Another Rivalry Week is in the books, and true to form, it delivered enough chaos and upheaval to last us until bowl season. Georgia and Georgia Tech battled through eight overtimes in a instant classic. Ohio State and Miami, both firmly in the College Football Playoff picture, suffered devastating losses. Even the games lacking playoff implications still packed plenty of drama. Let’s count down the 20 best games from the wildest weekend of the 2024 season.
No. 7 Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 42 (8OT)
In a game that will be remembered for years to come, Georgia outlasted Georgia Tech in a marathon eight-overtime thriller. The Bulldogs’ playoff hopes hung in the balance as the teams traded touchdowns and missed two-point conversions deep into the night. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King was magnificent in defeat, accounting for 563 total yards and five touchdowns. But the Bulldogs made one final defensive stand to secure their spot in the playoff field.
No. 15 South Carolina 17, No. 12 Clemson 14
The Gamecocks notched their second straight win at Clemson, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive in the process. Despite mustering only one sack against Cade Klubnik, the South Carolina defense came up with a huge interception late to seal the victory. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers accounted for 339 total yards and two scores to lead the way.
Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 10
In the weekend’s biggest stunner, Michigan went into the Horseshoe and knocked off Ohio State, likely relegating the Buckeyes to a road game in the playoff. Buckeye quarterback Will Howard struggled against the Wolverine defense, throwing two costly interceptions. The loss ramped up speculation about Ryan Day’s job security and showed that Ohio State still hasn’t solved its Michigan problem.
Syracuse 42, No. 6 Miami 38
The Hurricanes’ thrilling but flawed season finally caught up to them in a crushing loss to Syracuse. Miami raced out to a 21-0 lead but couldn’t hold it as the Orange rallied for the upset. The loss knocked Miami out of the ACC title game and put its playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. It also likely cost quarterback Cam Ward, who threw for 349 yards in defeat, a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist.
Other thrillers from the weekend included:
- Iowa using a last-second field goal to beat Nebraska 13-10 for the second straight year
- A wild finish in the FCS playoffs that saw Missouri State block a last-second field goal to upset No. 7 Eastern Kentucky
- Duke stunning Wake Forest on a wide-open touchdown pass with no time left
- Arizona State humiliating Arizona 49-7 in an outcome few saw coming
When the dust settled, Oregon, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame found themselves in position to claim the top four seeds, according to our BCS-style rating system. But with championship weekend still to come, there’s time for a few more plot twists in what has already been a unforgettable season.
“This is the best and most unpredictable Rivalry Week I can remember,” said one Power 5 coach. “At this point, absolutely nothing would surprise me.”
One thing is for certain: after the madness we witnessed in Week 14, nearly anything seems possible as we head into the final weekend of the 2024 college football season. Buckle up and enjoy the ride – if Rivalry Week was any indication, the fireworks are just getting started.
