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The College Football Playoff situation took a turn for the worse on Saturday, with three top-10 teams losing to lower-ranked opponents and three more top-15 teams also eliminated.
The SEC was the biggest conference hit. No. 7 Alabama, No. 9 Ole Miss, and No. 15 Texas A&M lost to unranked teams. No. 5 Indiana State, which had a wonderful Cinderella story, completely collapsed against No. 2 Ohio State.
So the question is: Which team essentially qualified for the College Football Playoff? The only answer would be No. 1 Oregon State. The Ducks had the weekend off and had already qualified for the Big Ten Conference Championship.
Eleven other spots also seem to be attracting attention.
Which team was the winner and which team was the loser? Let’s break it down here.
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winner
Florida State defensive back Bryce Thornton intercepts a pass in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (AP Photo/Ferrand M. Ebenhack)
arizona:What about that Sun Devil? Head coach Kenny Dillingham has Arizona State in the Big 12 Conference tiebreaker, but they are in control of their own destiny by defeating BYU in the final moments of a heated game on Saturday. The biggest takeaway is that Colorado’s loss makes the final weekend of the conference a big deal, and Arizona State is one win away from winning the title and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.
tennessee: Yes, the Vols defeated UTEP on Saturday in a game that wasn’t really football. But this is what happened around the SEC, and now Tennessee is in a great position to make a playoff berth. Ole Miss and Alabama both upset on Saturday, paving the way for Josh Heupel’s team to clinch a playoff spot next weekend against Vanderbilt. Just when I thought things weren’t going to go well, the Vol is now sitting pretty.
florida: The Gators did something they hadn’t done since 2003 after the school announced that head coach Billy Napier would stay on next season. They defeated a ranked opponent in two straight games as an unranked opponent. The Gators played spoiler by picking off Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jackson Dart three times in the win, dealing a devastating blow to the Rebels’ playoff hopes.
Our Lady: Notre Dame is doing exactly what it needs to do, and the stink from the loss to Northern Illinois is gone. They went to neutral territory with a ranked army team and forced them out of the building. Who knows if they’ll be able to match Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas, but they’re definitely in the top five. Oh, how cool was it to see Jeter back in the Bronx?
nebraska: Defeated Wisconsin 44-25, finally giving Nebraska its elusive sixth win under head coach Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers’ offense changed completely with the addition of offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen midseason.
University of Oklahoma coach Brent Venables celebrates with fans after a college football game against Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Terry/The Oklahoman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Brent Venables: It’s been a tough few weeks for Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables. Just as the season seemed to be over, he revealed that his wife is battling cancer again. They finally won a big upset against the University of Alabama. The Sooners are 6-5 this season.
loser
colorado: Well, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes wasted an opportunity to play in the Big 12 Championship. Sure, there are some weird scenarios that could win them out, but the loss to Kansas all but confirms the Colorado breakthrough is over. In my opinion, the only good thing about the game against the Jayhawks was Travis Hunter, who likely clinched the Heisman Trophy.
Ole Miss: If the Rebels had won, they would have almost guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. After losing 24-17 to Florida, it will take nothing short of a miracle to advance. Before throwing three interceptions on Saturday, Jackson Dart had only thrown one interception in a game over the past two seasons. Two of his interceptions came in the final two minutes of the game, sealing the Rebels’ fate.
rutgers: The infamous timeout cost Rutgers a chance for its first win against a ranked opponent since 2009. The Scarlet Knights are bowl-bound either way, but it will be a great day for the program that will never be replaced.
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano watches the first half of a game against Illinois on November 23, 2024 in Piscataway, New Jersey (Vincent Carchietta-Imaan Images)
north carolina: The Tar Heels humiliated Boston College, and even though they scored two pointless touchdowns late, it didn’t look too pretty after falling behind 41-7.
SEC: Things took a turn for the worse at Saturday’s conference. Ole Miss’ loss to Florida was supposed to be the only craziness we’d see this past weekend, but Alabama also got hurt by Oklahoma and joins them in missing out on the College Football Playoff. I decided. Then, Texas A&M lost to Auburn in four overtimes, causing serious chaos in the conference. Georgia will qualify for the SEC Championship, with the winner of Texas vs. Texas A&M taking on the Bulldogs in Atlanta. But what if the Aggies win this weekend and upset Georgia in Atlanta? we can only imagine.
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Fox News Digital Sports’ college football winners and losers will be announced by the Fox News Digital Sports staff and OutKick.com staff.
**Considering the SEC’s recent stumbles, are these upsets a temporary blip for the conference, or are we witnessing a genuine shift in power dynamics within college football?**
## World-Today-News Interview: College Football Chaos
**Welcome to World-Today-News. Tonight, we’re breaking down the wild world of College Football after a weekend of shocking upsets and unexpected results.
Joining us are two distinguished guests:**
* **Sarah Jones:** College Football Analyst and Columnist for Sports Illustrated.
* **Mike Thompson:** Former College Football Coach and Current ESPN Commentator.
**Let’s dive right in!**
**Section 1: The Rise and Fall of Empires**
* **Sarah:** The SEC was hit hard this weekend. What do you make of the losses suffered by Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M? Does this signal a shift in conference power dynamics?
* **Mike:** Arizona State is in the driver’s seat for the Pac-12. Do they have what it takes to secure a playoff berth, especially after a nail-biter finish against BYU? What are your thoughts on Kenny Dillingham’s coaching performance this season?
**Section 2: Cinderella Stories and Heartbreak**
* **Mike:** Florida pulled off another upset against a ranked opponent. Can you speak to their unexpected resurgence under Coach Napier? What does this mean for their bowl prospects?
* **Sarah:** . Notre Dame seems to be back on track. They’ve recovered from a tough loss and are looking strong. Do they have a legitimate shot at a playoff spot alongside the likes of Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas?
**Section 3: Playoff Picture and the Road Ahead**
* **Sarah:** Tennessee’s path to the playoffs just got significantly clearer after Saturday’s events. Is their matchup against Vanderbilt a guaranteed win, and what does this mean for Josh Heupel’s legacy?
* **Mike:** Colorado’s hopes of a Big 12 Championship seem to have dwindled with their loss to Kansas. What went wrong for the Buffaloes, and can Travis Hunter still build on his Heisman-worthy campaign despite the setback?
**Section 4: Looking Forward: The Bigger Picture**
* **Mike** : What do these results tell us about the current landscape of College Football? Are we seeing a fading SEC, the rise of new contenders, and a more unpredictable playoff picture than ever before?
* **Sarah:** How do these upsets impact recruiting and program development in the long run? Will the smaller programs be emboldened by these wins, or will the established powers continue to dominate in the years to come?
**Closing Remarks:**
Thank you both for your insightful analysis. This weekend will undoubtedly be debated and dissected for weeks to come. Be sure to check back with World-Today-News for continued coverage of all things College Football!
