Breakdown of Week 13 College Football Games with AP Week 14 Rankings

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Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Rivalry week in Division I football did not disappoint ending the season on an exciting note. While some teams are still crying foul over their losses, regardless, the conference championship games are set in four of the five Power Conferences with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State left to battle it out in the Big 12 in Week 14.

ACC

The highlights were three non-conference wins for ACC teams over SEC competition with Florida State pouncing Florida 31-13, Clemson nailing South Carolina 56-7, and Georgia Tech adding a dagger into Kirby Smart’s first season in Athens with a 28-27 win over Georgia. Kentucky did score an upset knocking off Louisville 41-38 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Virginia Tech toppled in-state rival Virginia 52-10 to stamp their ticket to the ACC Championship Game setting up a meeting with Clemson. Clemson and Virginia Tech did not face one another in the regular season.

Big 12

The Big 12 has one more week left before their regular season is completed but a big move came in Austin after Texas lost 31-9 to TCU at home. Head coach Charlie Strong was given a Lone Star State boot in favor of Houston head coach Tom Herman, who lost on the road to Memphis 48-44.

Baylor continued their slide with a 54-35 loss to Texas Tech. Kansas State beat Kansas 34-19 and West Virginia added another win stopping Iowa State 49-19 in Ames.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will battle it out on Saturday for the Big 12 Conference title.

Big Ten

The biggest game of the week was in the Big Ten with then- No. 3 Michigan traveling to face No. 2 Ohio State. The Buckeyes came out on top 30-27 in double-overtime dropping the Wolverines from the College Football Playoff, at least for now.

Penn State did what they had to do to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating a visiting Michigan State team 45-12. Wisconsin held up their end of the deal downing a visiting Minnesota team 31-17.

While many may feel that Michigan and Ohio State are the two best teams in the Big Ten, neither are playing for the conference championship. That honor is going to Penn State and Wisconsin. Penn State and Wisconsin did not face each other in the regular season.

Pac-12

What was being hyped as a competitive Apple Cup turned into a no thrills affair with Washington easily defeating Washington State 45-17. Colorado won the Pac-12 South topping Utah 27-22 at home. The Buffaloes will get a chance to prove their playoff worth against Washington on Friday. CU’s two losses this season came against Michigan (45-28) and USC (21-17).

USC finished the regular season strong taking down a visiting Notre Dame team 45-27. Arizona whipped in-state rival Arizona State 56-35 and UCLA lost on the road to Cal 36-10. Stanford staked a bigger claim in the AP Top 25 by beating Rice 41-17 in non-conference action.

The surprise game of the weekend may have been Oregon State’s 34-24 win over Oregon. Ducks’ head coach Mark Helfrich may have called his last game for Oregon.

SEC

The SEC, as a whole, had a really bad weekend. On top of the three non-conference losses to ACC teams, then- No. 17 Tennessee lost 45-34 to Vanderbilt and Arkansas lost a 28-24 stunner to Missouri. Mississippi State’s 55-20 win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl assured the Rebels would not go bowling. Missouri, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State each failed to hit the needed six-win total for a bowl invite. Vanderbilt’s win over Tennessee gave the SEC a surprising bowl eligible team at 6-6.

LSU manhandled Texas A&M 54-39 in College Station paving way for head coach Ed Orgeron to take the interim label off his title to new head coach of the Tigers.

The game that could have been trouble for Alabama turned out to be an easier than expected 30-12 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama will face Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. The Gators and Crimson Tide did not square off during the regular season.

Games of Note

Tom Herman did not give Houston fans a going away gift with the Cougars loss to Memphis. Boise State stumbled 27-20 on the road against Air Force. The loss knocks the Broncos out of the Mountain West Championship Game giving way for San Diego State (9-3) and Wyoming (8-4).

Western Michigan remained undefeated with a 55-35 takedown of Toledo. Western Michigan will face Ohio in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Friday.

Top Week 14 Games

Friday

Western Michigan (12-0) vs. Ohio Bobcats (8-4) – MAC Championship Game

Colorado (10-2) vs. Washington (11-1) – Pac-12 Championship Game

Saturday

Oklahoma State (9-2) at Oklahoma (9-2)

Clemson (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (9-3) – ACC Championship Game

Wisconsin (10-2) vs. Penn State (10-2) – Big Ten Championship Game

No. 1 Alabama (12-0) vs Florida (8-3) – SEC Championship Game

AP Top 25

  1. Alabama
  2. Ohio State
  3. Clemson
  4. Washington
  5. Michigan
  6. Wisconsin
  7. Oklahoma
  8. Penn State
  9. Colorado
  10. USC
  11. Oklahoma State
  12. Florida State
  13. Western Michigan
  14. West Virginia
  15. Florida
  16. Louisville
  17. Stanford
  18. Auburn
  19. Virginia Tech
  20. Navy
  21. LSU
  22. Iowa
  23. Nebraska
  24. South Florida
  25. Pittsburgh

 

Photo credit: Saturday Tradition; Ohio State may have knocked Michigan out of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

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