The Fraud Five by Mike Kern – Week 7 Edition

October 18, 2026

Where to begin?

For the second straight week the top-ranked team lost to an unranked opponent. This time at home. And for the first time since 1990 No. 1 went down in consecutive weeks. And the top two teams went down in same week for first time since 2012. And Miami and Utah almost lost too, to Florida State and Colorado. Ugh. Can’t wait for that 48-team playoff. Cause you know that’s coming at some point too. Until that time arrives, here we go:

Georgia — One week after a controversial win at Alabama the Dawgs fell at home to Auburn, which hasn’t been relevant in quite awhile. Home side was favored by nearly three touchdowns. Georgia quarterback fumbled the ball away at midfield in final minute and Auburn turned that into a closing field goal. It happens.

Texas — Repeat offender. A week after losing to Oklahoma the Horns lost by same 27-24 score to visiting Florida, which had lost big the previous two weeks. Good thing Horns led 17-3. And good thing the Gators’ QB was making his first start. It was UF’s first road win over a top 10 team since 2012. 

Alabama — Lost at Tennessee, which in the overall is no great sin. But maybe only scoring 10 points is. Vols won by 16. It’s the third straight time they’ve beaten Bama in Knoxville, after they’d lost 15 straight in the series. Bama has lost consecutive regular-season games for first time since 2007. 

Notre Dame — Again nothing too egregious losing at  unbeaten BYU. By four. But the Irish were favored by 10, having won their previous 17 games by double digits. And the Big 12 officials did later say thst ND should have been given 1 more second to run another play after an end-zone incompletion from the 9 yard line. And maybe there should have been a pass interference called on that play anyway. Neither matters now anyway. But maybe ND might need to beat Miami at home in a few weeks just to ensure it doesn’t get left out again. Just saying.

Temple — Hard to put the Owls in with those teams. But they did lose in South Philly to Charlotte, 38-31. The visitors had lost 15 straight, and hadn’t beaten an FBS team in almost two years. And it had been outscored 109-18 in its previous two games. Owls were favored by almost three TDs. Coach KC Keeler called it the most embarrassing loss of his Hall of Fame career. So he should know.