Four losses in the top 10 highlight the final week of the regular season in this week’s Power Rankings.
All season we wait for rivalry week and it never disappoints.
Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus for the first time since 2000 and it was merely just the beginning of a day full of chaos in the top 10.
Clemson fell to rival South Carolina, all but ending any College Football Playoff hopes for the Tigers. LSU followed suit, losing to a 5-7 Texas A&M team, which likely ends any hope of the SEC sending two teams to the four-team playoff field.
Out west, Oregon lost to rival Oregon State, spoiling any hopes of a Rose Bowl for the Ducks in Dan Lanning’s first season at the helm in Eugene.
But while upsets may have highlighted the day, top teams such as Georgia, TCU and USC all took care of business ahead of conference championship week.
And with that, the regular season comes to an end. Don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened. Oh, and check out this week’s Power Rankings.
It was a slow start Saturday for the Bulldogs, who also stumbled around on offense a week earlier in a 16-6 win over Kentucky. But after falling behind 7-0 to nonconference rival Georgia Tech, Georgia reeled off 37 unanswered points and cruised to a 37-14 victory at Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs‘ 26th straight regular-season win dating to the end of the 2020 season. Georgia, which did give up a first-quarter touchdown to the Yellow Jackets, was stifling after that on defense. The Bulldogs haven’t allowed more than 22 points in any game this season and have given up 14 or fewer points eight times. — Chris Low
Up next: SEC championship game vs. LSU (Mercedes-Benz Dome, Atlanta, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS)
After falling behind early, No. 1 Georgia scores 30 straight points as QB Stetson Bennett throws for two touchdowns in the 37-14 win over the Yellow Jackets.
Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus for the first time since 2000 in a convincing 45-23 win. The Wolverines had just 10 rushing yards in the first half, but finished the game with 252 total rushing yards. Running back Donovan Edwards had 170 yards rushing in the fourth quarter alone and his 216 rushing yards for the game are the second-most all-time by a Michigan player against Ohio State. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy connected on three passing touchdowns of 45 yards or more in the game and had a rushing touchdown of his own in the dominant win for the Wolverines. — Tom VanHaaren
Up next: Big Ten championship game vs. Purdue (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)
The Horned Frogs completed a magical — and highly unlikely — 12-0 regular season with perhaps their most complete, dominating performance of the season. TCU put up a stunning 62 points on an Iowa State defense that was allowing 16.5 points per game and had only allowed Baylor to score more than 30 points this year. They did it with two Kendre Miller rushing TDs, three Max Duggan TD passes, two pick-sixes and a 62-yard kickoff return that set up another score. It was just the performance the Horned Frogs needed going into the Big 12 title game next week, allowing them to rest banged-up star receiver Quentin Johnston and get backups some needed playing time. — Dave Wilson
Up next: Big 12 championship game vs. Kansas State (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, Saturday, noon ET, ABC/ESPN app)
In some ways, the Trojans didn’t need to put on a show for the committee against Notre Dame given that no. 5 LSU lost and two wins would likely be enough to make it into the playoff field. Caleb Williams had other ideas and a Heisman to win. Despite the 38-27 score, the Trojans controlled the game from start to finish thanks to more daring plays by Williams and more takeaways by a defense that now has 25 this season. The Irish couldn’t keep up and now USC has an 11-1 regular season after going 4-8 last year and the turnaround isn’t over yet. — Paolo Uggetti
Up next: Pac-12 championship game vs. Utah (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)
It took until the final game of the regular season, but Alabama finally put together a complete game offensively when it beat Auburn at home 49-27 to win the Iron Bowl. Jahmyr Gibbs, Jase McClellan and the running game accounted for 173 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Bryce Young was sharp in the passing game, throwing for 343 yards and three scores — with all three going to different receivers in Ja’Corey Brooks, Traeshon Holden and McClellan. — Scarborough
Up next: Bowl game
After getting snowed over by Michigan in 2021, Ohio State pointed to The Game as a chance for redemption and progress. But the defensive strides made under first-year coordinator Jim Knowles blew up on the Buckeyes, who allowed five touchdowns of 45 yards or longer and four of 69 yards or longer to J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards and the Wolverines. „Way too many big plays,“ coach Ryan Day said. Ohio State lost a chance to compete for a Big Ten championship and quarterback C.J. Stroud slipped in the Heisman Trophy race, despite passing for 349 yards in what was likely his final game at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan at home for the first time since 2000 and saw their 29-game Big Ten home win streak snapped. — Adam Rittenberg
Up next: Bowl game
The Vols were embarrassed a week ago in a blowout loss at South Carolina and were clearly hell-bent on taking out that embarrassment on somebody. That somebody was Vanderbilt. Backup quarterback Joe Milton III, filling in for the injured Hendon Hooker, led a balanced attack, and Tennessee cruised to a 56-0 romp over the Commodores in a game that was never in doubt. As much as anything, Tennessee’s defense took out some frustration Saturday after giving up 63 points and 606 yards last week to the Gamecocks. — Low
Up next: Bowl game
Sixth-year senior quarterback Sean Clifford’s four touchdown passes on senior day helped stave off Michigan State’s late push as Penn State won 35-16 on Saturday.
