11 College Football Teams In The Top 25 Most Likely To Lose In Week 7

Week 6 of the college football season didn’t seem like it was going to be that exciting on paper, but that did not end up being the case thanks to the number of upsets we were treated to when everything was said and done—and there’s a very good chance things get even crazier this weekend.

Week 7 of the 2024 college football season features a couple of big games between teams ranked in the Top 25, and it also boasts a bunch of showdowns where schools with a number next to their name have a very real chance of losing to an unranked squad.

Here’s a closer look at the ones that should be a little worried heading into the weekend.

#2 Ohio State

Ohio State is favored by three points over Oregon in what is easily The Game of the Week, and the Buckeyes have their work cut out for them.

This game is shaping up to be a battle between two talented quarterbacks where the defense may end up being the deciding factor, and if Ohio State fails to shut down Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel, they could be in for a rough night.

#3 Oregon

Oregon got off to a bit of a slow start but seems to have found its footing while maintaining a perfect record. However, none of the teams they’ve faced off against this season come close to having the level of talent as their first ranked opponent of the year.

The Buckeyes can get it done on the ground and in the air, and even though the Ducks defense has largely held its own so far, any shortcomings on that front could end up being the deciding factor.

#4 Penn State

USC plummeted out of the Top 25 with a loss to Minnesota that dropped them to 3-2, but Penn State would be foolish to underestimate an opponent that’s only listed as a 4-point underdog.

The Trojans will have home-field advantage on their side and a very formidable quarterback in the form of Miller Moss. The Nittany Lions have shown they have a defense that’s capable of shutting him down, but they’ll also have to contend with the legs of RB Woody Marks.

If the USC offense can get itself firing on all cylinders, the Trojans have a serious shot at making the long plane ride back home a pretty miserable one for Penn State.

#9 Ole Miss

Ole Miss bounced back from its shocking loss to Kentucky with a decisive win over South Carolina, and they’ll be hoping to maintain that momentum ahead of what promises to be a hard-fought battle against LSU.

The Rebels are listed as 3.5-point favorites on the road against a Tigers squad that’s won every game since losing to USC in Las Vegas to open the season.

All signs point to this being an offensive shootout, but if the LSU defense can make life difficult for Jackson Dart, it could end up giving the Tigers the edge they need to pull off the upset.

#11 Iowa State

Iowa State has been pretty dominant in almost all of its wins while getting off to a 5-0 start (with the exception of its one-point victory over Iowa), but it’s hard to imagine that’s going to be the case against West Virginia.

The Cyclones are only 3-point favorites against the Mountaineers in a game where the former will be playing in hostile territory in primetime. WVU is 3-2, but both losses have come against teams currently in the Top 25 (Penn State and Pitt).

Iowa State has struggled to consistently stop the running game, and its inability to do so against WVU should be their biggest fear heading into the contest.

#13 LSU

Let’s circle back to LSU, shall we?

Ole Miss showed it was vulnerable with the loss to Kentucky, but the Rebels also have a chip on their shoulder and one of the best QBs in the country.

If Jaxson Dart keeps playing like he has been while avoiding any major mistakes, the Tigers may not have what it takes to keep up.

#14 BYU

BYU is undefeated with wins over two teams in the Top 25 (Kansas State and SMU), and they head into their showdown against Arizona as 4-point favorites.

Arizona previously fell to Kansas State and is coming off a loss to Texas Tech, but it also managed to beat Utah in the game sandwiched between those two contests.

An upset likely hinges on the play of Wildcats QB Noah Fifita, who’s shown plenty of flashes of brilliance but has also made some poor decisions that have ended up costing his team.

#16 Utah

BYU isn’t the only team from Utah at risk of falling victim to a squad hailing from south of its border, as the Utes also have their work cut out for them against a 4-1 Arizona State team listed as a 3.5-point underdog.

Part of the reason the spread is so close is the uncertain status of Cam Rising, who may not be healthy enough to play as he continues to recover from the dislocated finger that’s sidelined him for the past three games.

Isaac Wilson has done a fairly solid job filling the void, but the Sun Devils should be more concerned about their ability to get the ground game going. If ASU can control the trenches on both sides of the ball, they’ll be setting themselves up for success.

#18 Oklahoma

Oklahoma has gotten off to a 4-1 start but failed its first real test of the season with a 25-15 loss to Tennessee.

They’ll have home-field advantage on their side in the Red River Shootout against Texas, but that’s really the only big edge they have on paper against a Longhorns team that’s earned its spot as the No. 1 squad in the country and heads into the game as a 14.5-point favorite.

#18 Kansas State

We should be in for a treat on Saturday night when Kansas State faces off against Colorado in a game where the Buffaloes will be looking to make a statement at home in the hopes of improving to 5-1.

The Wildcats are 3.5-point favorites, but it’s a bit hard to predict what’s going to unfold given the fairly unpredictable nature of a Colorado team that’s been at the center of some wild roller coaster rides since Deion Sanders took over in Boulder.

If Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter continue to do what they do best, the Buffs can definitely come out on top here.

#22 Pitt

This is an absolutely massive game for a Pitt team that’s gone 5-0 so far, and they head into their ACC showdown with Cal as 3.5-point favorites at home.

However, the Golden Bears gave Miami a run for their money last week and showed they have what it takes to do the same to the Panthers to improve to 4-2.