To qualify for a bowl game and the opportunity to compete in the postseason, teams generally must hold at least a .500 record and six wins against Division I opponents. No more than one of those wins can take place against a scholarship-awarding FCS team.

Georgia Tech remained unbeaten by thumping Syracuse, Vanderbilt beat Missouri to improve to 7-1 for its best start since 1941, Indiana rolled over UCLA to stake its claim as the best team in college football, and Navy won again, moving to 7-0.

Before the SEC begins its nine-game conference schedule next season to match others across the Power Five, the league could be laughing all the way to the bank with a record number of College Football Playoff appearances at the end of the 2025 campaign.

Despite efforts from Holiday Bowl officials, the NCAA football postseason matchup will not be played in Saudi Arabia, remaining in San Diego.