2023-24 College Football: Week 13 Review

While there was a full slate of rivalry games to keep our attention throughout the holiday weekend, it felt like there was only one game that mattered. It also happens to be The Game. The battle between Michigan and Ohio State had implications for just about everyone at the top of the rankings. Elsewhere, several teams looked to clinch spots in conference title games, while others looked to carry some momentum into their big games. No matter who is playing and no matter the venue, there is guaranteed to be some chaos during the final weekend of the regular season. 

Game of the Week- #3 Michigan 30, #2 Ohio State 24 (Ann Arbor, MI)

No matter the result, this was the game I was going to talk about because of how important it was to the endgame of the season. This was for the division crown, a berth in the conference title game, and a great shot to make the College Football Playoff. There was so much pressure on everyone involved. Michigan never trailed in the game, with Ohio State only able to tie the game in the third quarter. The stars for both teams showed out. Blake Corum ran for two touchdowns. Marvin Harrison Jr. went for 118 yards and a touchdown. Both quarterbacks had solid moments. The difference in the game was Ohio State's turnovers. An early Kyle McCord interception led to Corum's first score of the game. A late interception iced the game. Add a missed field goal at the end of the second half, and it doomed Ohio State to lose to Michigan for the third straight meeting. It likely takes the Buckeyes out of playoff contention while giving Michigan the inside track to make the playoff, assuming they beat Iowa. 

Upset of the Week- Iowa State 42, #19 Kansas State 35 (Manhattan, KS)

It's a good thing this loss didn't cost Kansas State a shot at the Big 12 Championship Game. After Oklahoma beat TCU on Friday, the Wildcats were eliminated from contention, but there was still plenty to play for. Iowa State isn't a bad team. In fact, they had a similar record in the conference. Regardless, Kansas State opened as a sizeable favorite over the Cyclones. This was all about big games for Iowa State. Rocco Becht only completed eight passes for 230 yards, but Jaylin Noel caught 160 yards of it, including a pair of touchdowns. Abu Sama III ran for 276 yards and three scores. Kansas State controlled the ball for more than 2/3 of the game but couldn't find an answer in the final eight minutes to take the loss in their finale. 

Other Notable Games

#8 Alabama 27, Auburn 24 (Auburn, AL)

We were so close to shutting down talks about Alabama making the College Football Playoff. Down four in the final minutes, miscommunication on a snap sent Alabama back 18 yards on their final drive, and an illegal forward pass put the Crimson Tide on the Auburn 31 with one play left. Auburn had so many players back to defend a deep pass. Instead, Jalen Milroe was able to find just enough space to hit Isaiah Bond in the corner of the endzone for the win. The defense stepped up and forced their third turnover of the game to seal the win going into the SEC Championship Game. 

#6 Oregon 31, #15 Oregon State 7 (Eugene, OR)

Bo Nix stepped on the field in Eugene for the last time and dominated Oregon State. He finished with nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns as the Ducks ran away with the game in the second half. Oregon's defense played a huge part in the win, too. DJ Uiagalelei never got into a groove, and the Beavers' run game against the Ducks was almost non-existent. Oregon punched its ticket to the PAC-12 Championship Game, setting up a highly-anticipated rematch with Washington. 

#21 Oklahoma State 40, BYU 34 (2OT) (Stillwater, OK)

This game had extreme momentum swings all afternoon, and it looked like Oklahoma State was destined to cough up its spot in the conference title game. After two early field goals by the Cowboys, BYU scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-6 lead into halftime. Ollie Gordon II took over the second half, scoring three touchdowns to put Oklahoma State ahead with 53 seconds left, but a blocked PAT allowed BYU to go down the field and tie it to force overtime. Both teams scored in the first overtime, but Gordon II scored his fifth touchdown of the game in the second overtime to clinch second in the conference. 

Kentucky 38, #9 Louisville 31 (Louisville, KY)

With the ACC Championship a week away, Louisville appeared to be in a decent position. Then, Ray Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats came to town with bad intentions. Both offenses exploded in the second half. Louisville led 24-14 late in the third quarter, but 17 unanswered points allowed Kentucky to take a 31-24 lead a little before halfway through the fourth. Jack Plummer got the Cardinals back even with 2:33 left, but Davis took a 37-yard run to the house to put Kentucky ahead for good. This was not an encouraging sign heading into a matchup with Florida State in Charlotte next Saturday. 

My Top 25

1. Georgia (12-0, W 31-23 Georgia Tech) (-)

2. Michigan (12-0, W 30-24 #2 Ohio State) (-)

3. Washington (12-0, W 24-21 Washington State) (-)

4. Florida State (12-0, W 24-15 Florida) (-)

If the season ended today, the four undefeated Power 5 teams should be in the College Football Playoff. All four of them have conference title games left to play, but if they all win, there's no reason why this shouldn't be the Top 4. There are already conversations about whether a one-loss Texas or Alabama should make it over an undefeated Florida State without Jordan Travis. If Florida State is 13-0 after winning the ACC Championship, they deserve to be in the playoff, regardless of Texas and Alabama's performances. 

5. Oregon (11-1, W 31-7 #15 Oregon State) (+1)

6. Texas (11-1, W 57-7 Texas Tech) (+1)

7. Alabama (11-1, W 27-24 Auburn) (+1)

The fringes of the College Football Playoff are just as interesting as the Top 4 if not more. All three teams will play next weekend, with only Texas not facing a team currently in the playoff. Oregon is the most likely team to jump into the Top 4, should they beat Washington. Texas is the most interesting case because they could make a good argument if they beat Oklahoma State. I don't think Alabama has a strong enough case, even if they beat Georgia next weekend. I think it's still more likely that Georgia will make the playoffs if they lose to Alabama. Their loss to Texas at the beginning of the season should mean something. 

8. Ohio State (11-1, L 30-24 #3 Michigan) (-3)

In all seriousness, I don't think Ohio State deserves to drop this far. However, the seven teams I've ranked above them all play next weekend, while Ohio State sits at home following another loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes are an excellent team who barely lost, but it's still a loss. This loss should take them out of playoff contention. They won't have a conference championship to back up their case. At least two teams ahead of them are guaranteed to win next weekend, while Michigan, Florida State, and Texas will all be favored. They had a great run, but this should do it for them. 

9. Missouri (10-2, W 48-14 Arkansas) (-)

10. Oklahoma (10-2, W 69-45 TCU) (+1)

11. Penn State (10-2, W 42-0 Michigan State) (+1)

12. Ole Miss (10-2, W 17-7 Mississippi State) (+1)

13. LSU (9-3, W 42-30 Texas A&M) (+1)

14. Arizona (9-3, W 59-23 Arizona State) (+1)

Louisville's loss to Kentucky helped everyone slide up a spot except for Missouri, who sticks at #9 after a dominant performance over Arkansas. Missouri and Ole Miss still could theoretically make it to a New Year's 6 bowl game. Oklahoma and Arizona each fell short in their efforts to make it to their conference title games, but it wasn't for a lack of trying, both winning big in their finales. Jayden Daniels put an exclamation point on what could be a Heisman campaign in the team's win over Texas A&M. 

15. Iowa (10-2, W 13-10 Nebraska) (+4)

16. Tulane (11-1, W 29-16 UTSA) (+2)

17. Louisville (10-2, L 38-31 Kentucky) (-7)

18. Notre Dame (9-3, W 56-23 Stanford) (+2)

19. Toledo (11-1, W 32-17 Central Michigan) (+3)

20. NC State (9-3, W 39-20 North Carolina) (+9)

Iowa got the biggest boost among teams already in the rankings, moving up four spots heading into a date with Michigan next Saturday. Tulane continued its push for a high bowl game representing the Group of 5. They clinched their spot in the ACC Championship Game, knocking off a UTSA who was also undefeated in conference play. Louisville took a steep drop down the ranking with its loss to Kentucky. Any momentum they'd seemingly earned with the Jordan Travis injury took a hit. Notre Dame and Toledo each saw slight moves up the rankings, while NC State punctuated an incredible end to their season with a blowout win over North Carolina. 

21. Liberty (12-0, W 42-28 UTEP) (-)

22. Oklahoma State (9-3, W 40-34 (2OT) BYU) (+1)

23. Oregon State (8-4, L 31-7 #6 Oregon) (-7)

24. SMU (10-2, W 59-14 Navy) (+1)

25. Tennessee (8-4, W 48-24 Vanderbilt) (+5)

Liberty's perfect season survived another week. While it's unlikely to mean anything, they'll get a chance to extend it in the C-USA Championship Game. Oklahoma State needed a minor miracle to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, but they got the job done. Oregon State took a tumble down the board with a rough end to their regular season. SMU will meet Tulane next Saturday for conference supremacy, and they could be a sneaky team to unseat the other Group of 5 teams for a big bowl bid. Tennessee moves back into the Top 25 after an incredible performance by Joe Milton III against Vanderbilt. 

The Next 5

26. James Madison (11-1, W 56-14 Coastal Carolina) (-)

27. Clemson (8-4, W 17-6 South Carolina) (-)

28. Kansas State (8-4, L 42-35 Iowa State) (-11)

29. Troy (10-2, W 35-17 Southern Miss) (NR)

30. Miami (OH) (10-2, W 17-15 Ball State) (NR)

Conference Championship Week Preview

1. PAC-12 Championship- #3 Washington vs. #5 Oregon (Las Vegas, NV)

If Washington wins, they should be guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. At 13-0, and with two wins over Oregon, the Huskies will prove to be the best team in the best conference in 2023.

If Oregon wins, it should be enough for them to move into the Top 4. They barely lost to Washington the first time, so 12-1 should be enough to get Bo Nix and the Ducks into the playoff as at least the #4 team. 

Prediction- This is the game with the most on the line. Plus, it's the most exciting game, period. Having this on a Friday night is perfect, as it will set the stage for Saturday and put pressure on the teams playing on Saturday. It's hard to beat the same team twice, and I have more faith in the Ducks to get the job done on this stage. Oregon 41, Washington 38

2. SEC Championship- #1 Georgia vs. #8 Alabama (Atlanta, GA)

If Georgia wins, they prove they're the best team in the country as they aim for a third straight title. They'll likely get their pick for the semifinals, and they'll likely select the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. 

If Alabama wins, they'll need a little help to jump into the Top 4, but it's not entirely out of the picture. I still don't think they deserve to get in over a one-loss Texas, so losses by Texas and Florida State would help.  

Prediction- Both teams survived tight rivalry games on the road to end the season, but that won't have any bearing on this game. Alabama has the most to gain and the least to lose in this one. Jalen Milroe has come on in the last several weeks and turned into an outstanding quarterback, but I don't know if he's ready for Georgia's defense. The Bulldogs aren't as strong as in recent seasons, but they're the best until someone proves otherwise. Georgia 30, Alabama 24

3. ACC Championship- #4 Florida State vs. #15 Louisville (Charlotte, NC)

If Florida State wins, they should absolutely be guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff at 13-0. They have completed a perfect season to this point and won a conference title. What more could the committee want?

If Louisville wins, they earn a spot in the Orange Bowl, but that's about it. Even without the loss to Kentucky, I'm not sure Louisville would have anything else to fight for, given the teams ahead of them. 

Prediction- Not having Jordan Travis for this game stings, and the status of Tate Rodemaker after leaving the Florida game will be something to pay close attention to. I think the Seminoles have heard the noise from the analysts who think they don't deserve to be in the Top 4 without Travis and take it to heart against Louisville. They have plenty of big-time players who will make a difference en route to a conference title. Florida State 31, Louisville 20

4. Big 12 Championship- #7 Texas vs. #19 Oklahoma State (Arlington, TX)

If Texas wins, they need at least two teams ahead of them to fall, which might not be as complicated as you think. The Longhorns are in a decent spot, and one of Washington and Oregon is guaranteed to lose, so they could sneak in with some help. 

If Oklahoma State wins, they'll get a New Year's 6 bowl game, and that's it. The Cowboys are a little lucky to be in this spot, given how their season has shaped out. I'm not counting them out yet, but my hopes aren't high. 

Prediction- Texas is another team with everything to gain and nothing to lose. If they win the Big 12 Championship, they'll have an excellent piece to add to their resume, along with a road win in Tuscaloosa. They haven't been the most consistent teams down the stretch, but neither has their opponent. The Cowboys have shown sprinkles of magic this season, like their win over Oklahoma, but Texas will prove to be too strong. Texas 41, Oklahoma State 27

5. Big Ten Championship- #2 Michigan vs. #18 Iowa (Indianapolis, IN)

If Michigan wins, the Wolverines will guarantee themselves a Top 2 spot, most likely playing in the Rose Bowl if Georgia is #1. They'll prove they're a legitimate threat to dethrone Georgia despite all of the other things going on around them. 

If Iowa wins, it'll be after 1,000 punts in a low-scoring game. I don't think many people are giving the Hawkeyes much of a chance against Michigan, which would be valid if their offense scored more than 15 points in a game. 

Prediction- Having Jim Harbaugh back on the sidelines for the Big Ten Championship will be a welcome addition to the team. Michigan has all of the offensive weapons to get the job done, but Iowa doesn't give up much. JJ McCarthy was better against Ohio State, but he'll need to be the X-Factor for Michigan to defeat Iowa's defense. Michigan 36, Iowa 17

6. AAC Championship- #17 Tulane vs. #25 SMU (New Orleans, LA)

Of the five Group of 5 title games, this has the most on the line, especially for Tulane. The Green Wave is the highest-ranked team from any of the conferences, meaning a win for Tulane could send them to a New Year's 6 bowl game against one of the best teams in the country. 

Prediction- Tulane 31, SMU 30

7. Sun Belt Championship- Troy vs. Appalachian State (Troy, AL)

It stinks that we won't get to see James Madison in this game due to restrictions after moving to the FBS, but this still is a promising matchup in the Sun Belt. Appalachian State has been on a tear of late, winning five straight, including a victory over the Dukes. 

Prediction- Troy 27, Appalachian State 20

8. C-USA Championship- #20 Liberty vs. New Mexico State (Lynchburg, VA)

A perfect season is on the line when New Mexico State storms into Lynchburg to face Liberty. The Aggies are a few weeks removed from defeating Auburn at Jordan-Hare and will look to atone for their loss to Liberty at the beginning of the season. 

Prediction- New Mexico State 37, Liberty 34

9. MAC Championship- #23 Toledo vs. Miami (OH) (Detroit, MI)

The MAC-tion is going to be big when the two best in the conference collide at Ford Field. Toledo brings an undefeated conference record into the game, while Miami is seeking revenge for their only loss in conference play to the Rockets in late October.  

Prediction- Toledo 38, Miami (OH) 27

10. Mountain West Championship- Boise State vs. UNLV (Las Vegas, NV)

Heading into Sunday, we still didn't know who would be playing in the Mountain West Championship Game after Boise State, San Jose State, and UNLV all finished tied at 6-2 in conference play. Computer rankings determined the matchup, with Boise State and UNLV serving as the lucky teams. 

Prediction- UNLV 34, Boise State 24