First thoughts
Unlikely foes thrown together, put on a show
THE ACC has what it wanted. No. 2 Notre Dame (10-0) defeated Syracuse, 45-21, and No. 4 Clemson (9-1) defeated Virginia Tech, 45-10, in their season finales. The wins lock up a rematch of The Game of the Year in the ACC championship Dec. 19. That game likely holds the key to the College Football Playoff semifinals. If Clemson avenges a 47-40 (Trevor Lawrence-less) loss in 2OT at Notre Dame Nov. 7, the ACC can expect to send both teams to the semifinals for the first time because of the Irish’s body of work. If Clemson loses, it still seems possible a two-loss Tigers team gets in on pedigree, but it opens the door to arguments for a second SEC team or Group of Five Cincinnati (No. 7), allowing it wins out.
JUST BECAUSE No. 3 Ohio State got back on the field for a 52-12 rout of Michigan State does not mean it again has a clear path to the Big Ten championship and — with a win — a likely CFP spot. A Detroit Free press story describes “three people with direct knowledge of the situation” as being pessimistic that Michigan will be able to play the Buckeyes Saturday, thereby depriving Ohio State of the needed sixth game to qualify for the conference title game. As many as 15 Wolverines have tested positive for COVID-19. All activities have been paused at least through Monday. However, all the drama might be for naught. SI.com was reporting late Saturday that Big Ten ADs might alter the six-game rule. Stay tuned. NO. 8 BYU (9-1, No. 13 CFP) didn’t get what it sought — a resumebuilding win toward a long-shot dream of a New Year’s Six bowl — but you’ve got to love the Cougars’ moxie. On three-days notice, they set up a game 2,208 miles away in Conway, S.C., vs. No. 14 Coastal Carolina, then drove the length of the field in the final minute only to come up a yard short in a 22-17 loss. It ended any chance at a New Year’s Six payday. But, figuring they needed a win vs. the equally unbeaten Chanticleers to have any hope of forcing their way into the CFP top 10 — something CBS bowls expert Jerry Palm believed would happen — they tried. They didn’t win the game, but they won our respect.
Mateo Sudipo stopped BYU’s Dax Milne at the 1 as time expired and No. 14-ranked Coastal Carolina beat the eighth-ranked Cougars, 22-17, in a short-notice showdown of 9-0 teams Saturday night in Conway, S.C.
BYU (9-1, No. 13 CFP) was a late-week fill-in, traveling more than 2,200 miles and eagerly stepping in for No. 25 Liberty, which backed out Thursday due to COVID-19 concerns.
It looked like an uphill climb for Coastal (10-0). BYU entered with a dynamic quarterback in Zach Wilson and the fourthhighest scoring offense in the country at more than 47 points a game.
The Sun Belt East champion Chanticleers (10-0) controlled the clock with three long touchdown drives and made plays when it counted — none bigger than when the freshman safety Sudipo corralled Milne a few steps from the end zone.
Other games
Notre Dame 45, Syracuse 21: Ian Book threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores in his final home game for second-ranked Notre Dame (10-0, 9-0 ACC, CFP No. 2). The Orange (1-10, 1-9) managed 414 yards on the Irish defense.
Ohio State 52, Michigan State 12: Justin Fields threw two touchdown passes and Haskell Garrett returned an interception for a score as the
No. 3 Buckeyes (5-0, 5-0 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) cruised past host Michigan State (2-4, 2-4).
Texas A&M 31, Auburn 20: Kellen Mond threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score and visiting No. 5 Texas A&M (7-1, 7-1 SEC) scored 17 points in the fourth quarter in a comeback victory over the Tigers (5-4, 5-4).
Florida 31, Tennessee 19: Kyle Trask threw for 433 yards and four touchdowns and the No. 6 visiting Gators (8-1, 8-1 SEC No. 6 CFP) clinched a spot in the SEC championship. Missing 16 players, Tennessee (2-6) dropped its sixth consecutive game.
Indiana 14, Wisconsin 6: Jack Tuttle threw two touchdown passes in his first career start for visiting No. 10 Indiana (6-1, 6-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 12). Wisconsin (2-2, 2-2 No. 16 CFP) drove deep into Indiana territory on its final drive, but Graham Mertz’s fourth-and-10 pass to Chimere Dike was broken up in the end zone with 46 seconds left.
Rice 20, Marshall 0: Safety Naeem Smith returned one of five Marshall interceptions for a touchdown and three-touchdown underdog Rice (2-2, 2-2 Conference USA) shocked the host No. 15 Thundering Herd (7-1, 4-1, No. 21 CFP) for their first loss.
North Carolina 49, Western Carolina 9: Sam Howell competed 20 of 23 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns as the 17th-ranked Tar Heels (7-3) routed the visiting Catamounts (0-3).
TCU 29, Oklahoma State 22: Max Duggan threw a goahead, 71-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter and ran for two more scores as the Horned Frogs (54, 5-4 Big 12) beat visiting No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-3, 5-3).
Tulsa 19, Navy 6: The No. 22 visiting Golden Hurricane (61, 6-0 AAC) clinched a spot in the American Athletic Conference title game with its sixth consecutive victory. Navy (3-6, 34) will bring a four-game losing streak into next weekend’s clash with rival Army.
Stanford 31, Washington 26: Austin Jones rushed for a pair of first-half touchdowns, Davis Mills threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Scooter Harrington early in the second half, and the Cardinal (2-2, 2-2 Pac-12) held off a second-half comeback by host No. 23 Washington (3-1, 3-1).
Iowa 35, Illinois 21: Spencer Petris threw three touchdown passes for the visiting No. 24 Hawkeyes (5-2, 5-2 Big Ten), who scored 35 unanswered points against the Illini (2-4, 2-4).