The Nittany Lions held a 10-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, thanks in part to a pick-six thrown by OSU quarterback Will Howard. Despite the early advantage, Penn State couldn't capitalize on multiple opportunities. Twice the Nittany Lions ventured inside the Buckeyes' 5-yard line but emerged with no points. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was intercepted on a 1st-and-goal from the 3-yard line with only 11 seconds left. Another trip to the 3-yard line in the fourth quarter also yielded nothing when Allar’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete. Ohio State then ran out the final 5:13 of the game to seal their victory.

Penn State is on track for a third consecutive 10-win season under head coach James Franklin, with the College Football Playoff still within reach. However, Franklin's struggle to win significant games casts a shadow over his accomplishments. Franklin's record stands at 1-14 against top 5 teams, 3-18 against top 10 teams, and 13-27 against top 25 teams, a statistic that continues to draw scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M suffered a 44-20 upset at the hands of South Carolina, indicating a setback but not diminishing the progress made under first-year coach Mike Elko. The Aggies allowed the Gamecocks to amass 530 yards of offense, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers racking up 244 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an additional 106 rushing yards and a score. Sellers' 57-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Simon with 3:24 left in the game dashed any comeback hopes for Texas A&M.

Neither Iowa State nor Clemson succeeded in climbing into the Top 10 following Texas A&M's loss. Iowa State was upset by Texas Tech, thanks to a final-minute five-yard touchdown run by running back Tahj Brooks. Clemson, trailing by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter, succumbed to Louisville in a double-digit defeat, which included Louisville players taunting the Clemson mascot.

Indiana capitalized on these missteps, claiming a Top 10 spot in the AP poll for the first time since 2020. The Hoosiers improved to 9-0 after a dominating 47-10 victory over Michigan State in East Lansing. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, returning from a thumb injury, threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns. With a win against Michigan in Week 11, Indiana could set a program record of 10 wins in a season.

In the SEC, Alabama and LSU each face critical games as they both have two losses, making their paths to the playoff as high-stakes as ever. Georgia faces a formidable challenge against Ole Miss, who showcased their offensive prowess by scoring 63 points and accumulating 694 yards against Arkansas. However, earlier defeats to Kentucky and LSU have cast doubts on Ole Miss's contender status, and another loss could culminate in a disappointing season outcome by missing the playoff.