And now, 20 Closing Ideas from Week 13, when 4 of the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee’s prime 16 groups misplaced to opponents with 5-5 or 4-6 information.
1. No. 5 Indiana lastly performed its massive sport towards No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday and misplaced by 23 factors. But, by evening’s finish, the Hoosiers discovered themselves in a lot better form to make the Playoff than … Alabama.
2. Don’t let SEC flacks inform you after Saturday, “This simply goes to indicate you the way powerful it’s to win on this convention.” Not this 12 months. No. 7 Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) misplaced 24-3 at Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5), a workforce that has spent a lot of the season struggling to seek out the tip zone. No. 9 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3) misplaced 24-17 at Florida (6-5, 4-4), which till not too long ago wasn’t positive its coach would make it to 2025. And No. 15 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2) went down 43-41 in 4 overtimes at Auburn (5-6, 2-5), despite the fact that its distinguishing trait this season has been its potential to cough up turnovers.
Even in any case that, the Aggies can nonetheless attain the SEC Championship Sport in the event that they knock off No. 3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) subsequent week. They’d face No. 10 Georgia (9-2, 6-2), which clinched its berth on a day when it confronted UMass. If that matchup occurs, it will be probably the most mixed losses in an SEC title sport (5) since 2007.
A convention that assumed it will be getting a minimum of 4, if not 5 berths to the primary 12-team Playoff could now discover itself with a most of three.
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3. Alabama’s loss — the primary sport since 2011 through which it didn’t rating a landing — was unspeakably dangerous for first-year coach Kalen DeBoer, who has overseen this system’s first three-loss common season in 14 years. The Tide lastly had cleansed the stench of October losses at Vanderbilt and Tennessee and will write their ticket to Atlanta. As an alternative, a swarming Oklahoma protection pressured Jalen Milroe (11 of 26 for 164 yards) right into a three-interception evening, whereas the Sooners’ 127th-ranked offense noticed freshman operating again Xavier Robinson (18 carries, 107 yards, two touchdowns) and quarterback Jackson Arnold (25 carries, 131 yards) run everywhere in the Tide.
This was a seminal win for third-year Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, whose midseason change to Joe Jon Finley as offensive coordinator paid off. However except Alabama nonetheless backdoors into the CFP, the primary season of the post-Saban period formally will go down as a catastrophe.
4. Since dropping 32-31 at present No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Massive Ten) has answered its greatest questions. They had been all on show within the Buckeyes’ 38-15 drubbing of No. 5 Indiana (10-1, 7-1). Quarterback Will Howard, whose late clock-management gaffe doomed the Buckeyes in Eugene, has been spectacular since. He completed 22 of 26 for 201 yards and two TDs with one tipped choose Saturday. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was criticized for his protection’s lack of ability to get to the quarterback towards Oregon, but it surely has had 18 sacks within the 5 video games since, together with 5 Saturday. And, in fact, widespread punching bag Ryan Day emerged from that Oregon sport with a 2-6 file towards top-five foes. He has doubled his top-five wins since (Penn State and Indiana).
Ohio State’s greatest query stays its offensive line, although the Buckeyes didn’t miss injured middle Seth McLaughlin on this one. Even so, Ohio State can be a well-liked nationwide title choose come Choice Sunday.
5. The Hoosiers, who shut with 1-10 Purdue subsequent week, current one heck of a riddle for the committee. On the one hand, they seemingly will end 11-1, with 10 blowout victories, whereas enjoying in a serious convention. Then again, at most three of Indiana’s 11 wins may have come towards bowl-eligible groups, and even these three seemingly can be 6-6. After which, within the one probability the Hoosiers needed to show themselves towards an elite opponent, they misplaced massive.
Nonetheless, they’ve solely misplaced as soon as, and we’re all the way down to eight Energy 4 groups that may say that. The very best guess is the committee will drop Indiana to No. 10, under 9-2 Tennessee and Georgia and simply behind 10-1 SMU.
Secure for now, with virtually no respiration room.
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6. The excellent news for Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is he now not has to fret about his workforce reaching the SEC Championship Sport, dropping and getting knocked out of the Playoff. The Rebels simply skipped proper to the final half.
Ole Miss dedicated each self-inflicted wound possible in Gainesville. Twice on fourth-and-1 deep in Gators territory, Kiffin known as a direct snap to 325-pound defensive sort out JJ Pegues. He was stuffed on each. And given two possibilities within the final 3:58 to ship the sport to time beyond regulation, quarterback Jaxson Dart threw two inexcusable interceptions.
Barring a miracle, probably the most hyped Ole Miss workforce in a era will spend the vacations on the Citrus/Gator/Las Vegas bowl. Florida will, too, however that’s a giant victory given Billy Napier’s job standing just a few weeks in the past.
7. When the Massive 12 opted to develop from eight groups (after Texas and Oklahoma left) to 16, it inadvertently created presumably the flattest convention ever assembled. There aren’t any alphas and no doormats, simply 16 applications that may beat any of the others in a given week. And now, these groups have produced a superbly becoming stretch run. 4 groups — Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Iowa State — sit tied atop the standings at 6-2 in league play. And none of them play one another subsequent weekend.
If all 4 win their final sport, the Solar Devils and Cyclones will meet in Arlington. However what probability do you give that occuring?
8. Kansas (5-6, 4-4 Massive 12) is the residing embodiment of Massive 12 parity. Ranked within the preseason Prime 25, the Jayhawks limped to a 2-6 begin earlier than upsetting 7-1 Iowa State. After which upsetting 9-0 BYU. After which, on Saturday, seemingly ending the Playoff hopes of No. 16 Colorado (8-3, 6-2) in a 37-21 rout. Kansas, led by veteran tailback Devin Neal (37 carries, 207 yards, three TDs), performed bully ball, operating for 331 yards towards the Massive 12’s third-best dashing protection coming into the weekend.
It’s an abrupt flip of occasions for Deion Sanders’ workforce, which entered that sport on a four-game successful streak with its eyes on a Massive 12 title. Barring all the pieces breaking their approach subsequent week, stars Shedeur Sanders (23 of 29 for 266 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions) and Travis Hunter (eight catches, 125 yards, two touchdowns) could also be enjoying their final school video games Friday towards Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8).
9. Arizona State has had a tough time by the years constructing fan loyalty in its professional sports activities market, however second-year coach and alum Kenny Dillingham is doing all the pieces potential to alter that. Led by star operating again Cam Skattebo (28 carries, 147 yards, three touchdowns), the No. 21 Solar Devils (9-2, 6-2) jumped to a 21-3 halftime lead towards No. 14 BYU (9-2, 6-2) earlier than hanging on for pricey life. They prevailed 28-23 solely after a untimely area storming and a BYU Hail Mary try that was caught simply in need of the tip zone.
Arizona State, 3-9 a 12 months in the past, was picked to complete final within the convention. It could beat that by 15 spots.
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10. No. 22 Iowa State (9-2, 6-2) has gone 112 years since its final convention championship, and for a short second towards Utah (4-7, 1-7), it appeared just like the drought may proceed. The Utes, all the way down to fifth-string quarterback Luke Bottari, drove 91 yards to take a 28-24 lead with 5:51 left. However Cyclones counterpart Rocco Becht isn’t any stranger to late-game drives. Iowa State went up 31-28 with 1:31 left, then Utah’s Cole Becker missed a 54-yard area purpose try to tie.
Iowa State is within the Massive 12 Championship Sport with a win subsequent week, but it surely has the hardest remaining sport of the 4 contenders, towards 8-3 Kansas State. “Farmageddon” doesn’t normally have such excessive stakes.
11. Any hopes of a service academy crashing the CFP seemingly ended Saturday when No. 6 Notre Dame (10-1) humbled No. 19 Military (9-1) 49-14, ending the nation’s longest successful streak at 13. The Irish protection was simply too good. Military was averaging an FBS-best 334.9 dashing yards however had 207, together with 71 on its final garbage-time drive. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love wanted simply seven carries to rack up 130 yards and two scores (he additionally caught a landing go). And so, it’s all the way down to 6-5 USC standing between the Irish and a CFP first-round residence sport.
The Black Knights nonetheless have lots forward of them: They’ll play for the AAC championship on Dec. 6 towards Tulane after which, in fact, face Navy. However even had been Military to knock off the Inexperienced Wave, it’s uncertain it will end ranked greater than the Mountain West champion.
12. Seeing all these SEC highway groups go down Saturday ought to elicit some appreciation for No. 4 Penn State (10-1, 7-1 Massive Ten), which survived 26-25 at Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) regardless of digging itself an early 10-0 gap. The Nittany Lions ran out the clock with a six-minute drive through which they transformed three fourth-and-one conditions, together with a daring James Franklin name. Penn State faked a punt from its 34-yard line with freshman tight finish Luke Reynolds breaking off a 32-yard run.
Talking of tight ends, I’ve been together with Penn State’s Tyler Warren on my Heisman Trophy straw ballot poll for the previous few weeks. That gained’t change after he caught eight passes for 102 yards.
13. Seven applications have moved up from a Group of 5 league to a Energy 5 league since 2011. The primary six all completed under .500 in convention play of their first 12 months. The seventh, No. 13 SMU, has but to lose in convention play. The Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 ACC) clinched a spot within the ACC championship sport with a 33-7 win at Virginia (5-6, 3-4). SMU has gained eight straight video games, together with its final three by double digits, and it seems to be like a extra full workforce with every week. The committee has not been impressed with the Mustangs, however with groups above them dropping, they’re shifting into potential at-large territory, win or lose the convention.
14. SMU’s opponent in Charlotte can be No. 8 Miami (10-1, 6-1) if the Canes win at Syracuse (8-3, 4-3) subsequent week or No. 17 Clemson (9-2, 7-1) if Miami loses. The Canes broke open an in depth sport within the fourth quarter to run away from Wake Forest 42-14, holding the Demon Deacons (4-7, 2-5) with out an offensive landing after the primary quarter. This season has been a very long time coming for Miami followers, who’ve spent a lot of the previous 20 years in purgatory. That is this system’s first 10-win season since 2017, and even that workforce misplaced three in a row to finish the season. The 2024 version is aiming for a extra satisfying ending.
15. All these SEC groups dropping Saturday introduces the opportunity of the ACC getting a second CFP berth. If Miami and SMU each go into the convention title sport at 11-1, it will be shocking if the loser fell out of the sphere.
After which there’s Clemson.
Dabo Swinney’s workforce, which dealt with The Citadel 51-14, ought to transfer to the cusp of the highest 12 on Tuesday heading into a house showdown with present No. 18 South Carolina (8-3). Ought to the Gamecocks win, they might get blocked out by their losses to Alabama and Ole Miss, however Clemson might have a shot if somebody takes an sudden second loss subsequent weekend.
16. No. 12 Boise State (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) clinched a berth within the Mountain West Championship Sport, which it can host, with a harder-than-expected 17-13 win at Wyoming (2-9, 2-5). Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty briefly left with an harm however got here again out to complete with 169 yards on 19 carries, turning into the primary FBS 2,000-yard rusher in 5 years. (He’s now at 2,062.) Jeanty can be enjoying on championship weekend, however with Colorado dropping, his prime Heisman competitors, Colorado’s Hunter, may not be.
Boise State now appears to have an actual probability to complete above the Massive 12 champion and earn the No. 4 seed and the accompanying first-round bye. Keep watch over how excessive No. 21 Arizona State strikes up on Tuesday.
17. Properly of us, they did it. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-5, 3-5 Massive Ten) are going to a bowl sport for the primary time since 2016, ending the longest drought of any Energy 4 workforce.
Nebraska, which entered Saturday having misplaced 4 straight video games, averted considered one of its patented last-minute losses by hammering Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) 44-25, ending a 10-game dropping streak to the Badgers. A complete lot of demons slayed in a single afternoon. Now, Wisconsin has its personal streak on the road. Luke Fickell’s workforce must beat Minnesota subsequent week to keep away from this system’s first dropping season since 2001.
18. USC (6-5, 4-5 Massive Ten) did its finest to salvage an in any other case depressing season with a 19-13 win over rival UCLA (4-7, 3-6) at a half-full (half-empty?) Rose Bowl. Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava has not been spectacular since taking up the beginning job two weeks in the past, however he has made performs when wanted. USC’s go-ahead landing within the fourth quarter got here when Maiava was flushed practically to the sideline however discovered his footing and hit Ja’Kobi Lane ultimately zone. Subsequent week, the Trojans have a heck of a step up in competitors: No. 6 Notre Dame heads to L.A. with a CFP berth in its sights.
19. The primary Pac-2 Championship Sport ended dramatically, with Oregon State’s Everett Hayes kicking a 55-yard area purpose with 20 seconds left to raise the Beavers (5-6) to a shocking 41-38 win over Washington State (8-3). Oregon State had misplaced 5 straight video games, most not too long ago a 28-0 head-scratcher towards Air Drive. Now it has an opportunity to go bowling, but it surely must win Friday at Boise State. Wazzu’s season has taken a disappointing flip since attending to 8-1 and No. 18 within the CFP rankings. First, it misplaced a heartbreaker at New Mexico and now this, regardless of the continued heroics of quarterback John Mateer (250 yards passing, 75 yards dashing, 4 TDs).
20. Lastly, Cal (6-5, 2-5 ACC) gained its fourth consecutive Massive Sport, 24-21 over rival Stanford (3-8, 2-6). The Bears had been trailing all sport till engineering a 98-yard landing drive to take the lead with 2:40 left.
On one hand, these had been two applications removed from nationwide relevance, marginalized by realignment, enjoying a sport on ACC Community that seemingly nobody exterior of their followers watched. Then again, this was a season- and career-defining sport for these concerned, as evidenced by Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s extraordinarily emotional and eloquent postgame interview.
Extremely suggest.
The total Fernando Mendoza put up sport interview after defeating Stanford
I am not crying, you might be#CALGORITHM #GOBEARS pic.twitter.com/5EPIiq7uwM
— c (@calgoldnbears) November 23, 2024
(Picture: Brian Bahr / Getty Pictures)