Choas continues to abound in college football this season. The story was no different in Week 7, as several top-25 teams fell, including No. 3 Oregon and No. 6 Oklahoma.

What’d we learn about a few high-profile prospects — and some potential sleepers — during some of those key games Saturday? Our draft experts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner, take a look.

1. This isn’t our first time talking about Ty Simpson, and it likely won’t be our last. If he plays at or near this level all season, could he be the surprise QB name that crashes the top half of Round 1 at the 2026 NFL Draft?

Dane Brugler: We have seen quarterbacks drafted in the top half of Round 1 with tape nowhere near what Simpson has produced. The asterisk on Simpson’s scouting report is obviously the small sample size — he’s made only six career starts — but if he continues on this trajectory the rest of 2025, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if an NFL team believes he is worth a high pick.

The main takeaway when watching Simpson is the consistency of his process. From his mechanics to his decision-making, he has a good feel for where to attack, and his ball placement continues to improve. There will be quarterbacks in this class with larger frames, stronger arms and better overall athleticism, but he isn’t necessarily deficient in any of those areas and his mental acuity will lay a strong foundation for coaches to continue to develop.

Nick Baumgardner: Through half a season, while playing against a pretty formidable schedule, you can make a case that Simpson has been the country’s cleanest processor. He’s rarely late with a release or a read and continues to throw a very catchable ball. There are physical limitations here, but his football IQ might make up for it.

Simpson isn’t totally unlike Bo Nix as a prospect. He won’t overwhelm you with his measurables, and we’ll see how he tests, but he’s razor sharp in the pocket. If that keeps up, it’s going to be hard to ignore him in the top half of the first round.

THROWIN’ 🎯@ty_simpson06 ➡️ @isaiahhorton14 pic.twitter.com/OjUM9Sdx9v

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 11, 2025

2. Dane provided earlier analysis on the play of QBs Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore during Saturday’s historic Hoosiers win. So, let’s talk instead about Elijah Sarratt, Mendoza’s favorite target Saturday. Is Sarratt a receiver NFL teams will covet come April?

Brugler: The feedback on Sarratt this summer around the league was very mixed, so I don’t think there will be a consensus come draft time. But he definitely has his fans, potentially enough of them to hear his name called as early as Day 2. He is built well (6 feet 1 3/4, 206 pounds), and I really like his play speed — he doesn’t look like a burner but he’ll hit another gear when needed, especially after the catch.

Be it Kurtis Rourke last year or Mendoza this year, you can see the trust Sarratt’s quarterbacks have in him, which is reflected in his high first down/touchdown rate when targeted. Indiana has one of the most underrated receiver duos in the country — Omar Cooper Jr. is a weapon, especially with the ball in his hands.

BACK SHOULDER ON THE MONEY@IndianaFootball retakes the lead late 👀

CBS | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/3PTSh0zZ6u

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 11, 2025

Baumgardner: I’ve wondered about where Sarratt will wind up. He’s not going to blow anyone’s doors off athletically, but he’s such a good route runner and an outstanding tracker of the football. He’s now approaching 50 career contested catches and is a great physical presence outside. He sort of reminds me of a less-explosive Josh Reynolds. I think he’s got a chance to be decent at the next level, but a lot will depend on how he tests.

Also, what a win for Curt Cignetti’s program. You absolutely can tell how competitive Indiana is and how hard those players go at each other, day in and day out. It shows up on tape every week. The Hoosiers are developing a bit of a culture, and it’s about punishing consistency.

3. A lot of potential NFL talent returned to Penn State for a shot at a national title. Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury Saturday, so we can revisit his situation when we know more details about his injury and recovery. But can any of the Nittany Lions’ other prospects do anything to salvage the season from a draft perspective?

Brugler: There is a lot of season left for Penn State, even if the season feels over because of a 3-3 record. And those remaining games mean opportunities for all that talent still on the field.

Coming into the year, RB Nicholas Singleton had some big grades around the league because of his 220-pound frame and 4.3 speed. Kaytron Allen, though, clearly has been the better back this season — and that won’t go overlooked by scouts. On defense, cornerback A.J. Harris just snuck into my preseason top 50, but the junior hasn’t always played up to that level this season and has plenty more to prove.

But the prospect with the most to prove over the second half of Penn State’s season is left tackle Drew Shelton. With his footwork and movements, you can see the talent. However, his technique and execution haven’t been repeatable from snap to snap. Shelton’s raw talent says first round; the inconsistency says Day 3. If Shelton can close that gap, he will drastically improve his chances of being a Round 1 pick.

Baumgardner: Some guys just aren’t helping themselves very much, which is sort of a general theme for Penn State’s offense.

Singleton has not been very impressive, and I agree that Allen has been a better player — not just this season, but throughout that duo’s career. The offensive stops and starts haven’t helped transfer wide receivers Trebor Pena (Syracuse) or Devonte Ross (Troy). Ross had his best game of the season Saturday (seven catches for 115 yards), but he entered the week with just nine receptions in four games.

Penn State’s offensive line is still very talented, so the Nittany Lions should be able to run the ball better than they have this season. Even without Allar, the offense still could find some functionality if the big fellas up front (including Shelton) play with more consistency.

4. Texas A&M, now 6-0 after a win over Florida, loaded up with talent in recent offseasons and has emerged as a legitimate national title threat. Who are the prospects you’re most excited about on that roster?

Brugler: The left side of the Aggies’ offensive line is a fun watch. Both left tackle Trey Zuhn and left guard Chase Bisontis are future draft picks and project as interior blockers in the NFL. They work well in tandem in pass pro and have the body quickness to spring chunk runs. Zuhn, a senior, is a two-year team captain and in his fourth year as a starter; Bisontis is an underclassman and will have an NFL decision to make after the season.

Wide receiver KC Concepcion will have a decision to make about his future, too. He has only average size but works well in traffic and is a terrific snatch-and-go athlete.

On defense, the Aggies have a player at each level that I enjoy studying on tape. Cashius Howell is a little bit of a tweener, but I like his twitch as a pass rusher, and he isn’t shy being aggressive with his hands. He has the floor of a designated pass rusher in the NFL. Linebacker Taurean York makes plays on every tape, and cornerback Will Lee III is a seasoned cover man with the feet and length NFL teams want.

Baumgardner: Cashius Howell is one of the more versatile edges in college football, from an athletic standpoint. He started out a tad slow, but he’s been on a tear of late, getting better as Texas A&M’s schedule has gotten harder. He entered the weekend with 20 pressures and seven sacks plus a near-15 percent win rate. Howell joined the Aggies last season after a transfer from Bowling Green in 2023.

SEC LEADER IN SACKS IS CASH MONEY pic.twitter.com/UHh6HJfzTD

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 12, 2025

This is also the best Concepcion has looked as a receiver since his freshman season at NC State in 2023. He’s a big-play receiver who has won with physicality and limited his drops. The Aggies are just very solid all the way around, with multiple pro prospects up front on both sides of the line of scrimmage and skill talent all over.

5. Our now-weekly final question: Which other prospects caught your eye Saturday?

Brugler: I think people are tired of me talking about Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, so I’ll stay away from him here. Another Big Ten linebacker who jumped out this week was Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher, who impacted the Oregon game as a blitzer, run defender and in coverage. Though he’s not the biggest player, his play speed and competitive mentality are traits on which NFL teams can bet. Like Sarratt, he is a James Madison transfer and playing his best ball now as a senior, stamping his ticket to be a draft pick.

It came in a losing effort, but Illinois junior safety Matthew Bailey made several impact plays against Ohio State. At 6-2, 215, he is built well for the position and plays up to his size with his on-field physicality. I won’t be surprised if Bailey ends up being a Day 2 pick.

Baumgardner: Texas Tech edges David Bailey and Romello Height were all over the field again Saturday, as the Red Raiders blew out Kansas. Bailey is just a terrific pass rusher — one of his sacks Saturday came off his spin move — and his combination of speed and twitch is the real deal. The more he plays, the better he gets.

Height is a bit on the small side and built more like a stack linebacker, but his length, burst and agility make him a very difficult guy for bigger tackles — and even guards — to deal with inside. Like Texas A&M, Texas Tech spent a lot of money this offseason, and spent it wisely.