Ali Akbar Rosady
Amid a season frequently characterized by unexpected upsets and significant shifts in team fortunes, Week 13 of the college football calendar largely saw the nation’s top contenders hold their ground, setting the stage for a potentially chaotic final weekend of regular season play. While many anticipated a Saturday ripe for dramatic twists that could reshape the playoff picture, the day’s results mostly reinforced the existing hierarchy, deferring major shake-ups to the impending rivalry week.
Expectations for high-stakes upsets permeated the week, with several matchups identified as potential landmines for playoff hopefuls. Missouri, with quarterback Beau Pribula returning, aimed to challenge Oklahoma’s postseason aspirations. USC sought to deliver a decisive blow to an Oregon squad that had navigated much of the season unchallenged. Similarly, contests involving Syracuse and Virginia Tech were seen as opportunities to complicate the committee’s evaluation of Notre Dame and Miami. Even a late-game surge by Kansas State against Utah in Salt Lake City held the promise of a significant upset, a small fracture in the meticulously constructed playoff rankings. However, these anticipated disruptions largely failed to materialize.
Oklahoma’s defense delivered a commanding performance against Missouri, effectively stifling their SEC opponent. The Sooners secured a 17-6 victory, highlighted by two interceptions of Pribula and limiting Ahmad Hardy to just 57 rushing yards. Under Brent Venables, Oklahoma’s defensive unit has emerged as a formidable force, reminiscent of his successful tenures at Clemson, compensating for an offense that has at times been less explosive.
On the West Coast, Oregon solidified its playoff standing with a decisive win over USC. While the Ducks’ defense had been a consistent strength, it was the offensive contributions of Kenyon Sadiq and Noah Whittington that stole the spotlight, complemented by a pivotal 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Malik Benson on special teams. The outcome provided a measure of satisfaction for Oklahoma fans, witnessing former coach Lincoln Riley’s USC squad suffer a significant defeat.
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Miami maintained its strong form on the road, dispatching Virginia Tech 34-17. Quarterback Carson Beck was instrumental, throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns, while receiver Malachi Toney recorded 12 receptions. The Hurricanes’ defense contributed with five sacks, demonstrating a balanced effort. This victory temporarily elevated Miami’s standing in the playoff conversation, though Notre Dame’s subsequent dominant 70-7 win over Syracuse quickly re-established the Irish’s perceived superiority, relegating Miami back to a more cautious evaluation by the selection committee.
The afternoon also saw BYU comfortably handle Cincinnati, while major SEC programs like Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama dominated lower-level opposition in tune-up games. Ohio State secured a routine victory over Rutgers, further solidifying its position among the nation’s elite.
The most dramatic contest among playoff contenders unfolded in Salt Lake City, where Utah narrowly escaped with a 51-47 victory over Kansas State. The Wildcats’ relentless ground attack accumulated 472 yards and five touchdowns, leading to five lead changes and three ties through three quarters. A Utah fumble midway through the fourth quarter allowed Kansas State to take a 47-37 lead with seven minutes remaining. However, the Utes mounted a late comeback, scoring twice in the final 2:47 to secure the win, a critical step in preserving their long-shot playoff hopes. This hard-fought win also fueled speculation regarding head coach Kyle Whittingham’s future, with many fans wondering if it marked his final home game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Conference Developments and Notable Performances
Beyond the top-tier contests, Week 13 saw significant movement in conference races and several standout individual and team performances.
ACC Championship Race Heats Up: The ACC witnessed its anticipated clarity dissolve into further complexity. Georgia Tech, needing a win to clinch a spot in the conference title game, fell to Pitt 42-28. Pitt jumped to a 28-0 lead and thwarted a Yellow Jackets comeback attempt with a 100-yard interception return, sealing the win with a late 56-yard touchdown run. This result created a three-way tie atop the ACC standings between Virginia, Pitt, and SMU at 6-1, with Georgia Tech, Miami, and Duke also in contention, setting up a complex tie-breaker scenario for the final championship game berths.
Florida’s Struggles Continue: Tennessee delivered a convincing 31-11 defeat to Florida, limiting the Gators to just 261 yards of total offense. The loss further deepened Florida’s woes, leading to increased scrutiny of the program’s direction and fueling speculation about coaching changes, with former coach Lane Kiffin’s presence in the stands sparking further discussion.
Notre Dame’s Dominant Statement: The Fighting Irish aimed for style points in their matchup against Syracuse and delivered emphatically with a 70-7 victory. Jeremiyah Love spearheaded the offense with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while the defense intercepted Syracuse quarterback Joseph Filardi three times. The comprehensive win aimed to impress the playoff committee ahead of their final regular-season game.
Florida State’s Season of Misfortune: The Seminoles’ challenging season continued with a 21-11 loss to NC State, marked by a series of bizarre and unfortunate plays in the final minutes. Despite statistically out-gaining opponents in nearly every game this season, FSU’s 5-6 record reflects a series of close losses and critical errors, including a punt bouncing off an FSU player’s helmet, a fumbled punt return, and two missed field goals.
Big Sky Championship Decided: In a fierce rivalry contest, No. 3 Montana State defeated No. 2 Montana 31-28 to claim the Big Sky championship and the Great Divide Trophy. Quarterback Justin Lamson contributed 175 passing yards, 80 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Montana State sealed the victory with a 14-play, 72-yard drive in the final seven minutes, converting crucial fourth and third downs to run out the clock.
SEC’s Week 13 Tradition: Week 13 for many SEC teams adhered to tradition, featuring matchups against significantly overmatched non-conference opponents. Georgia defeated Charlotte, Texas A&M routed Samford, Alabama triumphed over Eastern Illinois, and Auburn dominated Mercer. These contests allowed top SEC programs to rest starters and manage player health before their rivalry week clashes, often securing high-scoring wins despite less-than-perfect offensive performances from backup quarterbacks.
Arizona State’s Resurgence: Arizona State continued its late-season turnaround, defeating Colorado 42-17. Quarterback Jeff Sims, under Kenny Dillingham’s guidance, delivered a strong performance with 206 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Raleek Brown was the standout performer, rushing for 255 yards on 22 carries, contributing significantly to the Sun Devils’ improved 3-1 record with Sims as the starter.
James Madison’s Playoff Push: James Madison kept its Group of 5 playoff hopes alive with a critical 24-20 victory over Washington State. Trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter, Dukes’ tailback Wayne Knight broke free for a 58-yard go-ahead touchdown run, finishing with 126 yards on 15 carries. The win moved James Madison to 10-1, positioning them favorably for the automatic playoff bid from the Group of 5 conferences.
Ivy League Crown to Yale: Yale secured a share of the Ivy League championship with a 45-28 upset victory over previously undefeated Harvard. Josh Pitsenberger ran for 143 yards and three scores, while Dante Reno threw three touchdowns. The win, celebrated by enthusiastic Yale fans storming the field, also secured the Ivy League’s first-ever automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
Under-the-Radar Plays and Games:
Duke executed a critical fake field goal against North Carolina, with kicker Todd Pelino running 26 yards to the 1-yard line, setting up a touchdown that proved decisive in a 32-25 victory. This bold call by head coach Manny Diaz helped the Blue Devils secure the Victory Bell.
Kennesaw State claimed a thrilling 41-34 win over Missouri State. Amari Odom led the Owls with 387 passing yards and five touchdowns, including a 14-yard score with 27 seconds left. Missouri State’s final drive was thwarted by an Alexander Ford interception, pushing Kennesaw State to 8-3 and 6-1 in Conference USA, with a chance to clinch a conference championship game spot next week.
Notable Individual Performances:
Texas quarterback Arch Manning delivered a strong performance, throwing for 389 yards and accounting for five touchdowns, showcasing his potential after a slower start to the season. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia had a career day, throwing for 484 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-17 rout of Kentucky. North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker, a former walk-on, continued his breakout season with 469 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 56-24 win over Rice. Hawai’i kicker Kansei Matsuzawa maintained a perfect season, connecting on a 45-yard field goal, making him 23-for-23 on the year.
As Week 13 concludes, the relative calm has merely heightened anticipation for the final regular-season contests. Oklahoma faces a formidable LSU squad, Oregon travels to face Washington in a crucial Pac-12 matchup, and Miami confronts Pitt, a team historically capable of playing spoiler. The question remains whether the leading contenders have simply loaded their fireworks for a celebratory finale or if they are meticulously arranging deck chairs on a course destined for an iceberg.
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