Ohio St., Michigan on collision course
Ohio State and Michigan remain headed for a highstakes showdown. C.J. Stroud tossed five touchdowns to give Ohio State an easy win over Indiana on Saturday. At the same time, Blake Corum rushed for at least 100 yards in his seventh straight game as Michigan downed Nebraska. Both Big Ten powers are undefeated. If they stay the course, their regular-season finale could decide not only who wins the Big Ten East and earns a spot in the title game but could give the winner an edge in the College Football
Playoff hunt.
TCU strengthens its case for playoff consideration.
Max Duggan threw for a touchdown and Kendre Miller ran for a score to lift TCU to a 17-10 win over Texas. The unbeaten Horned Frogs clinched a spot in the Big 12 championship game. It was another challenging game for Sonny Dykes’ team, but TCU overcame a slow start to find a way to win on the road and move one step closer to a possible berth in the playoff semifinals.
Oregon’s playoff chances disappear. The Ducks did almost everything they could to claim their ninth straight win. It wasn’t enough. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. tossed two TDs and the Huskies defense held in the end. It was Oregon’s second loss, ending hopes for a playoff berth. With UCLA’s upset loss to Arizona, USC remains the Pac-12’s best chance of getting a team into the semifinals.
Alabama isn’t ready to pack it in. Once again, it came down to the final drive as Alabama survived a late effort by Ole Miss to pull out a road win against a top-15 team. The Crimson Tide bounced back from their devastating overtime loss to LSU thanks to QB Bryce Young, who rallied his team from an early double-digit deficit. The win keeps Alabama’s hopes alive for a possible spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
LSU claims the SEC West title with some help. What an inaugural season for LSU coach Brian Kelly, who guided the Tigers to their first SEC West crown with a win over Arkansas and Alabama’s win over Ole Miss. Freshman linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. helped LSU avoid a letdown with four sacks and two forced fumbles that sealed the win over the Razorbacks. It’s LSU’s first division title since 2019, when the Tigers won the national championship.
Kentucky’s recent struggles amp up pressure on Mark Stoops. After a hot start helped propel them to a No. 7 ranking, it looked good for Stoops and the Wildcats. But losses in four of the their last six games, including a stunning 24-21 loss Saturday to a Vanderbilt program that hadn’t beaten an SEC team since 2019, have some critics questioning whether there need to be changes made on the coaching staff.
It was a tale of two halves for Notre Dame. A week after its 35-14 rout of then-No. 4 Clemson, Notre Dame appeared to pick up right where it left off as it built a 35-13 halftime lead over Navy. The second half, however, was nearly a disaster for the Irish. They managed just 12 yards of offense and almost lost the game after allowing 19 straight second-half points to the Midshipmen. With a spot in the New Year’s Six still on the table, Notre Dame needs all the help it can get.
The Big Ten West is a jumble. Two weeks ago, Illinois held a commanding two-game advantage in the Big Ten West and appeared to be on its way to a division crown and a shot at its first league championship since 2001. But backto-back losses to Michigan State and Purdue have opened the door for three other teams (Iowa, Purdue and Minnesota) to make their cases to claim the top spot and a trip to Indianapolis.
UCF controls its path to the AAC championship game.
Two weeks after its victory over Cincinnati, UCF marched into New Orleans and knocked off Tulane. QB John Rhys Plumlee returned to the lineup and combined for 308 yards of offense and three TDs in the victory, which gave the Knights control in the race for the American Athletic Conference title and a spot in the New Year’s Six access bowl. UCF needs wins against Navy and USF to lock in a spot in the AAC title game.
Jim Mora Jr. has done a masterful job coaching at UConn. When UConn chose to be independent in football in 2019, many thought there would be little chance of success for the Huskies. Yet Jim Mora Jr. has changed that perception in his first season as coach by leading the team to a six-win season. UConn is bowl eligible for the first time since 2015. The Huskies have won five of their last six games and a win over Army this week could give them the most victories in a season since 2010.