Winners and Losers from Week 13

While head coach Jim Harbaugh watched nervously from home, Michigan edged Ohio State in a thriller to kick off Saturday’s portion of Week 13’s rivalry-filled slate.

Most importantly for U-M, the victory helped the Wolverines edge closer to the College Football Playoff.

Alabama and Washington did too, although it wasn’t without serious drama for either team. Florida State and Georgia side-stepped some uncomfortable starts in the evening, as well.

Elsewhere around college football, a few programs all but officially locked up a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl. Others clinched a shot at a conference titles, and plenty more straddled the line of bowl eligibility—some did so successfully, but several did not.

This piece was updated throughout Saturday’s action.

Although making the College Football Playoff is part of the ultimate goal, two losses will basically remove a program from that conversation. Still, a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl is a quality accomplishment.

Barring some shocking CFP rankings, we know Missouri will be there. Penn State probably will be, too.

Cody Schrader rushed for 217 yards, and Mizzou’s defense held Arkansas to just 255 yards in a 48-14 rout. Given Missouri entered the game ranked ninth nationally, it’s highly improbable the Tigers will somehow fall out of the Top 11 and miss a major bowl.

No. 11 Penn State also put together a dominant night, surrendering a stunning 53 yards in a 42-0 shutout of Michigan State.

Where exactly they’ll play will depend on the results of conference championship games, but Mizzou and Penn State should be optimistic about their postseason destinations.

Iowa gave Nebraska a couple of chances to steal an upset, but the Cornhuskers badly wasted those moments.

And their unfortunate bowl-less run continues because of it.

In a 10-10 game. Tristan Alvano missed a 44-yard field goal with five minutes left to play. After the teams traded punts, Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill tossed what could have been a game-deciding interception.

Nebraska had 30 seconds and one timeout to gain about 20 yards and set up a redemption kick for Alvano.

Instead, Chubba Purdy threw a pass directly to Iowa’s Ethan Hurkett, then Leshon Williams ripped off a 22-yard run. Marshall Meeder’s 38-yard kick slipped through the uprights for a 13-10 Iowa win.

Nebraska hasn’t made a bowl since 2016, which is the longest streak among Power Five programs.

For good reason, the Big Ten’s showdown took center stage. But the AAC had a heck of a championship race this weekend, too.

SMU, Tulane and UTSA all boasted 7-0 league records, and the schedule-makers did us a terrific favor. Tulane hosted UTSA on Friday afternoon in a clash to determine one of the championship-bound teams.

Tulane, the AAC’s reigning champ, amassed five takeaways and forced two turnovers on downs in a 29-16 victory.

SMU then emphatically took care of business on Saturday, scoring 52 points in the opening half in a 59-14 win.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, quarterback Preston Stone exited with an ankle injury. His possible absence next week looms as the single-most important storyline for the AAC title game.

Regardless, that contest is likely to determine the program that represents the Group of Five in a New Year’s Six bowl.

As a desperation pass dropped into the arms of Kentucky’s Jordan Lovett, Louisville became huge Florida State fans.

Well, at least for Saturday.

Because both Texas and Oregon won on Friday, it was tough to see a legitimate path to the College Football Playoff for Louisville. But a 38-31 loss to the rival ‘Cats sealed the deal anyway.

Despite the loss, Louisville can still play in the Orange Bowl. But that will require either the Cardinals to upset FSU in the ACC Championship Game—or the Seminoles to finish undefeated. If FSU makes the CFP, the ACC runner-up would head to the Orange Bowl.

Louisville needs Florida State to avoid a loss to Florida. Otherwise, there’s a strong chance Texas leaps FSU in the rankings and knocks Louisville down to a second-tier bowl if the Cardinals don’t win the ACC.

No head coach? No problem.

Jim Harbaugh could only watch on television as Michigan hosted Ohio State in yet another clash to decide the Big Ten East. But his Wolverines—for the third consecutive year—upended the rival Buckeyes.

Unlike last season’s game that was loaded with explosive plays, Michigan had to grind out a 30-24 victory.

The run-heavy Maize and Blue leaned on Blake Corum, who rushed for 88 yards and two scores. Donovan Edwards added 31 yards on the ground, also completing a 34-yard pass on a key trick play. Veteran safety Rod Moore iced the triumph with a last-minute interception, sending Michigan to its third straight Big Ten Championship Game.

If the Wolverines beat Iowa next Saturday in Indianapolis, they’ll lock in a now-familiar place in the playoff.

I… I am so sorry, Auburn fans.

Holding a 24-20 lead in the closing minute of the fourth quarter, Auburn’s defense only needed to hold Alabama on 4th-and-goal. From the freaking 31-yard line.

Seriously. I am so sorry.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe dropped back, drifted, waited and waited some more. He lofted a pass toward the left corner of the end zone, where Isaiah Bond shockingly reeled in a game-winning touchdown.

What an absolutely mortifying way to lose a game—and iconic way to steal an Iron Bowl victory.

Instead of Alabama exiting the crowded playoff race, a fourth-down miracle saved the Crimson Tide. They’ll take an 11-1 record into a showdown with Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and a win in Atlanta very likely would put Nick Saban’s team in the CFP.

It wasn’t pretty, which has been the story for Washington lately. But so has leaving those ugly games as the winner.

Sound familiar? I typed that sentence last week.

Once again, the undefeated Huskies survived a nerve-wracking game. Grady Gross buried a 42-yard field goal as time expired to give them a 24-21 victory over rival Washington State.

Washington, which never led by more than seven points, surely hoped for a less adventurous way to wrap up a perfect regular season. Nevertheless, the 12-0 Dawgs are a victory over Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game away from a guaranteed CFP trip.

Can they manage one more ugly win? Given the stakes, it would be the most beautiful one of them all.

Remember that Nebraska situation? Well, rinse and repeat with BYU—only in more devastating fashion.

With a 5-6 record, the Cougars traveled to Oklahoma State. If they could spring the upset, they’d snatch bowl eligibility and prevent OSU from heading to the Big 12 Championship Game opposite Texas.

For 30 minutes, that possibility looked like destiny. Unfortunately for BYU, she cannot be controlled.

Oklahoma State star Ollie Gordon II spearheaded a dramatic 18-point comeback, running for 166 yards and five touchdowns. During the second overtime period, OSU recovered a fumble to win 40-34.

BYU’s debut Big 12 campaign is over at 5-7 with a 2-7 mark in conference play—and a simply gut-wrenching loss.

Michigan and Washington, you still have company.

Florida State fell behind 12-0 before it joined the 12-0 club. Florida jumped out to that early lead, but the Seminoles—playing their first full game without quarterback Jordan Travis—responded to secure a 24-15 win. Trey Benson powered his way to 95 yards and three scores on the ground.

Top-ranked Georgia also overcame a slow start, ultimately holding off Georgia Tech for a 31-23 triumph. The rushing attack piled up 239 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Dawgs to their sixth straight victory in the series.

Five programs will therefore carry 12-0 records into their respective conference championship games, with Liberty being the last undefeated.

For the non-Liberty programs, the task is straightforward: If you win, you should be in.

Heading into Week 13, each of Mississippi State, Florida and South Carolina owned a 5-6 record. They all entered as an underdog in a rivalry game, too.

However, there were no upsets to be found.

Mississippi State—which fired head coach Zach Arnett two weeks ago—put up a respectable fight on Thanksgiving night. Ole Miss, though, scratched out a 17-7 victory.

Florida gave FSU a four-quarter scare, but the Seminoles outscored UF 17-3 in the second half to win 24-15. South Carolina could not repeat its magic from 2022, gaining just 169 yards and falling to Clemson 16-7.

After boasting 13 bowl-eligible teams in 2021 and 11 more in 2022, the SEC only has nine six-win squads in 2023.