Michigan rolls in 2nd half to defeat Ohio State; LSU and Clemson drop out of college football playoff race plus The Real Top 25 CFP Rankings.
Well, most of us didn’t see that coming! What an incredible weekend in college football and there are going to be some changes in The Real Top 25 Playoff Rankings that is for sure.
The conference championship games are all set across the FBS after Saturday’s action:
Friday, December 2
Conference USA: North Texas vs UTSA
Pac-12: Utah vs USC
Saturday, December 3
Big 12: Kansas State vs TCU
MAC: Toledo vs Ohio
Sun Belt: Coastal Carolina vs Troy
SEC: LSU vs Georgia
Mountain West: Fresno State vs Boise State
American: UCF vs Tulane
ACC: Clemson vs North Carolina
Big Ten: Purdue vs Michigan
Ok Michigan kids, lets recap how we got here!
Michigan won 45-23, marking its first win at Ohio State since 2000. That snapped a 9-game losing streak in Columbus, its longest road losing streak vs a single opponent in the AP Poll era (since 1936). The Wolverines have won consecutive meetings vs Ohio State for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
The Wolverines are 12-0 for the first time since 1997. That season, they split the national title with Nebraska. Michigan’s 45 points are tied for its 3rd-most against Ohio State in series history. This was also the largest margin of victory for the Wolverines in Columbus since 1976.
Ohio State led 20-17 at halftime, but the 2nd half was all Michigan. The Wolverines outscored the Buckeyes 28-3 in the 2nd half, the first time that Ohio State has been outscored by 25 points in a half since 1999. Michigan had 242 rushing yards in the 2nd half, compared to just 19 for Ohio State.
Who led the charge for the Wolverines? Donovan Edwards, who finished with 216 rushing yards, including 170 in the 4th quarter. Can’t wait for all the trash talking from Michigan fans on Monday during the Shemon and Sheppard Show.
Tigers Are Not Terrific (LSU, Clemson); USC Takes Advantage
(6) USC 38, (15) Notre Dame 27
With the losses by Ohio State, LSU and Clemson, USC is in position to make a run at the College Football Playoff after winning 38-27 vs Notre Dame. The Trojans are 11-1 to start a season for the first time since 2008.
Caleb Williams finished 18-22 for 232 passing yards and a passing touchdown. He also three rushing touchdowns, the most in a game by a USC quarterback over the last 25 years. He has has 10 rushing touchdowns this season, the
most by any USC quarterback in a career over the last 25 years.
In the loss, Drew Pyne completed his first 15 passes, the longest streak to start a game in Notre Dame history. In addition, Pyne finished 23-26 (88.5%), the highest completion percentage in a game in Notre Dame history (min.
15 pass attempts).
Texas A&M 38, (5) LSU 23
LSU had a chance to become the first two-loss team to reach the College Football Playoff. Those hopes were dashed on Saturday after losing 38-23 against Texas A&M.
The Aggies scored a season-high 38 points, are you kidding me, and snapped a 13-game streak of scoring fewer than 30 points against FBS opponents. Texas A&M has won two straight games after losing its previous six contests.
With the loss, LSU is the first three-loss team to reach the SEC Championship Game since Florida in 2016. The last three-loss team to win the SEC Championship Game? LSU in 2001.
South Carolina 31, (8) Clemson 30
Clemson entered its regular-season finale with a 37% chance to reach the College Football Playoff, per the Allstate Playoff Predictor, but those chances plummeted with South Carolina’s shocking 31-30 win over the Tigers at Death
Valley.
South Carolina is the first team to win consecutive team games vs AP Top-10 opponents while being unranked in both contests since Auburn in 2003. Clemson’s 40 game home winning streak is now over.
