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Jackson's bold predictions for Week 10 of the 2025 college football season, including picks for Tennessee, USC, Utah, Cal, Navy, North Carolina.
The College Football Playoff is nearing, and it feels like we're starting to get a clear picture of how the 12-team field will look. But just when you think you have things figured out, college football will bring a surprise that shakes up the rankings.
In this article, we'll try to predict the headlines at the end of Week 10. As we have seen, anything can happen on any given Saturday, so let's take a look at some potential outcomes before they play out.
Below, read about the bold calls for Tennessee, USC, Utah, Cal, Navy, and North Carolina. Let's get it!
Tennessee Scores 42+ Points on Oklahoma
Oklahoma came into last week's game against Ole Miss as one of the top defenses in the country. The Sooners limited their first seven opponents to just 9.4 points per game. However, the best offense Oklahoma faced during that stretch was Michigan. Seriously. Its other opponents were Illinois State, Temple, Auburn, Kent State, Texas, and South Carolina.
In last week's home loss to Ole Miss, the Sooners gave up 431 yards and 34 points. Brent Venables is a great defensive mind, but his 2025 team is now 0-1 against above-average offenses, and it's clear Oklahoma isn't the historic defense that the early-season numbers showed. Next on the schedule is a road trip to Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee has averaged 50.8 points per game in four contests. Yes, the defenses and competition have been weak at home, but Josh Heupel's offenses rarely lay an egg on the offensive side of the football in Knoxville.
SEC Receiving Yard Leaders In Conference Games ⤵️
1. Chris Brazzell, @Vol_Football - 491
2. Braylon Staley, @Vol_Football - 444
3. Isaiah Sategna, Oklahoma - 392
4. Mike Matthews, @Vol_Football - 369 pic.twitter.com/qBNOa4bcJi— Bill Martin (@Bill_Martin) October 26, 2025
After surrendering 315 passing yards last week to the Rebels, I expect Oklahoma to be shredded in Week 10 by the league's top passing offense, led by Joey Aguilar, Chris Brazzell II, Braleon Staley, and Mike Matthews to the tune of at least 42 points.
USC Beats Nebraska by Three Scores in Lincoln
A few weeks ago, it looked like Nebraska had a path to an 11-1 record. But just when many thought the Huskers were ready to roll, they suffered a 24-6 loss at Minnesota in Week 8, and their seven-point win at home against Northwestern was another uninspiring effort. Is the team just not as good as many thought? Are the Matt Rhule to Penn State rumors causing a distraction? It's difficult to say, but this feels like a spot where Nebraska might get exposed as it heads toward a decline.
66-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO JA'KOBI LANE FOR @uscfb 🔥
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/IaAyT2Gufd
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2025
USC is fresh off a bye and has scored at least 31 points in six of its seven games behind quarterback Jayden Maiava. The Trojans boast the best offense in the Big Ten statistically, and it's difficult to trust the Nebraska offense if this turns into a shootout. And it's even more difficult to think the Husker defense is going to completely shut down Lincoln Riley's offense after an extra week to prepare.
The books list USC as around a touchdown favorite, but this reads more like a mismatch between two teams heading in opposite directions.
Utah Holds Cincinnati to 20 or Fewer Points
Many viewed Cincinnati as one of the bottom-five teams in the Big 12 heading into this season, but Scott Satterfield, who seemed like a "dead man walking," has the Bearcats holding the No. 17 ranking heading into Week 10. Brendan Sorsby has been electric, and Cincinnati ranks third in the Big 12 with 38.3 points per game. ESPN's College Gameday will be in Salt Lake City for this must-watch showdown with potential Big 12 title odds on the line, which shows how far the program has come in one offseason.
That said, I think the momentum gets stalled during its 1,600-mile trip to take on Kyle Whittingham's gritty squad. Utah has hosted two top-25 opponents this season. Both were blowouts, but the Utes were on the winning side of one (Arizona State) and the losing side of the other (Texas Tech). This matchup should be closer than either of those, but I'm calling on Utah's defense to show up in a big way behind its night-game crowd.
Rice-Eccles Stadium has one of the most underrated atmospheres in college football, and Utah has allowed just over 14.3 points per game this season. With the Bearcats traveling two time zones west to step into by far its most challenging road test of the season, the high-flying offense will be paused for this week.
Despite jumping out to a 7-0 record (5-0 in the American Conference), Navy remains unranked and is an underdog on Saturday in a pivotal American Conference matchup. To be fair, the daunting part of its schedule begins this Saturday at North Texas before matchups with Notre Dame, South Florida, and Memphis. The Midshipmen were picked by many to represent the Group of 5 in the College Football Playoff this preseason, and this is a must-win spot if that's going to come to fruition.
Navy doesn't exclusively run the ball and kill the clock like it used to, but it still ranks 30th nationally in average possession time per game (31.20). To pull off the upset against the Mean Green, the program should get back to its roots and challenge the North Texas rushing defense, which ranks fifth-worst in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game (190.8).
HORVATH DOES IT AGAIN‼️
📺| @CBSSportsCFB #BuiltToRise x @NavyFB pic.twitter.com/EWorLcy1tN
— The American (@American_Conf) October 25, 2025
It won't be easy to beat North Texas and its red-hot offense, but the recipe is there. Keep Blake Horvath on the field, and keep Drew Mestemaker off of it. Isn't it awesome that Navy is right in the thick of the CFP discussion, even during the NIL era?
North Carolina Beats Syracuse by 10+
Following North Carolina's bye week, the Tar Heels have gone from looking like one of the worst FBS teams of all time to just a "meh" team. Bill Belichick and company suffered a three-point loss on the road at Cal before a heartbreaking overtime loss to No. 16 Virginia a week ago. UNC was quite literally one yard away from winning that game in overtime, despite turning the ball over three times.
The Belichick era in Chapel Hill has been disastrous, but we have to remember he's one of the greatest strategists of all time. It's possible the team turned a corner after the week off, and at this point, I am going to be somewhat surprised if they don't find a way to win against Syracuse this week or Stanford next week.
The Orange have suffered four straight blowout losses since losing Steve Angeli on September 20th. If North Carolina can't handle this test, I'm out of hope.
Cal Upsets Virginia
Virginia controls its own destiny in the ACC race because the loss to NC State in Week 2 didn't count as a conference contest (I know it's bizarre). What Tony Elliott has done in Charlottesville this season is impressive, but it feels like a loss is due after mediocre showings against Washington State and North Carolina. The Week 4 win over Stanford looks less impressive as the season moves forward, and the cross-country travel to California is a letdown spot.
Justin Wilcox needs an ACC win over a team with a pulse, and this is likely his best chance to make that happen. Hey, maybe Virginia is last year's Indiana - a team that just keeps finding a way to win and silences the doubters en route to the College Football Playoff. Here's some more ammo.
