With one week left in the regular season, seven teams still have a chance to earn a spot in the college football Playoff (Yes, Ohio State has a prayer, but the college football gods would really have to be generous). None of the top teams did anything to hurt their chances on Saturday (Nov. 18), but rivalries loom ahead for several teams next week before the conference championship games kickoff.
#1 Alabama (11-0) defeats Mercer (5-6) - 56-0
The Crimson Tide took care of business, but the overarching goal for the week is for the defense to heal up before facing #6 Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Alabama scored early and often against Mercer. Quarterback Jalen Hurts passed for three touchdowns in the first half, including a 66-yard bomb to Calvin Ridley. The backup Alabama quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, also got in on the action, tossing for one score in the second quarter and then two more in the second half. The two Crimson Tide quarterbacks combined to go 14-18 for 265 yards and six touchdowns.
#2 Clemson (10-1) defeats The Citadel (5-6) - 61-3
Clemson scheduled themselves a cupcake game before facing off against in-state rival South Carolina next week. Like Alabama, this game was a rout from the start. The Tigers were up 21 after the first quarter and 38 at halftime. Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman receiver Tee Higgins had six receptions for 178 yards and two scores.
#3 Miami (10-0) defeats Virginia (6-5) - 44-28
After the highly-charged, emotional beatdown that Miami put on Notre Dame last Saturday (Nov. 11), it’s no surprise there was a bit of a letdown. But the Hurricanes went so far as to giving their fans a near panic attack after Virginia pushed their seven-point halftime lead to 14 after a blocked point and 26-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Benkert to Daniel Hamm.
Miami answered with a seven-play, 63-yard drive and scored on a nine-yard pass from Malik Rosier to Lawrence Cager. On the very next offensive series for Virginia, Hurricanes’ defensive back Jaquan Johnson donned the glitzy turnover-chain after picking off a Benkert pass and returning it for a pick-six to tie the game. Ultimately, Miami turned the faucet on and poured 30 unanswered points on Virginia to remain undefeated.
Hurricanes’ running back Travis Homer rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.
#4 Oklahoma (10-1) defeats Kansas (1-10) - 41-3
One of the most entertaining parts of this game was the pregame handshake. There are a lot of teams in the Big 12 that probably despise Sooners’ quarterback Baker Mayfield, but who would have thought Kansas the team to display such hostility?
The records for these two teams played out accordingly during the game. Mayfield hit Rodney Anderson for a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter to make it 7-0. A Kansas field goal kept the Jayhawks in the game, but an interception followed by a Jordan Smallwood three-yard touchdown run for Oklahoma made it 14-3. Another Mayfield touchdown pass to Marquise Brown put the Sooners up 18 at halftime.
Oklahoma dominated the second half, outscoring Kansas 20-0. Mayfield did nothing to hurt his Heisman candidacy, throwing for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
#5 Wisconsin (11-0) defeats #24 Michigan (8-3) - 24-10
The Badgers will probably still remain on the outside looking in when the new College Football Playoff Rankings come out on Tuesday (Nov. 21). But if they win next week against Minnesota and then again in the Big Ten championship, they’ll be in the final four. Before getting there, Wisconsin had to do what they did against Michigan. A 7-7 game at halftime turned into a 7-10 Wisconsin deficit after the Wolverines turned an Alex Hornibrook interception into a field goal.
But Hornibrook rebounded on Wisconsin’s next series and threaded a pass to A.J.
Taylor for a 24-yard touchdown to take the lead. The Badgers made it an 11-point game when receiver Kendric Pryor perfectly executed a reverse and scored from 32 yards out. Freshman sensation Jonathan Taylor rushed for 132 yards on 19 carried for Wisconsin.
#6 Auburn (9-2) defeats Louisiana-Monroe (4-6) - 42-14
It took until the second half, but once Auburn shifted their offense out of first gear, they made quick work out of Louisiana-Monroe. The Tigers were up just seven points (14-7) at halftime, but a 10-play, 95-yard drive that resulted in a Kam Martin one-yard touchdown run extended the margin to 14. Following an interception, Auburn went up 28-7 when Jarrett Stidham hit Martin for a 41-yard score.
If the game wasn’t already out of reach, it was when Tigers' defensive back Nick Ruffin picked-off a Garrett Smith pass and took it to the house. Stidham passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the 28-point victory.
#7 Georgia (10-1) defeats Kentucky (7-4) - 42-13
Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm bounced back from a tough loss against Auburn to put up solid, but unspectacular numbers versus Kentucky. Fromm threw for 123 yards, along with a touchdown and interception. But the real story was the Bulldogs' rushing attack. Nick Chubb ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Sony Michel added 87 yards and three touchdowns in the blowout win.
