The College Football Playoff picture is heating up, and Thanksgiving weekend delivered a heaping plate of upsets and coaching drama! Let's dive into the key takeaways from Week 14's action, where the stakes were higher than ever.
The biggest news? Most of the top teams managed to hold their ground, but the SEC and ACC conferences threw some serious curveballs.
First up, the SEC. A major upset saw previously undefeated Texas A&M fall to their long-time rivals, Texas. This shocking loss knocked the Aggies out of the conference title game, setting the stage for a Georgia-Alabama rematch. This victory immediately sparked some serious lobbying from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who's making a passionate case for his 9-3 team to snag a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff. But here's where it gets controversial... Does a 9-3 record really deserve a playoff berth over other strong contenders?
Meanwhile, off the field, the coaching carousel spun wildly. Lane Kiffin's saga concluded with his departure from Ole Miss to LSU, despite the Rebels' impressive 11-1 regular season. The committee's view of Ole Miss, in light of Kiffin's move, will be a major talking point.
In the ACC, things got even more interesting. Cal's unexpected win against SMU opened the door for 7-5 Duke to sneak into the title game against Virginia. A win for Virginia would likely secure their playoff spot. And this is the part most people miss... If Duke pulls off an upset, we could see two Group of Five champions make the CFP!
What do you think? Will the committee reward teams with impressive records, or prioritize conference champions? Share your thoughts in the comments!
For in-depth analysis and live reactions, tune in to SI's Bryan Fischer and Pat Forde. You can also listen to SI’s new college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, on Apple and Spotify, or watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.
About the Authors:
- Bryan Fischer: A staff writer at Sports Illustrated, Fischer brings nearly two decades of experience from outlets like FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America's All-America Selection Committee and a Heisman Trophy voter.
- Pat Forde: A senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Forde covers college football, basketball, the Olympics, and horse racing. He cohosts the College Football Enquirer podcast and is a football analyst on the Big Ten Network. Forde has won numerous writing awards and is a past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
