Just when you thought the college football season couldn’t get any wilder, along comes Week 13 to remind us that chaos is the only true constant in this sport. In a weekend filled with stunning upsets, fallen Cinderellas, and “wait, WHAT just happened?!” moments, the race for the College Football Playoff was turned on its head.
SEC Powers Stunned by Underdogs
The mighty SEC, long assumed to be stacking the playoff field, instead spent Week 13 stacking up losses to unranked foes. It started with Florida toppling No. 9 Ole Miss 24-17, knocking the Rebels out of SEC title and playoff contention. The Gators, left for dead just a month ago, played spoiler behind a stout defense that intercepted Jaxson Dart twice in crunch time.
Not to be outdone, Oklahoma shocked No. 7 Alabama 24-3, holding the normally high-powered Tide to a mere field goal. Unranked Texas A&M nearly mounted a furious comeback against Auburn but fell short in a four-overtime thriller. Add it all up, and the SEC’s playoff picture got a whole lot murkier.
Midnight Strikes for Cinderellas
Entering Week 13, the feel-good stories of undefeated Indiana, Colorado, and Army had crashed the playoff chat. By day’s end, all three saw their perfect records—and playoff hopes—shattered.
Ohio State crushed Indiana’s dream 38-15, overpowering the Hoosiers with a relentless pass rush. Back from the dead, Kansas demolished Colorado 34-14 behind a monster day from Devin Neal. And Notre Dame ran roughshod over Army, extinguishing the Black Knights’ Cinderella run.
“Obviously a tough loss for our guys today. But I could not be more proud of what this team has accomplished. The future remains bright in Bloomington.”
– Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on whether the Hoosiers deserve playoff consideration at 10-1
Miami Rebounds, Notre Dame Surges
While many contenders struggled, No. 10 Miami found its footing again with a dominant 42-14 win over Wake Forest. Criticized for narrow escapes against lesser foes, the Canes looked the part of a playoff team in the second half, reeling off 22 points in the final eight minutes behind QB Cam Ward.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame won its eighth straight in a 40-10 rout of Army. The Irish have won those games by an average of 32 points and look primed for a playoff push if they can upset USC next week.
Wild Week Shakes Up Heisman Race
The topsy-turvy Week 13 action extended to the Heisman Trophy chase, where frontrunners saw mixed results:
- Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty topped 2,000 yards on the season but saw his team struggle to a narrow win over Wyoming.
- Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter dazzled again with two TDs and a pick but couldn’t prevent an upset loss.
- Miami QB Cam Ward overcame a slow start to account for three second-half TDs in the Canes’ blowout.
With one week left and no clear favorite, college football’s most prestigious award appears to be anyone’s for the taking. Can a Cinderella like Jeanty crash the party, or will a surging Ward make a closing argument?
Playoff Picture Remains Murky
So after 13 weeks of upsets, plot twists, and “I did not see THAT coming” results, where do things stand? The truth is, with many conferences still to play their championship games and several contenders sporting one or more losses, the playoff field looks as wide-open as ever.
Ohio State and Oregon passed tough tests to stay in control of their own destinies. The Big Ten and ACC look like one-bid leagues at this point. Notre Dame and the Pac-12 champion could crash the party. And the SEC, while always dangerous, suddenly seems more vulnerable than invincible.
The only certainty? Expect the unexpected. Week 13 delivered haymakers to conventional wisdom and flipped the script for many a contender. With one last chance to make a closing argument, who will rise above the fray to seize a coveted final four spot? We’ll find out soon enough. Buckle up for a wild ride to the finish.
