5 biggest takeaways from Week 10 of college football

Week 10 of college football brought a ton of games that separated national championship contenders from teams running out of second chances. 

Georgia delivered a road statement, Utah survived its rivalry test and Ohio State suffered yet another damaging loss. On the other hand, UCLA and Wake Forest keep building cases that are drawing national attention.

Georgia and Utah have the best claims as CFB's best teams

Georgia notched a dominant 42-7 victory at Ole Miss. That win goes deeper than just a win over a ranked opponent. They blew out the No. 10 team by 35 points. The Bulldogs out-gained the Rebels 481-252 and led 28-0 at halftime, controlling the game before the second half began. At 8-1, Georgia has a convincing argument that when it's playing at its best, it is a championship-caliber team.

Utah has made its case differently, beating BYU 28-20 to extend its undefeated record to 9-0. The Utes intercepted BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier four times, despite him only having four total interceptions coming into the game. They also came out firing early, taking a 14-0 lead on the Cougars early in the first quarter. Georgia overwhelmed its opponent. Utah showed it could survive an intense rivalry game by showing up defensively.

Ohio State's playoff hopes are as good as gone

Ohio State's 41-28 home loss to Oregon dropped it to 6-3. The most concerning detail is how this loss came about. The Buckeyes led 14-0 before allowing 38 unanswered points. Ohio State's problems are more than just a freshman quarterback; their defense has not been playing anywhere close to how they were advertised all preseason. 

Three losses do not automatically eliminate the Buckeyes, but they no longer have a convincing case. Consecutive losses leave Ohio State needing both a strong finish and substantial help. While other teams continue to add reasons to include them, the Buckeyes keep adding reasons to leave them out.

UCLA looks like the best team in the Big Ten

UCLA advanced to 9-0 with a 34-20 win at Minnesota. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach threw for 303 yards on just eight completions, showing how quickly the Bruins could turn successful passes into major gains.

Being undefeated does not settle every comparison, however, UCLA does keep clearing the most important test: winning. Ohio State's latest loss improved the Bruins' chances of reaching the Big Ten Championship.

Wake Forest is a real playoff contender

Wake Forest's 77-0 win over Merrimack should not merely be brushed off because it's a win over a FCS opponent. What should be taken away is that they left no doubt on the field and won in such a massive fashion that proves they are one of the top teams and deserve a spot in the playoffs.

The next step is proving that their 8-1 record can survive tougher tests. Wake Forest still has to play SMU, Georgia Tech and Duke. That stretch gives its opportunities to improve its case, but they can't afford to drop any of those games. 

Notre Dame changed the national race

Notre Dame handed Miami its first loss, beating the Hurricanes 31-24. Now the Fighting Irish improve to 8-1 and will also likely move up multiple spots in the College Football Playoff rankings. 

CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, giving Notre Dame the offensive production it needed to beat the top-ranked team in the nation. Even though Miami was without its star wide receiver, Malachi Toney, its defense played poorly in the first half, letting Notre Dame score 17 points and gain 251 total yards on offense. The result not only strengthened Notre Dame's playoff case but also opened the door wide open for the No. 1 spot in the playoffs.