# Ranking Biggest Upset Losses in College Football After Week 8

> Two No. 1 teams fell to unranked opponents in back-to-back weeks as college football's 2026 season becomes unpredictable.
- Title: Ranking Biggest Upset Losses in College Football After Week 8
- Summary: Two No. 1 teams fell to unranked opponents in back-to-back weeks as college football's 2026 season becomes unpredictable. Two No. 1 college football teams…
- Keywords: college football, week 8, upset losses, ranked teams, unranked opponents, football bowl subdivision, texas tech, cincinnati, florida, texas, umass, rutgers
- Source: CFB-HQ On SI — https://si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/news/ranking-biggest-upset-losses-college-football-after-week-8-florida-ucf-kentucky-oklahoma-state
- Published: 2026-10-26T15:41:41+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: college football, week 8, upset losses, ranked teams, unranked opponents, football bowl subdivision, texas tech, cincinnati, florida, texas, umass, rutgers
## Week 8: College Football Unpredictable
College football's 2026 season has turned into one of the most unpredictable in decades through Week 8, with two No.
## Texas Tech Falls at Cincinnati
Texas Tech brought a 6-0 record and one of the nation’s stingiest run defenses to Nippert Stadium, and Cincinnati gashed that defense on the ground.
## Cincinnati's 24-6 Halftime Lead
The Bearcats scored 21 second-quarter points for a 24-6 halftime lead, quarterback JC French IV threw a career-high four touchdown passes and running back Cole Tabb piled up a career-best 173 rushing yards.
## Cincinnati Coach's Comment
‘Cole Tabb had a Cole Tabb day,’ Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said.

> Cole Tabb had a Cole Tabb day
## Texas Tech's Struggles
The Red Raiders drew double-digit penalties and didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the final minute.
## Cincinnati's Home Win
The Bearcats’ first home win over a top-10 team since 2006 ended with a field storming that left the Big 12 facing a punishment decision.
## Florida Beats Texas
Florida arrived in Austin off consecutive blowout losses, with the SEC’s last-ranked defense and a quarterback making his first career start.
## Florida's Game Strategy
Tramell Jones Jr., filling in for the injured Aaron Philo, threw two touchdown passes to tight end Lacota Dippre as the Gators erased a 17-3 deficit with 24 straight points and held the ball for…
## Florida's Defense
Florida’s defense sacked Texas quarterback Arch Manning five times and held the Longhorns to 272 yards, giving the Gators their first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2012.
## Texas Coach's Concern
The second straight 27-24 loss led analyst Paul Finebaum to say Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had the bull’s-eye on his back heading into the Ole Miss game.
## UMass Ends 16-Game Skid
UMass opened the season riding a 16-game losing streak, the longest active run in the Football Bowl Subdivision, after going 0-12 in 2025.
## UMass's Game Performance
On a Thursday night in Piscataway, the Minutemen answered an opening Rutgers touchdown with 30 consecutive points.
## UMass's Offense
Quarterback Pop Watson III completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense forced four turnovers, recorded five sacks and held Rutgers to 27 rushing yards.
## Rutgers Coach's Comment
‘We got out-licked, outplayed and out-coached,’ Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said.

> We got out-licked, outplayed and out-coached
## UMass Coach's Background
UMass coach Joe Harasymiak, the Scarlet Knights’ defensive coordinator from 2022-24, beat his former employer for the program’s first win over a power-conference team since 1978.
## Kentucky Beats Texas A&M
Kentucky walked into Kyle Field in front of 105,186 fans with first-year coach Will Stein making his first road trip.
## Kentucky's Third Quarter
Tied 7-7 at halftime, the Wildcats scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter behind Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, who completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
## Texas A&M's Defense
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who held the same job at Texas A&M the previous two seasons, limited the Aggies to 4.
## Texas A&M's Streak
The loss snapped Texas A&M’s 19-game home winning streak against unranked opponents.
## Texas A&M Coach's Comment
‘Kentucky came in here and they whooped us, and so that should be the story of the game,’ Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

> Kentucky came in here and they whooped us
## Key takeaway

Two No. 1 college football teams lost to unranked opponents in Week 8, marking the most unpredictable season in decades.