the third win in the last four games against OU for Texas, and it's held Oklahoma to six points or less in all three wins. Arch Manning was efficient, going 21-of-27 for 166 yards and a touchdown. OU's John Mateer returned to action just 17 days after hand surgery, but threw three interceptions and was sacked five times.

Texas held Mateer to his fewest passing and rushing yards this season. The Sooners were held below 50 rushing yards as a team for the second time this season.

4. The Tide is rolling

If you heard that star wide receiver Ryan Williams didn't touch the ball once for Alabama, it would be logical to assume the Tide lost the game. Not so. No. 8 Alabama (5-1, 3-0) earned a huge road win at No. 14 Missouri (5-1, 1-1), 27-24, without its best player recording a catch.

Ty Simpson's Heisman resume is steadily rising. He was 23-for-31 for 200 yards and three touchdowns. And while Mizzou's defense quieted Williams, Alabama's defense was also stout, holding Ahmad Hardy to just 52 yards rushing. He entered Saturday with a nation-best 146 rush yards per game.

Alabama has defeated three-straight ranked opponents and gets a crack at another next week versus No. 12 Tennessee.

5. Ohio State is the team to beat

Not often does the defending champion ranked first in the country fly under the radar, but Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) is quietly chugging along and looking nearly unbeatable.

The Buckeyes dominated No. 17 Illinois (5-2, 2-2) on the road. The defense forced three takeaways and held Illinois to just 47 yards rushing. 

Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin's steady play continued as he completed 19-of-27 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

“They're competitive. They're edgy. They like these types of environments," Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said of his team postgame. “They want to be great and expect to be great. They expect to win all the time.”

So far, expectations have been reality.