Most efficient of Rivalry Week: CFP chaos, flag fights and extra misery for Ohio Express, Miami and Clemson

We all own baggage. It be the price we pay for picks made, experiences persevered, a life lived. For some, it’ll be the girl who obtained away. Perchance it be the job they did not salvage. Or in all likelihood it be the time you pretended to pee admire a dogs in the cease zone correct through an Egg Bowl. The point is, to stay life to its fullest is to price that be apologetic about is segment of the kit.

The suitable news, on the opposite hand, is there would possibly be repeatedly a likelihood to enhance, to space down that baggage and earn one thing drawing near redemption.

That is what Saturday used to be supposed to be about for Ryan Day and Mario Cristobal and Dabo Swinney. Week 14 used to be going to be a redemption anecdote. As a substitute, the college football gods delivered misery.

Successfully, except you are a Michigan fan. Then it used to be all comedy.

A transient accounting of the keep issues began Saturday.

It had been 1,442 days since Clemson made a College Soccer Playoff, but with a take in opposition to South Carolina, the Tigers would’ve been poised to squeeze into the first 12-crew postseason and erase years of doubts about Swinney’s skill to soak up the contemporary period of faculty football.

It had been 1,828 days since Ohio Express beat Michigan, but on Saturday, the percentages were stacked so closely in the Buckeyes’ desire, any other consequence used to be unfathomable. This used to be an Ohio Express roster as proficient as any in program historical past and a Michigan crew build together with duct tape and glue sticks.

It had been 7.672 days since Miami obtained a conference championship. However the Hurricanes spent this season as the class of the ACC, lastly residing as a lot as the colossal expectations which own adopted this system since its glory years, despite the indisputable truth that Miami has spent the past 20 years as college football’s model of U2 — gathered releasing new work, but successfully true a nostalgia act.

It be not easy to remark how many days it had been since Cristobal smartly handled a boring-recreation anxiousness since it’s doubtless you’ll probably per chance per chance not divide by zero.

Week 14 did not promise to erase every blemish, forgive every sin or rewrite historical past for anybody, on the opposite hand it supplied a bridge to somewhere better, some new timeline whereby Day will not be defined by a single recreation every 365 days in opposition to his rival, Swinney will not be lamented as an used man yelling at clouds and somebody below the age of 40 can keep in mind a time whereby Miami mattered.

And on Saturday, Ohio Express, Clemson and Miami saw those bridges and opted to mild a flamethrower.

It be laborious to remark exactly the keep issues went notorious for Day and the Buckeyes in an excruciating 13-10 loss to Michigan. The slack begins were a signature of 2024, the final consequence of a crew that knows it be appropriate sufficient to flip a transformation or, in all likelihood, a outcomes of so many noon kickoffs that even Gus Johnson’s whisper began to transfer awry.

— FOX College Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

It be indubitably not on Day that Will Howard threw two brutal interceptions, that Jayden Fielding neglected two immediate kicks or that Sherrone Moore opened his desk drawer Saturday morning to search out a manila envelope marked, “For Your Eyes Most efficient, Be pleased and Kisses, C. Stalions.” However Day knew the stakes sooner than the season began, and Ohio Express spent sufficient money on this roster to salvage third in the American League East, and Michigan used to be missing two doable first-spherical NFL draft picks, and it gathered did not topic. The Wolverines managed true 62 yards passing, threw two interceptions, had three totally different drives within the Ohio Express 5 that did not lead to touchdowns and gathered obtained. There are no logical explanations for this, so it be fair appropriate-attempting then to transfer to the subsequent closest thing: Day is a Michigan sleeper cell installed as head coach in Columbus true to arouse the Ohio Express devoted in some kind of make clear Manchurian Candidate anxiousness.

Regardless, the sport ended with a loss, with a brawl, with police intervening and pepper spraying gamers, but no quantity of mace would possibly probably per chance per chance burn away the photographs of the Wolverines celebrating on Ohio Express’s field in what would possibly probably per chance additionally simply smartly be the most devastating loss in the rivals’s historical past.

Michigan gamers on the sideline after the altercation between Ohio Express and Michigan pic.twitter.com/m5tdgIOma4

— FOX College Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

At Clemson, there would possibly be identical frustration with a coach who has obtained sufficient to own a protracted leash, but has also climbed a long way sufficient out on a limb to suffer the slings and arrows of fans and pundits and the occasional radio caller with some accurate aspects but restricted self-awareness.

Clemson has had so many probabilities in 2024. After being blown out in the opener in opposition to Georgia, the tide became support in the Tigers desire amid a six-recreation profitable drag. After a condo loss to Louisville, the Tigers clawed their design support up the rankings, thanks in enormous segment to attrition sooner than them, and found themselves as the first crew out coming into Saturday’s recreation, with a likelihood for a signature take — it would possibly per chance probably per chance per chance’ve been Clemson’s most intriguing first price take this 365 days — in opposition to red-sizzling South Carolina. The playoff used to be within price, but most intriguing for those that would possibly probably per chance per chance gaze past the imposing resolve of LaNorris Sellers.

Clemson led by four with not as a lot as 2 minutes to play, but the Tigers’ protection below no cases had an solution for Sellers, who has change into college football’s model of King Kong, swatting away biplanes and defensive ends whereas hiking to the tip of the checklist of would-be playoff teams. Sellers threw for 164 yards, ran for 166, and scored twice, together with a 20-yard stride on a third-and-16 with true 1: 08 to play to provide the Gamecocks a 17-14 lead.

The Tigers had their shot to take — or not not as a lot as ship the sport to time beyond regulations — but Cade Klubnik‘s check down throw with 16 seconds left nicked off Phil Mafah‘s fingers and used to be picked off by Demetrius Knight Jr.

This marks the 2nd time in three years Clemson had a pragmatic shot on the playoff, most intriguing to lose boring to rival South Carolina.

Later on, Shane Beamer gushed over the play of his quarterback and the resurgence of his crew, which used to be 3-3 in mid-October but is now arguably the freshest crew in the country. Beamer insisted South Carolina used to be a playoff crew, and it would additionally simply smartly be, but the decision by the committee obtained’t be easy. South Carolina entered the week ranked in the support of Alabama and Ole Miss, each and every of whom obtained in Week 14 to transfer to 9-3, and each and every of whom own head-to-head wins over the Gamecocks.

Perchance sarcastically, it be Clemson who remains accountable for its own playoff future after Saturday’s hassle, and the Tigers can thank Cristobal for that.

All Miami needed to salvage Saturday used to be knock off Syracuse, and it would possibly per chance probably per chance per chance punch its price — to the ACC title recreation and to the College Soccer Playoff. The Hurricanes even jumped out to a 21-0 lead, which ought to’ve been an insurmountable margin with Cam Ward on their aspect.

And yet, this is Miami — a program that flirts with hassle admire it be had a half of-dozen shots of Fireball and defeat is waiting tables on the Waffle House.

Syracuse became its 21-0 deficit correct into a 35-28 lead coming into the fourth quarter sooner than Miami fought support to tie the sport. However the Canes’ protection has been a red flag all 365 days, and on Saturday, it had no answers for Kyle McCord, who threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns (and did not lose to Michigan).

McCord engineered a 9-play landing power to keep Syracuse up 42-35, but that also afforded Ward and the Canes extra than 9 minutes to compare.

All of that ought to’ve true been prelude to 1 other Miami take, because Ward used to be over yet again unheard of. And yet, this is Miami, the keep playoff hopes disclose too well-known time on South Seaside and salvage up having a survey admire the Pop Tarts Bowl.

Ward engineered a 13-play power, organising Miami with a first-and-goal on the Syracuse 8, but then issues went haywire. An unsportsmanlike penalty pushed the Canes support, and a Ward completion and hobble space up a fourth-and-goal on the 15.

That left Cristobal with a decision: Put the sport in the fingers of the handiest quarterback to ever build on a Miami uniform or, with 3: 42 final, kick a field goal and leave it as a lot as your protection that’s served as a maître d’ for Syracuse receivers the general recreation.

Cristobal chose anxiousness.

The remaining used to be entirely predictable. Syracuse picked up three first downs and ran out the clock to transfer to 9-3, a playoff crew in its own appropriate had it not imploded in opposition to a woeful Stanford crew support in September. Miami ceded its dwelling in the ACC championship to Clemson, would possibly probably per chance additionally simply own lost its dwelling in the College Soccer Playoff, and reminded the arena that, even when U2 affords you its new album totally free, it be handiest to true stride ahead and delete it and transfer on alongside with your life.

And so Week 14 ended with out redemption for those most attempting a 2nd act. It ended with Clemson flubbing its handiest hopes, then being handed one other true since the football gods experience seeing Swinney’s optimism squashed. It ended with Miami nearer to its past than it had been in a protracted time, yet gathered as a lot as now from those glory years that the arena rolls its eyes at any time when the conversation comes up yet again. And it ended with Ohio Express preventing Michigan, handing its conference title shot to Penn Express and catching strays from Texas.

Participants of the 2021 Ohio Express recruiting class to beat Michigan:

Quinn Ewers

— /r/LonghornNation (@rLonghornNation) November 30, 2024

The college football gods would possibly probably even be cruel, and whereas redemption is repeatedly within our reach, days admire Saturday also remind us that our reach continually exceeds our to find, and redemption slips through our fingers for a support-breaking interception a long way with out wretchedness than we care to speak.

Perchance Ohio Express gathered makes the playoff and goes on a stride.

Perchance Miami does the same.

Perchance Clemson takes its appropriate fortune to be in the ACC title recreation and turns that correct into a playoff berth of its own.

Perchance.

So we are going to elevate the bags a chunk of extra, in spite of the general anxiousness and harm and anguish. Despite the indisputable truth that redemption remains painfully beyond our to find, the price of admission is gathered price it.

Jump to:


Irish salvage receive | Texas reaches SECCG | Rivalry survey


Geese dynasty| Pack stride bowling


Developments | Below the radar

Irish salvage receive

Jadarian Designate got here on in relief of an injured Jeremiyah Be pleased and completed with 111 yards and a landing on 12 carries, whereas Xavier Watts (100 yards) and Christian Gray (99) each and every had long make a selection-sixes in the fourth quarter to handbook Notre Dame to a 49-35 take over USC that ought to lock up a condo recreation in the opening spherical of the playoff for the Irish.

USC finishes the bizarre season at 6-6, and it has now lost 11 of its past 19 games — a tune anecdote that will’ve meant past coaches wanted an Uber house from the airport tarmac. USC QBs had 12 interceptions this season, one extra than the Trojans accounted for in Lincoln Riley’s first two seasons there blended. Notre Dame has also now obtained six of the past seven games in the rivals.

On the victorious aspect, the Irish own now obtained 10 straight after a disastrous loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 that looks extra admire some kind of Tyrone Willingham-period fever dream looking out back. Notre Dame has averaged 44 aspects and almost 240 dashing yards per recreation correct through that stretch.

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Horns scamper to SECCG

After 13 years, the Texas–Texas A&M rivals is support. Somebody ought to let the Aggies know.

Quinn Ewers threw for 218 yards and a landing, Quintrevion Wisner ran for 186, and the Texas protection dominated in a 17-7 take over the Aggies that punches the Longhorns’ price to a rematch with Georgia in the SEC championship recreation.

The sport had most of the acquainted tones of the used rivals, from the raucous Aggie Cry on Friday evening to the archaic Texas fan scamper into the sport atop a bull whereas conserving a dogs. (Construct not salvage us started on Austin online page traffic. It be a circus.)

pic.twitter.com/4b4moNML3O

— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 30, 2024

Restful, it needed to be a nerve-racking final consequence for the Aggies, who had a likelihood to design to within one to find boring, but opted to transfer for it on fourth down on the Texas 1, most intriguing to be stuffed.

Texas is admire the rich, a hit excessive faculty pal who comes into town for a consult with and guilts you into nice looking him to a event, true for your entire company to admire him whereas you sit down in the corner eating Cheetos. After 14 years in the SEC, Texas A&M gathered hasn’t made a conference championship recreation, whereas Texas is now headed to Atlanta in 365 days 1. Restful, Cheetos are delectable.

The bigger quiz for the Longhorns now would possibly probably per chance per chance be whether or not or not they’ve figured out any design to block Georgia’s shuffle stride since the Bulldogs eviscerated the Horns’ entrance in a 30-15 UGA take on Oct. 19. Even with a loss, Texas probably hosts a condo recreation in Spherical 1 of the playoff, on the opposite hand it’d be a blow for championship hopes to lose for a 2nd time to Georgia.

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Rivalry survey

Florida Express has been arguing for weeks to throw out the guidelines, on the opposite hand it be not except Week 14 that we’re going to be in a position to formally salvage it. It used to be rivals week, which meant essential drama and offseason bragging rights correct through the country. Here’s the design in which it played out.

Perfect Primitive-Authorized Hate

What used to be at stake: Georgia had a 30-recreation house profitable drag on the line and regarded poised to salvage the 12-crew playoff with a take. Georgia Tech used to be having a survey to remind anybody outdoors metro Atlanta it gathered had a football program.

Controversies: Officers regarded to miss a replacement of key calls that helped Georgia, together with a that you just can be in a situation to mediate of red zone fumble, a that you just can be in a situation to mediate of tipped ball that will’ve negated a severe defensive shuffle interference flag, a that you just can be in a situation to mediate of focusing on on a Haynes King fumble that probably price Tech the sport, an egregious build sooner than a Georgia time beyond regulations to find and Kirby Orderly’s unconventional use of a Ford F-350 at fullback. Perchance worst of all, by the purpose the teams had completed with eight overtimes, The Varsity used to be closed and the Jackets would possibly probably per chance per chance not salvage chili canines admire Brent Key had promised if everybody tried their handiest.

Waste consequence: The two QBs were electric, with King throwing for 303 yards, dashing for 110 and accounting for five touchdowns. Carson Beck topped 300 yards of offense, and he tossed 5 touchdowns. In some design, it got here all of the formulation down to 2-point tries, as Georgia cashed in on a Nate Frazier stride in the eighth time beyond regulations session to receive a 44-42 take. The sport underscores why college football ought to revisit its OT principles, which require dueling 2-point tries after the 2nd frame. As a substitute, we counsel 2-point tries in the third OT, a pie eating contest in the fourth, a rock-paper-scissors rivals between the coaches at midfield for the fifth, the QBs taking turns attempting to indicate the ending of “Inception” in the sixth, Jimbo Fisher’s nephew wrestling each and every crew’s recruiting coordinator in the seventh, after which it strikes to a handiest-of-three “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” with tubby “my mother” addendums in use.

Iron Bowl

What used to be at stake: Alabama hoped to preserve up its playoff hopes alive with a take. Auburn hoped to receive a bowl repeat with a take. Finebaum callers hoped to call for everybody to be fired on all sides.

Controversies: Alabama obtained, but when this used to be its assertion to the committee, it used to be not often an emphatic one. The Tide became the ball over four times — though Auburn became those takeaways into true six aspects — which skill the committee will wish to dive support into the secret file marked ” indicate why you are placing Alabama into the playoff yet again this time” sooner than releasing the closing rankings next weekend.

Waste consequence: Jalen Milroe accounted for 360 yards and three dashing touchdowns, and the Tide D held Jarquez Hunter to true 56 yards in the 28-14 take, their fifth straight in the Iron Bowl. The take helps spend some warmth off Kalen DeBoer, who has suffered some ignominious losses in his debut season. Auburn, on the opposite hand, has now completed with a losing anecdote in four straight years (and hasn’t obtained extra than six since 2019), one thing Hugh Freeze chalked as a lot as an uncomfortable aggregate of his gamers doing unimaginative issues and him being too appropriate at his job to smartly connect with gamers who cannot worship his genius.

Territorial Cup

What used to be at stake: Arizona Express would possibly probably per chance per chance receive a day stride back and forth to the Broad 12 title recreation with a take (with a chunk of assistance in other places), whereas Arizona would possibly probably per chance per chance strive and pause this recreation being played and as a substitute true mutter highlights of last season.

Controversies: In valid “Anchorman” vogue, issues escalated lickety-split: Arizona Express scored 49, Sam Leavitt threw three touchdowns, and the Solar Devils murdered the rivals with a trident.

ASU vegetation the fork in Arizona Stadium 😈🔱@ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/F1sU4qJugA

— FOX College Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024

Waste consequence: Kenny Dillingham has as appropriate a declare for coach of the 365 days as anybody in the country after turning this program spherical so lickety-split. The 49-7 take used to be a resounding salvage to a 10-2 season, and whereas the committee has yet to truly worship the Solar Devils’ résumé, it be extra than price consideration with or with out the conference championship. Arizona Express’s two losses got here by a blended 18 aspects. One got here with out its beginning QB. It has three wins over ranked (at recreation time) opponents. It has obtained 5 straight. It be laborious to argue there are 12 teams enjoying better football on the recent time than the Solar Devils.

Egg Bowl

What used to be at stake: Ole Miss gathered had flickering playoff hopes if sufficient chaos took dwelling increased in the rankings. Mississippi Express hoped to preserve away from a winless season in the SEC. The suitable news for the Bulldogs, though, is that they would possibly probably per chance additionally simply gathered salvage with eight quality losses to stay on the committee’s radar.

Controversies: No coach took the sphere riding an ATV, and no gamers notorious a landing by mimicking a dogs introducing itself to a fireplace hydrant. Seriously, if no one’s going to provide the opposing kicker a wedgie after a further point, why even anguish enjoying this rivals recreation?

Waste consequence: Mississippi Express led 14-10 on the cease of the first quarter, but the Bulldogs would possibly probably per chance per chance not earn any offense beyond that. Ulysses Bentley IV ran for 136 yards and a to find, and Ole Miss survived 26-14. A month in the past, it would possibly per chance probably per chance per chance’ve been not doubtless Lane Kiffin wasn’t either taking the Florida job or prepping for the playoff on Dec. 1. As a substitute, he’ll true be doing what so moderately a good deal of us shall be doing this week: resodding his lawn after Charlie Weis Jr.’s sick-fated strive and deep-fry a turkey.

Governor’s Cup

What used to be at stake: Louisville used to be having a survey to snap a 5-recreation losing drag in opposition to Kentucky whereas also securing the situation of “2nd ACC crew that blew a shot on the playoff by losing to Stanford.”

Controversies: Ale 8 is a mediocre ginger ale. There, we said it.

Waste consequence: Isaac Brown led the price with 178 dashing yards and a pair of rankings in the Playing cards’ 41-14 take. One of many nation’s top novices, Brown ends the bizarre season with 1,074 dashing yards, 12 entire touchdowns, almost 1,500 all-goal yards and a receive fourth-dwelling salvage in the Kentucky Oaks.

Florida-FSU

What used to be at stake: Florida would possibly probably per chance per chance salvage with seven wins and a contest take for the first time since 2021. Florida Express hoped that probably this entire season used to be true a dream and it would possibly per chance probably per chance per chance salvage as a lot as search out a healthy Jordan Travis ready to spend on the Gators in November 2023.

Controversies: After demoralizing Florida Express on the sphere, Florida tried to mark its territory, well-known to Mike Novell’s displeasure.

Waste consequence: Florida Express’s season began 100 days in the past, 4,000 miles correct through the Atlantic with a top-10 rating and broad expectations. Florida’s season began per week later with an emphatic loss to Miami and an assumption head coach Billy Napier would possibly probably per chance per chance be fired. What a difference a school football season makes. Florida’s protection held FSU to true 239 yards and obtained 31-11 in the support of two touchdowns from DJ Lagway. The Gators completed the bizarre season 7-5 with Napier’s job secured for 2025. Florida Express can now turn its attention support to its real passion: Proceedings.

Fremont Cannon

What used to be at stake: UNLV‘s faint playoff hopes gathered flickered, with a take placing the Rebels into the Mountain West championship recreation. Also the winner obtained tickets to stare Cher on the Bellagio.

Controversies: Be conscious when UNLV’s quarterback quit because he wanted money the faculty hadn’t paid, after which UNLV true inserted one other quarterback who used to be severely better? The lesson: The house repeatedly wins.

Waste consequence: Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 168 and ran for 135, accounting for 3 touchdowns in the 38-14 take over Nevada. The Rebels are now 10-2 with a rematch in opposition to Boise Express pending and a playoff berth on the line.

The Commonwealth Cup

What used to be at stake: Every teams would possibly probably per chance per chance be bowl certain with a take and also salvage entry to the loser’s coastline condo in Virginia Seaside. It be three blocks off the coastline, but there would possibly be a corn hole space in the support storage shed.

Controversies: Virginia Tech used to be enjoying with out its top two quarterbacks, whereas Virginia used to be enjoying with none real hopes of ever getting the upper hand on this rivals.

Waste consequence: Pop Watson threw for 254 yards and tallied two touchdowns whereas Bhayshul Tuten ran for 124 yards and two rankings in Virginia Tech’s 37-17 take. The Hokies will stride bowling and obtained the Commonwealth Cup for the 23rd time in the last 25 tries, but also truly feel kind of admire that meme of the fellow ignoring his girlfriend to secret agent at one other lady who would possibly probably per chance secret agent loads admire Shane Beamer.

Fight on the Bayou

What used to be at stake: Louisiana would possibly probably per chance per chance lock up a 10-take season and a berth in the Solar Belt championship, whereas Louisiana-Monroe wanted a take to salvage bowl eligible. Also, the loser has to let Louisiana Tech rupture on their couch this offseason.

Controversies: Why does Louisiana salvage to tumble the Lafayette and true stride by the whisper establish, but ULM has to preserve up the Monroe? This recreation ought to truly reach to a decision who will get to be “Louisiana” every 365 days and the opposite faculty has to transfer by ULM or ULL.

Waste consequence: Zylan Perry rushed for 150 yards and two rankings, and the Ragin’ Cajuns’ D picked off three passes in a 37-23 take. For ULM, it be a nerve-racking salvage to a season that started with the Warhawks at 5-1 but ended on a six-recreation losing drag.

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Geese dynasty

The No. 1 crew in the country would possibly probably even be the least intriguing at this point.

Oregon obtained yet again Saturday, 49-21 in opposition to Washington, to salvage the bizarre season at 12-0. Yawn.

Since its dramatic 32-31 take over Ohio Express on Oct. 12, the Geese own in most cases been the work-from-house guy who used to be advised he needed to begin going into the place of job yet again. They mutter up, swipe their badge, grab a espresso, whisper hi there to Denise in accounts receivable, Dillon Gabriel throws a pair touchdowns, then they’re house in time for “The Recognize.”

So it used to be Saturday, with Gabriel accounting for 3 touchdowns, Jordan James running for 99 yards, and the protection conserving Washington to 244 yards whereas racking up 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. The 10 sacks on this recreation were extra than rival Oregon Express has all season, which wants to be a enjoyable truth for Geese fans to elevate up with Beavers fans this vacation season.

Oregon now will get Penn Express in the Broad Ten title recreation, a outcomes of Ohio Express’s implosion in opposition to Michigan.

The Nittany Lions had no anguish with Maryland, earning a dominant 44-7 take capped by a 15-yard landing shuffle with out a time left on the clock that riled Mike Locksley.

It’ll additionally simply were a chunk of showmanship by Penn Express, but on the opposite hand, if James Franklin had blindfolded his QB, handed him a football, spun him spherical a dozen times, and despatched him on his design, he gathered would possibly probably per chance’ve scored on this Maryland protection.

The quiz now would possibly probably per chance per chance be whether or not or not Penn Express can give Oregon a real recreation after the Geese own obtained 5 of their last six by not not as a lot as 20 aspects. Franklin’s anecdote in huge games in opposition to top-10 opponents would possibly probably per chance additionally very smartly be one thing somebody ought to secret agent up sooner than the sport. There would possibly probably per chance per chance be a anecdote there.

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Pack stride bowling

Hollywood Smothers ran for two touchdowns, together with a 2-yarder with 25 seconds to play to receive a 35-30 take over North Carolina — NC Express‘s fourth straight in the rivals — and bowl eligibility for the Wolfpack.

Jacolby Criswell‘s 47-yard landing throw to Omarion Hampton with 1: 51 to play had given UNC a boring lead, but the Wolfpack engineered a six-play, 75-yard power for the take. Hampton completed with 185 dashing yards, 78 receiving yards and a pair of rankings, placing the ending touches on a season that will’ve had him in Heisman consideration if he played for anybody better than North Carolina.

This used to be the that you just can be in a situation to mediate of farewell for Mack Brown, too. In his 2nd tenure with the Heels, the faculty announced he would not be retained for 2025. This got here after he threatened to quit after a depressed loss to JMU this season, then insisted he’d return earlier this week. Now, Brown will retire to a lifetime of serene solitude, the keep he’ll work on his memoirs and have a tendency to his backyard except a ragtag bunch of UNC boosters near at his door in the 365 days 2039, insisting he reach out of retirement for one last job, at which period Brown will tip support his cowboy hat, gaze off into the heart distance, spend a swig from a bottle with a skull on the ticket and, in a gravelly, world-weary whisper, whine, “I’m in.”

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Authorized-season vibe shifts

We own now reached the cease of the bizarre season, and whereas each and per week has featured some seismic shifts in the college football landscape, some trends own simmered true beneath the skin. We’re having a survey support on those subtle, but critical, pattern lines as we build a bow on 2024.

Trending down: The Neighborhood of 5

Week 14 began with the Neighborhood of 5 in situation not most intriguing to spend a first-spherical playoff bye from the Broad 12, but in all likelihood swipe a 2nd playoff repeat, too. Tulane checked in ranked sooner than all Broad 12 teams other than for Arizona Express, but a trio of brutal turnovers deep in Memphis territory scuttled those playoff needs. The Tigers topped the Inexperienced Wave 34-24, successfully ceding the Neighborhood of 5’s playoff repeat to the Mountain West.

In some design, that the Neighborhood of 5 neglected out on a assertion opportunity to swipe a repeat from the Broad 12 ought to reach as no surprise. The filthy rich proceed to salvage richer in college football, and the line of demarcation has below no cases been wider. Despite San José Express‘s take over Stanford on Friday, the non-autonomy faculties completed with a woeful 9-88 anecdote in opposition to the Vitality 4 in the bizarre season — with out wretchedness the Neighborhood of 5’s worst efficiency in a protracted time.

Indeed, secret agent support on the 2004-2013 period, true sooner than the loss of life of the Broad East, and teams outdoors the BCS conferences upended the massive boys extra than 22% of the time. From 2014 through 2021 — put up realignment but sooner than the outcomes of NIL and the portal were fully felt — these teams gathered obtained 20% of the time. Over the last three years though, the non-energy faculties own true a .153 take percentage in opposition to the Vitality 4/5.

Trending up: Broad 12 sizzling seats

A month into the season, the freshest seat in the Broad 12 used to be at Baylor, the keep Dave Aranda’s Bears were 2-4. However Baylor has now obtained six straight after Saturday’s 45-17 thumping of Kansas. QB Sawyer Robertson has blossomed correct into a megastar, tossing four TDs in the take. He has made 66% of his throws with 17 landing passes, 4 picks and almost 1,600 yards passing correct through the take drag.

Aranda’s job is safe, but other coaches are now feeling the warmth.

After UCF became the ball over four times in a 28-14 loss to Utah, Gus Malzahn saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship to change into the offensive coordinator at Florida Express. Mixing Malzahn’s QB historical past with Florida Express’s stride of terrible QB play by anybody not named Jordan Travis truly objects the stage for transfer Thomas Castellanos to handbook the country with 106 interceptions next 365 days in Tallahassee.

Meanwhile, West Virginia‘s Neal Brown and Oklahoma Express‘s Mike Gundy did not exactly cease the 2024 season with fireworks.

Gundy’s Cowboys were steamrolled by Colorado 52-0 on Friday, ending the season 0-9 in Broad 12 play. Gundy is an institution at Oklahoma Express, and he’s the country’s 2nd-longest-serving head coach, but this season’s implosion would possibly probably per chance per chance be sufficient to convince all sides it be time for a silent delivery — admire going to the barbershop and at last trimming away an out-of-fashion haircut and attempting one thing fully new.

Brown used to be on the recent seat coming into 2023, but West Virginia completed a resplendent 9-4, apparently ending any speculation over Brown’s job security. However this season has been a chunk of a step support, with an gruesome loss to rival Pitt and a 52-15 trouncing in Saturday’s recreation in opposition to Texas Tech. West Virginia will stride to a bowl, but the expectations were well-known increased this season.

After which there would possibly be Scott Satterfield at Cincinnati. The Bearcats fell to TCU 20-13 on Saturday, their fifth straight loss to salvage 5-7 after a 5-2 delivery to the 365 days. Cincinnati is now 8-16 below Satterfield, together with a 4-14 mark in conference play.

Then yet again, all would possibly probably per chance per chance return and be in the Broad 12 title recreation in 2025 since the general conference is truly true admire enjoying roulette at 4 a.m. at a riverboat casino in Shreveport. There would possibly be no good judgment to what’s occurring, anybody can take huge and everybody looks to be kind of embarrassed to be there.

Trending down: Plan put up theft

Perchance the most inviting pattern of the season has been fans celebrating with the theft of goalposts — from Georgia Tech fans bringing the goalposts to a campus pond, to Arizona Express tearing down the goalposts, placing them support up when officials added time support onto the clock, then bringing them down yet again most intriguing to be taught there would possibly be no bodies of water in the desert whereby to deposit them.

However it indubitably used to be Tennessee and Vanderbilt who did the goalpost celebrations handiest in 2024.

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 16, 2022

Completely loss of life on the police helicopter evening imaginative and prescient of the Vandy goal posts going into the river… the children tumbling over each and every ledge 💀 pic.twitter.com/KoXmOnBTc7

— Christopher Oven (@Chris_Oven) October 8, 2024

On Saturday, the two met with loads on the line. Tennessee wanted a take to all but lock up a playoff berth. Vandy wanted a take to be definite a profitable season for the first time since 2013.

The Commodores jumped out to the early lead, on the opposite hand it used to be the Vols who notorious when it used to be over. Nico Iamaleava threw four touchdowns, Dylan Sampson ran for 178 yards and Tennessee overcame an early deficit with a 36-23 take over Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Tennessee, which used to be in a salvage-or-die anxiousness coming into Week 14, now would possibly probably per chance additionally very smartly be poised to host a playoff recreation after losses by Ohio Express and Miami.

Sadly, Vols fans did not scamper down the goalposts to own a fair appropriate time the probably playoff repeat, as making a huge thing of beating Vanderbilt is admire bragging about sparkling the general phrases to “Shake It Off.” It be nothing to thrill in with, and it be for trudge going to harm your recognition with the opposite dads. And no, this will not be a non-public anecdote, so pause asking.

Holding regular: Broad Ten custom

This used to be supposed to be the 365 days the Broad Ten lastly developed correct into a conference with contemporary offenses. Wisconsin and Purdue had Air Raid coordinators, Penn Express brought in Andy Kotelnicki to rejuvenate its attack, four teams arrived from the Pac-12 and Iowa installed a new recreation realizing to interchange Brian Ferentz’s playbook that used to be true 23 pages repeating the sentence, “What if punts?”

So, how’d it stride?

Successfully, safe to remark somewhere Ferentz is reenacting the Leo DiCaprio meme from “As soon as Upon a Time… In Hollywood,” pointing at his TV and yelling, “What if punts!”

On Friday, Iowa obtained its eighth recreation of the season — one fewer than it had a 365 days in the past with Ferentz calling performs, in spite of scoring 120 extra aspects — by beating Nebraska 13-10 with true 5 first downs and 164 entire yards.

5 first downs. Received. Sure. pic.twitter.com/SqQxkpcst8

— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) November 30, 2024

Iowa completed eight passes, averaged 1.9 yards per stride, and would possibly probably per chance simply own paused the third quarter for a community nap time, and yet it gathered obtained because this is what the Broad Ten is all about. Oh, and also because Nebraska well-liked the Broad Ten’s terms and cases with out reading them and did not comprehend it be now completely barred from profitable a end recreation. The loss used to be the Huskers’ 23rd by a TD or less in the past four seasons.

As for the remainder of the league?

Those Air Raid coordinators at Wisconsin and Purdue were each and every fired. The brand new Pac-12 teams all averaged fewer aspects per recreation in conference play in 2024 than 2023 and, cumulatively, averaged 10 fewer aspects per recreation in Broad Ten play than they’d in the Pac-12 in 2023. Penn Express is headed to the Broad Ten title recreation, but gathered did not attain an offensive TD in opposition to Ohio Express and completed the bizarre season with 46 fewer aspects than it had last 365 days.

And all of those numbers add as a lot as this: It be not Ryan Day’s fault. This league true hates teams that strive and attain.

Trending down: Put up-recreation routines

This season, we learned that Syracuse coach Fran Brown punishes himself after losses by refusing to bathe because, as he notorious, “washing is for winners.”

We also learned that Oklahoma coach Brent Venables notorious his take over Alabama by spending $94 at Taco Bell, an quantity that we hope also included the colonoscopy.

Sure, this forces us to hunt recordsdata from several huge questions.

For one, had Syracuse lost to Miami on Saturday, would Brown own long gone bathe-free except the bowl recreation? Thankfully, he did not have to reply that, as Syracuse prevailed 42-38 over Miami, intriguing to 9-3 in Brown’s first season as head coach. Had it not been for a brutal loss to Stanford, the Orange would own an engaging playoff résumé, together with two wins over ranked opponents and a day stride back and forth to the ACC title recreation in the offing.

One other: How well-known is too well-known money to disclose at Taco Bell? Clearly $94 is too well-known, as the excessive fats bean burritos had Venables off his recreation Saturday in Oklahoma’s 37-17 loss to LSU. After the sport, Venables announced he would punish himself for the efficiency by ingesting $1.99 price of meals from Arby’s.

Trending up: Stadium naming rights

Sooner than the season kicked off, Pitbull sold the naming rights to Florida Global‘s house field, changing from its feeble establish, “No, no, Here’s FIU; You would possibly probably per chance additionally very smartly be Buying for FAU’s Stadium; Yeah, It be About an Hour North, Accurate Rob the Turnpike to 95 to Exit 48” Area.

Seems, it used to be a gleaming funding for Mr. 305. FIU toppled Heart Tennessee 35-24 on Saturday, intriguing to 4-2 on the 365 days at Pitbull Stadium, whereas ending 0-6 on the avenue.

With this in tips, Kent Express shall be selling stadium naming rights to its stadium to its most iconic local musicians, Devo. Next season the Golden Flashes helmets will all true be those queer red Mayan-temple-formed hats from the “Whip It” video.

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Below-the-radar play of the week

Maalik Murphy screwed up the closing play of regulations in Duke‘s recreation in opposition to Wake Wooded space, but he and receiver Jordan Moore improvised a chunk, turning a 5-yard route correct into a recreation-profitable 39-yard landing with out a time left on the clock, upending Wake Wooded space 23-17.

— ACC Community (@accnetwork) November 30, 2024

The Blue Devils completed the sport with 5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, one other stellar day for what has blossomed into one in every of the most aggressive defenses in the country.

Duke finishes the bizarre season 9-3 with four wins vs. teams within the whisper of North Carolina (Elon, UNC, NC Express and Wake) in Manny Diaz’s first season in Durham.

And if Cooper Flagg mentions any of this in his next news conference, Duke fans shall be very livid to search out out about it for the first time.

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Below-the-radar recreation of the week

Be pleased “Horrifying,” Saturday’s Jacksonville Express–Western Kentucky recreation used to be true three hours of backstory to space the stage for the extra critical sequel.

In disagreement to “Horrifying,” this one truly had a thrilling ending (though sadly it did not involve Rich Rodriguez belting out “Defying Gravity”).

Caden Veltkamp, whose establish sounds admire he wants to be the heir to a household tuna-canning dynasty but is truly the QB at Western Kentucky, led a 10-play, 44-yard power in the closing two minutes, and Lucas Carneiro drilled a 50-yard field goal with three seconds final to receive a 19-17 take.

That field goal secured WKU’s dwelling in the Conference USA title recreation in opposition to … Jacksonville Express.

Had Jacksonville Express prevailed, Sam Houston Express would’ve made the title recreation. As a substitute, the Hilltoppers own a shot to take the league for the first time since 2016.