College football’s final week of the regular season did not disappoint.
With rivalry matchups abound across the sport, there was plenty of competitive football to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving weekend.
In the headliner of the week, No. 3 Michigan outlasted No. 2 Ohio State, 30–24, in the Big House, as the Wolverines won their third consecutive game in the rivalry and punched their ticket to the Big Ten title game.
Elsewhere, No. 8 Alabama survived its trip to Auburn on a wing and a prayer, as a late fourth down touchdown pass by quarterback Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond brought the Crimson Tide from the brink and kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Right as that game finished up, No. 4 Washington ran a bonkers fourth down play from its own territory to keep a late drive alive against Washington State. Huskies kicker Grady Gross kicked a game-winning field goal later in the drive to keep Washington unbeaten and earn a scholarship in the process.
No. 6 Oregon moved into Sports Illustrated‘s CFP top four projection after demolishing No. 16 Oregon State, 31–7, in Eugene on Friday night. It turned out to be the final game of Jonathan Smith’s coaching tenure at Oregon State, as he was announced as Michigan State’s next coach on Saturday afternoon.
The team that Oregon jumped into the top four projection? Florida State.
The Seminoles survived their first test with backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, edging out unranked Florida in Gainesville to remain unbeaten. With a win in next Saturday’s ACC title game over Louisville, the Seminoles will all but punch their ticket to the CFP. No undefeated Power Five conference champion has ever been left out of the four-team field.
There is still some opportunity for shuffling among the top teams in the country after conference championship week, but here’s SI‘s updated CFP projection as the race enters the homestretch.
Projected Ranking
1. Georgia Bulldogs: 12–0 (8–0 SEC)
This Week: Won 31–23 at Georgia Tech
Next Week: SEC Championship vs. Alabama
2. Michigan Wolverines: 12–0 (9–0 Big Ten)
This Week: Won 30–24 vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Next Week: Big Ten Championship vs. Iowa
3. Washington Huskies: 12–0 (9–0 Pac-12)
This Week: Won 24–21 vs. Washington State
Next Week: Pac-12 Championship vs. Oregon
4. Oregon Ducks: 11–1 (8–1 Pac-12)
This Week: Won 31–7 vs. No. 16 Oregon State
Next Week: Pac-12 Championship vs. Washington
5. Florida State Seminoles: 12–0 (8–0 ACC)
This Week: Won 24–15 at Florida
Next Week: ACC Championship vs. Louisville
6. Ohio State Buckeyes: 11–1 (8–1 Big Ten)
This Week: Lost 30–24 at No. 3 Michigan
Next Week: No game
7. Texas Longhorns: 11–1 (8–1 Big 12)
This Week: Won 57–7 vs. Texas Tech
Next Week: Big 12 Championship vs. Oklahoma State
8. Alabama Crimson Tide: 11–1 (8–0 SEC)
This Week: Won 27–24 at Auburn
Next Week: SEC Championship vs. Georgia
9. Missouri Tigers: 10–2 (6–2 SEC)
This Week: Won 48–14 at Arkansas
Next Week: No game
10. Penn State Nittany Lions: 10–2 (7–2 Big Ten)
This Week: Won 42–0 at Michigan State
Next Week: No game
11. Ole Miss Rebels: 10–2 (6–2 SEC)
This Week: Won 17–7 at Mississippi State
Next Week: No game
12. Oklahoma Sooners: 10–2 (7–2 Big 12)
This Week: Won 69–45 vs. TCU
Next Week: No game
13. Louisville Cardinals: 10–2 (7–1 ACC)
This Week: Lost 38–31 vs. Kentucky
Next Week: ACC Championship vs. Florida State
14. LSU Tigers: 9–3 (6–2 SEC)
This Week: Won 42–30 vs. Texas A&M
Next Week: No game
15. Arizona Wildcats: 9–3 (7–2 Pac-12)
This Week: Won 59–23 at Arizona State
Next Week: No game
16. Iowa Hawkeyes: –2 (7–2 Big Ten)
This Week: Won 13–10 at Nebraska
Next Week: Big Ten Championship vs. Michigan
17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9–3
This Week: Won 56–23 at Stanford
Next Week: No game
18. Oklahoma State Cowboys: 9–3 (7–2 Big 12)
This Week: Won 40–34 (2OT) vs. BYU
Next Week: Big 12 Championship vs. Texas
19. NC State Wolfpack: 9–3 (6–2 ACC)
This Week: Won 39–20 vs. North Carolina
Next Week: No game
20. Tennessee Volunteers: 8–4 (4–4 SEC)
This Week: Won 48–24 vs. Vanderbilt
Next Week: No game
21. Oregon State Beavers: 8–4 (5–4 Pac-12)
This Week: Lost 31–7 at No. 6 Oregon
Next Week: No game
22. Tulane Green Wave: 11–1 (8–1 American)
This Week: Won 29–16 vs. UTSA
Next Week: American Championship vs. SMU
23. Clemson Tigers: 8–4 (4–4 ACC)
This Week: Won 16–7 at South Carolina
Next Week: No game
24. Liberty Flames: 12–0 (8–0 Conference USA)
This Week: Won 42–28 at UTEP
Next Week: Conference USA Championship vs. New Mexico State
25. Toledo Rockets: 11–1 (8–0 MAC)
This Week: Won 32–17 at Central Michigan
Next Week: MAC Championship vs. Miami (OH)
